Mukti Bahini Wins Victory-1

Preface 13871388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
Mukti
Bahini
Wins Victory
Military Oligarchy
Divides Pakistan in
1971
Mukti Bahini
Wins Victory
Military Oligarchy Divides Pakistan in 1971
Major General ATM Abdul Wahab, retd
Columbia Prokashani
Columbia Prokashani
Coy !ights
Author
Phone : 88!"#88$!$!
%mail : &ahab'bijoy(net
"irst Published
)ecember, "!!*
+econd %dition ,-e.ised/
)ecember, "!!0
Publisher
1t Col ,-etd/ +2M 3oor4n3abi 5han Bir Bikram
Columbia Prokashani
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Dedicated
3o
#llah
#ll raises 4or #lmighty #llah
*ho had given courage and o*er
to Mukti 2ahini to de4end the
2engali race 4rom e5tinction by the
6ahya7s hyenas and *ho had
sanctioned 4reedom to 2engalis to
live *ith the destinies o4 eace and
harmony8
9 9 9
and
3he /reat Messengers o4 /od&
Prohet :a;rat Muhammad <P2=:>
Prohet ?esus Christ <P2=:>
Prohet Moses <P2=:>
Prohet #braham <P2=:>
4or reaching Oneness o4 /od&
universal eace& generosity&
comassion and love 4or humanity
so that humanity return to eace4ul
siritual *orld 4ree 4rom all kinds
o4 sins and 4ighting8
Preface '387'388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
Contents
Chapter 1 Political Back:round: ;ailure o< 3ational 2nte:ration
in Pakistan
181 2engal lost 1ndeendence
182 2irth o4 Pakistan
183 Discrimination against the 2engalis
18' !ule o4 oligarchy in Pakistan
18. 1n search o4 Constitution 18
18+ #gartala Consiracy Case --
187 Cyclone o4 12 %ovember 197- --
Chapter 2 March =#$=: Pakistani Military A::ression and
Genocide
281 @arachi in March 1971
282 Dhaka #irort on -' March 1971 '3
283 :istoric 7
th
March '.
28' Dhaka Cantonment in March 1971 ..
28. Pakistan Military in Aast Pakistan .9
28+ ?essore Cantonment in March 1971 +.
287 President on the air on 2+ March +8
288 )enior 3iger out o4 the cage 7
Chapter 3 Be:innin: o< Armed -esistance
381 Crackdo*n in Dhaka on 2. March
382 Oeration )earchlight
383 #rmed Crackdo*n and Proclamation o4 1ndeendence
38' #rmed !esistance 2oiled Do*n
38. 2attle o4 @ushtia
38+ :eroic !ole o4 Police at Pabna 99
38+ 2engal Military in Aast Pakistan 1-8
Chapter 4 Ban:ladesh Go.ernment in %>ile and ?r:ani@ation
o< Mukti Bahini
'81 Crossing to 1ndian soil 11+
'82 2angladesh /overnment$in$A5ile 119
'83 2irth o4 Mukti 2ahini 127
'8' Mukti 2ahini at @allyani 139
'8. MuBib 2ahini
'8+ Consiracy in A5ile 1''
Chapter 5 Guerilla War<are o< ;reedom ;i:hters
.81 2arrackur 1'9
.82 2ase Cam at 2anur 1.1
.83 !aid on Darsana Anemy stronghold 1.7
.8' #kbar 2ahini 1.9
.8. /u;adanga 2ase cam 1+'
.8+ !aid on 2aikhari 1+9
.87 22C in Ciberated #rea 172
.88 /ono 2ahini cam at )atkhira 17'
.89 Aagle Comany& a heroic Cegend
.81-2angladesh #ir 4orce in Ciberation Dar and
Aisode o4 a atriotic 2engali Pilot 17.
Chapter 6 Marine War<are and ?Aeration BackAot
+81 %aval "orce 17+
+82 3he /reat Ordeal o4 )ubmariner 177
+83 Oeration ?ackot 18-
+8' Oeration on Chittagang Port 181
+8. Oeration on Mongla Port 18'
+8+ Chandur Oeration 18+
+87 Oeration at %arayangonB !iver Port
+88 Oeration at Daudkandi "erryhead 188
+89 Oeration at Daudkandi "erryhead 19-
Chapter 7 Con.entional War<are and Ban:ladesh Bri:ade
781 EFG "orce
2attle o4 @amalur
2attle o4 %akshi
2ahadurabad /hat Oertion
2attle o4 Chotokhel
2attle o4 Dhalai
2attle o4 Chargram
782 E@G "orce
Preface .387.388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
2attle o4 )aldhanadi
2attle o4 @asba
2attle o4 2elunia 2ulge
783 E)G "orces
2attle o4 Mukundaur
Chapter 8 )iAlomatic War<are and -ole o< the 43?
881 3he !ole o4 Dilomats in "oreign Mission ---
882 =) )enator on 2angladesh --
883 /eoolitics$Polari;ation in the conte5t o4 2angladesh crisis 23+
88' Dilomatic moves in = % 239
88. /unboat Dilomacy ---
Chapter 9 ;ailure o< Pakistan and Birth o< Ban:ladesh
981 "inal O44ensive
982 Pakistani )trategy
983 #llied "orces )trategy
98' )outh*estern )ector
98. %orth*estern )ector
98+ Aastern )ector
987 Central )ector
988 /allantry #*ards
989 Dar Casualty
981- Ailogue ---
AAAendices
#endi5$#, Oeration )earch Cight
#endi5$2, 2angladesh "orces
#endi5$C, Pakistan "orces in Aast Pakistan
#endi5$D, 1ndian "orces in Aastern Command in 1971
#endi5$A, 1ndo$)oviet 3reaty
#endi5$", 1ntervie* o4 /eneral )am Maneksha*
#endi5$/, #rticle by ?ack #nderson 1972
#endi5$:, #eal to 1ndia 4or !ecognition o4 2angladesh
#endi5$1, !ecognition o4 2angladesh by 1ndia 1971
#endi5$?, )uhra*ardyGs )tatement 19'7
#endi5$@, )anad 4or #3M #bdul Dahab
#endi5$C, 1nstrument o4 )urrender 2+7
#endi5$M, #eal to 1ndian 2rethren 4or #rms ---
2ibliograhy ---
1nde5 ---
Preface +387+388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
P-%;AC%
1 consider it a solemn ersonal resonsibility as a 4reedom 4ighter to
record the eye*itness accounts o4 liberation *ar to encourage the
eole to remember the sacri4ices o4 the millions and to raise their
conscience8 My heart bleeds like others *hen 1 *atch that a4ter
thirty$three years o4 indeendence the values o4 liberation *ar are
disaearing 4rom our national li4e8 1t is a great disaointment that
sureme sacri4ices o4 millions o4 martyrs had been buried in an
avalanche o4 legends8 !amant corrution and aalling act o4
terrorism have engul4ed the entire society8 1 articiated in the *ar o4
liberation betting my li4e 4or 4reedom8 My roles as a 4reedom 4ighter
*ere various as 1 led troos in the battles& *ent behind enemy lines a
risky *hich *ere dangerous and courageous missions to carry out
sabotage& raids and ambushes on enemy and rovided battle
intelligence to #llied "orces leading to the ultimate victory8 1 have
undertaken a humble endeavour to *rite about the events leading to
*ar& some imortant battles& encounters *ith Pakistan #rmy and
ultimately the 4inal o44ensive culminating in the birth o4 2angladesh8
3he eole o4 the region that is no* 2angladesh *ent through a
long eriod o4 colonial e5loitation and 4ought against the
coloni;ers8 1ndian sub$continent *as under the 2ritish colonial rule
4or 19- years8 )everal attemts *ere made by the 1ndians to liberate
1ndia 4rom 2ritish subBugation8 )ome o4 the great leaders are %a*ab
Mir Hasim& 3itumir& !ani o4 ?hansi& )urBa )en& 3iu )ultan& )ubash
2ose and 1ndian seoys esecially the 2engal #rmy in 18.78 3he
2ritish 4oiled all attemts *ith their collaborators in 1ndia8
3he 2engalis *ere the *orst su44erers as they took leading roles
in every endeavour& articularly in the 1ndian liberation *ar o4 18.7
that had 4ailed8 #t that time there *ere 2engal regular units& like
2engal %ative in4antry& 2engal Cavalry and 2engal #rtillery8 3he
2ritish colonial rulers e5anded their Amire by intrigue and
maniulationI and they emloyed 2engal #rmy 4or e5edition to
di44erent regions o4 1ndia8 #s 2engal #rmy took art in armed
revolution in 18.7& this *as disbanded8 Madras and 2ombay #rmy
sided *ith the 2ritish rulers8 Organi;ed olitical movements started
to overthro* the 2ritish *hen olitical arties *ere 4ormed8 1ndian
%ational Congress *as established in 188.8 Muslim Ceague *as
born in 19-+ at Dhaka8 1ndian %ational Congress became the
olitical lat4orm to imlement the hoes and asirations o4 the
eole8 "reedom movements under the leadershi o4 1ndian %ational
Congress geared u in the beginning o4 the nineteenth century8
Muslim renaissance movement *as initiated by )ir )yed #hmed
@han to uhold and sa4eguard the religious& cultural and olitical
heritage and rights o4 the Muslims o4 1ndia8 :e seculated that the
:indus and the Muslims *ould not be able to sit on the same throneI
one had to thro* the other8 Huaid$e$#;am Muhammad #li ?innah as
one o4 the leaders o4 the 1ndian %ational Congress visuali;ed that the
:indus having brute maBority in 1ndia& democracy in united 1ndia
*ould mean a eretual ermanent :indu raj. :e contributed
to*ards uniting Muslims under the banner o4 the Muslim Ceague to
create a searate homeland 4or the 1ndian Muslims8 Pakistan *as
created on the basis o4 the t*o$nation theory $ :indu nation and
Muslim nation8 #4ter the indeendence o4 Pakistan on 1' #ugust
19'7 cultural and economic con4licts bet*een the 2engali Muslims
and PunBabi Muslims& articularly on language issue <recognition o4
2angla as a state language> and economic e5loitation o4 Aast
Pakistan by the so called elites o4 Pakistan& ut the seeds o4 oison
and bitterness in the minds o4 the 2engali Muslims8
President #yub @han 4abricated the #gartala Consiracy Case to
de4ame and humiliate the 2engalis8 :e considered the Aast
Pakistanis$ as second$class citi;ens o4 Pakistan and ointed his 4inger
to the 2engalis as secessionists8 :is attitude and olicies made it
obvious that the 2engalis needed 4reedom 4rom the PunBabi
domination8 )heikh MuBibur !ahman because o4 his
uncomromising attitude against the PunBabi domination became the
undisuted leader o4 7. million 2engalees8
President 6ahya @han imlemented the universal adult 4ranchise&
that is& one$man one vote 4or the 4irst time in united Pakistan8
President 6ahya 4ramed the Cegal "rame*ork Order <C"O> *ith the
assistance o4 his 1n4ormation Minister Dr / D Chaudhury& a 2engali
olitical scientist *ho incororated adult 4ranchise and other
constitutional matters to be decided by single maBority8 Dr / D
Chaudhury *as credited by many olitical analysts as the architect o4
an electoral mechanism that had ultimately led to the birth o4
2angladesh8 :e art4ully incororated adult 4ranchise clause& that is&
one$man one vote against arity in C"O aroved by President
6ahya @han against the *ishes o4 his inner cabinet colleagues
esecially /eneral #bdul :amid @han and #ir Marshal %oor @han8
President 6ahya *ho *as in 4avour o4 adult 4ranchise could not
conceive that #*ami Ceague *ould achieve a landslide victory in the
197- %ational #ssembly election8 #*ami Ceague *on absolute
maBority in the %ational #ssembly election o4 197-8
#*ami CeagueGs election mani4esto *as based on the 4amous
Esi5 ointsG& raised by the arty on the basis o4 *hich movements
*ere going on8 #*ami CeagueGs Esi5 ointsG envisaged the rovisions
to sto the 4light o4 caital 4rom Aast to Dest Pakistan and
e5loitation o4 its resources by the Dest Pakistanis8 3his *as not
really designed as the instrument 4or a secession movement8 1n 4act
the crackdo*n o4 Pakistan #rmy on the unarmed oulation o4 Aast
Pakistan on 2. March 1971 le4t no *ay oen 4or the eole o4 Aast
Pakistan but to engage in the liberation *ar 4or the sake o4 their
e5istence through 4reedom leading to the disintegration o4 Pakistan
and birth o4 2angladesh8 :o*ever secession movement had its root&
dee into the soil o4 2angladesh because o4 the colonial attitude o4
the Dest Pakistanis and e5loitation o4 the 2engalis in general8
1 had been contemlating to record the events leading to the
disintegration o4 Pakistan and emergence o4 2angladesh since 198-8
1n the structure o4 the book 1 have tried to include an intensely 4elt
ersonal memoirs and accounts o4 the events o4 constitutional crisis&
autocratic rule o4 Pakistan& olitical movements that crystalli;ed into
armed resistance& its momentum and maturity& olitical moves in the
=% )ecurity Council suorted by )oviet =nion and 4inal o44ensive
by the combined 4orces o4 1ndian #rmy and Mukti 2ahini 4inally
leading to the disintegration o4 Pakistan and emergence o4
2angladesh8
3he main agenda o4 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman *as
to sto the e5loitation o4 the resources o4 Aast Pakistan in the
4rame*ork o4 si5 oints& not the comlete disintegration o4 Pakistan8
President 6ahya 4rustrated the hoes and asirations o4 Pakistan by
not allo*ing the %ational #ssembly to sit and 4rame the constitution
and run the country through constitutional means8 !ather he adoted
the means o4 *eaons and violence to remain himsel4 in the seat o4
o*er8 :e banned #*ami Ceague as olitical arty and branded
2angabandhu as a traitor and enemy o4 Pakistan8 President 6ahya
claimed that he *as the descendant o4 %adir )hah *ho started his
career as the leader o4 a band o4 robbers8
3hree olitical leaders 2angabandhu& 2hutto and 6ahya truly
held the 4ate o4 Pakistan in their hands8 Aach one o4 them *as under
enormous ressure 4rom onrushing events& their constituencies and
4rom their o*n sense o4 ersonal duty and resonsibility8 1t is
unambiguous in asserting *ho *as the 4irst one to break do*n under
the ressure and reciitate Pakistan to*ards disaster and Aast
Pakistan to*ards indeendence J the uncouth soldier& greedy )indhi
landlord *ho turned to be a olitician or the nationalist olitician
4rom the soil o4 2engal8 1t *as the uncouth soldier *ho let loose the
#rmy hyenas to commit genocide in 2engal8 :e committed a
colossal error o4 Budgment by striking innocent unarmed civilian and
moves to disarm and eliminate the 2engali elements o4 the #rmy8
1 *ould like to e5ress my dee gratitude and thanks to my
college classmate Mia #bdul #*al& a "ormer civil servant and an MP
4or taking keen interest to go through the scrit and e5tending
valuable suggestions to imrove the Kuality o4 the book *ithout
*hose contributions the book could not be given the resent
e5cellent shae8 1 am immensely indebted to him 4or the care& ain
and interest he has undertaken 4or correcting the manuscrit8 1 am
grate4ul to Dr %aseem #khter :ussain& Pro4essor& Deartment o4
/overnment and Politics& ?ahangir %agar =niversity 4or 4inal
editting8 1 am thank4ul to my P# )ergeant Md @amal :ossain 4or
tying the 4irst dra4t o4 the manuscrit8 My sons #3M #shra4ul
#ri4in and #3M Man;urul #ri4in e5tended assistance *hen 1 4aced
roblems *ith comosing and rinting in the comuter8 My *i4e
#4ro;a )hahani e5tended her 4ull suort and cooeration8 1 also
e5ress my dee gratitude and areciation to my comrade$in$arms
in liberation *ar& a most valiant 4reedom 4ighter Cieutenant Colonel
)1M %oor$=n$%abi @han 2ir 2ikram 4or undertaking the
resonsibility 4or ublishing my book8 1 am thank4ul to the *riters
mentioned in the bibliograhy *hose books heled me in enriching
my ideas and analyses8
MaBor /eneral #3M #bdul Dahab& retd
;?-%W?-)
1 4eel rivileged to be reKuested by the author to contribute a
"ore*ord to his book entitled, Mukti Bahini Wins Victory8 :aving
Boined the #rmy a4ter Kuali4ying as a Mechanical Angineer& he has
given an in4ormative account o4 his o*n articiation in the *ar o4
Ciberation 4rom the earliest days till 1+ December 19718 :e has at
the same time dra*n uon the *ealth o4 ublished *orks& *hich are
listed in the 2ibliograhy& to re$construct the contributions o4 all the
other 4reedom 4ighters8 3he documents and the in4ormation set out in
#endices contain use4ul in4ormation& *hich rovide invaluable
insights into the history o4 the *ar o4 liberation and into eoleGs
articiation in it8
3he atriotism and dedication to the cause o4 the liberation o4 the
author is revealed *hen he describes the di44erent critical moments
*hen decisions had to be made by him8 Aach o4 them involved
taking the risk o4 his li4e8 1n each such moment he took decision
*hich involved risking his li4e to achieve the liberation o4
2angladesh8 1n chater a4ter chater he ays tribute to all those o4 his
4ello* 4reedom 4ighters *ho Lembraced martyrdomM8 %ot only does
this sho* his resect 4or the martyrs but reminds readers o4 the
sureme sacri4ice made by so many8 1n an aendi5 he has given
detailed in4ormation regarding the leaders o4 each o4 the sectors and
brigades& and the tragic circumstances in *hich many o4 them lost
their lives a4ter liberation8
1n this book the author seeks also to rovide an understanding o4
the historic& olitical& economic and social background o4 the
liberation struggle8 3he inBustices *hich *ere su44ered by the
2engali eole and their indomitable sirit to combat such inBustice
is traced 4rom the days o4 1ssa @han& through the 18
th
and 19
th
century& till the end o4 2ritish rule in 19'78 3here is a use4ul
summary o4 ost$19'7 olitical develoments8 3he denial o4 their
rights and the inBustice su44ered by the 2engali eole 4uelled their
nationalism and united them in suort o4 the si5$oint and 11$oint
rogramme8 3he historic signi4icance o4 the electoral verdict o4 as a
re4erendum on si5$oints(11$oints and o4 the Lthe strategic
declarationM o4 7 March& 1971 are recorded8
3he author is to be congratulated uon comletion o4 the second
edition& *hich 4urther enriches the contents o4 the 4irst edition
ublished on 1- December 2--'8 3his *ork can be *idely
commended to those *ho *ish to be enlightened about ho* victory
*as *on by the total articiation o4 and sacri4ices made by all
segments o4 the 2engali nation8
)r( 5amal 7ossain
?urist o4 1nternational reute
"ormer "oreign Minister o4 2angladesh
President& /ono "orum
Dhaka& 2. December 2--.
ChaAter =
3:A POC131C#C 2#C@/!O=%D
"#1C=!A O" %#31O%#C
1%3A/!#31O% 1% P#@1)3#%
Preface 1-3871-388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory

Ben:al 1ost 2ndeAendence
Battle o< Plassey
3he setting o4 the sun o4 indeendence o4 2engal *as in the battle o4
Plassey8 2engal *as chained under the slavery o4 2ritish and lost its
glamour and 4reedom and reduced to overty$ridden society8 2ritish
stried o44 2engalGs ride& o*er and honourI looted Be*els& gold&
diamonds& *ealth and everything and destroyed its culture& tradition
and heritage8
2attle o4 Plassey oened the gate*ay to establishing 2ritish
Amire in 1ndia8 1ndia became Be*el in the 2ritish cro*n8 3he
conseKuences o4 2attle o4 Plassey *ere enormous8 1t set the 2ritish
on a ath that *ould eventually lead to the conKuest o4 the *hole o4
1ndia and else*here8 1t brought a source o4 con4idence to the 2ritish
and a shiver o4 4ear to the 1ndian rinces *ho later caitulated one
a4ter another8
"ailed to secure e5tra 4avour as *ell as to stomach the insult
4rom the young king& Mir Fa4ar& the commander$in$chie4 o4 the army
and married to #liverdiGs hal4 sisterI ?aget )eth& the court banker& and
!aB Durlabh& the chie4 minister hatched consiracy to overthro*
%a*ab )iraB$ud$Daula8 /hasita 2egum& rich and in4luential lady
%a*abGs aunt Boined *ith the consirators8
6oung %a*ab )iraB$ud$Daula ossessed neither the dilomatic
nor the olitical skillI he invited rebellion 4rom courtiers by
antagoni;ing them by the authority o4 his kingshi8 )ince the time o4
his grand 4ather #liverdi the members o4 the !oyal Court had sho*n
little loyalty to young %a*ab8
Dhen the consiracy o4 ?aget )eth& Mir Fa4ar& !aBballba *ith the
Anglish traders *ere kno*n to the %a*ab and receit o4 the ne*s o4
building o4 the 4orti4ication o4 CalcuttaI he tried to resolve the
disute dilomatically8 2ut the 2ritish governor !oger Drake roved
intransigent treated %a*abGs envoy *ith contemt8 %a*ab declared&
L:o* dare a 4e* traders *ho have not yet learnt to *ash their
bottoms& rely to the rulerGs order by e5elling his envoyNM :e
mobili;ed his 4orces and catured the trading ost o4 @asimur in the
4irst *eek o4 ?une 17.+8 :e marched to Calcutta and de4eated the
Anglish on 2- ?une 17.+8
3he governor !oger Drake *ith his traders hurriedly boarding
their shis& 4led to the sa4ety o4 4lotilla in the sea8 %a*abGs triumh at
Calcutta 4orced "rench and Dutch to ay tribute to the %a*ab8 :e
de4eated and killed )haukat ?ung *ho challenged the claim to the
throne& obtaining the aointment o4 %a*ab 4rom the Ameror in
Delhi8
Anglish re$en4orcement *as disatched 4rom Madras under
command o4 Clive8 #4ter reaching Calcutta and secret negotiation
*ith ?aget )eth and Mir Fa4ar& Clive begun his march to*ards
Murshiddabad& had aro5imately +13 Auroean troos& 1--
Aurasians& 171 artillerymen& 2&1-- 1ndian in4antry lus 12 artillery
ieces8 :e reached Plassey on ?une 22 at midnight& and discovered
that the advance guards o4 the %a*abGs army *ere only a 4e* miles
a*ay8
3he site o4 the battle 4ield as described by Cuke )cra4ton& one o4
CliveGs chroniclers as L3he main 2ritish 4orce& rotected by a mud
bank and a ditch& *as concentrated about 4i4ty yards 4rom 2hagirathi
!iver in a mango grove about 8-- yards long and 3-- yards *ideI
the Auroeans in the center and the 1ndians on the sides8M )iraB$ud$
daula *as camed strategically and sa4ely on the other side o4 an
entrenchment& *hich ran along the river 2hagirathi and e5tended
about 2-- yards inland8 :is 4orces under Mir Madan 4aced the
2ritish *ith the "rench artillery about t*o hundred yards 4rom the
enemy lines8 On a redoubt Bust belo* this entrenchment& the "rench
mounted one o4 their large caliber cannons8
3he troos o4 Mir Fa4ar& !ai Durlabh& and 6ar Cutu4 @han
4ormed a crescent 4rom the entrenchment to *ithin hal4 a mile o4 the
southern angle o4 the mango grove& *ith Mir Fa4arGs division
encircling and out4lanking the Anglish8 3he %a*abGs total 4orce& as
reorted by historians& numbered 3.&--- in4antry& 1.&--- cavalry and
.3 4ield$gun ieces8 Mir Madan commanded the loyal army
numbering 12&---8 )earate divisions *ere under the command o4
!ai Durlabh& 6ar Cutu4 @han and Mir Fa4ar remains mystery8
3he battle began at 8 #M *hen the "rench artillery under M8 de
)t8 "rais oened 4ire on 2ritish ositions8 3he morning assed in an
artillery duel *ith %a*abGs 4orces slo*ly gaining the uer hand8
3he %a*abGs army advanced slo*ly and took u ne* 4iring
ositions8 2y 11 #M Clive had concluded that his situation *as
hoeless8 :e decided to abandon his ositions and *ithdra* his
troos to mango grove and then retreat under the darkness to their
boats anchored u the river8
%aoleon had once remarked that he *anted lucky generals& not
necessarily skilled ones8 #t Daterloo& he certainly could have used
CliveGs luck at Plassey8 #t about noon the heavens oened u& and
4or about an hour or so& a severe thunderstorm broke over the
*arring 4orces8 3orrential do*nours that deosit enormous
Kuantities o4 *ater in short eriod o4 time have become synonymous
*ith this art o4 this *orld8 3he 2ritish accustomed to such monsoon
rains o4 2engal& immediately covered their artillery and ammunition
*ith taraulins& *hich the less e5erienced "rench did not8 3heir
ammunition *as soaked and their guns 4ell silent8 3hinking that the
rains had silenced enemyGs guns& a section o4 the %a*abGs cavalry
led by Mir Madan attacked8 3hey *ere met by heavy artillery 4ire8
Mir Madan *as mortally *ounded and the cavalry retreated in
disarray *ith elehants in a stamede8
Con4usion reigned in )iraB$ud$daulaGs cam8 3he death o4 Mir
Madan unnerved the %a*ab8 %a*ab laced his turban in Mir Fa4arGs
hand and reKuest him to Boin the battle& but Mir Fa4ar *as unmoved8
:o*ever& @h*aBa #bdul :adi @han and Mohan Cal took the control
o4 the battle a4ter the death o4 Mir Madan8 MaBor @ilatrick seeing
con4usion in %a*abGs army ordered 4or the attack& but Clive *as
4urious on MaBor @ilatrick8 Cater on it aeared the attack *as
bearing 4ruit8 Clive continued the battle sending another detachment
under command o4 Ayre Coote8 Dhile some o4 the %a*abGs 4orces
4ought back& )iraB$ud$daula lost heart and abandoned them8 :e
obtained a s*i4t camel and *ith his bodyguards 4led to Murshidabad8
3he ne*s o4 his 4light disheartened his troos J the 2attle o4 Plassey
*as lost8 3he battle *as over by . PM8 3he 4orces o4 Mir Fa4ar& !ai
Durlabh and 6ar Cutu4 @han remained intact because they had not
articiated in the battle8 )iraB$ud$daulaGs 4light 4rom the battle4ield
not only sealed the 4ate o4 his 4orces but also his rule as the %a*ab o4
2engal& 2ihar and Orissa& and subseKuently subBugations o4 *hole o4
1ndia8
Birth o< Pakistan
Pakistan $ comrising o4 Aast 2engal& Dest PunBab& )indh&
2aluchistan and %orth Dest "rontier Province J *as curved out o4
1ndian subcontinent and established as an 1ndeendent sovereign
Muslim state on 1' #ugust 19'7 *hen the 2ritish le4t 1ndia a4ter a
rolonged reign o4 19- years commencing 4rom ?une 23& 17.78
#lthough Pakistan had neither common language and uni4orm
culture& nor an integrated geograhical entity and a uni4ied economic
unit& nevertheless Pakistan *as created *ith Aast 2engal as one o4 its
rovinces8 )ir #llahma Muhammad 1Kbal& the oet and hilosoher
4or the 4irst time made a re4erence to the need 4or a E%orth$Dest
1ndian Muslim )tateG in his residential address at the #llahabad
session o4 the Muslim Ceague in 193-8 2ut it did not contain any
roosal 4or inclusion o4 2engal as a art o4 that ne*ly conceived
state8
Chaudhury !ahmat #li may be regarded as the roonent o4 the
idea o4 EPakistanG8 :e demanded a searate national entity 4or the
1ndian Muslims in193.& coined its name as EPakistanG taking the 4irst
alhabets 4rom the PunBab& #4ghanistan& @ashmir& )indh and last
ortion o4 2aluchistan8 #t that time also he did not visuali;e the
Muslim maBority rovince o4 2engal8 Pakistan *as the culmination
o4 the Muslim renaissance movement initiated by )ir )yed #hmed
@han to sa4eguard the religious& cultural and olitical rights o4 the
Muslim o4 the entire sub$continent during the later art o4 the
nineteenth century8 :e had observed the :indu$ Muslim cultural
con4licts in 18+7 *hen he *as osted as a ?udge in 2enares& a city on
the bank o4 /anges *ith great religious signi4icance 4or the :indus8
#s early as in 1888 )ir )yed #hmed had seculated on a ossible
struggle 4or o*er in the event o4 a trans4er o4 sovereignty to the
1ndians8 3he Mohammedans and the :indus J being t*o searate
nations& most certainly *ould not be able to sit on the same throne
eace4ully and remain eKual in o*er8 1t *ould be necessary that one
o4 them should conKuer the other and thrust the other do*n i4 they
continue to remain in the same statecra4t a4ter the 2ritish le4t this sub
continent8 Huaid$i$#;am Muhammad #li ?innah also redicted that
the :indus having brute maBority in 1ndia& democracy in united 1ndia
*ould mean a eretual ermanent :indu raj.
