North Bengal Sugar Mills will observe 'Shaheed Day' today in memory of those who embraced martyrdom on this day during the liberation war in 1971, says a press release.

The Pakistani occupation forces killed Language Movement veteran and freedom fighter Lt Md Anwarul Azim, the then administrator of the sugar mill at Gopalpur in Natore, along with more than 150 officers and employees of the mill beside a pond on its premises and later dumped the bodies into the pond.

With this, the Pakistani army took revenge on Lt Azim, who with his fellow freedom fighters handed them a crashing defeat at Gopalpur Rail Station gate.

Moreover, he had ordered that the Ishwardi Airport be blown up.

In recognition of his role in the liberation war Gopalpur Rail Station was named Azim Nagar at the instruction of Bangabandhu in 1974 while a commemorative stamp was published in 1994. The pond was named Shaheed Sagar.

On the occasion, Qurankhwani, milad mahfil and discussion will be held while a barefoot silent procession will also be taken out to mark the day.

The wife of martyr Azim and family members of the other martyrs will also attend the programmes.