Fifty-three years after independence, many stories of the Liberation War remain untold. Part 4 of this 12-part series turns to Shibpur in Narsingdi, where leftist youths gathered under Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan's leadership and carved a fierce chapter of the war.

Across the villages in and around Shibpur in Narsingdi, a fierce guerrilla force rose during the Liberation War. Formed at the initiative of the Purbo Bangla Somonnoy Committee of communist revolutionaries and led by leftist student leader Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, it came to be known simply as the Mannan Bhuiyan Bahini.

More than 1,200 fighters took up arms under its banner; in its camps, over 4,000 young men and women drawn by conviction took training. Though rooted in Shibpur, the force's reach stretched from Araihajar in Narayanganj to Katiadi in Kishoreganj.

Their exploits echo through books, such as Haider Anwar Khan's "Ekattorer Ronangon: Shibpur", Haider Akbar Khan Rono's "Shatabdi Periye", and Mannan Bhuiyan's own "Jiban o Sangram".

This correspondent travelled through Shibpur in August and September, speaking with 30–35 freedom fighters who once moved through that landscape like shadows.

Their story begins before the war. On February 22, 1970, at a rally of the Purbo Bangla Somonnoy Committee at Paltan Maidan in Dhaka, young leaders called for an independent, democratic East Bengal.

Mustafa Jamal Haider, 83, recalled to The Daily Star, "We were hounded for giving speeches. Later, the military court sentenced Kazi Jafar and Rashed Khan Menon to seven years, and me and Mahbub Ullah to one."

Even so, the preparations for an armed struggle continued.

Mannan Bhuiyan

Years earlier, from 1965–67, on Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani's instruction, Mannan Bhuiyan, then Chhatra Union (Menon) general secretary, had formed farmers' associations in the villages of Shibpur. When 1971 dawned, he began organising students, youth, and farmers.

On the afternoon of March 25, Mannan Bhuiyan hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh at a rally in Shibpur Pilot High School. After the horror of the night that followed, central Chhatra Union leaders fled Dhaka for Shibpur, with Kazi Jafar, Menon, Rono among them.

Filmmaker Zahir Raihan also took shelter in Shibpur on his way to India. His car was used by the freedom fighters before he crossed the border through Joshar Bazar.

On March 27, on Mannan Bhuiyan's orders and under the leadership of Mannan Khan, students and youth began weapons training on the high school grounds with rifles.

"The training was led by Majnu Mridha and Haris Mollah of the Bengal Regiment," Mannan Khan, now 81, told this newspaper. "Towards the end of April, I went to India with 30–35 freedom fighters to collect weapons and for higher training."

Mannan Khan

In the first week of May, Pakistani forces struck Shibpur, raiding the homes of farmer leaders Rob Khan and Rafiq Dakat in Chakradha. Freedom fighters led by Majnu Mridha ambushed them near Bandhaidhya Bridge.

Freedom fighter Abdul Latif, 78, remembered, "As soon as the military reached the bridge, we attacked together. Some soldiers were injured. Even after we pulled back, they kept firing until morning."

After the clash, the force set up headquarters at Abdul Khalek's house in Bilsharan and opened a training camp at Ashrafpur School. Weapons came in through many channels. After the Demra Panchdona battle, Bangalee soldiers retreated, leaving a cache behind.

Freedom fighter Tofazzal Hossain, 75, recalled, "Naval Siraj collected the weapons, which reached us through Majnu Mridha and Mannan Khan." New camps sprang up across Shibpur.

Shibpur's name travelled far. Students from across the country arrived for training while Joshar Bazar and the nearby Arial Khan river became a lifeline for refugees and freedom fighters heading to India, hence it earned the name "Second Agartala".

"We set up a camp at Damodar Doctor's house near Joshar Bazar to ease their journey," said freedom fighter Chan Mia, 72.

In late May, early June, and mid-June, three groups of fighters went to India for training. Leftist leaders from both sides of the border formed a committee in Kolkata. Through close contact with the Communist Party of India, the Shibpur fighters gathered public opinion and funds for the war.

By the last week of June, the force had opened 14 camps mostly for training. These included Ashrafpur School, Ningaon High School, Bilsharan Khalek's house, Kamrab High School and Joshar Damu Doctor's house.

Shibpur fighters fought at least 20 battles. To halt Pakistani troops on August 11, fighters and villagers led by Majnu Mridha destroyed the Putia Bridge. Expecting retaliation, they lay in ambush.

Freedom fighter Nurul Alam Molla said, "Around 11:00am, six trucks approached. From the riverbank, the guerrillas opened fire. Thirty Pakistani soldiers, including a captain, were killed; young freedom fighter Fazlu embraced martyrdom."

The Pakistanis then erected a permanent camp at Putia, aided by some local peace committee members.

In September, the guerrillas executed some local robbers for collaboration. "Later that month, several Pakistani soldiers died in a mine explosion at Ghasirdia," Mannan Khan said.

As Pakistani numbers swelled, the force prepared a two-pronged ambush. One group led by Mannan Khan took position at Shaspur intersection. Another under Majnu Mridha near Chandardia bridge. But information given by Razakars to the Pakistani forces turned the tide.

Pakistanis attacked Majnu's group from behind. A firefight followed. "A Pakistani truck overturned after its driver was shot, killing four soldiers. The battle raged for two hours as reinforcements arrived. Freedom fighters Abdul Motalib Manik and Idris were martyred," said freedom fighter Noim Uddin, 70.

When ammunition dwindled, the fighters retreated. Freedom fighter Nazrul was captured and then released on November 19, the eve of Eid.

One of the force's most striking operations was the Bharaterkandi Bridge battle. The Pakistanis had dug bunkers on both sides of the vital bridge.

One mid-November day, 12 fighters under Majnu Mridha split into two units and struck from both flanks.

Freedom fighter Nurul Alam Molla, 78, recalled, "Four Pakistani soldiers fell instantly. As the Pakistanis retaliated, a fierce battle ensued for half an hour. The Pakistanis finally couldn't keep up the resistance. They fled, leaving six dead. Then we blew up the bridge."

By late November, the Pakistanis began thinning out of Shibpur. Sensing the shift, the guerrillas adopted a psychological tactic.

"We fired two rounds of blank shots at 9:00pm and again at dawn," said Mannan Khan. "It terrified them through the night."

At month's end, fighters led by Majnu Mridha and Mannan Khan liberated Shibpur.

On December 6, they marched to reclaim Narsingdi. The final battle unfolded at the T&T camp on December 11.

After one and a half days of combat, the Pakistanis fled toward Dhaka before dawn on December 13.

Narsingdi was free!

Mannan Bhuiyan died on July 28, 2010 at the age of 67.