252 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র : দশম খন্ড On 14 Sep 71, approximate two enemy battalions launched an attack on our defended areas in Beani Bazar, Baralekah and Zakiganj Thana. Enemy lost a huge number of lives in that battle. We had total seven death casualties. My wife joined me across the border on 13 Sept '71. It was an adventurous story. It was only possible for a brave girl like her who could bluff the enemy all the way to India. It was probably 20 Oct ’71 I received an order to close up my troops and move to Jalalpur Sub-Sector, a place opposite to Zakiganj Police Station on the right. Troops from Dharmanagar Sub-Sector, Amalshid Sub-Sector and Kukital Sub-Sector were also brought in there. All the troops were given under my command. There we spent about two weeks in giving them training in conventional attack and coordination in the battle field etc. In these days we got small range wireless sets for inter company communication. We had to give some practice on that also. SEIZING OPERATION AT ATGRAM (9 Nov, 1971) Strength of Niomita Bahini and trained Gono Bahini stood at more than one thousand. We were all armed with semi-automatic rifles, light machine guns, few medium machine gun and few more heavy weapons. In a word, we prepared ourselves 100% fit for giving a hard punch to the enemy which they would not be able to return. In Atgram Seizing Operation all together I put 4 companies. Under overall command of Lt Col Datta, we planned the operation. Two companies were under the command of Capt Anam who of course at the eleventh hour was called back and was sent to Kamalpur. Later, Second Lt Zahir was given the command of those companies whose task was to cross the river Surma and by passing the enemy at Atgram will go to enemy rear. His companies were supposed to take up defence on both sides of the road near village Chargrame-Darpanagar and the aim of these companies was to stop mainly enemy reinforcement from Sylhet side and enemy withdrawal from Atgram. One company was given under the command of Lt Ghias whose task was to clear the Atgram-Zakiganj road first and then clearing way for the rest of the company and finally take up defensive position there. Task of the last and fourth company was to make through the cross country and reach village Gotagram and take up defence there. It may be mentioned here that during the month of April and May enemy constructed a new short cut road from Atgram to Zakiganj. Main movement of enemy was on this road. In fact if this road were blocked then enemy at Zakiganj would be completely cut off. The task of this company was much difficult. So I decided to accompany that company. Crossing of river Surma became a problem for us. No country boats were available. Somehow we managed only two boats and that took about 4 hours for the whole troops to cross. As per plan main objective of that operation was to seize Atgram, a very strong point of enemy from all sides and compel them to surrender ultimately. It was entirely a
