Six others also liberated
On December 6, 1971, Jashore became the first district in what is now Bangladesh to be fully liberated from the clutches of Pakistani military control, a milestone that saw the newly independent nation's deep‑green flag with a blood‑red sun raised over the cantonment shortly after noon. On the same day, freedom fighters also secured the districts of Feni, Meherpur, Jhenaidah, Kurigram, Sunamganj and Lalmonirhat.
Rabiul Alam, deputy commander of the Bangladesh Liberation Force (Mujib Bahini) for the greater Jashore region, recalled that intense fighting from December 3 to 5, including airstrikes and heavy shelling on Pakistani positions, weakened the occupation forces and forced their retreat. As assaults intensified, Pakistani troops began to collapse and fled toward Khulna's Gillatola cantonment, with several clashes continuing in suburban areas such as Rajarhat on December 5 and 6, he said.
Before afternoon on December 6, Pakistani forces abandoned the Jashore cantonment. Under the leadership of Allied Commander General Barat, Allied Forces and Mukti Bahini units entered the cantonment and took control. News of the victory spread rapidly through the town, prompting spontaneous processions and jubilant crowds chanting "Joy Bangla" as freedom fighters and civilians celebrated in the streets.
Rabiul Alam said Jashore had been designated Sector 8 of the Liberation War, commanded by Major Manzoor, and that Pakistani troops there belonged to the 107th Brigade under Brigadier Hayat Khan. From the cantonment, the Pakistani military had controlled six surrounding districts. Allied operations from November 20, including the capture of the heavily fortified Chaugachha base on the night of November 22, encircled the cantonment and brought it within artillery range. With Chaugachha fallen and forward Pakistani positions collapsing, Brigadier Hayat Khan shifted his command to Khulna, and the final combined assaults on December 5 and 6 forced the enemy to flee toward Khulna.
The spirit of resistance in Jashore had been evident since March 1971. On March 3, a militant procession in front of the Jashore Collectorate pledged support for independence; when Pakistani troops opened fire, Charubala Kar became the first martyr of Jashore. Her death galvanised local resistance, and a struggle committee organised military training for students, youths and women.
On March 26, Pakistani forces abducted former MP Mashiur Rahman, who was later tortured and killed at the cantonment. Pakistani troops withdrew from the town to the cantonment on March 29, and on March 31 thousands of people from Narail and local residents stormed Jashore Central Jail to free political prisoners. Bengali soldiers at the cantonment revolted on March 30 under Captain Hafiz, though many, including Lieutenant Anwar, were martyred in subsequent clashes.
By July, trained freedom fighters had begun sustained attacks on Pakistani positions in and around the town, setting the stage for the November-December operations that culminated in liberation.
Feni: Freedom fighters under Captain Zafar Imam entered the town on the morning of December 6 amid jubilation. A day earlier, after liberating Parshuram and Fulgazi, Mukti Bahini forces fought a fierce battle at Pathan Nagar in Chhagalnaiya, inflicting heavy casualties on Pakistani troops who retreated toward Chattogram by train.
Meherpur: Early on December 6, freedom fighters marched into the subdivision chanting "Joy Bangla." A group of 51 fighters had moved from the Tehatta camp in India on December 5 to launch the Meherpur operation; sustained fire forced Pakistani troops to retreat after they blew up bridges at Amjhupi and Din Dutta.
Jhenaidah: Liberation followed orders from Pakistan's Eastern Command chief Lt Gen AAK Niazi to withdraw troops on the night of December 6 to reinforce Dhaka's defence. With the Dhaka–Jashore highway under allied control, Pakistani forces retreated and the district was declared free.
Sunamganj: Joint forces launched a three‑pronged assault that forced Pakistani troops to flee southwards via road and haor routes, securing the district on December 6.
Kurigram: Unable to withstand allied airstrikes and Mukti Bahini guerrilla assaults, Pakistani forces abandoned Kurigram; later that day, 335 freedom fighters led by Abdul Hai entered the town and hoisted the national flag atop the water tank at Kurigram College.
Lalmonirhat: Also recorded among the districts liberated on December 6, completing a nationwide wave of victories that accelerated the end of occupation.
To mark the historic day, the Jashore district administration organised a programme at the Town Hall ground, inaugurated at 10:00am by Deputy Commissioner Md Ashek Hasan, where officials, veterans and residents paid tribute to the martyrs and recounted the sacrifices that led to liberation.
