On this day in 1971, only a few days after the final victory over the Pakistan occupation forces, at least 25 freedom fighters met tragic death in a series of explosions caused by an accidental mine blast at the transit camp established at century-old Moulvibazar Government High School in the district.

After December 16, local freedom fighters in batches started joining the transit camp and arms, ammunition, mines and other explosives carried by the freedom fighters were being kept there.

On December 20 morning, a mine from the hand of a freedom fighter accidentally fell on the floor of the school building and exploded with a big bang. It caused blasting of several other mines.

Hearing the sound of explosions, local people and Indian allied army rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies of over 25 freedom fighters.

They were buried with due honors in the south-eastern corner of the playground of Moulvibazar Government High school.

A martyrs' memorial, built in front of the burial ground, came to be known as the Central Shaheed Minar of Moulvibazar district.

Beside the Central Shaheed Minar, another monument was later built with inscriptions of a list of 25 freedom fighters that died in the tragic incident.

Martyred freedom fighters mentioned on the list at the monument are -- Suleman Miah (Fenchganj, Sylhet), Rahim Bakhs Khuka (Moulvibazar town), Yanur Ali (Kulaura, Moulvibazar), Askar Ali (address not known), Jahir Miah (Kulaura, Moulvibazar), Nandalal Baroi (address not known), Abdul Ali (address not known), Sanatan Singha (address not known), Abdul Aziz (Shamsernagar, Moulvibazar), Ashutosh Deb (Srimongal, Moulvibazar), Unidentified (thana and district Mymensingh), Prodip Das (Rajnagar, Moulvibazar), Arona Deb (Rajnagar, Moulvibazar), Sattyendra Kumar Das (Rajnagar, Moulvibazar), Shishir Deb (Rajnagar, Moulvibazar), Dilip Kumar Deb (Rajnagar, Moulvibazar), Makhon Lal Deb (Thana and district Moulvibazar), Jitesh Deb (address not known), Kumud Ranjan Dey (upazila and district Moulvibazar), Kajol pal (Sylhet town), Rabindra Bhattacharya (address not known), Abdul Malik (Rajnagar, Moulvibazar), Unidentified (upazila and district Mymensingh) and Abdul Jabber (Rajnagar, Moulvibazar).

The number of the victims would be much more as several bodies got burnt and destroyed beyond recognition, said a few senior politicians of the area.

Different government, non-government, socio-cultural and political organisations have taken up day-long programmes to mark the day.

The programmes include placing of floral wreaths at the memorial, doa mehfil and discussion meeting.