People of the district got the taste of freedom on this day in 1971, nine days before the nation's final victory against the Pakistani occupation forces.

On April 23, the Pakistani army captured the district, said local freedom fighters (FFs).

At different times, they carried out arson attacks, loot and killing of innocent people in the town and Begumganj and Sonaimuri upazilas.

At that time, the occupation forces shot and burnt over 150 people, including children, to death with the help of rajakars. They torched houses, shops and business establishments and took the women to their camps to rape and torture.

The day before Noakhali was declared free from Pakistani occupation, the army had to leave Maijdee Primary Training Institute Camp and Begumganj Technical High School Camp for Comilla Cantonment as they failed to resist the FFs, said FF Fazlul Hoque Badal.