1n Huranic doctrine& Muslims are those *ho have entered the
services o4 #llah erusing :is ath revealed through Prohet& :a;rat
Muhammad<P2=:>8 Obedience to #llah is the sureme duty o4
mankind8 #gain as er revelation o4 the holy Huran& Muslims must
comose o4 one Millat, one nationI Prohet #braham <#)> is the
4ather o4 that nation8 2ut in reality Muslims did not and could not
stick to the direction o4 #llah and in conseKuence there are a number
o4 Muslim states no* in the *orld8 #llah *anted unity o4 the
Muslims in one Millat8 3he *ord EPakistanG has another oular
connotation in Persian meaning$ Eland o4 the ureG8 1n the naming o4
this roosed state o4 Pakistan& letter E2G to reresent the *ord
2engal *as missing& *hereas letter 7@7 intended 4or @ashmir in site
o4 its being outside the 4rontier o4 Pakistan *as included8
;ounder o< Pakistan
:ere it *ill be imerative to give a brie4 li4e$sketch o4 the 4ounder o4
PakistanOMuhammad #li ?innah8 :e *as born on 2. December
187+ in a )hiite Muslim 4amily o4 mercantile community8 :is 4ather
*as ?innahbhai PoonBa and mother *as Mitibai8 :is ancestors 4led
Persian ersecution and settled in Destern 1ndia around si5teenth
centuries8 @hoBa or @h*aBa& like other mercantile communities the
*orld over& traveled e5tensively& *ere Kuick to assimilate ne* ideas
and adBusted *ith relative ease to strange environments8 3hey
develoed linguistic skills and shar intelligence& o4ten acKuiring
*ealth8 ?innah PoonBa a4ter his marriage *ith Mitibai moved to
@arachi 4rom !aBkot& /uBrat around 187-8 #t that time @arachi
enBoyed its 4irst modern boom as 2ritish 1ndiaGs close ort to 2ritain
a4ter the oening o4 the )ue; Canal in 18+98 ?innah PoonBa had seven
children 4rom Mitibai8 ?innah PoonBaGs business had rosered by the
early 188-Gs8 ?innahbhai handled all sorts o4 agricultural roduce
such as cotton& *ool& hides& oil$seeds and grain 4or e5ort and iece
goods& metals and re4ined sugar 4or imort through the busy ort o4
@arachi8 Muhammad #li ?innah *as aro5imately si5 *hen his
4ather engaged a rivate tutor to start his student career through
learning the alhabets and mathematics8
Aarly in 1887& ?innahbhaiGs only sister& Manbhai& *ho had
married an even more success4ul @h*aBa named Peerbhai and lived
in metroolitan 2ombay& came to visit8 ?innah loved #untieGs *itty&
vivacious& cosmoolitan good humour& and she in turn adored her
bright& handsome young nehe*8 )he lured ?innah back to 2ombay
*ith her that year& introducing him to the great city that *as to
become his chosen home most o4 his adult li4e8
:e *as enrolled in Muslim #nBuman$i$1slam at 2ombay and
later on in /okul Das 3eB Primary )chool8 :e *as in 2ombay little
more than si5 months8 :e returned to @arachi and got admitted in
)ind Madrasa in December 23& 18878 :e *ould rarely attend the
classes8 :e enBoyed riding his 4atherGs #rabian horses in @arachiGs
sandy beach more than doing arithmetic 4or his class8 :e liked
reading oetry& too& but at his o*n ace and leisure not harnessed to
any @arachi edagogueGs lesson lan8 :e *as an indomitable child&
could never be intimidated by authority8 :e *as sent to Christian
Mission :igh )chool on Ca*rence !oad& @arachi& a more congenial
stimulus 4or his restless minds& but had sho*n little interest there8
?innahbhai PoonBaGs 4irm *as closely associated *ith the leading
2ritish managing comany in @arachi& Douglas /raham and
Comany8 )ir "rederick Ceigh Cro4t *as the general manager o4
/raham *ho recommended ?innah 4or an arenticeshi to his home
o44ice in Condon in 18928 3hat single letter to Condon li4ted young
?innah into the orbit o4 2ritish imerial rominence8 :is mother
obBected to this Bourney as her son may be lured by Anglish girl and
*ould be a tragedy 4or the PoonBa 4amily8 On comletion o4 marriage
he *as ermitted to leave 4or Angland8 2e4ore he roceeded to
Angland he married a 4ourteen$year$old girl$ Amibhai at the age o4
si5teen8
1n ?anuary 1893 ?innah le4t 4or Angland and arrived there in
"ebruary 18938 #t /raham he sat at a small desk surrounded by
stocks o4 accounting books as he *as e5ected to coy and make
balance8 :is 4ather deosited enough money to his account in a
2ritish bank to allo* ?innah to live in Condon 4or three years8 Mr8 M
# ?innah did not take long time to abandon the drudgery o4 his
/rahamGs arenticeshi8 On 2. #ril 1893 *ithout rocrastinating
he alied to CincolnGs 1nn to sit 4or a test and *as granted
ermission 4or Preliminary A5amination *ith the e5emtion o4 Catin
ortion o4 the syllabus8 :e aeared 4or the e5amination on 2. May
1893 and *as duly Kuali4ied8 On 2. ?une 1893& he embarked uon
his study in la* at CincolnGs 1nn8 ?innah admitted to his rivate
secretary @ : @hurshid that he did not aear 4or the Antrance
A5amination8 ?innah assed the 4inal e5amination *ith brilliant
result8 :e sent much o4 his time in the reading room o4 2ritish
Museum8 On )unday he *ould go to :yde Park corner at the Marble
#rch to listen to the oen$air oratory8 3hus he imroved his
ro4essional kno*ledge and debating skill8 :e had sho*n his
outstanding maturity at teen age8 :e *as robably the youngest to
become 2ar$at$Ca* 4rom CincolnGs 1nn8
On 11 May& 189+& Mohammad #li ?innah AsKuire& a 2arrister
etitioned to the benchers o4 CincolnGs 1nn 4or a certi4icate attesting
his #dmission Call to the 2ar and o4 his deortment8 Dith that
talisman he *ould be *elcome to Boin the 2ar o4 any court in 2ritish
1ndia8 3hroughout his stay in Angland& he *as not a 4lirtation tye
and no girl could break through his reserve8 :e had not *asted a
single enny his 4ather deosited in his account in Condon bank8 :e
*as meticulous in 4inancial matters8 :e *as er4ectly suited to
dislay CondonGs 4irst 4ashions8 ?innah remained a model o4 sartorial
elegance 4or the rest o4 his li4e8
1n Condon he signed a contract *ith a theatre comany and
in4ormed his arents craving 4or their blessings8 :is 4ather in a rely
strongly disaroved the roBect and told& LDo not be a traitor to the
4amily8M 3he same letter in4ormed him o4 his motherGs death and
*i4eGs as *ell$$ 4ull o4 dread ne*s& shock and rerimand8 :al4 a
century later& addressing @arachiGs bar he recalled& L1 Boined
CincolnGs 1nn because there& on the main entrance& the name o4 the
Prohet *as included in the list o4 the /reat Ca* /ivers o4 the
*orld8M 2ut no such inscrition e5ists over the main or any other
entrance8 May be that *as sho*n by the Divine o*er to lure him to
CincolnGs 1nn8 1t is a rare honour 4or ?innah& 4ounder o4 Pakistan that
t*o marble bursts o4 Cord Macnaghten and )ir "rancis :enry
/oldsmith 4lank M # ?innahGs ortrait& like horseguards over the
entrance o4 /reat :all and Cibrary o4 CincolnGs 1nn& hallo*ed *all o4
2ritish ?urisrudence8
M # ?innah *as enrolled as a 2arrister in 2ombayGs :igh Court
on 2' #ugust 189+8 :e hardly had any ro4essional romise till
19--& *hen 2ombayGs acting #dvocate /eneralI ?ohn Moles*orth
MacPherson& invited him to *ork in his o44ice8 3hrough this o44ice he
learnt about the vacancies o4 magistrates and *ent to the o44ice o4 )ir
Charles Ollivant8 )ir Charles *as then the ?udicial Member o4 the
Provincial /overnment o4 2ombay *ho hired Mr8 M # ?innah to
serve as a temorary third magistrate8 Dhen )ir Charles o44ered him
a ermanent lace on the bench& at the er4ectly resectable starting
salary o4 1&.-- ruees a month in 19-1& ?innah declined& relying& L 1
*ill soon be able to earn that much in a single day8M #nd soon he did
rove his claim8
?innahGs 4irst active move to*ard olitics took lace during the
19-+ session o4 the 1ndian %ational Congress in Calcutta in the *ake
o4 the :indu communityGs adverse reaction to the artition o4 2engal
in 19-.8 :e became the #mbassador o4 :indu$Muslim unity 4or the
reali;ation o4 E)*araBG <)el4$!ule>8 :e came across Dadabhai
%aoraBi& )ir Phero;eshah Metha and /oal @risna /okhleI they *ere
his olitical mentor and heroes8 "irst t*o belonged to 2ombayGs
Parsi community and /okhle *as a secular :indu8
?innahGs ascent to olitical in4luence began *ith an imortant
iece o4 legislation assed by 2ritish Parliament in 19-9& the 1ndian
Council #ct& e5anding the PiceroyGs A5ecutive Council into the
Preface 1'3871'388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
1merial Cegislative Council by the addition o4 3. nominated
members and 2. elected members *ith secial reresentation o4
Muslims and Cando*ners8 ?innah became one o4 the elected
members o4 the council 4rom 2ombay8 #lthough he had earlier
association *ith the Muslim Ceague& ?innah Boined the Party
4ormally in 19138
1n December 191.& Congress *as to hold its annual session in
2ombay8 ?innah 4or :indu$Muslim unity& 4raterni;ation&
understanding and co$oeration ersuaded the Muslim leaders o4
1ndia to hold Muslim CeagueGs annual session at the same venue and
time8 1n the autumn o4 191+ he *as elected once again to the
1merial Cegislative Council8 1n December 191+& he succeeded to
hold the annual session o4 Congress and Ceague in the same lace
and at the same time in Cuckno*8 3he Cegislative center o4 1ndiaGs
/overnment& 4irst in Calcutta and )imla& latter in Delhi became one
o4 ?innahGs most imortant and o*er4ul stages8
3he !o*latt #ct *as assed in March 1919 to give the
/overnment o4 1ndia summary o*ers to curb sedition activities& and
?innah in rotest resigned 4rom the 1merial Cegislation Council8
?innahGs ingenious legal mind convinced Congress President #8C
Ma;umdar at Calcutta to accet Cuckno* Pact 191+ 4ormula8 3he
key to the Cuckno* Pact lay in agreement on ercentages o4
guaranteed L Muslim MembersM 4or each o4 the Cegislative Councils&
one$third at the center and in 2ombay& one$hal4 in the PunBab& '-
ercent in 2engal& 3- ercent in the =nited Provinces& 2. ercent in
2ihar and Orissa and 1. ercent in the Central Provinces and in
Madras8 3he romises made by Congress in Cuckno* Pact *ere
never honoured and ri4t bet*een the t*o communities continued to
*iden8
?innah married !atanbhai& also called !uttie on "riday& #ril 19&
1918& at his house& Malabar :ill in 2ombay against the consent o4
her 4ather )ir Dinsha* ManockBee Petit& the *ealthiest Parsi and
te5tile magnet8 )he *as recociously bright& talented& gi4ted in every
art and beauti4ul in every *ay and seemed like a L4airy rincesM8 #t
that time ?innah *as 4orty and !uttie *as eighteen only8
#4ter the Calcutta session and be4ore the Congress session at
%agur in December 192-& /andhi moved to neutrali;e ?innahGs
olitical in4luence& *hich *as still a o*er to be reckoned *ith as
the President o4 the :ome !ule Ceague 2ombay8 /andhi hurriedly
called a secial meeting o4 the :ome Ceague attended by an
insigni4icant resence o4 +- <1Q> out o4 +--- eligible members to
change its name and constitution to be held on -3 October 192-8
1nstead o4 :ome !ule *ithin 2ritish Common*ealth& and by
constitutional method& /andhi brought the ne* creed EPurna )*araBG
J comlete indeendence8 /andhi cleverly orchestrated the stage to
ass the resolution8 3he change *as not accetable to ?innah and his
colleagues8
Central 1ndiaGs %agur hosted both regular sessions o4 the
Muslim Ceague and the Congress a4ter Christmas 192-8 /andhi 4irst
moved his credo resolution at a meeting o4 the subBect committee on
28 December 192-& roosing& the EPurna )*araBG8 ?innah obBected
to the resolution on ideological ground8 %e5t day /andhi laced his
ne* creed be4ore 1'&.82 delegates *ho 4locked to %agur8 /andhiGs
resolution *as greeted *ith dea4ening& rolonged cheers and
alause& seconded by Cala CaBat !ai *ith 4urther raucous
acclamation8
?innah in a democratic mood oosed the change o4 the creed8
:e *as ho*led do*n *ith the cries o4 Eshame& shame and Eolitical
imosterG8 :e re4erred to LMr8 /andhiGs resolutionM& but the irate
audience yelled L%o8 Mahatma /andhiM8 ?innah re4used to be
coerced8 L #t the moment the destinies o4 the country are in the
hands o4 t*o men&M ?innah argued& Land one o4 them is /andhi& *ho
commands the maBority in the assembly& 1 aeal to him to ause& to
cry halt be4ore it is too lateM8 ?innahGs aeal *as unans*ered by
/andhi& ho*ever& as the boos& hisses and catcalls o4 the audience
4inally drove out the author o4 the Cuckno* Pact and e5$President o4
the :ome !ule& 2ombay Con4erence& #mbassador o4 :indu$Muslim
unity and #ostle o4 =nited 1ndia 4rom that %agur lat4orm8
?innah *as shocked& humiliated and hurt and le4t not only the
session but also the 1ndian %ational Congress8 :e told Durga Das& L1
*ill have nothing to do *ith this seudo$religious aroach to
Preface 1.3871.388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
olitics8 1 art comany *ith the Congress and /andhi8 1 do not
believe in *orking u mob hysteria8 Politics is a gentlemanGs game8M
/andhi *ho dressed like :indu& ate like :indu& talked like :indu&
behaved like :indu& thought like :indu& *as the total incarnation o4
:induism8 :e *as the greatest :indu leader and olitician in guise
o4 a saint8 2ritish called him hal4 naked "akir8 Dhereas ?innah *ho
dressed like an aristocrat Anglishman& soke in Anglish& ate in
*estern style& lived in a alace like home at Malabar :ill *as a
comlete secular man& #ostle o4 =nited 1ndia8 :usyen )haheed
)uhra*ardy *hen visited Malabar :ill :ouse called it a dream
house8
/andhi made Congress a one$man arty8 )ubash Chandra 2ose
*as elected t*ice President o4 the Congress in 1938 and 1939 as
oular leader against the very sti44 oosition 4rom /andhi and
ultimately he *as 4orced to resign the o44ice in #ril 19398
3he decade o4 t*entyGs *as a time o4 series o4 4rustration 4or
?innah8 1n 1931 he decided to settle do*n in Condon and abandon
1ndian olitics8 ?innah started racticing in the Privy Council 2ar8
:e *as ersuaded back by the Muslim leaders o4 1ndia to carry
the mantle o4 Muslim Ceague as its President in 193'8 3he election
under the 1ndia #ct 193. held in 1937 roved shocking 4or the 1--
million Muslims J e5cet 2engal Muslim Ceague *as de4eated in all
the rovinces8 Congress 4ormed the /overnment and steamed rolled
the Muslim community8 Muslim minds *ere oisoned during the
short interlude o4 Congress rule8 Dhen "ield Marshal )ir Cord
#rchibald Davell raised the necessity o4 :indu$Muslim harmony to
/andhi on 1. December 19'.& /andhi relied that harmony had
been 4rustrated by the 2ritish olicy o4 divide and rule8 Piceroy
relied& L1 say this is nonsense& *e tried our best to bring them
together8 3he increase in communal 4eeling *as mainly due to the
action o4 Congress Ministries in 1937$39 *hich had made Muslims
4eel that they *ould not get a sKuare deal 4rom Congress and this had
caused the rise o4 the Muslim Ceague and the idea o4 Pakistan8 De
are bound to have some susicion that the obBectives o4 Congress are
to secure control o4 the center& entirely eliminate 2ritish in4luence&
and to deal *ith the Muslims and rincely )tates *ith a high hands8M
1t *as the acid test 4or the 4uture o4 :indu$ Muslim living together as
a single nation& *hich miserably 4ailed8 1n 1938& ?innah 4ounded in
Delhi an Anglish ne*saer G3heDa*nG rimarily to 4ight the
roaganda o4 the :indus8 2y 19'-& ?innah started seaking o4 Et*o
nationsG and adoted EPakistan !esolutionG moved by the Chie4
Minister o4 2engal # @ "a;lul :uK8 On 19 %ovember 19'+& ?innah
begged Cord Davel L /ive us our o*n bit o4 country& let it be as
small as 2ritish raB liked& but it must be our o*n& and *e *ould live
on one meal a day *ith honour and dignity8M
3o resolve the o*er sharing battle bet*een the :indus and the
Muslims& 3he Cris Mission 19'2& Davell Plan o4 )imla
Con4erence ?une 19'.& 3he Cabinet Mission Plan 19'+ *ere
undertaken by 2ritish raB& but all 4ailed due to uncomromising
attitude o4 the Congress8 3he main 4eatures o4 above lans *ere 4ull
Dominion )tatus 4or 1ndian =nion reresenting all arties in Cris
MissionI Parity bet*een Caste :indu$Muslim and Council to
4unction as the 1nterim /overnment in Davell PlanI and "ederal
union o4 /overnment& 4orming three grous& /rou # *ould consist
o4 :indu maBority rovinces o4 Madras& 2ombay& =P& CP& 2ihar and
Orissa& /rou 2 *ould consist o4 such Muslim maBority rovinces as
the PunBab& %D"P and )indh& /rou C *ould comrise such
Muslim maBority rovinces as 2engal and #ssam in Cabinet Mission
Plan8
On 28 ?uly 19'+ Muslim Ceague at its Council meeting at
2ombay *ithdre* its accetance o4 the Cabinet Mission roosals
and declared ED1!AC3 #C31O%G to 4orce the cause o4 Pakistan and
rotest Piceroy Cord DavellGs invitation to Congress to 4orm an
interim /overnment at the center8 3he Direct #ction Day on 1+
#ugust 19'+ set o44 the great Calcutta killing annihilating no less
than '--- Muslims and :indus8 3he last Piceroy Cord Mountbatten
arrived in Delhi on 22 March 19'7 to reside over the artition o4
1ndia8 On -7 #ugust 19'7 ?innah 4le* 4rom Delhi to @arachi to be
s*orn in as the 4irst /overnor /eneral o4 maimed& mutilated& moth$
eaten Pakistan *ith only Ethe huskG on 1' #ugust 19'78 1t *as the
Emoth$eatenG Pakistan that the Haid$i$#;am had scoredI urchased at
the rice o4 vivisecting the t*o historic Muslim dominions o4 2engal
Preface 1+3871+388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
and the PunBab& saced thousands miles aart8 1t *as unethical on the
art o4 2ritish raB to artition Muslim maBority 2engal and the
PunBab *hereas :indu maBority rovinces *ere ket intact8 Aven
Muslim maBority @ashmir state occuied by 1ndia by the military
oerations orchestrated& lanned and conducted by shred guidance o4
Mountbatten8
)iscrimination a:ainst the Ben:alis
2ssue o< 1an:ua:e
1n 19'7 *hen 1 *as a kid& 1 had also chanted the slogan o4
Larkelenga Pakistan, a oular Bargon adoted by the Muslims o4
the sub continent in general that meant& LDe *ould 4ight to achieve
PakistanMI lay4ully on the streets o4 2ombay *ith the national 4lag
o4 Pakistan in my hand8 May be 1 *as the only courageous soul on
the street o4 2ombay *ith the 4lag o4 Pakistan roclaiming the birth
o4 Pakistan8 3hus the slogan imrinted a 4eeling o4 Muslim
atriotism in my in4ant heart as much as my reali;ation 4or a searate
homeland 4or the Muslims8 #4ter the creation o4 Pakistan& Huiad$e$
#;am Muhammad #li ?innah& "ather o4 the nation and the 4irst
/overnor /eneral o4 Pakistan *hile addressing a historic meeting at
!amna !ace Course on 21 March 19'8 and again at a convocation
ceremony at Cur;on :all on 2' March 19'8 in Dacca declared that
=rdu and =rdu alone *ould be the state language 4or Pakistan8
1ronically enough he made the declaration in Anglish& not in =rdu8
:e tried to 4ollo* the theory o4 nation state& a common ingredientI
Ethe languageG is the main 4actor 4or 4orming a nation8 :e *as correct
that Pakistan *as divided on language issue8 3he 2engali and the
PunBabi could not talk to each other& had to take the assistance o4
third language8 MuBib and 6ahya never had dialogue in their mother
tongue 2engali or PunBabi8 3he rotests against the declaration *ere
instantaneous and )heikh MuBibur !ahman& resent there&
vehemently oosed it among others8 :o* can the 2engalis 4orget
their mother tongue and seak a 4oreign languageR 3hus *ere so*n
the 4irst seeds o4 disintegration by a erson considered as the 4ounder
o4 Pakistan and at that time the highest living leader o4 the Muslims
o4 the sub$continent8 ?innah *as the greatest olitician o4 the sub$
continent& but un4ortunately he had not the e5erience o4 an
administrator8 :e should have told that Anglish should be the o44icial
language o4 Pakistan that *e racticed during the 23 years o4
Pakistan and 2engali& PunBabi& )indhi and Postu should have been
the state language o4 Pakistan8 3hen there *ould have not been any
misunderstanding8 :e made other mistakes not 4oreseeing the 4ates
o4 the Muslims in the areas o4 #ssam& :yderabad and @ashmirI
minority Muslims o4 rest o4 1ndia and acceting the artition o4 the
2engal and the PunBab8 3he ruler o4 :yderabad& the %i;am& *as a
Muslim but it *as anne5ed to 1ndia and Muslim maBority @ashmir
ruled by :indu @ing :ari )ingh *as also occuied by 1ndia8 :is
leadershi 4ailed to include ?unagadh& :yderabad as *ell as @ashmir
*ith Pakistan8 Dhen =rdu *as made the state language o4 Pakistan&
the 2engalis *ere disillusioned and they started the language
movement& the obBectives o4 *hich *ere to get 4or the 2engalis the
right o4 mother tongue and to get the recognition o4 2angla soken
by the maBority o4 the eole o4 Pakistan& the status o4 one o4 the
state languages8 3he movement reached its clima5 on 21 "ebruary
19.2& *hen olice 4ired on a rocession in 4ront o4 Dhaka Medical
College and a number o4 2engalis embraced martyrdom8 1n 19.2
during the days o4 2engali language movement& 1 *as a minor boy
but the occurrences are still vivid in my memory8
1 still remember various events o4 the language movement and
the rocessions in *hich 1 had taken art riding on the shoulder o4
the elders8 3he slogans chanted in that rocession are still alive in my
memory, Rastro Vhasha Bangla Chai $2angla must be a state
language& Nural Aminer Rakto Chai$ *e *ant blood o4 %urul #min&
<then Chie4 Minister o4 Aast 2engal>& Naimu!!in "ha!hi Charo$
%a;imuddin to leave the ost <then /overnor /eneral o4 the country>
etc8 #t that time my maternal uncle @a;i #bul 2ashar *as a student
o4 Dhaka =niversity8 During the vacation& he came to our village
home *earing a black badge and recited some songs o4 language
movement8 #s 1 recollect no*& the meaning o4 one o4 those songs
*as& #$o% can %e forget &'st (e)ruary, the streets of *haka %ere
staine! %ith the )loo! of my )rothers Barkat, +alam an! Rafi,#.

