December 17 is the red letter day for Khulna people as on this day in 1971 the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered to the allied forces of Bangladeshi freedom fighters and Indian forces in Khulna, a day after the rest of the country.
In spite of broadcasting the news of Pakistan army’s surrender over radio on December 16, the Khulna city was not liberated on the day from the grasp of the occupation forces as they didn’t accede to give in.
“But we were determined to free Khulna as soon as possible,” said Sheikh Quamruzzaman Tuku, chief of the then Khulna unit Mujib Bahini, now elected chairman of Bagerhat District Council.
Between December 11 and 16, freedom fighters along with Indian forces had recaptured most of the camps of Pakistani army and their local collaborators like Razakars, Al Badars and Al Shams in the areas surrounding the Khulna city.
The camps include Gallamary Radio Station, Khulna Lions School, PMG Colony, Khulna Shipyard, Number 7 jetty ghat area, Tootpara and Boyra Fire Brigade Stations, Wapda Building, Goalpara Power Plant at Khalishpur, Bhasany Biddyapith, Hotel Asiana, Hotel Shaheen, Khulna Circuit House and some places of Goalkhali, Daulatpur, Khalishpur and Shiromony area in Khulna.
On December 17, the freedom fighters started entering Khulna city through different points including Rupsha Ghat area via Senerbazar-Razapur, Crescent Jute Mill area, Kulutia area, Khulna Lion's School area, Mongla area and Batiaghata area.
Two major battles were won on this day one in Shiromony area and another in Khulna Shipyard area.
The Pakistani forces were fighting for the last two days, armed with several regiments of artillery, infantry and armoured divisions, including six tanks, in Shiromony area.
In the morning, the battle grew fierce, says freedom fighter SM Rezwan. The occupation forces used modern weapons, including anti-aircraft machine guns, mortars and rocket launchers.
Soon the Pakistani occupation forces were defeated. A total of 200 Pakistani soldiers surrendered with their weapons while their local collaborators fled.
In the Khulna Shipyard area, the Pakistani forces ambushed a launch carrying freedom fighters along the Rupsha River. The liberation forces won but one freedom fighter had embraced martyrdom while 16 others were injured.
The freedom fighters marched to Khulna Circuit House grounds where the flag of an independent Bangladesh was raised around 10:30am by Major (Retd) Joynul Abedin and Gazi Rahmatulla Dadu.
Another flag was hoisted in Shaheed Hadis Park by freedom fighters.
Sector 9 Commander MA Jalil handed over several hundred prisoners of war, including their commander Brig Hayat Ali Khan, to General Dalbir Singh, chief of the Indian forces in the western region, in Khalishpur.
Hundreds of people of the newborn Bangladesh rushed out onto the streets at the end of the nine-month-long Liberation War.
