The blood of 3 million martyrs and the honor of 2 lakh mothers and sisters had to be sacrificed to get the land of beautiful Bengal, a green land of beautiful beauty. Like the rest of the country, the people of Barguna have also been the victims of the atrocities of the Pakistani aggressors. Genocide, torture of women, looting etc. have been carried out in Barguna. When the month of victory comes, just as everyone's mind is filled with joy and pride, so the hearts of the mothers and sisters who have lost their relatives and victims become burdened with pain. They have painful memories of the war of independence in their hearts. The history of the war in this district is also touching. Talking to the freedom fighters of Barguna district, the history of the liberation war of Barguna was briefly highlighted.
Motivation of the war of liberation
The historic speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 7, 1971 inspired the freedom-loving people to take part in the war. Due to the underdeveloped communication system, the people of Barguna could not hear Bangabandhu's call from those present. The next day, on March 7, they heard his call on the radio. His speech was broadcast on the mic that day to hear Bangabandhu's call. Encouraged by Bangabandhu's call, the peace-loving people of Barguna declared solidarity and began to organize.
Formation of Sangram Parishad
The war of liberation started in Barguna on 07 March 1971 with the inspiration of Bangabandhu's historic speech. Sangram Parishad was formed under the leadership of Awami League and Chhatra League. Awami League President AH Latif Master and General Secretary Ed Nurul Islam Sikder were also President and General Secretary of Sangram Parishad respectively. At that time the president of Chhatra League Md. Jahangir Kabir and general secretary Md. Abdur Rashid Mia and the general secretaries of Chhatra Union Anwar Hossain Monwar and Dulal Matubbar were members of the said Sangram Parishad. Besides, MNA Asmat Ali Sikder and MPA Rosmat Ali Khan, student leaders Siddiqur Rahman and Dhirendra Chandra Debnath were among the leaders of Shambhu Sangram Parishad. Under the leadership of the Sangram Parishad, the armed liberation war started in Barguna subdivision and training started in every police station. The youth of Barguna started training with all the students of Chhatra League and Chhatra Union in the field and treasury field of Barguna police station.
Formation of liberation forces
After 26 March, the Pak army attacked Barguna. Kills innocent people in prisons and brutally tortures women. Similarly, the Pakistani aggressors killed and tortured in other police stations. The freedom-loving youths organized at that time left the city and went into hiding and formed groups of freedom fighters under the leadership of Siddiqur Rahman in different areas. Siddiqur Rahman, Dulal Mridha of Chandkhali and AH Rashid Mia collected a rifle from Ansar of Chalitabunia of Mirzaganj police station. Then the first shots were fired by the freedom fighters in a speedboat filled with Pak army in the rented canal of Chandkhali on the north side of the house of Gudighata Moslem Master. Earlier, preparations were made to confront the Pak army by forming a team of freedom fighters in the entire Barguna subdivision. Among them MNA Asmat Ali Sikder and MPA Prince Abdul Malek Khan left for India. As per the plan of MNA Asmat Ali Sikder and Ninth Sector Commander Major MA Jalil, sub-sectors of Patuakhali and Barguna were formed in Bukabunia under the leadership of Captain Mehedi Ali Imam. Two-IC Zahir Shah Alamgir and 6 advisors were appointed and assigned area-wise responsibilities in Patuakhali and Barguna. Hundreds of youths from Patuakhali and Barguna then went to India for training. At the end of the training, he took part in the oncoming war against the Pak-invading forces at various places in the border area.
On the other hand, a team was formed in Barguna sub-division to conduct police-based war. Sub-Commander Mehdi Ali Imam formed the team. In Barguna, Zulfiqar Ahmed Jalfu and AH Chattar were given the responsibility. Naik Subedar AH Motaleb and Humayun Kabir Hiru were given the responsibility in Betagi. Mubarak Mallick in Bamna, A. Majid Mia and Altaf and A. Khaleq in Patharghata, Subedar Hatem and Ansar Commander Altaf Hossain in charge of Amtali. Subedar Hatem's camp was in Agathakur Para. Suddenly the Pak army from Kalapara attacked the camp at Agathakur Para from the Nilganj river. There was a fierce battle under the leadership of Subedar Hatem. On the other hand, in Badnikhali of Betagi police station, a frontal battle was fought with the Pak army under the leadership of Subedar A. Motaleb.
Massacre in Barguna
May 29 and 30 are two days of bloody memories for the people of Barguna. In those two days in 1971, the innocent Bengalis detained in Barguna Jail were shot and brutally killed. The mass grave of the martyrs next to the Shaheed Smriti Road in the municipal area of Barguna town where the freedom-loving people of Barguna have been buried. A memorial was erected there in 1992. The names of the martyrs are inscribed on the white stone of the memorial. When the freedom fighters left Barguna to go to the locality, Muslim League, Jamaat and other pro-Pakistan forces occupied the city of Barguna and brought the Pak army to Barguna. At that time the city of Barguna was almost uninhabited. Some people gathered in the court building area to address the Pak army position at the SDO's jetty. The next day, on 15 May, several persons of Patharghata police station were captured and brutally killed on the banks of the river Bishkhali. On that day, the sky became heavy with the cries of the freedom fighters and their relatives. The water of Bishkhali river turned red with blood. Patuakhali District Martial Law Administrator Major Nader Parvez led the killing. Meanwhile, Laxman Das, a prominent Patharghata businessman, his sons Krishna Das, Arun Das and Swapan Das were arrested and kept in Barguna Jail.
Former CO Atiqullah, SI Abdul Majid, Sepoy Ari Mia and Abdul Jabbar and Siddiqur Rahman (Panu) Chairman of Barguna were brutally killed in Patuakhali due to their support for the liberation war.
Major Nader Parvez, Patuakhali District Martial Law Administrator, came to Barguna on 26 May and started the genocide by arranging a mock trial at Barguna Jail on 29 May. Barguna District School is located on the north-west side of the jail. The students came to school that day as usual. As soon as the class started hours, the city panicked at the sound of heavy gunfire, and everyone started running in different directions. Barguna was shot in the jail and then fell to his death one after another. They killed 55 people on the first day. Many were shot and left unconscious that day. But they were not saved in the end. The next day, 18 people were shot dead again. During the war of liberation in this district many freedom fighters including Mir Mosharraf Hossain, Naik Md. Altaf Hossain, Nagendranath Dhupi, Nasiruddin Tang, MA Barek Khan, Mojibur Rahman Kanak, Ali Ahmad Khan, Alauddin were martyred.
Barguna Free Day
Amtali police station was liberated under the leadership of AH Rabb, Ansar Commander Altaf Hossain, Pasha Talukder, Afaz Biswas, Nizam Uddin Talukder and Asmat Ali Kerani. Subedar A. Motaleb, Mubarak Mallick and other commanders jointly liberated Bamna police station. On 24th November, the Pak-invading forces fled from Barguna police station in the dark of night. On the other hand, Mujibnagar formed the Mujib Bahini by the Provisional Government and sent it to Barguna sub-division before independence. AH Rashid Mia in charge of Barguna Betagi, GM in Amtali. In Delwar and Jalal Ahmed, Bamna and Patharghata Anwar Hossain Khan was given charge of Mujib's forces. On 26th November 1971 Barguna subdivision Pakhanadar was liberated. Bangladesh gained independence on 16 December 1971. When Bangabandhu returned to the country, all the freedom fighters returned to normal life by submitting arms to the Barguna sub-divisional administrator on his instructions.
Planning and Implementation: Cabinet Division, A2I, BCC, DoICT and BASIS