=#0* %lection
1n the 19.' Parliamentary election& the =nited "ront <Fukto "ront>& a
olitical alliance against ruling Muslim Ceague *on the election in
Aast Pakistan securing 228 seats out o4 237 Muslim seats8 On -3
#ril 19.'& )her$e$2angla #bul @ashem "a;lul :uK 4ormed the
rovincial /overnment in Aast Pakistan and he became the Chie4
Minister o4 Aast 2engal8 #4ter a short eriod o4 only t*o months on
29 May 19.'& section 92$#& o4 the interim constitution o4 Pakistan
*as invoked by /overnor /eneral /hulam Muhammad *ho a4ter
the end o4 2ritish colonial rule had been enBoying all the rerogatives
o4 the 1ndian #ct& 193. en4orced as the interim constitution o4
indeendent Pakistan8 #rticle 92# o4 the #ct& 193. authori;ed the
/overnor /eneral to imose the central /overnmentGs rule over the
rovince through its aointed /overnor and to susend the elected
rovincial arliamentary institution8
3hus the /overnor /eneral o4 Pakistan& a bureaucrat u to the
hilt& /hulam Muhmmad& a 4ormer member o4 the #udit and
#ccounts )ervices o4 1ndia in the name o4G Eintegrity and solidarity
o4 PakistanG 4rustrated the administration o4 a duly elected
/overnment *ithout himsel4 having much o4 constitutional
legitimacy to act as the head o4 the state8 3he /overnor /eneral by
the interretation o4 1ndian #ct& 193. at his *ill used as a tool to rule
the country as an autocratic dictator assuming the o*er o4 2ritish
cro*n *hereas 1ndeendence #ct& 19'7& curtailed the o*er o4 the
Cro*n to a mere constitutional 4igurehead8 De4ense )ecretary o4
Pakistan 1skendar Mir;a became the /overnor o4 Aast 2engal on 3-
May 19.'8 3he Provincial /overnment o4 Aast Pakistan headed by #
@ "a;lul :aK *as dismissed on the rete5t o4 a riot at #damBee ?ute
Mills instigated by the centre8 #t that time :useyn )haheed
)uhra*ardy *as the Oosition Ceader at the centre8 "or a very
short eriod in 19.+ he became the Prime Minister o4 Pakistan *ith
the suort o4 the !eublican Party8 Dhen :useyn )haheed
)uhra*ardy turned his eyes 4or the *el4are o4 Aast Pakistan& the
President o4 Pakistan 1skender Mir;a removed him& although he *as
the roonent o4 one unit in Dest Pakistan and acceted the arity in
reresentation bet*een t*o *ings& that is& .-,.-& not on oulation
basis& one$man one vote8 3he smaller rovinces o4 Dest Pakistan
2aluchistan& )indh and %orth Dest "rontier rovinceGs olitical
leaders oosed the creation o4 one unit in Dest Pakistan8 3hrough
this arrangement the interest o4 the biggest rovince the PunBab *as
4urther sa4eguarded and more strengthened *ith the 4ormation o4 one
unit in Dest Pakistan8
CouA dCetat
1n 19.8 1skender Mir;a *ith the suort o4 /eneral #yub @han
romulgated Martial la* and abrogated the constitution8 :e
dissolved the Parliament and thus catured state o*er 4or a short
time8 1n his second move he hatched u a consiracy to remove
/eneral #yub @han& the commander$in$chie4 o4 Pakistan& *hich
came to his kno*ledge& and 1skender Mir;a *as arrested and e5iled
to 2ritain8 :e died on 13 %ovember 19+9 at the age o4 seventy in
obscurity *hile he *as in service there as the Public !elation O44icer
o4 the 1ndian hotel& Peers*ami8 Dhat a disgrace4ul end 4or a 4ormer
President o4 Pakistan8 :e could not be buried in Pakistan& as
President 6ahya re4used it8 :e *as buried in 3ehran *ith state
honour in the initiative o4 the )hah o4 1ran8
/eneral #yub catured the absolute state o*er and ruled the
country 4or long ten years8 3he driving 4orces behind the creation o4
Pakistan *ere Muslim brotherhood and democracy8 )oon a4ter the
birth o4 Pakistan& the democratic rocess *as destroyed$ 4irstly under
an imer4ect arliamentary system and then under an autocratic
military regime8 3he death o4 the democratic rocess and rise o4 an
authoritarian system under #yub and total domination o4 the Dest
Pakistanis combined *ith negligence 4or the Muslims o4 Aast 2engal
*ere the beginning o4 the end o4 =nited Pakistan8 #uthority o4
Pakistan /overnment& *hoever in state o*er& never thought o4
national integration& *hereas the 2engalis to reserve and rotect
national solidarity& acceted arity o4 reresentation and the
4ormation o4 Eone unitG in Dest Pakistan8 "rom this changed osition
o4 one unit system the 2engalis could derive no advantage& rather
had to accommodate Dest Pakistan leaders like Ciakot #li @han&
)arder #bdur !ab %ister and Maulana )habbir #hmed Osmani in the
seats o4 the Constituent #ssembly 4rom the share o4 Aast Pakistan8
3he o*er o4 the /overnor /eneral or any /overnor to act in his
discretion or to e5ercise his individual Budgment lased on 1. #ugust
19'7 under section 8<c> o4 the 1ndian 1ndeendence #ct o4 19'78 3he
/overnor /eneral *as e5ected to act on the advice o4 his cabinet8
2ut in reality the /overnor /eneral continued to enBoy *ide and
absolute o*er o4 the statecra4t hood*inking 1ndian 1ndeendence
#ct& 19'78 1n a democratic state& the minority section is usually
constrained and has to 4ight 4or reservation o4 their legitimate
rights& such as regional autonomy& Kuota reservation in the civil and
military services& guarantee o4 the economic develoment o4 their
region and 4or uholding their cultural heritage8 2ut on the contrary
the maBority section o4 Pakistan& the 2engalis had to 4ight 4or such
sa4eguards 4rom the day o4 1ndeendence in 19'7 till the
disintegration o4 Pakistan in 19718
3hese olitical crises accumulated one a4ter another and
ultimately culminated into a national movement 4or the
creation o4 a sovereign searate state 4or the eole o4 the
Aastern *ing through segregation 4rom Pakistan8
-ule o< ?li:archy in Pakistan
Pakistan as an indeendent state began its olitical Bourney under a
arliamentary system modeled on Destminster style and under a
4ederal constitution8 2ut to the utter dismay o4 its eole the ruling
cliKue grased o*er under the cover o4 constitution and in the name
o4 democracy8 3here *as no general election on the basis o4 adult
4ranchise till 197-8 3he 4ailure o4 arliamentary democracy created
all$o*er4ul and irresonsible e5ecutives& aided and suorted
mostly by a o*er4ul Dest Pakistani civil and military bureaucracy8
%one o4 them *as an Aast$ Pakistani8 3he ruling elite had the tacit
suort o4 the army 4rom behind the screen uto19.8I therea4ter the
involvement o4 the army *as direct and oen8 3he olitical order in
Pakistan in the mere e5istence o4 cabinet and a arliament could be
called an iron la* o4 oligarchy& rule by a small grou 4rom the army8
3he iron ruling elite comosed o4 Dest Pakistani civil and military
oligarchy& continued to dominate in every vital decision$making
rocess irresective o4 the subBects being related to olitical& de4ense&
economic or dilomatic issues8
#mong all the rovinces the situation o4 Aast Pakistan *as rather
the *orst8 3he Dest Pakistanis had direct access to the central ruling
cliKue and they held all the key osts in the administration8
ConseKuently they *ould invariably sabotage the develoment
roBects in Aast Pakistan8 3o cite one e5amle& 1 *ould like to
mention that once 1 *as traveling 4rom ?essore to @hulna along *ith
an #dditional Chie4 Angineer o4 !oads and :igh*ays Deartment8
3he road o4 our Bourney had too many bends8 1 enKuired 4rom him
*hy the roads had so many curves and not straight as a high *ay
should have been8 1n rely he said that all the high o44icials in the
decision making rocess *ere 4rom Dest Pakistan8 3hey al*ays
cause inordinate delay in the acKuisition o4 land 4or the roadI as a
result money allotted to the roBects *ould lase8 Dhile this
continued& Mr8 )obur @han& central communication Minister 4rom
Aast Pakistan hellessly had to order the !oads and :igh*ays
Deartment to construct the roads over the e5isting unlanned
district board roads8
3he country theoretically had a 4ederal constitution& but in
ractice& centre *ould imose authority in every shere o4 activities
o4 the rovincial government& articularly in 4inancial and
administrative matters8 #s regards economic and 4inancial matters&
even a small roBect such as road link bet*een t*o districts had to be
4inali;ed by Planning Commission sitting thousands o4 miles a*ay
and dominated by the non$ 2engali bureaucrats8 Pakistan during its
2' years o4 united e5istence never had a single 2engali "inance
Minister or a 2engali chie4 in its Planning Commission8
%lection on Pakistan 2ssue
Pakistan *as created on the basis o4 3*o %ation 3heory$ the
Muslims and the :indus8 1slam *as the only uni4ying 4actor 4or Aast
and Dest Pakistan8 A5cet religionI $ languages& costumes& customs
and even dietary habits *ere di44erent 4or the Aast and the Dest
Pakistanis8 2engali Muslim leaders *ho e5tended leadershi in the
movement o4 Pakistan& articularly #8@8 "a;lul :uK and :useyn
)haheed )uhra*ardy remained undecided on certain imortant issues
Bust at the time o4 artition o4 1ndia or creation o4 Pakistan8 3he
uhill task o4 creating sring boat 4or Muslim Ceague in the sub$
continent *as built by #8@8 "a;lul :uK and :useyn )haheed
)uhra*ardy8 1n 19'+ elections *ere held on the Pakistan issue8 3he
onerous resonsibility to organi;e the general election in 2engal had
4allen on )uhra*ardy8 :e boldly acceted the challenge& toured the
remotest arts o4 the country and mobili;ed the general masses on
the Pakistan issue8 )o that *hen the 4ate4ul election came& the 2engal
Provincial Muslim Ceague catured 11' o4 the 119 Muslim seats o4
the Provincial #ssembly8 3he general election 4ought on the issue o4
Pakistan resulted in comlete victory8 1t saved the Muslim Ceague
4rom an imending disaster and the demand 4or Pakistan 4rom
becoming ine44ectual8 3he three other over*helmingly Muslim
maBority rovincesOthe PunBab& )ind and the %D"P J had voted
against Pakistan *hich had ut ?innah in a very a*k*ard osition8
3he Muslim minority rovinces solidly voted 4or Pakistan8 1t *as
?innah *ho brought Pakistan into being& but it *as )uhra*ardy&
*ithout Kuestion& *ho sulied him the human *eaons and moral
strength as the ammunition to 4ight 4or Pakistan8 :ad )uhra*ardy
not *on the general election in 2engal in 19'+& in the light o4 total
4ailure o4 the Muslim Ceague in all the other Muslim maBority
rovinces& there *ould have been no Pakistan8 1t is history that the
Muslim Ceague victory in 2engal in 19'+ made all the di44erence 4or
the creation o4 Pakistan8 1n case o4 de4eat o4 the Muslim Ceague in
2engal& the 2ritish *ould have le4t the destiny o4 1ndia in the hands
o4 the Congress8 2ut the central Muslim Ceague leadershi could not
tolerate their dominating leadershi8 #8@ "a;lul :uK became the 4irst
casualty in )etember 19'1 as he *as thro*n out 4rom Muslim
Ceague leadershi& though he *as the Chie4 Minister o4 2engal8
:useyn )haheed )uhra*ardy *as e5cluded 4rom the Muslim Ceague
Central Dorking Committee8 3he Central o44ice o4 both the Congress
and the Muslim Ceague *ere in Delhi8 3hey had great advantage 4or
being located at the caital o4 1ndia *here they had 4reKuent
interaction *ith the Piceroy and other 2ritish high o44icialsI and thus
could in4luence the course o4 olitical decision at the crucial time o4
the artition o4 1ndia8
4nited Ben:al
1n the last *eek o4 May 19'7& an agreement *as reached bet*een
Muslim Ceague leader :useyn )haheed )uhra*ardy and Congress
leader )arat Chandra 2ose 4or a =nited )overeign 2engal8 3he dra4t
agreement *as sent to high commands be4ore the announcement o4
the -3 ?une artition lan8 3he agreement *as subBect to the aroval
o4 the high commands o4 the t*o arties8 :indu leaders like /andhi&
%ehru and Patel 4rom north*est oosed the idea8 3hey *ould kno*
the olitical and intellectual sueriority o4 the 2engalis and hence
*ere scared that should 2engal remains united 2engalis ultimately
*ould dominate the rest o4 1ndia8
3he leaders o4 :indus and Muslims in 2engal agreed to live
together as =nited 2engal& but the outsiders imosed artition o4
2engal8 3hree arties $ Congress& Muslim Ceague and the
/overnment o4 2ritain agreed that :indu maBority rovinces *ould
4orm 1ndia and Muslim maBority rovinces *ould 4orm Pakistan8
Aven in that 4ormula 2engal should have remained united8 2ut the
historical Muslim maBority 2engal and PunBab *ere artitioned8
2ritish did not lay a neutral and imartial role8 2ritain *anted to
accord indeendence to united 1ndia8 /reat Calcutta killing became a
tool 4or ?innah to lead 4or surgical oeration o4 1ndia to avoid
bloodshed and violence8 3he Muslim o4 1ndia& ?innah insisted& *ere a
nation *ith a Edistinctive culture and civili;ation& language and
literature& art and architecture& la*s and moral codes& customs and
calendar& history and traditions8 "or ?innah& the division he roosed
*as the natural course8 3hat division& ho*ever& *ould have to
roduce a viable state and that& ?innah argued& meant t*o o4 1ndiaGs
great rovinces& the PunBab and 2engal& *ould have to go into his
Pakistan& desite the 4act that each contained enormous :indu
oulations8 "ailed to kee united 1ndia against the logical argument
o4 ?innah& Mountbatten *as bent uon to divide the PunBab and
2engal as art o4 the bargain or there *ould be no Pakistan8 E#hG
?innah *ould counter& E6our A5cellency doesnGt understand8 # man
is a PunBabi or a 2engali be4ore he is :indu or Moslem8 3hey share a
common history& language& culture and economy8 6ou must not
divide them8 6ou *ill cause endless bloodshed and trouble8 G?innah
*as correct8 Millions o4 Muslims& :indus and )ikhs *ere massacred
and urooted 4rom their ancestral home at the time o4 artition8
1ndeendence brought 4reedom to 1ndia and Pakistan *ith endless
human su44erings8
Mountbatten had inserted in the artition lan a clause *hich
*ould allo* an 1ndian rovince to become indeendent i4 a maBority
o4 its communities *ished to8 3hat clause *as intended to rovide
that the si5ty$4ive million :indus and Muslims o4 2engal could Boin
into one viable country *ith the great seaort o4 Calcutta as their
caital8 3he idea had been laced be4ore Mountbatten by :usyen
)haheed )uhra*ardy& agreed and signed by both the communities o4
2engal8 3he Piceroy liked it8 3o his surrise& he had discovered
2engalGs Congress :indu leaders intrigued by the roBect8 :e had
Kuietly encouraged their interest8 :e had even discovered ?innah
*ould not oose the idea8 :e had not& ho*ever& e5osed it to %ehru
and Patel and it *as his oversight that disturbed him later on8 #
sudden insiration struck him8 Determined to 4ollo* his instinct&
Mountbatten called the members o4 his sta44 to his study and
e5lained his idea to them8 3hey *ere horri4ied8 3o sho* the lan to
%ehru *ithout e5osing it to ?innah *ould be a comlete breach o4
4aith *ith the Moslem leader& they ointed out8
E1Gm sorry&G he 4inally announced8 E6our arguments are
absolutely sound8 2ut 1 have a hunch that 1 must sho* it to %ehru&
and 1Gm going to 4ollo* my hunch8G 3hat night& Mountbatten invited
%ehru to his study 4or a glass o4 ort8 Casually& he assed the
Congress leader a coy o4 the lan as it had been amended by
Condon& asking him to take it to his bedroom and read it8 3hen&
erhas& %ehru might let him kno* in4ormally *hat recetion it *as
likely to get 4rom Congress8 "lattered and hay& %ehru agreed8
# 4e* hours later& *hile Mountbatten devoted himsel4 to his
regular evening rela5ation& constructing his 4amilyGs genealogical
table& ?a*aharlal %ehru began to scrutini;e the te5t designed to chart
his countryGs 4uture8 3he lan *as designed to divide 1ndia into three
arts& 1ndia& Pakistan and 2engal& even several arts8 %ehru sa*
1ndia derived o4 its lungs& the ort o4 Calcutta along *ith its mills&
4actories& steel *orksI @ashmir& an indeendent state ruled by a
desot he desisedI :yderabad became an enormous& indigestible
Moslem body lanted in the belly o4 1ndiaI hal4 a do;en other
rincely states clamouring to go o44 on their o*n8
Mountbatten got 4irst intimation o4 his 4riendGs violent reaction
in a letter early in the 4ollo*ing morning8 "or the con4ident Piceroy&
it *as Ea bombshellG8 3he Congress arty bitterly disliked it8 3he
lan the 2ritish Cabinet *as discussing that very day8 Congress had
the veto o*er8 %o lan *ould be acceted *ithout the consent o4
the Congress8 Mountbatten *as not the man to brood over setbacks8
:e 4avoured 4riendshi to 4uture rime Minister o4 1ndia& %ehru than
to do Bustice to 2engal& @ashmir and :yderabad8 #t MountbattenGs
behest& %ehru agreed to stay on another night to give him time to
dra4t a revised lan& *hich might be accetable to Congress8 1t *ould
be at the desire o4 %ehru *ho *as distressed8 3he lan *ould o44er
1ndiaGs rovinces and rincesG only one choice J 1ndia or Pakistan8
3he dream o4 an indeendent 2engal *as gone8 Mountbatten
betrayed the asirations o4 the eole o4 2engal in order to satis4y
the desire and maintain 4riendshi *ith %ehru8 Mountbatten
entrusted P8 P Menon to re$dra4t the lan8 Menon 4inished his task in
accordance *ith MountbattenGs instruction in barely si5 hours on an
o44ice orch looking out on the :imalayas& a lan *hich *as going
to re$order the sub$continent and the ma o4 the *orld8
1n the Cahore !esolution o4 Muslim league moved by #@ "a;lul
:aKue& Pakistan *as roosed to be constituted o4 E1ndeendent
)tatesG8 2engal should have remained a single entity 4or its economic
viability and national roserity8 14 %etaBi )ubash Chandra 2ose
*ould survive and could lay his role in olitics the olitical
geograhy o4 2engal could have been di44erent8 1t *as a 4ailure o4
the leadershi o4 "a;lul :uK and )uhra*ady that they could not
imlement the idea o4 creation o4 Pakistan as roosed in the Cahore
!esolution that is creation o4 more than one state& not one uni4ied
Pakistan8
#8@8 "a;lul :aKue had a bitter relation *ith ?innah8 :e *as the
Chie4 Minister o4 2engal8 ?innah asked him to resign on the Kuestion
o4 membershi in the %ational De4ense Council constituted by the
Piceroy8 1n a de4iance letter o4 resignation& he attributed his ouster to
the ressure created by the Muslim leaders o4 the minority rovinces
and vo*ed, G1 *ill never allo* the interest o4 the thirty$three million
Muslims o4 2engal to be ut under the domination o4 any outside
authority& ho*ever eminent it may be8G 1nitially #8@ "a;lul :aKue
*as hesitant& but ultimately he decided to resign 4rom Chie4
Ministershi and 4rom the Muslim Ceague as *ell8
:useyn )haheed )uhra*ardy *as in an illusion to create united
2engal8 Dhile these t*o leaders& :aKue $ )uhr*ardhy *ere in the
central olitics o4 Pakistan& their moral 4oundation *as *eak8 1n
undivided 1ndia& they 4ought 4or the genuine cause o4 Muslim 2engal
*hile in Pakistan they had to concentrate in an altogether di44erent
task 4or *hich they *ere not mentally reared8 Practically they had
to sacri4ice the interest o4 Muslim 2engal to the Dest Pakistanis8
"ello* 4eeling and brotherhood could only gro* through
articiation in state activities on common interest8 Aven in a
4ootball match& one gro*s 4riendshi and brotherhood8 2ut Dest
Pakistani iron ruling elite never allo*ed e44ective articiation o4 the
2engalis in national a44airs8 Muslim nationalism could not continue
to 4lourish in an atmoshere o4 neglect and e5loitation8 !ather
another 4orm o4 t*o$nation theory emerged$ theory o4 cultural
nationalism based on 2engali culture and Dest Pakistani or PunBabi
culture8 3he changed attitude o4 the 2engalis as to their nationalism
resulted in several movements8 1n 19+' *hen 1 *as a student o4
2=A3& 1 articiated in one such democratic movement 4or the
establishment o4 rule o4 la* in Pakistan against the autocratic rule o4
Muhammad #yub @han8 1 articiated in a student rocession *hen
the rally *as attacked by tear gas shelling by the olice in 4ront o4
Central )aheed Miner8
Muslim 1ea:ue and Pakistan -esolution
1n 19+. *hen Pakistan *as attacked by 1ndia& 1 had undergone
military training *ith the high sirit o4 4ighting 4or the motherland
under the arrangement o4 2=A38 1 Boined Pakistan army in 19+8 *ith
the noble aim o4 serving and rotecting my beloved motherland
Pakistan8 Democratic movement *as searheaded by Muslim
Ceague created Pakistan8 3he 4irst artition o4 2engal ignited Muslim
olitical consciousness throughout the subcontinent8 Dhaka rovided
the cradle o4 Muslim renaissance 4or the birth o4 Muslim Ceague on
3- December 19-+8 Muslim Ceague *as established to rotect the
li4e& roerty& honour and 4aith against the maBority rule o4 :indus
*hen 2ritish rule *ould cease to e5ist in 1ndia8 3*o thousands
Muslim delegates 4rom all over 1ndia assembled at )hahbagh& Dhaka8
1ts e5enses *ere borne by %a*ab )ir @ha*aBa )alimullah8 :e had
to send si5 lac ruees to hold the meeting success4ully8 1n less than
4our decades Muslim Ceague became the leading arty 4or Pakistan
movement8 On 23 March 19'-& in the t*enty$seventh session o4 the
#ll$1ndia Muslim Ceague& #8@ "a;lul :uK dra4ted and moved a
!esolution to that end in its Cahore con4erence8 :e delivered his
seech in Anglish8 3he audience reKuested him to e5lain in =rdu& he
reeated the same in 4luent =rdu roaring like a lion8 3he eole o4
PunBab at the same ublic meeting gave him the title )her$e$2angla
means LCion o4 2engalM8 3he Cahore !esolution envisaged, DThe
establishment o< comAletely 2ndeAendent +tates <ormed by
demarcatin: :eo:raAhically conti:uous units into re:ions &hich
should be so constituted, &ith such territorial adjustments as
may be necessary, that the areas in &hich the Muslims are
numerically in a majority, as in the 3orthWestern and %astern
6ones o< 2ndia, should be :rouAed to constitute 2ndeAendent
+tates in &hich the constituent units shall be autonomous and
so.erei:nE( 3he interretation o4 Cahore !esolution remained a
subBect o4 controversy regarding the *ording o4 E1ndeendent
)tatesG& and Eautonomous and sovereignG8
1t *as understood 4rom the Cahore !esolution that Pakistan
*ould be created *ith 4ive rovinces and the status o4 the rovinces
*ould be that o4 4ederating states *hich *ould ensure guarantee o4
eKual oortunities 4or the eole o4 all the rovinces 4ree 4rom
