Tanore Upazila: History
The literal meaning of "tanore" in the Bengali language is "dismal area." In ancient times this area was a desert-like place with few trees or people. As time went by, the area became more habitable, and people began to settle there. Indigenous tribal groups, including the Santhal and Mahalim lived there for many years.
Tanore Upazila was freed from Pakistan on 30 November 1971. A last battle was fought on the night of 29 November. Safikur Rahman Raja was a final year student at Rajshahi University at that time and led the freedom fighters.
Six fighters were captured by the Pakistani army with the help of local collaborators (Rajakars) near the river port of Buruj on 29 November. They were tortured in the Tanore police station. A guerrilla team consisting of 30 to 35 freedom fighters divided into four groups attacked the police station that night to free them. They were led by Safikur Rahman Raja. Although the freedom fighters had less ammunition, they forced the enemy to retreat and freed the captives. Three fighters were killed, while Sirajul Islam, alias Hanif Mridha, survived his wounds. The martyrs were Monayem Monjur, a student of Rajshahi Polytechnic institute; Muhammad Islam, a student of class ten of Maskatadighi school at Katakhali; and an indigenous youth whose name was not known. The Pakistani army withdrew their soldiers and police forces from this area on 30 November. Safikur Rahman Raja hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh at Tanore on 17 December. A place of execution is located at Gollapara Bazaar in Tanore that bears the testimony of oppressions, tortures, and atrocities done by the autocratic Pakistani army.