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'''Liberation of Mirpur''' refers to the Liberation of [[Mirpur Thana]] in [[Dhaka]] on 31 January 1972 by [[Bangladesh Armed Forces]] after the end of [[Bangladesh Liberation war]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/wide-angle/bangla-college-witness-the-1971-genocide-1380715|title=Bangla College: A Witness to the 1971 Genocide|date=2017-03-24|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en}}</ref>

== Background ==

During the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]], [[Mirpur Model Thana|Mirpur]] remained pro-Pakistan. Bengalis living in Mirpur were threatened and attacked by pro-Pakistan Biharis. Bengali poet, [[Meherun Nesa|Meherunnesa]], was killed by the Bihari inhabitants of Mirpur along with her family members.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-172137|title=When Mirpur stood liberated|date=2011-01-31|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en}}</ref> Bangladesh became an independent country on 16 December 1971. [[Mirpur Thana]], mostly inhabited by Biharis, remained under the control of pro-Pakistan paramilitary forces even after the independence of Bangladesh.<ref name=":0" /> Many of the inhabitants were members of pro-Pakistan paramilitary forces like the [[Razakar (Pakistan)|Razakars]], [[Al-Badr (East Pakistan)|Al-Badr]], and [[Al-Shams (East Pakistan)|Al-Shams]]. They possessed weapons and ammunition, given to them by the [[Pakistan Army]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.observerbd.com/2016/02/02/134143.php|title=January 1972: The liberation of Mirpur|website=www.observerbd.com|access-date=2018-02-03}}</ref> After the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|Liberation War]] ended, Bihari neighborhoods were guarded by [[Indian Army]] soldiers. On 30 January 1972, Indian Army personnel were withdrawn, as their guarding of Biharis had become a source of tension between Bangladeshis and Indians.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/31/archives/bengalis-seal-daccas-bihari-areas.html|title=Bengalis Seal Dacca's Bihari Areas|last=Schanberg|first=Sydney H.|date=1972|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== History ==

On 30 January 1972, the [[Bangladesh Armed Forces]] had surrounded Mirpur and began preparations to "liberate Mirpur". Bengali filmmaker, [[Zahir Raihan]], went to Mirpur after someone called him about his missing brother, [[Shahidullah Kaiser]], who was previously kidnapped by members of the Al-Badr. [[Zahir Raihan]] was never seen again.<ref name=":0" /> The soldiers started searching Mirpur and [[Mohammadpur Thana]] for weapons and curfew was imposed on the area. Biharis in Mohammadpur had shot at a group of Bengali refugees returning home, wounding 6 and killing one. Gunfights broke out in Mohammadpur and Mirpur between Biharis and soldiers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.<ref name=":1" /> Journalists were not permitted to enter while soldiers searched for weapons. United Nations representative, Vittorio Winspeare-Guicciardi visited the camp, where Biharis asked him to help them move to Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/13/archives/un-aide-visits-a-bihari-enclave-waldheim-aide-mobbed-as-he-inspects.html|title=U.n. Aide ‘visits a Bihari Enclave|date=1972-02-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

After the surrender of Pakistan Army and the independence of Bangladesh, Mirpur was the last stronghold of pro-Pakistan forces.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=2021-12-16 |title=Mirpur: The tale of the last battle |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/supplement/mirpur-tale-last-battle-344386 |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref> [[Golam Helal Morshed Khan]] commanded the Bangladeshi forces composed 82 personnel of Bangladesh Army and 200 personnel of [[Bangladesh Police]].<ref name=":12" /> His commanding officer was Major [[Moinul Hossain Chowdhury]] who sent Second Lieutenant Selim Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, who was killed in action, to support him.<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Alamgir |first=Mohiuddin |date=2021-01-31 |title=The last battlefield |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/the-last-battlefield-2036585 |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> The battle saw heavy gunfights between his forces and [[Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh|collaborators of Pakistan Army]].<ref name=":12" /> After losing 42 army personnel and 82 police personnel Khan retreated from Mirpur to an [[Indian Army|Indian army]] base.<ref name=":12" /> Mirpur was liberated after reinforcements were sent from different cantonments of Bangladesh.<ref name=":12" />

== Legacy ==

In Bangladesh, 31 January is marked as Victory Day of Mirpur or [[Mirpur Mukto Dibos]]h.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dhakacourier.com.bd/the-liberation-of-mirpur/|title=The liberation of Mirpur|work=Dhaka Courier|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Abdul Quader Mollah]], nicknamed "Butcher of Mirpur", was hanged for his role in the death of poet, [[Meherun Nesa|Meherunnesa]], and journalist [[Khandker Abu Taleb]], on 13 December 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news/butcher-of-mirpur-hanged|title=Butcher of Mirpur hanged|date=2013-12-13|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Aftermath of the Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:January 1972 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Military history of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:1970s in Dhaka]]
[[Category:1971 in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:1972 crimes in Bangladesh]]

Liberation of Mirpur - Revision history

Bot at 00:47, 16 December 2022