e5loitation o4 one by the other8
Betrayal
1slam *as the only uni4ying 4actor used to gain the suort o4 the
Muslims o4 1ndia 4or the creation o4 Pakistan8 A5cet 4or religion
there *as nothing common bet*een the t*o *ings o4 Pakistan8 "or a
true Muslim 1slamic 4aith is much more imortant than any other
consideration& but the 4e* sel4ish PunBabi coteries *anted to
subdue
the religious 2engalis in the name o4 1slam8 3he caital *as
established at @arachi& later on at 1slamabad in Dest Pakistan and all
the decisions *ere taken 4rom the caital8 3he decision$making elite
4ailed to 4ul4ill the hoes and asirations o4 the 2engalis8
3he 4ate o4 the nation continued to be decided 4rom @arachi and
subseKuently 4rom 1slamabad8 3he head o4 the state *as al*ays 4rom
Dest Pakistan during the entire eriod o4 united Pakistan8 :o* a
house can be set right *hen the head o4 the 4amily is absent 4rom the
homeN Aast Pakistan *as thro*n out 4rom the harmony created by
1slamic brotherhood in 19'7 by the centri4ugal 4orces generated by
the sel4ish olitical leaders o4 Dest Pakistan8 3he eole o4 Aast
Pakistan had enormous contribution to the creation o4 Pakistan8 1t is
an irony o4 4ate that state o*er *ent into the hands o4 the Dest
Pakistanis alone8
3he 2engalis layed ioneering role in )eoy Dar in 18.78 #t
that time 2engal #rmy consisted o4 3' !egiments o4 Cavalry& 119
!egiments o4 1n4antry& 32 Comanies o4 #rtillery and + Comanies
o4 Angineers8 3he strength o4 Madras #rmy and 2ombay #rmy
combined *as one third o4 2engal #rmy *ho remained loyal to
2ritish raB8 3he total strength o4 %ative 3roos *as 232&22'8
2engalis *ere never trusted by 2ritish a4ter that mutiny and *ere not
taken in the armed 4orces& *hereas the PunBabis& /urkhas and )ikhs
actively collaborated *ith the 2ritish8 S:ad they Boined )eoy Dar
1ndia *ould have been liberated in 18.78 Delhi could not have been
taken *ithout )ikhs and /urkhasI the *hole o4 the country %orth o4
Calcutta revented losing& should the men o4 the PunBab remain true
to their causeS8 3his is Kuoted 4rom the book E#n eye *itness
account o4 the 1ndian MutinyG *ritten by "ield Marshal Cord !oberts
o4 @andahar Commander$in$Chie4 o4 2ritish 1ndian #rmy8 Politically
2engalis are very *ise and 4arsighted8 )ardar Pallabhbhai Patel
commented S*hat 2engal thinks today rest o4 1ndia thinks
tomorro*S8 #4ter the 1ndeendence o4 Pakistan& Aast Pakistan had
only t*o comanies o4 aramilitary 4orce8 #ll the regular troos
comrised o4 the PunBabis and the Pathans8 #4ter the birth o4
Pakistan in 19'7 *hen Pakistan #rmy *as organi;ed& it consisted
9-Q PunBabis and Pathan troos and o44icersI and only the rest *as
2engalis8 Military to brasses *ere all 4rom PunBab8 Aven the civil
bureaucrats *ho migrated 4rom 1ndia settled in Dest Pakistan8
Military o*er tilted in 4avour o4 Dest Pakistan 4rom the very birth
o4 the nation8 1n late .-s military o*er became the main source o4
strength to run the a44airs o4 the state in the third *orld countries8
Political leadershi *as at the mercy o4 military and civil
bureaucrats8 Dest Pakistani leadershi grabbed the o*er o4 the state
by virtue o4 their military strength8
Ayub 5han
Military dictator "ield Martial Mohammad #yub @han in4licted the
severe most blo*s& *hich ultimately led to the dismemberment o4
Pakistan a4ter he took state o*er by a military cou8 1t *ill be
relevant to give a brie4 background o4 #yub @han *ho *as born in
!ehana& a remote village in %orth$Dest "rontier Province on 1' May
19-7& and had an unevent4ul childhood8 :is 4ather& *ho had retired
as a Bunior commissioned o44icer in the 1ndian #rmy& had a large
4amily& 4our sons and three daughters and a small income 4rom his
army ension8 :is 4ather lived in a house in !a*alindi abandoned
by a )ikh8 :is 4ather *ith the assistance o4 his 2ritish o44icer could
manage to send him to #ligarh Muslim =niversity8 /eneral )keen&
#dButant /eneral o4 the 1ndian #rmy looking 4or suitable soldierly
Kualities sotted him 4or enrolment in the army 4or his tall and *ell$
built hysiKue8 :e *as o4 4air comle5ion and aroriate mould8
#yub *as sent to )andhurst as a military cadet and he *as
commissioned in the army in 19288 During )econd Dorld Dar& #yub
served as a sta44 o44icer in #rmy :eadKuarters in Delhi and later
moved to :eadKuarters 1. cors at 2arrackur8 :e *as )econd$in$
Command o4 the 1
st
#ssam !egiment and *atched 4ighting in
2urma8 #yub *as a 2rigadier in the 1ndian #rmy Bust be4ore artition
o4 1ndia and *as attached to the boundary 4orce under /eneral !ees
in 19'78 :e miserably 4ailed to rotect the lives o4 Muslims *ho
*ere traed and massacred in Aast PunBab8 Huid$i$#;am *anted to
court martial him 4or his 4ailures and misdeeds& but @h*aBa
%a;imuddin intervened and saved him and made him /OC o4 Aast
Pakistan8 Dhen @h*aBa %a;imuddin became the /overnor /eneral
o4 Pakistan& he osted #yub as #dButant /eneral to /:H&
!a*alindi and later on 17 ?anuary 19.1 @h*aBa %a;imuddin made
him Commander$in$Chie4 o4 Pakistan #rmy8 3he /overnor /eneral
dismissed %a;imuddin *hen he made an e44ort to curtail the o*er
o4 /overnor /eneralI #yub had rovided the tacit suort to the
/overnor /eneral /holum Muhammad8 %a;imuddin called #yub
Ean un4aith4ul dogG 4or this act o4 outright betrayal8 #yub also
betrayed 1skander Mir;a& e5iled him to Condon overthro*ing him as
President o4 Pakistan8 #yubGs tenure o4 Commander$in$Chie4 ended
on ?anuary 19.. and got 4our years e5tension through the e44orts o4
1skander Mir;a& then the )ecretary o4 De4ense8 Many commented
that #yub *as devoid o4 moral ethics and loyalty8 :e *anted to sell
Aast Pakistan to %ehru only 4or t*o crore ruees& even *anted to
s*a @ashmir in e5change o4 Aast Pakistan8
Democracy is the sa4ety valve 4or ventilating grievances&
inBustice and erution o4 dissatis4action8 "rom 19.8 to 19+9& #yub
destroyed democratic norms and olitical institutions 4or his ersonal
interest8 Mass urising in 19+9 ut an end to the #yub dynasty8
Muslim maBority areas comrised Pakistan8 Pakistan *as a !eublic
and the state rincile *as such that eoleGs reresentatives should
rule it8 Pakistan *as an indeendent sovereign country8 1t *as no
more the colony o4 any 4oreign o*er8 1 cherished this idea8 2ut
*hen 1 *as osted in Dest Pakistan 1 4elt as i4 Dest Pakistanis *ere
the rulers and Aast Pakistanis *ere their subBects8 3hey *ere masters
and *e *ere slaves8 /eneral /ul :asan 4ormer commander$in$chie4
o4 Pakistan #rmy admitted in his book 7Memoirs7 that Mr8 #;i;
#hmed as chie4 secretary o4 Aast Pakistan considered 2engalis as
natives as 2ritish used to8 )ir Fa4rullah @han *as the 4oreign
minister o4 Pakistan 4or seven years 4rom 19'7 to 19.'& but he never
visited Aast Pakistan8 #lthough he *as the member o4 Constituent
#ssembly 4rom the constituencies o4 Aast Pakistan& *ithout *hich he
could not become a Minister& he did not care 4or Aast Pakistan or its
eole8 3his is a glaring testimony o4 neglect by ruling class to Aast
PakistanR
3he concet o4 1slamic brotherhood *as the 4oundation on *hich
Pakistan *as created8 3his rincile *as shaken by the tyranny o4
discriminatory rule8 =nder such revailing atmoshere& 1 *as serving
in Pakistan army8 3he great movement o4 the 19+9 4orced "ield
Marshal Mohammed #yub @han to ste do*n8 2ut un4ortunately he
had handed over o*er to another #rmy autocrat /eneral
Mohammed 6ahya @han8 6ahya @hanGs rise to the ost o4
commander$in$chie4 *as done through the atronage o4 /eneral
#yub8 /eneral #yub aid /eneral 6ahya back 4or his hel rendered
to /eneral #yubGs taking over as President o4 Pakistan8

Fahya 5han
Dhen in 19.8 /eneral #yub took over as President o4 Pakistan&
@arachi *as the caital o4 Pakistan8 2rigadier 6ahya *as the head o4
intelligence at @arachi8 2rigadier 6ahya interceted the telehone
conversation o4 President 1skender Mir;a and )yed #mBad @han&
"inance Minister o4 Pakistan8 3he President *anted to sort out
/eneral #yub8 /eneral #yub entrusted brigadier 6ahya *ith the
detail sta44 *ork in connection *ith the cou& *hich brought /eneral
#yub to o*er8 :e had ever since remained close to #yub8 Dhen
/eneral Muhammad Musa retired in 19++& /eneral 6ahya *as made
the Commander$in$Chie4 suerceding 4ourteen senior /enerals and it
*as no surrise8 1n19+9 *hen la* and order deteriorated in Pakistan&
/eneral #yub asked /eneral 6ahya to imose martial la*& instead
/eneral 6ahya in rivate asked #yub to leave to make room 4or
/eneral 6ahya to take over as President o4 Pakistan8 /eneral 6ahya
@han romised to hold /eneral Alection in Pakistan on the basis o4
Eone man one voteG8 1t *as the number one oint o4 )heikh MuBibGs
si5 oints8 #mong total oulation in Pakistan Aast Pakistan
oulation consisted o4 .+ ercent *hile Dest Pakistan *as only ''
ercent8 /eneral Alection *as held on -7 December 197-8 Out o4
1+9 seats o4 Aast Pakistan #*ami Ceague secured 1+78 3otal number
o4 seats in Pakistan %ational #ssembly *as 3138 3hus #*ami
Ceague obtained the absolute maBority to 4orm the /overnment in
Pakistan8
1nitially 6ahya had the good intention to summon the Parliament8
:e had 4rank discussion *ith 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman
at Dhaka8 2angabandhu roosed to /eneral 6ahya to continue as
the President o4 Pakistan a4ter the calling o4 %ational #ssembly and
the 4ormation o4 government8 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman
also romised to raise /eneral 6ahya 4or his holding general
election in a 4ree and 4air atmoshere and 4or uholding democracy
in Pakistan in his inaugural seech in the %ational #ssembly8
/eneral 6ahya returned to @arachi *ith hay mood as he *as
assured o4 his ost8 2ut Ful4ikar #li 2hutto layed the dirtiest game8
:e invited /eneral 6ahya and /eneral #bdul :amid @han& Chie4 o4
)ta44 o4 Pakistan army at his hometo*n at Carkana8 2hutto 4amily
had the revious e5erience o4 sonsoring and hatching the cou-
!.etat o4 19.8 by 1skander Mir;a in their house in Carkana8 President
2hutto claimed the lanning o4 19.8 cou at their house Carkana
*hile intervie*ed by Condon Observer on -2 ?anuary 19728 1t *as a
natural gesture to the host by 1skander Mir;a to a*ard a cabinet
osition 4or the son o4 )ir )hana; 2hutto8 )ir )hana*; 2hutto& a
landlord o4 Carkana& *as the 4ather o4 Ful4ikar #li 2hutto8 #t the
crucial time o4 19'7 he *as the De*an o4 ?unagadh8 )ir
Mahabatkhan !asulkhanBi *as the ruler o4 ?unagadh *ho signed the
instruments o4 accession to accede to Pakistan8 2ut later on
)hana*a; 2hutto invited the 1ndian administration and army to take
over the control o4 the state8 Aven then Pakistan claimed ?unagadh as
art o4 Pakistan8 )ir )hana*a; 2hutto had 4our *ives8 :e married
one 2aiBi <courtesan $ro4essional singer and dancer> named !ani
*ho *as later converted to 1slam and took the Muslim name o4
@hursheed 4rom *hom 2hutto *as born8 /eneral 6ahya *as not a
PunBabi8 :is grand4ather migrated 4rom 1ran and settled in Pesh*ar&
Pakistan8 2y religion he *as )hiite Muslim8 :is 4ather and
grand4ather served as ranker in 2ritish$1ndian #rmy *ith loyalty8 "or
generations his 4ore4athers olished the shoes o4 2ritish like #yub7s
4ore4ather and also 3ikka and %ia;i *ho themselves rose 4rom the
rank o4 seoy8 1n recognition 6ahya and others *ere granted
commission in the 2ritish$1ndian #rmy8 :e had no 4irm backing in
Pakistan& *hereas /eneral :amid a PunBabi had 4irm root in the
PunBab& *hich is kno*n to be the o*er base o4 Pakistan8
# heinous consiracy *as hatched u at the house o4 greedy
Ful4ikar #li 2hutto8 1t *as decided that the o*er *ould not be
handed over to )heikh MuBibur !ahman and i4 need be armed 4orces
*ould be deloyed to crush the 2engalis8 # blue rint o4 genocide in
Aast Pakistan *as reared by Ful4ikar #li 2hutto and /eneral
:amid8 1t *as aroved by the stooge /eneral 6ahya *hile he *as
under the in4luence o4 heavy dose o4 alcohol8 Pirtually /eneral
6ahya became a rubber stam in the hands o4 the PunBabi /enerals8
:e should not have acceted the ersonal invitation by a olitician
that *as beyond the dignity o4 the President o4 Pakistan8 #s
President he should have maintained comlete neutral role *hich he
4ailed to do8
#t that time 1 *as attending a course at Huetta that *as due to
terminate on 27 "ebruary 19718 1n the meantime /eneral 6ahya
summoned %ational #ssembly to sit at Dhaka on -3 March 19718 1n
the middle o4 "ebruary 1971 1 could sense that o*er *ould not be
handed over to )heikh MuBibur !ahman8 )uddenly college authority
got the message to assemble all the training eKuiment like guns&
tanks etc8 and to be ket ready 4or disatch to the 4ield units8 1 had
cast my vote 4or t*o candidates$ one 4or %ational #ssembly and
another 4or Provincial #ssembly o4 the constituency o4 Magura
through ostal ballot 4rom Huetta to e5ercise my right o4 4ranchise as
citi;en o4 Pakistan8 Cike others 1 *as eager to sho* resect 4or
democracy& as 1 understood it to be the true binding 4actor 4or =nited
Pakistan8 Democracy and democracy alone alone could kee
Pakistan united& as 1ndia had been ket united besides cultural
diversities o4 its rovinces8
#s the heat o4 olitics *as rising high a 2aluch 4riend o4 mine
romised to ut every e44ort to smuggle me out o4 Dest Pakistan to
Aast Pakistan8 On 2+ "ebruary 1971 1 started 4or @arachi 4rom
Huetta8 My 2aluch 4riend came to the rail*ay station and *ished me
a 4ree and sovereign 2angladesh8 :e reKuested me to ray so that in
course o4 time 2aluchistan might also become 4ree 4rom PunBabi
domination8
2n search o< a constitution
De can de4ine constitution and constitutional la* 4or easy
understanding o4 the democratic rule o4 Pakistan8 Constitution is the
sureme la* o4 the country governing the nation8 3he constitutional
la* encomasses the set o4 rules that de4ine the 4undamental rights
o4 the eole and outlines the distribution o4 the o*er o4 the
legislature& e5ecutive and Budiciary o4 the state8 Cet us see *hether
these rules *ere so 4ramed and alied in the olitics o4 Pakistan8
3he 2engalis suorted Muslim Ceague and Huad$e$#;am
Mohammad #li ?innah 4or the creation o4 Pakistan8 3heir sole aim
*as to have a searate land 4or the Muslims o4 1ndian sub$continent8
2irth o4 Pakistan brought over*helming Boy 4or the Muslims o4
2engal8 3hey never thought that their Muslim brothers *ould imose
another colonial rule on the 2engalis8 #s er the sermon o4 our great
Prohet Muhammad<)M> one Muslim is the brother o4 another
Muslim8 3his *as in the mind o4 2engali Muslims8 3his conviction
*as 4rustrated by the sel4ish action o4 PunBabi ruling elites8 Peole o4
Aast Pakistan *anted that the country should be run by the rules o4
the constitution *hereas the PunBabi ruling elites *anted to reign the
country by brute oligarchy o4 bureaucratic and military 4orces8
)ection 8 o4 the 1ndian 1ndeendence #ct o4 19'7 rovided that
the government o4 1ndia #ct o4 193. *ith amendments and
adatation *ould be the *orking constitution o4 Pakistan during the
interim eriod8 =nder the 1ndian 1ndeendence #ct& 19'7 the
constituent #ssembly *as vested *ith t*o distinct 4unctions, to
reare a constitution and to act as a 4ederal legislative #ssembly or
arliament until the constitution came into e44ect8 3he o*ers and
4unctions o4 the central legislature under the government o4 1ndia #ct
193. *ere con4erred on the Constituent #ssembly8 Muhammad #li
?innah became the President o4 the Constituent #ssembly8 1t *as a
sincere initiative on the art o4 the 4irst Constituent #ssembly o4
Pakistan that had constituted several committees and sub$committees
to carry out its task o4 4raming the constitution8 3he 2asic Princial
Committee *as the most imortant among them8 3he 2asic Princial
Committee set u three sub$ committees namely, a> )ub$ committee
on "ederal and Provincial Constitution b> )ub$committee on
"ranchise c> )ub$Committee on ?udiciary8
3he interim reort o4 the committee *as adoted by the
Constituent #ssembly in 19.- and the 4inal reort in 19.'8 3he
government o4 1ndia #ct& 193. envisaged the establishment o4
autonomous rovinces as the constituent units o4 this 1ndian
4ederation8 Provincial autonomy *as its basic idea8 3hus E"ederation
o4 PakistanG *as established by the Pakistan <Provisional
Constitution> Order& 19'78 3he o*ers o4 the /overnor /eneral *ere
the main obstacle created against the 4raming o4 the constitution o4
Pakistan8 =nder the original #ct o4 193. the /overnor /eneral *as
vested *ith 4inal olitical authority controlling entire e5ecutive
o*er as the reresentative o4 the 2ritish cro*n8 =nder section 8<c>
o4 the19'7 #ct& the o*er o4 the /overnor /eneral to act in his
discretion lased on 1. #ugust 19'783he /overnor /eneral *as
resumed to act on the advice o4 the ministers8 2ut in site o4 that
under the government o4 1ndia #ct& 193.& as adoted in Pakistan& the
/overnor /eneral continued to enBoy the *ide and substantial
o*ers8 :e *as the e5ecutive :ead o4 the "ederation o4 Pakistan8
=nder 19'7 #ct& the entire 4ield o4 government activity *as brought
under the control o4 the cabinet that *as resonsible to the
Constituent #ssembly& *hich became the real authority8 3he
/overnor /eneral *ould e5ercise o*ers on the advice o4 the
cabinet8 1t *as un4ortunate that Huid$e$ #;am Muhammad #li ?innah
and Ciakot #li @han died be4ore the 4raming o4 the constitution8
#4ter the death o4 Huid$e$ #;am on 11 )etember 19'8 @ha*aBa
%a;imuddin became the second /overnor /eneral o4 Pakistan8
Ciakot #li @han chose to remain the Prime Minister& *hich meant
that cabinet 4orm o4 government *as to become e44ective8 3he
osition o4 the /overnor /eneral during this time *as like that o4 a
constitutional 4igurehead *hile the Prime Minister and the cabinet
e5ercised real o*er8 3his arrangement continued until the
assassination o4 Ciakot #li @han on 1+ October 19.18 @ha*aBa
%a;imuddin took additional charge as the Prime Minister a4ter the
death o4 Ciakot #li @han and on 2' October 19.1 he assumed the
4ull resonsibility o4 Prime Minister leaving the ost o4 /overnor
/eneral 4or /hulam Muhammad *ho *as then the "inance Minister8
Dhen /hulam Muhammad became the third /overnor /eneral
in 19.1& it *as e5ected that he *ould be content to be a
constitutional 4igurehead8 2ut /hulam Muhammad had no resect
4or& or training in arliamentary rocedures and its tradition or
convention8 3he osition and o*ers o4 the /overnor /eneral in
Pakistan deended on the Kuality and the ersonality o4 the holder o4
the ost8 Prime Minister @ha*aBa %a;imuddin roved to be a *eak
leader& conseKuently olitical 4actions develoed in the cabinet8
Prime Minister and the cabinet 4ailed to e5ercise real o*er8 On one
occasion Prime Minister @ha*aBa %a;imuddin challenged the
/overnor /eneral /hulam Muhammad saying that *hile Ciakot #li
@han *as the Prime Minister and he <@ha*aBa %a;imuddn> *as the
/overnor /eneral& Ciakot #li @han *ielded the real o*er8 1n rely
/hulam Muhammad ointed out that @ha*aBa %a;imuddin *as not
Ciakot #li @han and he </hulam Muhammad> *as also not @ha*aBa
%a;imuddin8 =nder the /overnment o4 1ndia #ct& 193.& the
/overnor /eneral had the o*er to dismiss his council o4 ministers8
Dhen the dra4t constitution *as adoted by the 4irst Constituent
#ssembly in 19.'& the e5ression$ that Ethe Prime Minister shall
hold o44ice during the leasure o4 /overnor /eneralG *as omitted
and it *as laid do*n that the cabinet should be collectively
resonsible to the 4ederal legislature8 Due to this signi4icant change&
the /overnor /eneral /hulam Muhammad sei;ed the initiative and
oortunity under the #ct& 193. and dismissed @ha*aBa %a;imuddin
on 17 #ril19.3 4rom the o44ice o4 Prime Minister8
Muhammad #li 2ogra& the ambassador o4 Pakistan to
Dashington& *as brought back and *as assigned *ith the o44ice o4
the Prime Minister8 Dhen he tried to e5ert the real o*er& the tussle
ensued8 3he 4irst Constituent #ssembly& gro*ing imatient *ith the
*ay in *hich /hulam Muhammad began to e5ercise his o*ers&
sought to control him8 On 21 )etember 19.'& a 2ill *as assed
hurriedly by the Constituent #ssembly amending sections& 9&
1-&1-#& 1-2 o4 the /overnment o4 1ndia #ct& 193. as adoted 4or
Pakistan8 3he net result o4 the amendment *as to divest the o*ers
o4 the /overnor /eneral to dismiss his council o4 ministers8 3he
/overnor /eneral /hulam Muhammad retaliated by dissolving the
4irst Constituent #ssembly on 2' October 19.' *hen the Prime
Minister 4ailed to take a strong line& as some o4 the cabinet members
*ere in league *ith the /overnor /eneral8
Maulavi 3ami;uddin @han challenged the Proclamation and
dismissal o4 the #ssembly as Eunconstitutional& illegal& ultra vires&
*ithout Burisdiction& inoerative and voidG and asked 4or a *rit
mandamus to re4rain the government 4rom inter4ering *ith the
e5ercise o4 his 4unction as President <seaker> o4 the Constituent
#ssembly and 4or a ,uo %arrantor *ith a vie* to determining the
validity o4 certain aointments to the /overnor /eneralGs council o4
ministers8 # 4ull bench o4 )ind :igh Court headed by the Chie4
?ustice o4 )ind& )ir /eorge Constantine delivered verdict
unanimously in 4avour o4 Maulavi 3ami;uddin @han& and termed
that the dissolution o4 #ssembly *as Ea nullity in la*G8 1t 4urther
clari4ied that
the /overnor /eneral had no o*er o4 any kind to dissolve the
Constituent #ssembly8 1t *as a sovereign body created 4or a secial
urose and it *as to 4unction till that urose *as comlete& unless
it *ere dissolved by a maBority o4 t*o$third o4 its members8
#n aeal to the "ederal Court by the government *as made
against the verdict o4 the )ind :igh Court8 3he "ederal Court
acceted the aeal o4 the government and reBected Moulavi
3ami;uddin @hanGs claim8 3he "ederal Court did not go to see
*hether the Constituent #ssembly *as rightly dissolved8 3he "ederal
Court set the Budgment o4 )ind :igh Court aside on technical ground
that the section 223# o4 the /overnment o4 1ndia #ct& 193.& as
adoted in Pakistan& by virtue o4 *hich the )ind court issued the
*rits in 4avour o4 3ami;uddin @han& E *as not yet a la*G because it
