Durgapur Free Day
{{Short description|Annual celebration of the December 6, 1971 capture of Durgapur}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name=Durgapur Free Day
দুর্গাপুর মুক্ত দিবস
|type=local
|longtype=National
|image=Durgapur_free_day_pic.jpg
|caption=Liberation War Memorial Sculpture by Mahmudul hasan shohag
|official_name={{langx|bn|দুর্গাপুর মুক্ত দিবস}} (Durgapur Free Day)
|duration=1 day
|frequency=Annual
|observedby=Bangladesh
|scheduling=same day each year
|date=6 December
|celebrations=entertainment and cultural programs
|observances=
|relatedto={{ubl|Durgapur Free Day of Bangladesh|}}
}}
File:Birishiri_Durgapur_Netrokona.jpg
On this day in 1971, the locals in collaboration with Indian allies, captured Durgapur on the border of Netrokona in a bloody battle.
History
During the Bangladesh War of Independence, a strong Pakistan army base was established at Birishiri in the missionary area of Durgapur under the leadership of Major Sultan of the Pakistani forces. Positioned here, the Pakistan army, with the help of Bengali brokers, Al-Badr and Razakars, controlled the Durgapur Sadar, the border areas of Kalmakanda, Lengura, Nazirpur and Vijaypur in Durgapur. At the same time, people were killed in the slaughterhouse of Birishiri in the dark of night.{{Cite web|date=5 December 2020|script-title=bn:দুর্গাপুর মুক্ত দিবস আজ|url=https://www.dhakaprotidin.com/%e0%a6%a6%e0%a7%81%e0%a6%b0%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%97%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%aa%e0%a7%81%e0%a6%b0-%e0%a6%ae%e0%a7%81%e0%a6%95%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%a4-%e0%a6%a6%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%ac%e0%a6%b8-%e0%a6%86%e0%a6%9c/|access-date=12 July 2021|language=bn}}
Martyrs
Among those killed first were professor of Philosophy of Netrakona Govt. College Professor Aroz Ali, former headmaster Ashutosh Sanyal, MKCM Pilot Government High School headmaster Abdul Awal, Durgapur MNA Purakandulia Union resident Gouranga Chandra Saha, Kullagarh Union chairman Ali Hossain.{{Cite web|last=Kolorob|first=Banglar|script-title=bn:আজ দুর্গাপুর মুক্ত দিবস|url=https://www.banglarkolorob.com/https://www.banglarkolorob.com/আজ-দুর্গাপুর-মুক্ত-দিবস/8280/8280|access-date=12 July 2021|website=Banglar Kolorob|language=bn}}{{Unreliable source?|date=October 2024}}
{{Cite web|date=6 December 2020|script-title=bn:দুর্গাপুর মুক্ত দিবস আজ|url=https://sarabangla.net/post/sb-492834/|access-date=12 July 2021|website=|language=bn}}{{Unreliable source?|date=October 2024}}
=Other events=
Durgapur Upazila Fighter Commander Ruhul Amin Chunnu said that on May 4, 1971, two Pakistani soldiers went to Gaokandia village and tried to rape a woman but the villagers led by Chhotuni hacked them to death. Due to this, on 5 May, a group of Pakistan army from Birishiri Cantonment went to Gaokandia village and killed 19 villagers including common people by entering a house and shooting and burning them. Besides, Dildar Hossain, a student of Susang Degree College, Imam Hossain, a farmer, Billal Hossain and many others were killed.{{Cite web|date=5 December 2019|script-title=bn:৬ ডিসেম্বর দুর্গাপুর মুক্ত দিবস|url=https://onabil.net/2019/12/05/৬-ডিসেম্বর-দুর্গাপুর-মুক/|access-date=12 July 2021|website=Onabil Songbad|language=bn}}{{Unreliable source?|date=October 2024}}
He further said that Santosh Biswas, a pro-independence commander, was shot dead by Pakistanis while coming forward after killing 10 Pakistani soldiers in a brushfire of the Mukti Bahini near Vijaypur. Shaheed Santosh Park was built in Durgapur Sadar after his name. Sudhir Hajong and Abdul Jabbar were two more martyrs in the war of independence at Durgapur.{{Cite web|last=Akter|first=Vabna|date=6 December 2020|script-title=bn:আজ ৬ই ডিসেম্বর দুর্গাপুর মুক্ত দিবস|url=https://ajkerarban.com/আজ-৬ই-ডিসেম্বর-দুর্গাপুর/|access-date=12 July 2020|website=Ajker Arban |language=bn}}{{Unreliable source?|date=October 2024}}
Liberation War Memorial Sculpture
Liberation War Memorial Sculpture (Bengali: মুক্তিযুদ্ধের স্মৃতি ভাস্কর্য) is a sculpture made by Mahmudul Hasan Shohag in 2010. It is (15 feet) high and is located in Durgapur.
The sculpture tribute to Bangladeshi Fighters who sacrificed their lives during the war.