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Amid the turbulent days of the Amid the turbulent days of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, countless small towns and villages became the stage for extraordinary acts of courage and resistance.
One such historic confrontation unfolded in Golaidanga on 29 October in the fateful year, where local freedom fighters faced the well-equipped Pakistani army in a daring bid for achieving big gains, incurring insignificant loss.
Such achievements boost the morale of the freedom fighters. They advance toward victory, fighting with courage and bravery.
Though often overshadowed by larger battles, the Golaidanga War stands as a testament to the determination, strategy, and sacrifice of ordinary people rising against oppression, leaving an enduring mark on the region’s history and the collective memory of Bangladesh’s struggle for independence. in 1971, countless small towns and villages became the stage for extraordinary acts of courage and resistance.
One such historic confrontation unfolded in Golaidanga on 29 October in the fateful year, where local freedom fighters faced the well-equipped Pakistani army in a daring bid for achieving big gains, incurring insignificant loss.
Such achievements boost the morale of the freedom fighters. They advance toward victory, fighting with courage and bravery.
Though often overshadowed by larger battles, the Golaidanga War stands as a testament to the determination, strategy, and sacrifice of ordinary people rising against oppression, leaving an enduring mark on the region’s history and the collective memory of Bangladesh’s struggle for independence.
According to the book “Bangladesher Swadhinatajuddho: Sectorbhittik Itihash (Sector Two)” published by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, at the beginning of the war, the Pakistani forces established a camp at Golaidanga Primary School in Singair of Manikganj.
On 29 October, the brave freedom fighters at the camp received news that over three hundred Pakistani soldiers, advancing with 10-12 boats, were moving to capture the camp.
After receiving news of the approaching Pakistani troops, the freedom fighters split into groups and took separate positions. At the tri-junction canal of Golaidanga, they dug three bunkers (earthen pits) on the three banks of the canal and took positions with their weapons and ammunition. There were about 32 freedom fighters.
When the Pakistani soldiers went to a local school, a camp of the freedom fighters, no one attacked them. Finding no one, they began to withdraw. On their way, when all of the Pakistani boats came within the range of them, the freedom fighters launched a coordinated attack. Almost all of the Pakistani boats were sunk, and around one hundred Pakistani soldiers were killed on the spot.
Within 10 to 15 minutes of the battle, 83 Pakistani soldiers were killed, while 10 to 15 others managed to escape. The freedom fighters then seized the Pakistani troops’ weapons and ammunition.
According to “Muktijuddhe Samarik Abhijan” (Military Operations in the Liberation War), Volume III, published by the Bangladesh Army, news of the attack reached the higher authorities of the Pakistani forces via wireless communication. In response, the Pakistani troops launched an aerial attack using helicopters in support of their forces, setting fire to the houses in the area.
The book “Bangladesher Swadhinatajuddho: Sectorbhittik Itihash (Sector Two)” notes that during the Golaidanga battle, the freedom fighters used LMGs, SLRs, 303 rifles, and grenades and captured a large quantity of weapons from the Pakistani soldiers, including rocket bombs, Chinese SMGs, Chinese automatic rifles, and rocket launchers.
“Muktijuddhe Samarik Abhijan” (Volume III) also mentions that Pakistani soldiers deployed divers to retrieve the bodies of their dead soldiers from the water. The battle was led by freedom fighter Tobarak Hossain (Ludu), then a student of the then East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology (EPUET), now BUET, while the overall operation was commanded by Lokman Hossain.
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