had not received the assent o4 the /overnor /eneral8 1n rely to an
argument o4 #dvocate /eneral& the Chie4 ?ustice Mr8 Munir
remarked& L1 do not kno* *hether the Constituent #ssembly
dissolved legally or not but so 4ar it does e5ist in la*8M
#4ter this decision o4 "ederal Court& the country *as 4aced *ith
legal vacuum conseKuent uon this unusual situation8 3o revent the
breakdo*n o4 constitutional machinery the /overnor /eneral
romulgated the Amergency o*ers Ordnance 1T o4 19..8 3he
"ederal Court reBected the /overnor /eneralGs emergency o*ers8
3he /overnor /eneral immediately summoned a EConstituent
ConventionG to meet on 1- May8 2ut the "ederal Court ointed out
that EConventionG might be challenged as an illegal body8 3he
"ederal Court also 4oiled another attemt o4 /hulam Muhammad to
4rame Constitution by e5ecutive decrees *ith the hel o4 so called
LCabinet o4 3alentsM8 3he "ederal Court unanimously declared that
the task o4 4raming a constitution had to be er4ormed by a
Constituent #ssembly8 #4ter the verdict the /overnor /eneral&
/hulam Muhammad& by roclamation summoned a si5ty member
EConstituent ConventionG to meet on 1- May 19..8 3he Convention
*as to be elected 4rom among the e5isting Provincial #ssemblies and
its 4unction *ould be to relace the 4irst Constituent #ssembly8 3he
/overnor /eneral by another amendment raised the number o4
members o4 the Constituent Convention to eighty8 3he comosition
o4 the Convention *as based on the ArinciAle o< Aarity bet*een
Aast and Dest Pakistan& 4orty 4rom Aast and 4orty 4rom Dest
Pakistan8 1n Aast Pakistan& the leader o4 the =nited "ront& )her$e$
2angla "a;lul :uK& *as threatening to boycott the Constitution
Convention on the ground that it did not give Aast Pakistan the
maBority o4 seats on oulation basis8 )ubseKuently as a result o4 a
deal *ith the Prime Minister& Mohammad #li 2ogra under *hich
arliamentary institutions susended since19.' *ere restored in Aast
Pakistan& the =nited "ront agreed to accet arity o4 reresentation8
3he #*ami Ceague under Ca* Minister :useyn )haheed
)uhra*ardhy acceted it as Dest Pakistan *as not reared to accet
maBority seats 4or Aast Pakistan8 3here *as a threat o4 military rule
and some other considerations as *ell might have *orked in this
accetance o4 arity8
)uhra*ardy had the asiration in the back o4 his mind to become
the Prime Minister8 #ssurance 4or the same by the Dest Pakistani
leaders romted him to comromise on the issue o4 arity o4
reresentation8 3he background and origin o4 :useyn )haheed
)uhra*ardhy might have in4luenced himsel4 to accet the arity o4
reresentation8 :is 4ore4ather migrated 4rom 1ran to Dest PunBab&
then to Midnaur in 2engal8 :is 4ather *as ?ustice )ir Fahid
)uhra*ardhy& ?udge o4 Calcutta :igh Court8 :e *as the leader o4
Muslim 2engal8 :is rise to olitical stature emerged 4rom by the
suort o4 the Muslim 2engali voters8 :e could not seak 2engali&
although at a later stage he tried to learn 2engali8 :e *as the Chie4
Minister o4 undivided 2engal in 2ritish 1ndia during 19'3$19'.&
Ca* Minister in Muhammad #li 2ograGs cabinet in the "ederal
/overnment in Pakistan during 19.'$19..8 :e& ho*ever& became the
Prime Minister o4 Pakistan 4or thirteen months during 19.+$19.78
On 1- May 19.. the "ederal Court authenticated the Constituent
Convention as Constituent #ssembly and con4irmed that the
/overnor /eneral had the o*er to summon the ne* #ssembly8
Chaudhury Mohmmad #li became the Prime Minister in #ugust
19.. *ith the suort o4 the =nited "ront led by # @ "a;lul :uK8
3he 4raming o4 a constitution already in rogress by the cabinet o4
Mohammd #li 2ogra continued by the coalition government o4
Chaudhury Mohammed #li8 )her$e$2angla # @ "a;lul :aKue& leader
o4 the =nited "ront and :useyn )haheed )uhra*ardhy& leader o4 the
oosition& assisted the Prime Minister& Chaudhury Mohammad #li8
On -7 ?uly 19..& the sitting o4 the inaugural session o4 the
second Constituent #ssembly oened at Murree a summer hill resort
.- km 4rom !a*alindhi8 Only a4ter a 4e* days this venue *as
shi4ted to @arachi8 :useyn )haheed )uhra*ardy envisaged the idea
o4 the uni4ication o4 Dest Pakistan comrising PunBab& )ind& %D"P
and 2aluchistan to One =nit and the Constituent #ssembly assed
the 2ill on 3- )etember 19..8 3he 2ill *as hailed as a measure o4
administrative rationali;ation and laced Aast and Dest Pakistan on
eKual 4ooting8 #s 2engal acceted the arity o4 reresentation& there
*as little hurdle to ass One =nit 2ill o4 Dest Pakistan8 =ltimately
this issue o4 One =nit led to the do*n4all o4 :useyn )haheed
)uhra*ardyGs cabinet8
3he second Constituent #ssembly in a record time o4 seven
months& on -8 ?anuary 19.+ resented a dra4t constitution to the
nation and it *as adoted on 29 "ebruary 19.+8 1t *as imlemented
on 23 March 19.+ roclaiming Pakistan as 1slamic !eublic8 3he
constitution o4 19.+ consisted o4 thirteen arts covering 23' articles
and si5 schedules8 3he unicameral legislature called 3ational
Assembly consisted o4 three hundred members to be elected on the
basis o4 arity bet*een Aast and Dest Pakistan8 3he constitution
rovided 4or strong centre *ith ma5imum autonomy to the rovinces
ensuring national integrity and solidarity8
#*ami Ceague in Aast Pakistan voiced 4or outright
condemnation o4 the dra4t and demanded that it should be scraed8
3he election mani4esto o4 the =nited "ront in 19.' roosed to
con4er three subBects to the centre, de4ense& currency and 4oreign
a44airs8 3he chie4 o4 #*ami Ceague in Aast Pakistan Maulana #bdul
:amid @han 2hashani& in a ublic meeting threatened 4or secession
as the constitution so 4ramed became the tools 4or e5loitation o4 the
resources o4 Aast Pakistan8 3he second Constituent #ssembly
utili;ed the base *ork o4 the 4irst Constituent #ssembly8 3he
constitution 4inally emerged as a oor roduct based on multile
comromises and much o4 e5ediency rather than sound rinciles8
3here *as arity in reresentation bet*een Aast and Dest Pakistan&
but there *as no ronouncement to guarantee arity in aointments&
Bobs& de4ense service& business& trade& economic develoment&
military and bureaucratic e5ecutive o*ers& olitical in4luence and o4
no 4air shares 4or the Aast Pakistanis in any 4ield8
3he maBor sources o4 income under 19.+ constitution *ere
assigned to the centre8 3he centre *as given o*er to levy custom
duties& e5ort duties& e5cise duties& cororation ta5& ta5es on income&
succession duties& ta5es on caital values o4 assets& ta5es on goods or
assengers and ta5es on mineral oil and gas8 3he rincial source o4
income 4or the rovinces *as ta5es on agricultural income and 4rom
land revenue8 3he rovinces articularly Aast Pakistan& *as le4t
*ithout adeKuate source 4or their income generation8
3he e5ecutive authority o4 the 4ederation in the 19.+ constitution
*as comletely vested in the President8 3he President could
summon& rorogue and dissolve the %ational #ssembly on the advice
o4 the Prime Minister8 3he constitution o4 19.+ also dealt *ith
?udiciary and "undamental !ights8
)her$e$2angla # @ "a;lul :uK& a genius in the 4ield o4 olitics
and arliamentary a44airs *ho took leading role in the constitution
making o4 19.+ redicted Lyou can no more e5ect the
reresentation o4 institution to 4lourish in their roer 4orm in 1ndia
that you can e5ect hot$house 4lo*ers to blossom in the icy cold o4
the north8M 3he oliticians in Pakistan should have taken the note o4
the sayings o4 2ritish statesman Cord #rthur ?ames 2al4our that
Destminster tye o4 arliamentary institution *as the most di44icult
institution in the *orld to manage roerly8 3he sirit o4
arliamentary system is based on tolerance& understanding& Bustice
and so 4orth8 3he constitution o4 19.+ had rovided "ederal 4orm o4
government& but it *as 4ederal only in theory8 1n ractice centre
controlled and dominated rovincial olitics& 4inance and
administration8
1skander Mir;a became the President o4 Pakistan in March 19.+
at the romulgation o4 the constitution8 3he President 1skender Mir;a
also alike /overnor /eneral /hulam Mohammad *as a desot& not
content as a mere constitutional 4igurehead as *as in Destminster
tye o4 democracy8 :e e5ercised his rule through intrigues and
maneuvering8 During 3- months o4 1skander Mir;aGs tenure as
President 4our Prime Ministers, Chaudhury Mohammad #li& :useyn
)haheed )uhra*ardhy& 1 1 Chundigar and Malik "ero; @han %oon
4ell like ins8 1skander Mir;a kne* that in the event o4 general
election& scheduled to be held in the sring o4 19.9& arty ositions
in the ne5t arliament *ould change in a manner through *hich he
could not be re$elected as President8 %oon $ )uhra*ardy coalition
*ould *in in the general election8 %oon *ould become the President
and )uhra*ardy *ould be the Prime Minister8 Pakistan *ould
emerge like a solid rock as the united homeland 4or the Muslims o4
1ndian )ubcontinent8 :e& there4ore& in collusion *ith #yub decided to
abrogate the constitution& dissolve cabinets and %ational #ssembly&
abolish olitical arties and imose martial la*8 3his *as done on
the evening o4 -7 October 19.8 *hen /eneral Mohammad #yub
@han became the Prime Minister8
Chaudhury Mohammad #li 4ormer Prime Minister during 19..$
.+ and the architect o4 19.+ constitution during his intervie* *ith
the Constitution Commission stated that 1skander Mir;a deliberately
orchestrated olitical environment to abrogate constitution to
establish li4e long dictatorshi and at a suitable time even a kingshi
*hereas he *as oath bound to rotect and de4end the constitution8 1n
"ebruary 19.8& " M @han the Chie4 Alection Commissioner& a 4riend
o4 1skander Mir;a& during conversation at a rivate 4unction
denigrated the election as Ethis 4arce o4 counting shee and goatsG8
Prime Minister "ero; @han %oon being reorted by intelligent
bureau dre* the attention o4 the President 1skander Mir;a to such
derogatory remarksI on that issue the silence o4 the President
indicated atroni;ation o4 such un$constitutional behaviour8 1skander
Mir;a *as commissioned in 2ritish 1ndian army in 192-8 On his
romotion to the rank o4 Cieutenant Colonel he Boined 1ndian
Political )ervice and he had inherited the arrogance and temerament
o4 the member o4 that service8
:e *as oularly kno*n as the descendent o4 Mir Fa4ar #li
@han Commander$in$Chie4 o4 2engal army& *ho had betrayed the
last indeendent ruler o4 2engal %a*ab )iraB$ud$Da*la in the battle
o4 Plassey on 23 ?une 17.78 Clive met Mir Fa4ar on 2' ?une 17.7
morning at Daudur in the ne5t day o4 Plassey battle and saluted him
as %a*ab %a;im o4 2engal& 2ihar and Orissa8 Mir Fa4ar took
ossession o4 caital on 2. ?une 17.78 Clive entered the city on 29
?une 17.7 to *itness the installation o4 Mir Fa4ar as %a*ab %a;im
o4 2engal& 2ihar and Orissa8 :e *as later to remark about
Murshidabad& L as e5tensive& oulous and rich as the city o4
CondonM8 #t his installation Mir Fa4ar hesitated at the 4oot o4 the
dais& Clive romtly took him by arms and led him u to the throne8
"orced by the 2ritish& Mir Fa4ar abdicated in 4avour o4 Mir Hasim on
22 October 17+-8 Mir Hasim& ne* %a*ab %a;im o4 2engal& 2ihar
and Orissa& *hen tried to *ield o*er& shake u administration and
#rmy in order to lessen the 2ritish in4luence& Mir Fa4ar again Boined
hands *ith 2ritish and acceted the ost o4 %a*ab %a;im o4 2engal&
2ihar and Orissa on -' ?uly& 17+38 Mir Hasim *as de4eated by the
combined 4orces o4 Mir Fa4ar and Clive and 4led to Oudh8 An route
Mir Hasim killed )eth brothers and Anglish risoners in Patna8 Mir
Fa4ar *as once again invested as %a*ab %a;im o4 2engal& 2ihar and
Orissa on 2' March 17+38 Mir Hasim *ith the suort o4 the ruler o4
Oudh and )hah #lam& Ameror o4 1ndia lanned in an e44ort to drive
out the 2ritish8 2ritish 4orces o4 9-- Auroean& .--- seoys and 9--
1ndian cavalry 4aced '-&--- 1ndian 4orces& *ith some Auroean
o44icers and artillery at 2u5er on October 2.& 17+'8 3hat *as an
e5tremely bloody battle& *hich *ent on all day& ended in the de4eat
o4 the 1ndian #rmy8
2y 17+.& %a*ab %a;im o4 2engal& 2ihar and Orissa lost all
control over the military and the treasury e5cet Budiciary8 2ritish
never believed in treaties but in brute 4orce8 3hey made several
treaties *ith the %a*ab but all o4 them *ere broken at their *ill8
Anglishmen are the most treacherous eole in the DorldI they
e5tended their emire by intrigue and treachery in 1ndia and in other
arts o4 the *orld8 #s er the Divine rincile& treacherous race
e5tincts 4rom the earth may be the actions o4 some good Anglishmen
rotected the race 4rom the *rath o4 /od8 2y treaty the %a*ab *as
allo*ed annual stiend o4 ruees .' lakhs& subseKuently it *as
reduced to ruees 1+ lakhs& 19 gun salutes and !oyal title :is
:ighness8 )yed Mansur #li @han at the age 8& on 19 December
1838 *as installed as last %a*ab %a;im o4 2engal& 2ihar and Orissa
*ho *as the last entitled to get 19 gun salutes and enBoy the honour
o4 the !oyal title :is :ighness8 19 gun salutes and !oyal title :is
:ighness *as stried o44 by the 2ritish *hen his illegitimate son
#li @ader :asan born to #byssinian girl :asina *as installed as
%a*ab 2ahadur instead o4 %a*ab %a;im8 #byssinian eunuch used
to guard the harem and #byssinian girl used to serve as maidservant
in the !oyal herem8 )yed Munsur #li @hanGs se5ual aetite *as
:erculean by any standard8 :e *as a se5ual athlete8 :e had 4our
*ives including t*o Auroeans and number o4 concubines had
hundred children& but most o4 them died in in4ancy8 Cegitimate son
@hurshid @ader *as derived o4 the ost o4 %a*ab %a;im8
)yed "ateh #li Mir;a son o4 @hurshid @ader Mir;a married
Dilshad 2egumI a Persian girl *ho lived at 2ombay8 Dilshad 2egum
*hile staying at 2ombay *ith her arents gave birth to 1skander
Mir;a on 13 %ovember 18998 "ateh #li Mir;a 4ell into the *ays o4
his grand 4ather8 3he %a*ab Mir;a *as enticed back to Murshidabad
by the %a*ab 2ahadur o4 Murshidabad8 Dilshad *ith her son
1skander Mir;a *as e5iled to 2ombay to avoid unhealthy
environment o4 Murshidabad8 1skander Mir;a obtained his
undergraduate degree 4rom Alhinstone College 2ombay in 1918 and
*as the 4irst 1ndian to graduate 4rom the )andhurst military college
at Camberly& Angland in 192- *ith a @ingGs Commission8 1skander
Mir;a *as osted to the )econd 2attalion )cottish !i4les& but
ultimately the authority cancelled the osting order 4or 4ear o4
insubordination by 2ritish soldiers in the #rmy8 #4ter care4ul
deliberation by 2ritish authority he *as attached to )cottish !i4les
4or one year as art o4 training8 #4ter success4ully comleting his
yearGs soBourn *ith a 2ritish regiment& he Boined his o*n regiment,
3he 17 Poona :orse <Hueen PictoriaGs o*n> at ?hashi8 On 2'
%ovember 1922& 1skander Mir;a married !i4aat )hira;& daughter o4
Mir;a Muhammad& *hose *ealthy 4amily had vast real estate
holdings in )hira;& 1ran8 3he 4amily had shiing comany at
2ombay named Mughal Cines having 1. shis8 1skander Mir;a had
si5 children 4rom !i4aat 2egum8 :aving reached the rank o4
Cieutenant Colonel& he resigned his commission in #ugust 192+& and
Boined the 1ndian Political )ervice <dra*n hal4 4rom the 1ndian civil
service and hal4 4rom the 1ndian #rmy>8 "rom 193- to 19'.&
1skandar Mir;a served *ith the Anglishmen in various caacities,
#ssistant Commissioner& 2annu& and %o*shera <193- to 1933>&
Deuty Commissioner& :a;ra <1933 to 193+>& Political agent&
@hyber <1938 to 19'->& Deuty Commissioner& Pesh*ar and
Political agent& Mohmands <19'- to 19'.>8
1n May 19'. 1skander Mir;a *as osted as 4irst olitical agent
at Orissa8 1n #ril 19'+& 1skander Mir;a *as osted as Boint secretary
in the Ministry o4 De4ense in Delhi8 )ir #mbrose Dundas& the
)ecretary o4 De4ense& sent 1skander Mir;a to set u a ne* ministry o4
de4ense in @arachi8 1skander Mir;a *as true to one *i4e& in the
acceted sense& 4or over thirty years8 2ut he *as destined to 4ollo*
the ath o4 his ancestors8 1n 19.3& he married %ahid #4khamy& the
*i4e o4 1ranGs military attachU at their embassy at @arachi8 :e
became the /overnor o4 Aast Pakistan on 3- May 19.' till he Boined
as cabinet minister as Minister o4 1nterior& states and "rontier
!egions on 2' October 19.'8 :e became /overnor /eneral o4
Pakistan on -+ October 19..8 3he inauguration o4 1skander Mir;a as
President o4 Pakistan took lace on 28 March8 19.+8
1skander Mir;a *as the decendent o4 Mir Fa4ar8 )o some
commented that his betrayal to the cause o4 a democratic Pakistan
*as imbedded genetically in his blood 4or generations8 3hrough his
acts democracy *as 4inally urooted 4rom the soil o4 Pakistan8
On -8 October 19.8& President 1skander Mir;a *hile residing
over a meeting attended by /eneral Mohammad #yub @han& the
Chie4 ?ustice Mohammad Munir& #ir Marshal Mohammad #sgar
@han and the members o4 /eneral Mohammad #yub @hanGs cabinet&
the Chie4 ?ustice Mohammad Munir *as asked by /eneral
Mohammad #yub @han as to ho* he should go about getting a ne*
constitution aroved by the eole8 ?ustice MunirGs rely *as both
original and astonishing8 :e roosed that it *as a simle matter8 1n
olden times in the /reek states& he said& constitution *as aroved
by Eublic acclaimG and this should be done in Pakistan as *ell8
/eneral #yub asked as to *hat *as meant by Eublic acclaimG to
*hich ?ustice Munir relied that a dra4t o4 the constitution& *hen
reared& should be ublished in national ne*saers8 3his *as to be
4ollo*ed by /eneral Mohammad #yub @han addressing ublic
meetings at %ishtar Park in @arachi& Paltan Maidan in Dhaka& Mochi
/ate in Cahore and Cho*k 6adgar in Pesha*ar at *hich the dra4t o4
the constitution that had been ublished in the ne*saers a 4e*
days earlier *ould be resented 4or seeking ublicGs aroval8 3he
ans*er o4 the eole& the Chie4 ?ustice said& *ould de4initely be in
the a44irmative8 3his *as according to him aroval by Eublic
acclaimG8 ?ustice Mohammad Munir *as so much 4rustrated by the
abrogation o4 19.+ constitution 4ramed by nine years o4 hard labourI
and conduct o4 civil$military bureaucracy that he had no choice but
to advise on the arody o4 constitution8
On 17 "ebruary 19+- President Mohammad #yub @han
aointed a Constitution Commission headed by Chie4 ?ustice o4
Pakistan& ?ustice Mohammad )hahabuddin as its chairman to
e5amine the causes o4 4ailure o4 arliamentary government in
Pakistan8 3he Commission ointed out that as :ead o4 )tate it *as
the sureme duty on the art o4 /hulam Mohammad and 1skander
Mir;a to be 4aith4ul and loyal to the constitution& but they seemed to
have 4ailed in discharging their highest obligation in imartial
manner as e5ected 4rom a constitutional :ead in a arliamentary
system8 1t 4urther ointed out that /hulam Mohammad and 1skander
Mir;a actively contributed to the breaking u o4 the solidarity in
arties J a course that *as undigni4ied and unbecoming o4 any :ead
o4 the )tate in a arliamentary system8 1t *as mentioned by #ir
Marshal Mohammad #sgar @han in his book E/eneral in PoliticsG
that /hulam Mohammad and 1skander Mir;a& in all their actions& had
the tacit suort o4 /eneral Mohammad #yub @han& Commander$in$
Chie4 o4 Pakistan army since 19.18
President "ield Marshal /eneral Mohammad #yub @han ruled
Pakistan since the imosition o4 martial la* on 27 October 19.8 to
-1 March 19+- *ithout any constitution8 #yub like 1skander Mir;a
used to consider the illiterate eole o4 Pakistan as shee and goats
to Busti4y the introduction o4 2asic Democracy8 Minister 4or A5ternal
#44airs& Man;ur Huadir& an eminent la*yer 4rom Cahore and the
chairman o4 the Committee& dra4ted the constitution o4 19+2 kno*n
as 2asic Democracy8 3he constitution o4 19+2 a 4orm o4 Econtrolled
democracyG *as authenticated by a residential decree on -1 March
19+2 and *as announced in a broadcast by the President himsel4 on
the same day8 1t *as done in the same ancient /reek line as Chie4
?ustice Mohammad Munir advised /eneral #yub Bust a4ter the
abrogation o4 19.+ constitution in a con4erence8
3he ublic reBection o4 the constitution *as instantaneous and
unanimous8 1t *as seen as an elaborate design to eretuate one$man
rule in the country8 3he constitution o4 19+2 contained 2.- #rticles
divided into t*elve arts and three schedules8 1ts main 4eatures *ere
the Presidential 4orm o4 government& President to be elected by
Alectoral College 4ormed by the members o4 electoral units o4 8-&---
basic democrats eKually distributed bet*een the t*o rovinces8
3he constitutional lan o4 /eneral #yub *as discussed and
adoted at the /overnorGs con4erence in @arachi on -1 May 19.98 #
detailed rogramme o4 action to members o4 Alectoral College& to
create L2asic DemocraciesM <2Ds> *as aroved by the /overnorGs
con4erence in %athiagali on 12$13 ?une 19.98 8-&--- 2Ds eKually
shared bet*een Aast and Dest Pakistan *ould be elected on the basis
o4 universal adult 4ranchise and *ould act as an electoral college 4or
the residential election and the election to the arliament8 3he
election o4 the 2asic Democrats *as held in ?anuary 19+-8
/eneral #yub *anted to obtain a vote o4 con4idence 4rom the
ne*ly$ elected 2Ds& *ho 4ormed the Alectoral College 4or a mandate
but only *ith the Huestion o4 EyesG vote8 Man;ur Huadir 4ormulated
a Kuestion, D)o you ha.e con<idence in the President ;ield
Marshal Muhammad Ayub 5han, 7ilaliPakistan, and 7ilali
BuratGE 3his Huestion *as 4inally ut to the members o4 the
Alectoral College on 1. "ebruary 19+- as a re4erendum and 7.&283
o4 them& reresenting 9.8+ er cent o4 2Ds& gave their verdict in
a44irmation8 "ield Marshal Muhammad #yub @han *as s*orn in as
the 4irst elected President o4 Pakistan on 17 "ebruary 19+-8 #t a later
date members o4 %ational #ssembly *ere elected by 2Ds on
restricted 4ranchise 4or 1.- seats& 7. 4rom each rovince8 )i5 seats
*ere reserved 4or *omen& three 4or Aast and three 4or Dest Pakistan8
3he constitution o4 19+2 enacted by "ield Marshal #yub reBecting the
suggestion o4 Constitution Commission rovided a constitutional
dictatorshi o4 the President 4or Pakistan8
#yubGs tenure as President *as due to e5ire on 2. March 19+.
and that o4 2Ds in ?anuary 19+.8 3he election o4 2asic Democrats
*ere held and ended on 19 %ovember 19+' *ith both arties$
combined oosition arty <COP> and Muslim Ceague suorters o4
#yub claiming over*helming victory8 Miss "atema ?innah& sister o4
Huaid$e$#;am Muhammad #li ?innah *as the Presidential candidate
o4 COP8 3he charisma o4 Miss ?innah had demolished the ruling
arty8 3he train in *hich Miss ?innah traveled in Aast Pakistan *as
named as "reedom 3rain8 #yub lacked the charisma o4 Miss ?innah
and he had no e5erience o4 ublic seaking8 3he ublic oinion *as
in 4avour o4 Miss ?innah8 1t *as rumored that #yub *as acking his
bags 4or leaving the country8 3he olling took lace on -2 ?anuary
19+. in eace4ul environment8 1t *as easy to control 8-&--- 2Ds8
3he government set out to buy as many o4 elected 2Ds as ossible&
*hile blaming the COP 4or disturbing eace8 3he election result
sho*ed that out o4 8-&--- members o4 the Alectoral College '9&9.1
voted 4or #yub and 28&+91 4or Miss ?innah8 3hough #yub had *on
the election but he *as comletely shaken as he had come close to
de4eat and his constitutional re4orms had been so comrehensively
reBected by the eole in general8 3he %ational #ssembly elections
by 2Ds 4or 1.- seats *ere held on 21 March 19+.8 #yub *as s*orn
in as President o4 Pakistan 4or a 4ive$year term on 23 March 19+.8
3he destiny o4 the eole o4 Aast Pakistan under restricted
4ranchise by the Dest Pakistani ruling elite could not be allo*ed to
eretuate inde4initely8 =nder #yubGs eretual rule the 4amous 22
4amilies emerged& all belonging to Dest Pakistan controlling 9-
ercent o4 banking& insurance and industries and 7- ercent o4 the
total industrial *ealth o4 the country8 #ll money transactions in Aast
Pakistan could move in a matter o4 seconds to Dest Pakistan8 1n
19'9$.- er caita income in Dest Pakistan *as 18 er cent higher
than that o4 Aast PakistanI it *as 31 er cent higher in 19.9$+-& and
7. er cent higher in 19+7$+88 3he income ga Kuadruled in
ercentage terms during 2- years o4 autocratic rule o4 /hulam
Muhammad <19.1$..>& 1skader Mir;a <19..$.8> and #yub <19.8$
+9>8 During #yubGs autocratic rule over ten years 4rom 19.8$+9& the
annual rate o4 gro*th o4 income in Dest Pakistan *as +82 er cent&
*hile it *as only '82 er cent in Aast Pakistan8 1n 19'9$.- the /DP
o4 Aast Pakistan *as !s1238+- billions against !s 1218-+ billions 4or
Dest Pakistan& *hile in 19+7$+8 /DP 4or Aast Pakistan *as
!s2-283. billions against !s 28+8.2 billions 4or Dest Pakistan8 3he
economic disarity *idened many times in absolute terms under
eretual autocratic rule8
=nder these circumstances )heikh MuBibur !ahman aeared in
the scene *ith his si> Aoints rogramme to challenge the eretual
e5loitation o4 the resources o4 Aast by the Dest8 3his si5$oint
4ormula created violent imact in the minds o4 the ruling elite and
shattered the olitics o4 Pakistan8 On 23 March 19++& )heikh
MuBibur !ahman laced his si5$oint 4ormula be4ore the Cahore
Con4erence attended by leaders o4 various olitical arties8 1t *as a
bombshell to Pakistan ruling elite8 3he si> Aoints 4ormula resented
in Cahore Con4erence *ere,
Point= : 3he Constitution should rovide 4or a "ederation o4
Pakistan in its true sense on the basis o4 Cahore !esolution and
arliamentary 4orm o4 /overnment *ith suremacy o4 legislature
directly elected on the basis o4 uni.ersal adult <ranchise8 3he
reresentation in the "ederal legislature shall be on the basis o4
oulation8
Point " : "ederal /overnment shall deal *ith only t*o subBects&
vi;, )e<ense and <orei:n a<<airs& and all other residuary subBects
shall be vested in the "ederating )tates8
Point H : Aither o4 the t*o 4ollo*ing measures should be
adoted *ith regard to currency:
#8 3*o searate but 4reely convertible currencies 4or the t*o
*ings may be introduced& or
28 One currency 4or the *hole country may be maintained8 1n
this case& e44ective constitutional rovisions are to be made
to sto 4light o4 caital 4rom Aast to Dest Pakistan8 )earate
2anking !eserve is to be made and searate 4iscal and
monetary olicy to be adoted 4or Aast Pakistan8
Point * : Po*er o4 ta>ation and re.enue collection shall be
vested in the 4ederating units and the "ederal Centre shall have no
such o*er8 3he "ederation shall have a share in the state ta5es 4or
meeting their reKuired e5enditure8 3he consolidated "ederal 4und
shall come out o4 a levy o4 certain ercentage o4 all state ta5es8
Point 0 :
3here shall be t*o searate accounts 4or <orei:n e>chan:e
earnin: o4 t*o *ingsI
<1> Aarning o4 Aast Pakistan shall be under the control o4 Aast
Pakistan /overnment and that o4 Dest Pakistan under the
control o4 Dest Pakistan /overnmentI
<2> "oreign e5change reKuirement o4 the "ederal /overnment
shall be met by the t*o *ings either eKually or in a ratio to
be 4i5edI
<3> 1ndigenous roducts shall move 4ree o4 duty bet*een t*o
*ingsI
<'> 3he Constitution shall emo*er the unit /overnments to
establish trade and commercial relation and to set u trade
missions in and enter into agreements *ith 4oreign
countries8
Point I: # militia or Paramilitary <orce shall be set u 4or Aast
Pakistan8
3he charges o4 secession o4 Aast Pakistan in #gartala Consiracy
case against )heikh MuBibur !ahman including other 3' accused
ersons *ere 4ramed and trial under a secial tribunal started on 19
?une 19+8 at Dhaka Cantonment to humiliate and crush initiators o4
si5 oint 4ormula8 2ut it bounced back8 #gartala Consiracy case
made )heikh MuBibur !ahman the unarallel leader and the hero o4
the 7. million 2engalis8 1t *ould be seen in subseKuent years that
elements like autonomy& election on universal adult 4ranchise on
oulation basisI 4iscal and monetary olicies o4 si5 oint 4ormula
set the minds o4 Pakistani ruling elite to undo the inBustice to Aast
Pakistan *hile 4raming the Cegal "rame*ork Order <C8"8O>8
Pakistani ruling elite& articularly President 6ahya reali;ed the e5tent
o4 inBustice to 2engalis through the interretation o4 si5 oints8
Political uheaval in the *inter o4 19+9$7- brought do*n the
oularity o4 #yub to the lo*est ebb8 :e *as comelled to *ithdra*
the in4amous #gartala consiracy case8 :e called 4or a !ound 3able
Con4erence <!3C> o4 leaders o4 all olitical arties at !a*alindi to
reach a *orkable solution to run the country8 #yub arranged secret
deal *ith )heikh MuBibur !ahman through :aroon brothers& member
o4 22 industrialist 4amilies o4 Pakistan to share o*er8 1n the deal
#yub roosed to remain the President and )heikh MuBibur !ahman
*as to be made the Prime Minister in a arliamentary system& si5
oints *ere assured to be suitably accommodated in #yubGs 19+2
constitution8
MaBor /eneral Peer;ada leaked out the secrecy o4 the roosal o4
the President to 2hutto8 #yub sacked Peer;ada and 2hutto in 19++
and during the ne5t years they 4ormed good artnershi8 2hutto and
Peer;ada *ith the /eneral in /:H 4oiled this attemt o4 President
#yub8 President #yub called the con4erence o4 the /enerals o4 /:H
and reKuested to imose martial la* to sail the government
administration8 /eneral 6ahya took President #yub to a searate
room 4or intimate arleys *here 6ahya o44ered #yub some re$
conditions such as to imose martial la* etc8 3he most serious
amongst his roosals *as the abrogation o4 19+2 constitution8 3his
*ould actually mean that /eneral 6ahya *ould e5ercise absolute
o*er8 President #yub reali;ing that earth under his 4eet had gone
Kuietly asked /eneral 6ahya to take over8 /eneral 6ahya took over
as President o4 Pakistan on 2. March 19+9& and imosed Martial
Ca*& abrogated 19+2 constitution and dissolved arliaments both
national and rovincial8
President 6ahya ledged to trans4er o*er to the elected
reresentatives o4 the eole8
:e had held several arleys *ith the leaders o4 all olitical
arties and *orked out a lan kno*n as Cegal "rame*ork Order
<C8"8O>8 C8"8O had 4ive 4undamental rinciles o4 the constitution8
C8"8O *as not the constitution& but Bust a mo!us o-eran!i 4or electing
a %ational #ssembly$ the 4irst task o4 *hich *ould be to 4rame a
Constitution o4 Pakistan8 C8"8O embodied t*o very imortant issues,
4irstly& the Kuestion o4 Eone unitG in Dest Pakistan& secondly& the issue
o4 Eone man& one voteG versus arity8 3he third issue *as regarding
the relationshi bet*een the centre and the 4ederating rovinces to be
decided by the ne*ly elected %ational #ssembly8 President 6ahya
conceded to all the demands ut 4or*ard by )heikh MuBibur !ahman
including constitutional matters to be decided by single maBority8
Cieutenant /eneral #bdul :amid @han and #ir Marshal %oor @han
o4 the Einner cabinetG o4 President 6ahya vehemently oosed this
articular oint o4 single maBority8 3hey *anted t*o$third or +-
ercent vote 4or resolving any constitutional issue8 3he rovision o4
E+- ercent clauseG *as raised at the last moment8 #t the eleventh
hour in the cabinet meetingI by most skil4ul maneuvering& President
6ahya droed the clause 4rom the lan8 1t *as the real concession to
2engalis8 President 6ahya sho*ed great magnanimity to*ards
2engalis *hile making the C8"8O8 3he C8"8O *as ublished on 31
March 197-8 3he elections o4 %ational #ssembly and Provincial
#ssembly *ere held on -7 December 197-8 #*ami Ceague obtained
absolute maBority in %ational #ssembly8 2hutto and military ?unta
4rustrated the hoes and asiration o4 the eole o4 both Aast and
Dest Pakistan by not allo*ing the %ational #ssembly to sit and
4rame the constitution o4 Pakistan8 3his act ultimately reduced the
country to the truncated Pakistan that our 4ore4athers established
through unending struggle and blood bath o4 about t*o hundred
years8
A:artala ConsAiracy Case
)heikh MuBibur !ahman *as ut behind the bar 4or 13 years out o4
23 years o4 united Pakistan8 #yub @han also imrisoned :usyen
)haheed )uhra*ardy co$4ounder o4 Pakistan& as he *as the
mouthiece and chamion o4 democracy and *anted to reserve the
integrity o4 Pakistan8 "irst Prime Minister o4 Pakistan& Ciakot #li
@han *as assassinated in !a*alindi8 Aven 4ather o4 the nation
Huaid$e$#;am Mohammed #li ?innah *as slo* oisoned8 Dhile he
*as recuerating in Fiarat& a hill station 4orty miles a*ay and several
thousands 4eet above Huetta& Ciakot #li @han visited him Bust to see
him ho* long he *ould survive8 ?innah told this to his sister Miss
"atima ?innah8 ?innah traveled 4rom Fiarat by a big :umber car to
Huetta accomanied by his sister Miss "atima& Cieutenant Colonel
1lahi 2akhsh& #MC and a nurse8 :e stayed in Huetta 4rom 28
October to 11 )etember8 :e *as 4lo*n 4rom Huetta to Mauriur
airortI @arachi on 11 )etember at 2 8m8 3he ambulance that
carried him broke do*n near a cro*ded re4ugee settlement as they
*aited 4or another ambulance8 Avery minute *as an eternity o4
agony8 )i5ty minutes had assed be4ore another ambulance arrived8
3here *as no bree;e and the humid heat *as oressive and
scorching sunray *as 4alling on his 4ace8 3o add to his discom4ort&
scores o4 4lies bu;;ed around his 4ace and he did not have the
strength to brush them a*ay8
)ister Dunhum 4ound a iece o4 cardboard and 4anned ?innahGs
4ace to kee the 4lies a*ay and rotect him 4rom the sun8 3here *as
none to receive him at Mauriur airort and )ister Dunhum *as still
rotecting him 4rom sun by cardboard and no high o44icial visited
him till his death8 3he ambulance took him to /overnment :ouse
*here he breathed his last at 1-82- 8m on )etember 11& 19'88
Pakistanis never kne* ho* to resect their national heroes8 3hey
behaved like hungry beggars and their thirst could never be 4ul4illed8
#utocratic /overnment during the entire eriod o4 united Pakistan
did not do anything to consolidate national unity and national
solidarity8 3he comments and 4orecast o4 :usyen )haheed
)uhra*ardy can be cited regarding a ossible mass uheaval in Aast
Pakistan& as an outcome o4 the gross inBustice done to the 2engalis8
LPublic olitical li4e to day is at a standstill in Pakistan8 3here is
arehension o4 mass uheaval in Aast Pakistan8 2y all accounts
there is general olitical stagnation and the Kuestion remains ho* it
can be ended8 3he general theory is that *hen constitutional avenues
are blocked& eole 4ind a *ay to adot un$constitutional measures$
in short& a revolution8 Dhether such a revolution is ossible in vie*
o4 the tremendous disarity bet*een the armed 4orces and the eole
is doubt4ul8 One contingency *hich *e *ere robably aroaching
*as the mass uheaval in Aast Pakistan against Dest Pakistan *hich
*ould have included the army& the Dest Pakistani industrialist and
even the non$2engali re4ugee element8 3his *ould have led to
bloody riots and murders and *ould have been based on sheer
hatred8 1 have succeeded in stemming this& but *e have yet to see i4 it
is entirely e5tinguished8 14 not& deseration may once light the
smouldering 4ires and destroy me in the rocess as *ell8M
1n 19+2 olitical change started to evolve among conscious
nationalist 2engalis as a result o4 the revailing situation8 Ordinary
citi;ens had no voting right8 Only 8- thousand rivileged 2asic
Democrats had voting o*er8 3here4ore the rights o4 2engalis could
not be achieved through democratic means8 :useyn )haheed
)uhra*ardy *as their illar o4 hoe8 :e *as laced behind the bar in
@arachi Bail8 )heikh MuBibur !ahman *as seeking alternative means
4or achieving the rights o4 the 2engalis8 :e had a conviction that
Military regime could not be urooted through democratic means8 )o
he adoted the 4ootrint o4 %etaBi )ubash Chandra 2ose8 :e
generally got inclined to an armed revolution8 1n 19+2& he established
2engal Ciberation "orce under the leadershi o4 Cieutenant
Commander Moa;;em :ossain mobali;ing suort 4rom some army
o44icers and soldiers& airmen and seamen8 :e needed 4oreign
assistance and 4oothold in 4oreign soil8 )o he established contact *ith
1ndia8 !uhul Huddus& #hmed "a;lur !ahman 4rom Pakistan Civil
)ervice and Moa;;em :ussein Choudhury o*ner o4 tea estate in
)ylhet *ere associated *ith this secret lan8 3hey established contact
*ith 1ndian Ambassy in Dhaka8 On receiving green signal 4rom
1ndian :igh Commission& )heikh MuBib *ould roceed to #gartala
to be received there by Moa;;em :ussein8 !uhul Huddus gave the
green signal8 )heikh MuBibur !ahman boarded the )ylhet bound
train at 3ongi !ail*ay )tation8 :e got do*n at @ula*ara rail*ay
)tation and reached #gartala on 4oot8 2ut Mo;;am :ussein could not
establish roer negotiation8 #gartala Mission *as not success4ul8
1ndian #uthority did not agree to continue secessionist movement o4
Pakistan 4rom the soil o4 1ndia8
)ree )hachindra Cal )ingh "ormer Chie4 Minister o4 3riura
gave the 4ollo*ing *ritten statement to *riter Md8 Mo4idul :aK in
199+ at Delhi8
L1n 19+3& )heikh MuBibur !ahman *ith 1- ersons accomanied
by my brother )ree =mesh Cal )ingh entered 3riura through @hoye
subdivision o4 Palan District o4 3riura and reached my 2anglo* at
midnight8 #4ter reliminary discussion )heikh )haheb stayed in the
house o4 my sister :emangani Debi at a distance o4 one and hal4
mile 4rom my residence8 3hen as er the roosal o4 MuBib 2hai& 1
*ent to see Prime Minister& Pandit ?a*aharlal %ehru8 )ree )ree
!amdy& Chie4 )ecretary accomanied me& *ho *aited in the room o4
"oreign )ecretary )ree Pandaria and 1 met the Prime Minister8 Prime
Minister Pandit %ehru did not agree *ith the roosal o4 )heikh
MuBibur !ahman& as he did not like to take the risk a4ter the invasion
o4 1ndia by China in 19+28 #4ter stay o4 1. days MuBib 2hai le4t
#gartala8 #ll assistance *as ensured to )heikh MuBibr !ahman *hen
time *ill be rie8M
)heikh MuBibur !ahman returned 4rom the unsuccess4ul tri8
)heikh MuBib entered his 32 Dhanmondi house 4rom the back doorI
he *as soaked in rain& *hile olice entered 4rom the 4ront door8 :e
took the 4resh bath *ith hot *ater and then encountered the olice8
)heikh :asina& daughter o4 2angabandhu& disclosed this to me
<author>8
3his tri to #gartala by 2angabadhu and his associates *as the
4irst and the last8 One ositive outcome o4 his visit *as that he
knocked the 1ndian door& sounded the 1ndian Ceaders& and got
ositive assurance o4 4uture 4avourable resonse8 Cater 1ndira
/andhi& daughter o4 Pundit ?a*aharlal %ehru *on the election on 11
March 1971& *ho subseKuently rendered all out assistance to the
2engalis8 Cater on 2engali O44icers& Ceaders& )eamen and #irmen
had several meetings in @arachi 4or secession o4 Aast Pakistan8
Cieutenant Commander Moa;;em :ossain contracted 1ndian :igh
Commissioner at Dhaka *ithout any tangible result8 Pakistan )ecret
)ervice& 1nter )ervice 1ntelligence <1)1> 4abricated #gartala
consiracy case *ithout su44icient evidence8 Coining @arachi or
Pindi consiracy cases could have been more aroriate& instead o4
the #gartala Consiracy8 3he name o4 #gartala consiracy case *as
given to de4ame and humiliate 2angabandhu and his associates in the
eyes o4 Pakistanis8 Pakistanis considered 1ndia as their enemy and
*hoever got aligned *ith 1ndia *as considered to be a traitor8
Pakistanis used 1ndia 5enohobia to humiliate 2engalis8
3he consiracy *as in the nascent stage and could be called
dra*ing room talks and there *as no seriousness in it8 3here *as no
rearation 4or staging armed attack8 2angladesh Ciberation "orce
had no organi;ation& mano*er& arms& *eaons& ammunition and
money 4or imlementing their lan8 #s #yubGs oularity in both the
*ings o4 Pakistan articularly a4ter the signing o4 3ashkent
declaration *as 4alling& he needed some booster to regain his
oularity8 2laming Aast Pakistanis *ould be #yubGs best *eaon to
hood*ink Dest Pakistanis to regain his image8 During the entire
eriod o4 consiracy 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman *as in
custody in the rison8 1nitially Cieutenant Commander Moa;;em
:ussein *as the number one accused8 #t the last stage )heikh
MuBibur !ahman *as imlicated as number one accused to
imlement #yubGs heinous obBective8
On 21 #ril 19+8& by virtue o4 President Criminal Ca*
#mendment <)ecial 3ribunal> 19+8 <ordinance number .$19+8>&
trial o4 accused ersons o4 #gartala consiracy case *as arranged
under )ecial 3ribunal8 3he court *as constituted under the
leadershi o4 retired ?ustice ) # !ahman o4 Pakistan )ureme Court
*ith ?ustice MuBibur !ahman @han& and ?ustice Maksudul :akim8
3he trial o4 )heikh MuBibur !ahman and other accused started at
@urmitala Cantonment on 2- ?une 19+8 and ended on 3- %ovember
19+88 3here *as olitical agitation all over Pakistan8 #yub *as
comelled to *ithdra* #gartala Consiracy Case on 21 "ebruary
19+98 3he oularity o4 )heikh MuBibur !ahman skyrocketed and he
became undisuted leader o4 Aast Pakistan that heled him to
achieve a landslide victory in 197- %ational #ssembly Alection&
*hich became a big bargaining stake 4or him leading the liberation
*ar and indeendence o4 2angladesh8

Cyclone o< =" 3o.ember =#$!
3he most colossal and devastating tidal bore accomanied by
cyclone storm that caused the highest casualty in the history o4
2engal on12 %ovember 197-8 2arguna& @heuara& Patuakhali&
Chittagong& Char 2urhanuddin& Char 3ami;uddin& MaiBdi&
:aringhata *ere devastated by this natural catastrohe8 1t caused
heavy loss o4 lives and damage to cros& livestock& marine cra4ts&
houses and roerty8 Death toll *as more than a million8 3he height
o4 the tidal *ave *as 1-8+ meter eKuivalent to a three$storied
building and the seed o4 the hurricane *as 222 km(hr8
1 *as at Huetta at that time8 1n subseKuent days 1 heard the ne*s8
3he Dest Pakistanis *ere unmoved by hearing the deadly calamity8
3hey commented that 4lood and cyclone *ere the daily a44airs o4
Aast Pakistan8 Aast Pakistan means 4lood and cyclone8 3hey *ere
rather sarcastic about it and e5ressed no symathy8
3hat very night 6ahya @han *as in 2eiBing having dinner&
*hisky and merry making in the house o4 #mbassador& Mr8 @8 M
@aiser8 %e5t morning on 13 %ovember197-& Pakistan "oreign
)ecretary Mr8 )ultan Mahummud @han received the ne*s o4 the
devastating cyclone o4 Aast Pakistan8 "oreign )ecretary Mr8 )ultan
Mahummud @han donning a costly @ashmiri *oolen overcoat
aroached 6ahya @han *ho along *ith his entourage *as sitting in
*inter sun on the la*n o4 state guesthouse8 6ahya @han dra*ing the
attention o4 his entourages told that this )ultan *as looking like
ansy in bro*n colour overcoat8 Mr8 )ultan Mahammud @han told
the President& L )ir& very bad ne*s8 3housands o4 eole have been
killed by Cyclone in Aast Pakistan8M
L :o& 1s itNM 6ahya @han relied8
6ahya @han ket silent 4or a moment and laughed loudly and
told&
L 6ou kno*& Bust no* 1 *as telling them that you are looking
like ansy in over coat8M
#gain laughter8 2engali "irst )ecretary @hurshid :amid *as the
*itness to 6ahyaGs devilish laughter8
1t *as the shame4ul moment in the history o4 the country8 1t *as
ever great naked e5ression o4 neglect to the cyclone a44ected
millions o4 countrymen8 1t *as an unardonable insult to the
memories o4 millions *ho *ere carried a*ay *ith the 4orces o4 tidal
*ave8 3hat *as a natural calamity& no 4ault o4 the million victims8
"arruK #hmed Cho*dhury& a 2engali dilomat o4 Presidential
entourage listened the conversation o4 t*o Pakistani Bournalists8
"irst Bournalist, Dhat did President do in case o4 such calamity in
Dest PakistanN 3o day he *ould rush to his country8
)econd Bournalist, 3his tye o4 cyclone does not take lace in
Dest Pakistan8
P1# lane touched do*n at Dhaka airort on 1+ %ovember 197-8
#t the lane doorste& Mr8 "arruK #hmed Cho*dhury met Mr8
#nisu;;aman& !elie4 Commissioner o4 Aast Pakistan8
L3ell me the situation&Mgrieved "arruK #hmed Cho*dhury asked
#nisu;;aman8
L 1t seems it *as a doomGs day8 1 have 4lo*n over the cyclone
a44ected areas several times8 Only dead& 4loating dead& iled u dead&
$it *as a total doomGs day&M relied #nisu;;aman8
#nisu;;aman also described there is no helicoter& no 4ood& no
drinking *ater& no clothing& and no medicine8 Averyone e5ected
that President *ould take all aroriate measures on arrival at
Dhaka8 2ureaucrats in the PP1P room encircled President8 /overnor
o4 Aast Pakistan #dmiral #hshan& Chie4 )ecretary Mr8 )ha4iul #;am
and a good number o4 other #rmy generals *ere also resent there8
"arruK #hmed Cho*dhury along *ith others *as *aiting 4or the
outcome o4 the decision *hether President *ould stay back in Dhaka
or roceed to @arachi8
3he door o4 the PP1P room *as oened8 One military o44icer in
uni4orm came out and declared an unbelievable declaration8
President *ould continue his Bourney to @arachi8 President had lot o4
imortant Bobs *aiting there 4or him8 3his unbelievable incident is a
black chater in the history o4 Pakistan and had comletely uset the
Aast Pakistan community8 1t remained as *ritten history8
3here *as one helicoter in Aast Pakistan 4or the movement o4
PP1P8 %o helicoter *as disatched 4rom Dest Pakistan8 1nstead 8
helicoters *ere disatched 4rom Poe #ir "orce 2ase in %orth
Carolina& =)#& hal4 the globe 4rom Aast Pakistan covering a distance
o4 13--- miles *hereas Dest Pakistan could not send helicoter
4rom a distance 1--- miles8 3he =) helicoters *ere dismantled& ut
in t*o C$'1s and 4lo*n to Dhaka *here they *ere assembled and
4lo*n to their oerating bases in a44ected areas8 3he ress& both in
Dhaka and Dashington& *ere asking *hy helicoters could not be
brought in 4rom the laces around Aast Pakistan& as *as )enator
Ad*ard @ennedy8
On 22 %ovember 197- =) Consulate at Dhaka sent a message
slugged L:elicoter !ounduM8 "ollo*ing helicoters *ere sent to
Aast Pakistan 4or relie4 oeration in the calamity areas a4ter t*o
*eeks o4 devastation8
a8 3en =) helicoters *ith cre*s started arriving on 23
%ovember 197-8
b8 3en =@ helicoters *ith cre*s arrived by 2' %ovember
197-8
c8 "ive /erman helicoters *ith cre*s due on 23 %ovember
197-8
d8 3hree "rench helicoters *ith cre*s e5ected to arrive on 23
%ovember 197-8
e8 %o helicoter 4rom Dest Pakistan8
3he total numbers o4 helicoters that became available 4or
disaster relie4 reached thirty$eight big and small& *hich included
later arrival 4rom 1ran& )audi #rabia and )oviet =nion8
3he 2ritish had airli4ted 4rom )ingaore 4orty troos& one do;en
land rovers and t*o )iou5 helicoters to be used in reconnaissance
o4 the disaster struck areas8 3he eight large =@ helicoters also
brought one comany o4 !oyal Angineers& one comany o4 marines
and eKuiment such as bulldo;ers8 =) and =@ troos carried out
e5tensive relie4 *ork8 Aven =@ marines buried the dead *hereas
Dest Pakistani troos 4ailed to e5tend their hel8
On 2' %ovember 197- eleven olitical leaders 4rom Aast
Pakistan sent rotest note to President 4or endless neglect&
callousness and suressing the ne*s8 3hey included Mo*lana
#bdul :amid @han 2hasani& #taur !ahman @han& Pro4essor
Mu;a44or #hmed& @ha*Ba @hairuddin& Mr8 /ulam #;am& @han
)obur& #)M )olaiman& Mo*lana )iddiKue #hmed& Pir Mosleuddin
and /arib %e*a;8 %o central Minister visited Aast Pakistan8
President arrived Dhaka on 2+ %ovember 197- 4or 4ace saving visit
4or a lase o4 1. days since cyclone hit the coastal belt o4 Aast
Pakistan8 Pakistan :igh Commissioner in 2ritain told blatant lies
that .8 helicoters *ere in the calamity areas and situation *as under
comlete control& *hich *as senseless and baseless statement8
:elicoters arrived only a4ter the cry o4 oliticians and ress
reorting& *hich moved the conscience o4 the *orld community8
ChaAter "
MA-C7 =#$=
P#@1)3#% M1C13#!6 #/!A))1O% #%D
2A%/#C1 !A)1)3#%CA
Preface '-387'-388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
5arachi in March =#$=
On 27 "ebruary 1971 1 reached @arachi by train 4rom Huetta and
rested in the house o4 my cousin )hamsul 1slam *ho *as serving in
central /overnment8 On 28 "ebruary 1 bought a P1# ticket 4or Dhaka
and 1 *as scheduled to 4ly on -2 March 19718 1n @arachi the
atmoshere *as very tense8 3he li4e and roerty o4 2engalis *ere
unsa4e8 #t @arachi 1 *as invited to a dinner by MaBor "a;al #hmed a
PunBabi o44icer *ho *as my o44icer commanding at )ialkot8 #t that
time he *as osted at %aval :eadKuarters at @arachi8 #t dinner he
told me that President 6ahya had been remaining drunk most o4 the
time and not serious rather callous about the a44airs o4 the state8
On -2 March 1971 1 reorted to @arachi airort along *ith my
relatives and 4riends8 1 *as denied to board the aircra4t 3he reasons
*ere that troos o4 1+ Division o4 Pakistan #rmy *ere being 4erried
to Aast Pakistan by assenger aircra4t to crush the democratic eole
*ho voted 4or the establishment o4 rule o4 la* and rights o4 the
eole8 1 could sense that the clear mandate )heikh MuBibGs #*ami
Ceague *on in general election *as to be 4rustrated under the heel o4
the military Backboot to eretuate the e5loitation o4 the *ealth o4
Aast Pakistan8 3he situation created by the mani4estation o4 their
misdeeds *as to be corrected by the ruthless military 4orce8 3roos
*ere carrying ri4le and ouch ammunition only8 MP )*at and other
merchant shis transorted heavy eKuiment and ammunition 4rom
@arachi seaort to Chittagong seaort8 3he use o4 civil assenger
aircra4t or any means o4 transort by military is illegal as er
international la*8 2ut Pakistani rulers hood*inked such la* *hen all
o4 their moves aimed at eretuating the military rule and clinging to
o*er by the o*er o4 military 4orce8
3he P1# authority once again advised me to reort ne5t day8
3ension *as mounting in @arachi8 #t one stage 1 even thought it *as
*ise to reort to some army unit at @arachi 4or my ersonal sa4ety8
:o*ever& on -' March 1971 1 *as allo*ed to check in8
=n4ortunately 1 had some e5cess luggage that 1 *as not ermitted to
carry although 1 *anted to ay 4or it8 #ircra4t *ould 4ly taking a
circuit via Colombo because 1ndia banned 4lying o4 Pakistani aircra4t
over her territory and as such the aircra4t *ould carry e5tra 4uel load
4or its long Bourney8 1ndia did this as a rotest to the blo*ing u o4
her aircra4t at Cahore airort that *as taken there by the @ashmiri
hiBacker8 3he lane *as blo*n u at the instigation o4 Ful4ikar #li
2hutto8 )o 1 thre* my e5cess load at @arachi airort and boarded the
aircra4t *ith only '' ounds8 1 *as the last assenger to board the
aircra4t8
)haka AirAort on !* March =#$=
3he P1# aircra4t carrying me landed at Dhaka #irort in the
a4ternoon o4 -' March 19718 1 *as surrised and shocked to see the
massive security arrangement at Dhaka airort8 3he big sandbag
bunkers *ith ointed machine guns and a battery o4 4orti4ied anti$
aircra4t guns *ere deloyed all around the run*ay8 )oldiers *ith
machine guns and other automatic *eaons *ere deloyed in the
terminal buildings *ith sand bag bunkers8 Pakistan #rmy troos
*ere guarding the airort in 4ull battle dress8 3he overall scenario
caught an imression that *ar had already started in Aast Pakistan8
Panic stricken situation had already been created by military
oligarchy8 3he anic engul4ed Dest Pakistani 4amilies *ere *aiting
to catch the ne5t available 4light to return to Dest Pakistan8
3he 4oreigners *ho accomanied me 4rom @arachi enKuired
about the situation o4 such *ar like rearations and understood that
the PunBabis are a really co*ard race8 3hey are a4raid o4 the brave
sons o4 2engal8 3hey *ere making mouse holes to hide themselves8
1n 18.7 during atriotic )eoy Dar in 1ndia *hen 2engal native
in4antry& 2engal cavalry and 2engal artillery *ere 4ighting in Mirrat&
2arrackur& 2ahramur and Delhi against 2ritish to *ie them out&
the PunBabis& the )ikhs and the /urkhas *ere heling the 2ritish to
continue their rule in 1ndia8 1n those days there *as not a single
regular PunBabi and )ikh army unit in 2ritish 1ndian army8 Delhi and
rest o4 1ndia *ere ket liberated 4or si5 months8 2ritish diverted their
shis carrying troos& *hich *ere bound to go to 1ndo China8 2ritish
rulers brought more troos 4rom the Middle Aast8 Patriotic )eoy
Dar in 18.7 ended *ith the treachery o4 the PunBabis and the )ikhs8
Pictoria Park later named as 2ahadur )hah Park at Dhaka )adarghat
still bears the testimony o4 sureme sacri4ices o4 unkno*n valiant
sons o4 2engal *ho embraced martyrdom8 2engal troos *ere
e5ecuted by hanging on mango trees in the resent 2ahadur )hah
Park8 Delhi could never rule 2engal e44ectively even during the
Mogul emire8 :ere 1 *ant to mention the bravery o4 a son o4
2engal8 :is name *as 1ssa @han8 :e belonged to 2ikramur o4
Dhaka8 3he great Mogul emeror #kbar sent his Commander$in$
Chie4 Man )ingh a !aBut belonging to a martial race to crush 1ssa
@han *ho dislayed his comlete disregard to Mogul rule8 3he army
o4 1ssa @han and Man )ingh *ere 4ace to 4ace 4or con4rontation8 1ssa
@han sent roosal 4or dual 4ight *ith Man )ingh8 2rave Man )ingh
acceted the challenge8 During the 4ight s*ord o4 Man )ingh *as
broken8 1mmediately brave 1ssa @han o44ered his s*ord to Man
)ingh8 1ssa @han never *anted to kill an unarmed soldier8 Man )ingh
embraced 1ssa @han and they became 4riends8 3he ne*s reached
Delhi8 Ameror #kbar *as leased to grant more Parganas to 1ssa
@han8 1 told the 4oreigner that *e are that martial raceI they cannot
subdue 2engalis hiding in the mouse holes and sho*ing us the
barrels o4 cannon8 3he PunBabi army o44icers in the terminal building
*ere on olice duty8 3he #rmy had taken comlete control o4 the
airort8 1 received my luggage and rode a ta5i 4or )hantinagar
through the airort road8 Pakistan #rmy troos sitting in *ell$
reared sand bag bunkers on the roo4tos o4 the buildings at
di44erent laces along entire the road8
7istoric $th March
1 *as on leave 4rom 28 "ebruary to 11 March 19718 1nstead o4 going
to my home village at ?essore& 1 *as observing the rogress o4
develoments at Dhaka8 3he treacherous ostonement o4 %ational
#ssembly on -3 March 1971 by the military oligarchy created 4lame
o4 anger among the deserate 2engalis8 1t *as arehended that
2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman *ould outline his 4uture
course o4 action at a mass rally on -7 March 1971 and might declare
indeendence o4 2angladesh8 )heikh MuBibur !ahman sounded
#merican #mbassador ?oseh "arland and sought the suort o4
#merican /overnment 4or secession o4 Aast Pakistan& but got
negative resonse8 1n anticiation o4 -7 March address by )heikh
MuBibur !ahman& President 6ahya addressed the nation on -+ March
in an attemt to *arn )heikh MuBibur !ahman about the
conseKuence o4 unilateral declaration o4 indeendence8 6ahya in his
seech *arned that he *ould use his absolute authority as head o4
#rmed "orces and head o4 state to ensure comlete and absolute
integrity o4 Pakistan *ithout any doubt or mistake8
3his time *ell$recogni;ed method o4 carrot and stick used by the
rulers *ould not 4unction to acKuiesce the eole o4 2engal8 Civil
administration o4 Aast Pakistan comletely collased8 /overnment
o44ices& courts& banks and other organi;ations *ere 4unctioning by
the directives issued by 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman8
2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !aman virtually became the ruler
o4 Aast Pakistan8 Dhile 1 *as on leave 1 *as 4ortunate to be resent
on the historic -7 March 1971 at the !amna !ace Course to hear the
historic seech delivered by 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman8
"or the 4irst time 1 sa* the national 4lag o4 2angladesh hoisted on the
stage8 3his *as a clear$cut de4iance o4 the authority o4 /overnment
o4 Pakistan8 3he !ace Course gave the look o4 sea o4 human beings8
3here *ere more than a million eole on that day in the !ace
Course8 Many eole came *ith bamboo sticks in their hands
shouting S?oi 2angla and ?oi 2angabandhuS slogans8
On that day hundreds o4 4oreign Bournalists *ere resent in the
!ace Course8 Peole *ere *aiting 4or the arrival o4 2angabandhu8
Dhole cro*d burst into alause *hen 2angabandhu aeared on
the stage8 2angabandhu climbed the *ooden stair to reach the to o4
the stage at a height o4 1. 4eet8 1t *as a great moment in the history
o4 the eole o4 2engal8 3he 4ate o4 2engal *ould be decided on that
day8 1t *as the bravery and leadershi o4 2angabandhu )heikh
MuBibur !ahman that *ould decide the destiny o4 the nation8
2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman roved himsel4 as the bravest
son o4 2engal in its ever$recorded history8
2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman *as more than si5 4eet
tall8 :e looked elegant and imressive in *hite aBama& unBabi and
black tunic rince coat8 On earth no body could match the
ersonality o4 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman8 :e had been
looking as the king o4 2engal8 #lmighty #llah esecially created him
*ith the grace& beauties and Kualities o4 a leader 4or the oressed
2engali race8 :e *as a gi4t 4rom #lmighty #llah 4or the 2engali
race8
1 heard 4rom a PunBabi Colonel *ho had interrogated )heikh
MuBibur !ahman that he had so much o4 ersonality that no Pakistani
could dare to hysically assault him during custody in connection
*ith #gartala consiracy case8 2ut un4ortunately one 2engali MaBor
<later on Cieutenant Colonel> Musta4i;ur !ahman during
interrogation slaed and kicked 2angabandhu8 Cater on Dr @amal
:ossain con4irmed this incident8 2angabandhu took no revenge
against him a4ter the reatriation o4 the said o44icer 4rom Pakistan8 1t
again sho*ed the magnanimity o4 a great man8 Pakistani dogs should
have been given due treatment& then nation *ould not have setback
in 4uture years8 1t is an irony o4 4ate that Musta4i;ur !ahman became
Minister t*ice in 1ndeendent 2angladesh in /en Fia and 2egum
Fia7s cabinet8
2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman *ith giant olitical
ersonality on the rostrum thundered his historic seech *ith the roar
o4 a lion8 :e set 4our reconditions be4ore the seating o4 the national
assembly8 3hese conditions *ere comlete li4ting o4 martial la*&
return o4 Pakistani troos to barrack& handing o4 o*er to eole7s
reresentatives and setting u o4 Budicial enKuiry 4or the killing o4
2engali eole8 3he Anglish version o4 his deliberation be4ore the
million 2engalis assembled in the !ace Course on that day is
reroduced belo*,
My dear brothers and sisters,
1 have come be4ore you *ith a very heavy heart 4ull o4 sorro*s8
#ll o4 you kno* ho* hard *e have tried our best to sho* our
restraint& but it is a matter o4 great sadness that the streets o4 Dhaka&
Chittagong& @hulna& !angur and ?essore are to day being sattered
*ith the blood o4 my brothers and the cry *e hear 4rom 2engali
eole is a cry 4or 4reedom& a cry 4or survival& a cry 4or our rights8
Dhat is our 4aultN Peole o4 2engal voted 4or #*ami Ceague and
me in the election8 3he hoe *as that the elected reresentative o4
the eole& sitting in the national assembly& *ould 4rame constitution
that *ould assure the eole o4 their economic& olitical and cultural
emanciation8
2ut it has turned out to be a sad story8 3o day 1 tell you *ith ain
the ain4ul story o4 ast 23 years history o4 tyranny& history o4
bloodbath o4 the eole o4 2engal& history o4 heart rendering cry o4
dying eole& history o4 2engal is the history o4 blood stained street
shed by 2engali eole8 De silled our blood in 19.2& *e *on a
mandate in 19.'& but *e *ere still not allo*ed to take u the reins o4
this country8 1n 19.8 #yub @han clamed martial la* and enslaved
us 4or ne5t 1- years8 1n 19++& during the )i5$Point movement o4
masses& bullets killed my sons o4 2engal8
#4ter the do*n4all o4 #yub& 6ahya @han took over state o*er
*ith the romise that he *ould restore constitutional rule and restore
democracy and return o*er to the eole8
De acceted that8 #4ter crossing lot o4 hurdles& election *as
held8 1 have met President 6ahya @han8 #s not only the leader o4
2engal& but also the leader o4 maBority arty in the national assembly&
1 reKuested him to set "ebruary 1. as the day o4 its oening session8
:e did not listen to my reKuest8 :e listened to Mr8 2hutto and
announced that the assembly *ould be convened on the 3rd o4
March8
De acceted that& agreed to Boin the deliberations8 1 even *ent to
the e5tent o4 saying that *e& desite our maBority *ould still listen to
any sound ideas 4rom the minority& even i4 it *ere a lone voice8 1
committed mysel4 to the suort o4 anything to bolster the
restoration o4 a constitutional government8
Mr8 2hutto came to Dhaka and had a discussion *ith me8 :e le4t
Dhaka saying that doors 4or negotiation *ere still oen8 Maulana
%oorani and Maulana Mu4ti Mohammad *ere among those Dest
Pakistani arliamentarians *ho visited Dhaka and discussed *ith
me8 1 said& come& let us sit do*n& discuss and 4rame the constitution
o4 the country8
1 made it clear that 1 could not agree to any deviation 4rom the
)i5 Points8 3his is the roerty o4 the eole8
2ut Mr8 2hutto threatened and cautioned that i4 any Dest
Pakistani Member o4 Parliament *ere to come to Dhaka& the
assembly *ould be turned into a slaughterhouse and he *ho Boins
*ould be slaughtered8 :e added that i4 anybody *ere to articiate
in such a session& country*ide agitation *ould be launched 4rom
Pesha*ar to @arachi and that every business *ould be shut do*n on
rotest8
1 said that the assembly *ould be convened desite the dire
threats8 2ut suddenly& on March 1 the session *as cancelled8
Mr8 6ahya @han convened the assembly as President8 1 said that 1
*ould attend the session& but Mr8 2hutto said he *ould not attend the
session8 3' members 4rom Dest Pakistan came to Dhaka to attend the
session but in site o4 that session *as cancelled8
2lame *as ut on the eole o4 2engal& and blame *as ut on
me8
On the ostonement o4 %ational #ssembly& eole made
instantaneous rotest8 1 called 4or a hartal as a eace4ul means o4
rotest8 1 asked my eole to close mills and 4actories8 3he masses
readily took to the streets in resonse8 3hey *ere ledge bound to
continue the struggle in eace4ul means8
Dhat have *e receivedN De urchased arms *ith our o*n
money to rotect the country against any threat by the e5ternal
enemies8 3oday the same *eaons are being used against my oor&
distressed and unarmed eole o4 2engal8 3hey are being shot at8 De
are the numerically larger segment o4 Pakistan7s oulation8
Dhenever *e 2engalis tried to go to o*er& they srang on us8
1 talked to Mr8 6ahya over telehone8 1 told him& Mr8 6ahya
@han& you are the President o4 Pakistan& come and see& ho* bullets
are being 4ired on my oor eole $ eole o4 2engal8 :o* the
mother7s la is being emtied& ho* the eole are being killed& you
Mr8 6ahya come& see and do Bustice8
:e told me that 1 should agree to a !ound 3able Con4erence on
the 1-th8 Dhat is !3CN Dith *hom 1 sitN )hould 1 sit *ith them *ho
have taken the blood o4 my menN
Preface ''387''388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
On 3rd o4 March at Paltan& 1 called 4or non$cooeration
movement and closure o4 o44ices& courts and revenue collection8 6ou
gave me the 4ull suort8
3hen suddenly& *ithout consulting me he met one individual 4or
4ive hours and then made a seech in *hich he turned all the blame
on me& laid all the 4aults uon the eole o4 2engal8
2hutto created the deadlock& yet the 2engalis are the ones 4acing
the bulletsR De 4ace their guns& yet it7s our 4ault8 De are the ones
being hit by their bullets and it7s still our 4aultR
My dear brothers,
Mr8 6ahya has summoned the assembly to meet on 2. March8
2loodstains have not been dried out8 1 have told that MuBibur
!ahman cannot attend !3C *alking over the blood o4 martyrs8 6ou
<6ahya> have to accet my demands be4ore convening the assembly8
Martial la* must be *ithdra*n8 3he soldiers must return to barracks8
?udicial inKuiry 4or the killing o4 my eole has to be carried out8
)tate o*er has to be handed over to the eole7s reresentatives8
Only a4ter that *e can consider *hether *e can sit in the
assembly or other*ise8 2e4ore that *e cannot sit in the assembly8
Masses have not given me that mandate8
My dear brothers,
Do you have 4aith on meN
Million masses raised hands and shouted yes8
1 do not *ant to become the Prime Minister8 1 *ant the rights o4
the eole8 #lluring the Prime Ministershi be4ore me& they 4ailed to
buy me8
6ou have 4reed me 4rom the so$called consiracy case by silling
your blood8 3hat day right here at this racecourse& 1 had ledged to
you that 1 *ould ay 4or this blood debt *ith my o*n blood8
Do you rememberN
3oday 1 am ready to ay debt *ith my blood8
1 *ant to tell in clear *ords that all o44ices& courts& criminal
courts and educational institutions in 2angladesh *ill remain closed
4or inde4inite eriod8 %o o44icial *ill go to o44ice8 3hat is my
instruction to you8
)ome systems *ill not observe hartal to avoid the su44ering o4
my oor eole8 !icksha*s& horse cart& train and launch *ill oerate
as usual8 3he trains *ill oerate but *ill not carry army troos8 14 the
army does not resect this& 1 shall not be resonsible 4or the
conseKuences8
3he secretariat& )ureme Court& high court& Budge courts and
government& semi $ government o44ices shall remain closed8
DorkersR Collect your *ages on the 28th8 14 the salaries are
stoed& i4 a single bullet is 4ired uon us hence4orth& i4 the murder
o4 my eole does not cease& 1 call uon you to turn every home into
a 4ortress against their onslaughtR
=se *hatever you can ut your hands on to counter this enemy8
3o save lives every road must be blocked in case 1 4ailed to issue
orders8 De *ill starve them to death by re4using 4ood8 De *ill cause
them to die o4 thirst by denying *ater8
3roosR 6ou are my brothers& you go back to barracks& and no
body *ill sho* any hostility to*ards you8 ?ust do not attemt to aim
any bullet at our hearts8
6ou cannot suress seven crore eole8 3he 2engali eole
have learned ho* to die 4or a cause and you *ill not be able to bring
them under your yoke o4 tyrannyR
3o assist 4amilies o4 the martyrs and the inBured& to the best o4
our ability& *e on behal4 o4 #*ami Ceague *ill try to hel8 3hose
*ho can a44ord& lease donate some amount o4 money to my relie4
committee 4und8
#lso o*ners o4 industries must give 4ull ay to the *orkers *ho
articiated in the seven days hartal or *ere not able to *ork
because o4 cur4e*s8
3o all my government emloyees *hat 1 say must be obeyed8
Preface '.387'.388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
%o ta5es *ill be aid till my country attains 4reedom8 %o one
*ill ay ta5es8 Ceave everything to meI 1 kno* ho* to organi;e a
movement8
Cisten and remember that enemy has in4iltrated in our ranks8
3hey *ill create civil stri4e and resort to looting8 :indu $ Muslim&
2engali $ non$2engali *hoever is residing in 2engal is our brother8 1t
is our sacred duty to ensure their sa4ety8 De must not earn bad name8
!ememberR !adio& television *orkers& no 2engali *ill go to
radio and television stations& i4 media do not reort ne*s about our
movement8
2anks may remain oen 4or t*o hours daily 4or business
transactions but no money shall be allo*ed to move 4rom Aast
2engal to Dest Pakistan8
3elegrah and telehone communication *ill be continued
*ithin 2angladesh and Bournalists may send disatches to the outside
*orld8 2ut i4 there is a lan to eliminate the eole o4 this country&
2engalis *ill be cautious in their 4uture course o4 action8
)et u movement committee in every neighborhood under the
leadershi o4 #*ami Ceague8 6ou must reare yourselves *hat little
you have 4or struggle ahead8
!ememberR De have shed blood i4 need be *e *ill give more
blood& 1nsha #llahR Peole o4 this country shall be set 4reeR
3he 4ight& this time& is 4or <reedomR 3he struggle& this time& is
4or indeAendenceJ
2e ready& *e cannot a44ord to lose our momentum8 Carry on
movement and agitation8 14 the movement dies do*n& they *ill
ascend uon us8
2e discilined8 %o nation7s movement can be victorious *ithout
disciline8 ?oy 2angla <Pictory to 2engalR>
2angabandhuGs voice o4 -7 March 1971 *as not the ordinary
oneI it *as as i4 the Divine voice8 14 the 2engali nation is the name o4
a dream& o4 a hoe& o4 a struggle and o4 a success& then )heikh MuBib
is the architect o4 it8 2angabandhu established cultural and olitical
dream o4 2engalis by the establishment o4 2angladesh8 2engali
nationalism *as a 4orce that *as roelled by 2angabandhu and he
utili;ed it to thro* the colonial 4orce 4rom the soil o4 2angladesh8
6ahya ?unta could not visuali;e the strength o4 2engali nationalism8
1ndirectly 2angabandhu declared indeendence and oenly he
called uon the eole to 4ight back the Pakistan army and liberate
2angladesh 4rom the clutches o4 enemies $ the Pakistan occuation
#rmy8 %ational 4lag o4 2angladesh *as hoisted on the dais o4 the
meeting venue8 1t *as a clear$cut de4iance o4 Pakistan authority& and
symbol o4 the birth o4 2angladesh8 2angabandhu had the olitical
acumen that i4 he had oenly declared indeendence& 6ahya *ould
get the lea to take military action8 #s a matter o4 4act machine guns
*ere laced on the high rise buildings around !ace Course and
artillery in the Dhaka cantonment *ere in 4iring mode and !ace
Course$ the meeting venue *as registered 4or artillery bombardment8
Military ?untaGs reaction to the declaration o4 indeendence *ould
have caused large$scale murders and *ould surass the massacre o4
?alian*ala 2agh8
3he seech o4 2angabandhu *as to be broadcast on !adio
Pakistan as directed by 2angabandhuI other*ise 2engalis *orking in
!adio Pakistan *ould sto the 4unctioning o4 !adio Pakistan8
Pakistan authority did not allo* the seech o4 2angabandhu to be
broadcast on !adio Pakistan8 !adio Pakistan remained silent as the
*orkers o4 radio re4used to *ork unless seech o4 2angabandhu *as
broadcast8 Pakistan government *as 4orced to broadcast the seech
o4 2angabandhu on the morning rogram on -8 March 19718 3his
radio seech ignited the 4lame o4 liberation *ar across Aast Pakistan8
Men& children and *omen *ere cataulted *ith the 4ire o4 the
revenge and got ready to 4ight the occuation army8 Military ?unta
could not understand the meaning and imlication o4 the seech8 1t
*as the strategic declaration o4 indeendence8 3he coining o4 the
*ord EMuktiG meaning 4reedom instead o4 E)hadhinataG meaning
indeendence toned do*ned the declaration o4 indeendence8
#lthough in true sense it *as a covert declaration o4 comlete
indeendence& it *as done to con4use and hood*ink the military
?unta8
2angabandhu in his seech gave the *ar lan *here he asked his
eole to take u arms& to 4ight the enemy and to cut all sorts o4
sulies to enemy8 MaBor Fia& senior most o44icer o4 8 A 2engal at
Chittagong& MaBor )a4iullah senior most o44icer o4 2 A 2engal at
Preface '+387'+388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
?oydebur& MaBor @halid Musharra4 senior most o44icer o4 ' A
2engal at Comilla& Catain :a4i; o4 1 A 2engal at ?essore& Catain
#shra4 o4 3 A 2engal at !angur& MaBor #bu Osman o4 AP! at
Chuadanga& olice at !aBarbagh and AP! at Pilkhana and all other
2engali 4ighting elements received the message o4 declaration o4
indeendence and mentally got ready at the call o4 2angabandhu& to
hit back only *hen struck by the enemy8 3he declaration o4
indeendence *as given at the end o4 the seech so that the enemy
could have no reaction time to retaliate on the massive gathering8
Pirtually 2angabandhu called to start struggle 4or indeendence8
2angabandhu called uon his eole to take u arms and 4ight the
enemy till the ultimate victory8 2angabandhuGs call *as conditional&
that re$emtive strike to be launched by the enemy& so that 2engalis
are not blamed as secessionists8 2angabandhu ket last hoe to save
the destiny o4 =nited Pakistan *ithin the 4rame*ork o4 constitution8
)haka Cantonment on March =#$=
2e4ore my 4ormal reorting to my unit .9 AMA 2attalion 1 *ent to
Dhaka Cantonment to assess the atmoshere there8 2arricade *as
laced at the MP check ost at third gate and 1 *as stoed8 On
Kuery& 1 *as allo*ed to enter the cantonment8 1 *ent to my battalion
headKuarters& *here 1 met MaBor :akim& 21C o4 the 2attalion&
Catain !a4iKul 1slam 2huiyan adButant& MaBor M /olam Mo*la&
Catain 1kramullah8 #ll o4 them *ere 2engali o44icers8 Commanding
o44icer o4 the unit *as a PunBabi *ho had an accident on Dhaka $
Chittagong road and *as admitted in Dhaka CM:8 1 told them 1
*ould reort the unit on 12 March 19718 1n the Cantonment 1 *ent to
see MaBor #bdul 2aset an o44icer o4 2aluch !egiment& *hom 1 kno*
since 19+8 4rom )ialkot8 :is *i4e told me that she *as so much
insired and in4lamed by the -7 March seech that although as a
*oman she had e5tra di44iculties& she 4elt like going to the battle4ield
to 4ight the 4oreign army8
1 reorted my unit at Dhaka on 12 March 19718 On the same day
1 sa* a 4are*ell message sent by Cieutenant /eneral 6akub @han
Cors Commander& Aastern Command8 1n the message he sent good
*ishes 4or all the members o4 Aastern Command8 1t *as a hoeless
message 4rom a 4rustrated /eneral *ho *anted the olitical solution
o4 the crisis through dialogue& negotiation and understanding rather
than use o4 military 4orce8 On the same day 1 heard that Cieutenant
/eneral 3ikka @han *ould address the o44icers o4 Dhaka garrison at
the auditorium8 1 *ent to hear his address8 3here 1 sa* ne* o44icers
*ho *ere 4lo*n 4rom Dest Pakistan8 Cieutenant /eneral 3ikka
@han read out a *ritten seech8 :is ronunciation *as so oor that
hardly anybody resent there could understand his voice8
May be in his criminal mind he had been reaching 4or the unity
o4 Pakistan as he reeated the hrase S1slam is in dangerS like #yub
@han& *ho also hoelessly 4ailed8 1n the name o4 1slam the vested
interest grou in Dest Pakistan al*ays e5loited the *ealth o4
2engal by hood*inking the ious 2engali Muslims8 3he traders o4
religion 4rom 2engal al*ays Boined hands *ith them8 1 *as staying
in )ignal O44icers Mess and shared a room *ith a 2engali Catain
#bdul Malek 2huiyan& an #)C o44icer8 1n the dining hall 1 met some
senior o44icers *ho had been 4lo*n 4rom Dest Pakistan recently8 1
asked them *hy they had come8 2e4ore they could rely one young
2engali Cieutenant relied that this time 2engali *ould give them
unclean bamboo8 #4ter the liberation *ar 1 learnt that this Cieutenant
*as icked u and killed by the Pakistani o44icers8
)ubedar #bdul Dahed& a radar ?CO o4 AMA cros *ho served
*ith me in )ialkot and visited me on several occasions in Huetta
came to see me in the O44icers Mess at Dhaka8 :e brought my cam
kit 4rom Huetta to Dhaka by shi8 :e *ent to Dhaka airort to
receive me& un4ortunately due to the rescheduling o4 4lightsI he could
not see me at the airort8 :e brie4ed me about the activities o4
Pakistan army in Dhaka8 One day he came to tell me that a train
loaded *ith arms and ammunition *as going to north 2engal 4rom
Dhaka8 :e reKuested me to lan and lay ambush on that train8 :e
*as a highly atriotic 2engali8 )ubeder #bdul Dahed *as also li4ted
and killed in the month o4 March8 Dhereas his 2engali O44icer
Commanding MaBor M / Mo*la sa4ely reached Dest Pakistan and
later on got his osting in sa4e heaven in )audi #rabia during
liberation *ar and in indeendent 2angladesh *as romoted 4rom
MaBor to MaBor /eneral8 Dhat a shame 4or 2angladeshR
:ere a 4e* *ords about Cieutenant /eneral 3ikka @han are
*orth mentioning8 :e *as a seoy in an #rtillery !egiment8 :e *as
a good bo5er8 :is commanding o44icer *anted to a*ard him
commission8 #ccordingly 3ikka alied 4or selection 4or
commission8 :e *as reBected by 1))28 3ikka7s commanding o44icer
arranged the bo5ing cometition and in that event the chairman o4
1))2 *as made the chie4 guest8
)eeing 3ikkaGs bo5ing chairman o4 1))2 *as imressed8
Commanding o44icer o4 3ikka reKuested the chairman o4 1))2 to re$
consider 3ikka7s case8 3hat is ho* 3ikka *as selected 4or
commission in the army8 1 heard this story 4rom my commanding
o44icer Cieutenant Colonel #4;al @han !aBa at )ialkot8 3ikka *as
commissioned 4or his muscle and not on his intellectual merit8 3hat
is *hy 3ikka *anted to *in over the 2engalis by 4orce and not by
love o4 heart8
3ikka @han *as assigned *ith the task to bringing MuBib to heel8
3ikka @han *as notorious as a butcher8 :e *ould not hesitate to use
military 4orce against unarmed civilians& even to any e5tent o4
brutality to uhold the authority o4 the military ?unta8 :e lacked
human Kualities8 :e earned the name o4 a butcher *hen he emloyed
brutal 4orce against a tribal rebellion in 2aluchistan *ith success8
Cieutenant /eneral )aheb;ada 6akub @han& an intellectual *as
removed *ho had re4used to use 4orce to suress the asirations o4
2engalis8 :e *anted a olitical solution o4 the crisis through
dialogue bet*een the President o4 Pakistan /eneral 6ahya khan and
2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman8 On his return to @arachi& he
*as demoted to the rank o4 MaBor /eneral and ultimately sacked
4rom the services o4 Pakistan army8 #4ter*ards& on aeal his rank
*as restored and *as allo*ed all ensioner bene4its o4 army8
)ubseKuently he *as t*ice made the "oreign Minister o4 Pakistan8
Dhen Cieutenant /eneral ##@ %ia;i *as dismissed& he never got
back ensioner bene4its and honor o4 his rank8 )imilarly 3ikka *as
disgraced and imrisoned *ith his olitical boss 2hutto8 2hutto only
at the age o4 '. *as hanged disgrace4ully 4or murdering his olitical
oonent8 %i5on the President o4 =)# suorter o4 6ehyaGs genocide
in 2angladesh had to Kuit the Dhite :ouse disgrace4ully8 :enry
@issenger 4riend o4 6ahya& the then )ecretary o4 )tate o4 the =)#&
and *inner o4 %obel Peace ri;e has become the laughing stock
*orld*ide *hen the crime *as unearthed and there is a demand 4or
trial o4 :enry @issenger 4or manslaughter in 2angladesh8
Pakistan Military in %ast Pakistan
Cieutenant /eneral 3ikka @han arrived in Dhaka on -7 March 19718
:e took over charges 4rom Cieutenant /eneral 6akub on the same
evening8 :e took over charges o4 three aointments, those o4
/overnor& Martial Ca* administrator and Commander o4 Aastern
Command8 ?ustice 2# )iddiKue& Chie4 ?ustice o4 the Aast Pakistan
:igh court& re4used to administer the oath to s*ear 3ikka as the
/overnor o4 Aast Pakistan8 Aventually the Chie4 ?ustice o4 the
)ureme Court o4 Pakistan had to rush to Dhaka to administer
3ikkaGs oath8 3his *as a clear de4iance o4 Military regime7s authority
by the 2engali intellectuals8 #4ter s*earing in& 3ikka @han as
/overnor o4 Aast Pakistan asked )heikh MuBibur !ahman to see him
but )heikh MuBibur !ahman agreed to see him only i4 he came to his
house8 =nable to stomach this ersonal insult& 3ikka reacted
violently against ostensible de4iance on the art o4 )heikh MuBibur
!ahman8
On reorting to my duty at Dhaka Cantonment 1 4ound Aastern
Command having the 4ollo*ing comositions,
%astern Command
Cors Commander $ Cieutenant /eneral 3ikka *ho relaced
Cieutenant /eneral )ahab;ada 6akub @han
Cors :eadKuarters located at Dhaka8
:H 1' Division located at Dhaka8
/OC, MaBor /eneral @adim :ossain !aBa
:H located at Dhaka8
0$ Bri:ade located at )haka
2rigade Commander $ 2rigadier ?ahan;eb #rbab @han
=nits under command,
18 PunBab
32 PunBab
22 2aluch
13 "rontier "orce
31 "ield !egiment
13 C # # !egiment
2 Aast 2engal
1- Aast 2engal <%e*ly raised>
=!$ Bri:ade located at Bessore(
2rigade Commander $ 2rigadier !ahim Durranni
=nits under command
2. 2aluch
27 2aluch
22 "rontier "orce
1 Aast 2engal
.. "ield !egiment
2' "ield !egiment <2ty>
1'- 1n4antry Dorksho Comany AMA <#uthorGs location>
"H Bri:ade located at -an:Aur
2rigade Commander, 2rigadier #bdullah @han Malik
=nits under command
29 cavalry
2+ 4rontiers "orce
3 Aast 2engal
2. PunBab
23 "ield !egiment #rtillery
0H Bri:ade located at Comilla
2rigade Commander, 2rigadier 1Kbal )ha4i
=nits under command8
' Aast 2engal
3 Commando 2attalion
2' "rontier "orce
2- 2aluch
8 Aast 2engal
.3 "ield !egiment
)Kuadron o4 #ir 4orce *as located at Dhaka& and %aval base at
Chittagong8
Dar criminals involved in the lanning and e5ecution o4
oeration /A%OC1DA in 2#%/C#DA): included the 4ollo*ing,
/eneral Muhammad 6ahya @han& President o4 Pakistan arrived
Aast Pakistan on 1. March 1971 4or overall lanning and e5ecution8
Ct /eneral #bdul :amid @han Chie4 o4 )ta44& Pakistan #rmy
accomanied President8
MaBor /eneral ) / M Peer;ada& :H CMC#& !a*al Pindi8
Cieutenant /eneral 3ikka @han
/overnor and Martial Ca* #dministrator& Aast Pakistan 0 Cors
Commander Aastern Command8
MaBor /eneral @hadim :ussain !aBa /OC 1' Division
MaBor /eneral !ao "arman #li& #dviser to /overnor
MaBor /eneral 14tikar ?anBua and MaBor /eneral #8=8 Mitha&
HM/& MaBor /eneral /hulam =mer& D/ %)C& !oadad @han&
1n4ormation secretary& !ear #dmiral !ashid& %aval Commander& #ir
Commodore Masud and D/ 1)P! to assist the oeration /enocide8
Dhen Pakistan #rmy 4ailed to consolidate their osition in Aast
Pakistan and su44ered heavy casualties 3ikka *as e5osed to the
*orld as a butcher8 3he high command in !a*alindi desatched
Cieutenant /eneral #mir #bdullah @han %ia;i *ho assumed the
command o4 Aastern Command on 11 #ril 1971 *hom 1 met as my
/OC <8 Division> in )ialkot in 19+88
#4ter the electoral victory o4 #*ami Ceague in Aast Pakistan
in197-& /eneral :eadKuarters at !a*alindi conceived a military
oerational lan to desatch additional 3 to ' divisions o4 soldiers to
Aast Pakistan8 Movement o4 troos started in "ebruary 19718 /eneral
:eadKuarters desatched the 4ollo*ing /enerals,
MaBor /eneral !ahim @han& ne* /OC 1' Division
MaBor /eneral )haukat !a;a /OC 9 Division
MaBor /eneral %a;ar :ossain )hah& /OC 1+ Division8
9 Division and 1+ Division *ere 4lo*n 4rom @arachi and Huetta
by P1# in the month o4 "ebruary and March 1971 *hile 6ahya *as
continuing dialogue *ith 2angabandhu to buy time 4or 4inal
crackdo*n8 1t is clearly evident that 2hutto& 6ahya and their
associates *ere 4ully resonsible 4or the break u o4 PakistanI
although Pakistani *riters and ress tried to blame 2angabandhu
*ho *anted united Pakistan along *ith the legitimate rights 4or
2engalis8 Military leadershi in Pakistan *as uset a4ter -7
December 197- general elections and lanned ho* to suress the
asiration o4 the eole o4 Aast Pakistan8 Planning 4or movement o4
troos 4rom Dest Pakistan took lace in the month o4 ?anuary 19718
Movement o4 troos started in the month o4 "ebruary 19718 1t is clear
that military leadershi o4 Pakistan is *holly resonsible 4or division
o4 Pakistan8 1t is an irony o4 4ate that *hile )heikh MuBib *as
actively *orking 4or the creation o4 Pakistan& 6ahya *as rotecting
the 2ritish !aB and 3ikka *as olishing the shoes o4 2ritish masters
as their batman8
1n the month o4 "ebruary and March 1971 additional 2- 1n4antry
battalions *ere desatched by P1# 4rom Dest Pakistan to crush the
2engali race8 1 *as an eye*itness o4 such desatch o4 troos at
@arachi airort8 1t *as the irony o4 4ate that the arms& ammunition
and de4ense eKuiment *ere urchased by the 4oreign e5change
earned by Aast Pakistan *hich *ere used to kill the eole o4
2engal8 3he only crime o4 2engalis *as that they voted 4or
democracy and *anted to establish their legitimate rights8
?essore Cantonment on March =#$=
1 *as 4ortunate that 1 *as osted out 4rom :eadKuarters .9 AMA
2attalion at Dhaka to 1'- 1n4antry Dorksho Comany AMA at
?essore8 2attalion :eadKuarters issued me the osting order on 17
March 1971 *ith a 4e* days Boining time8 1 *ent to my village home
at Magura on 18 March 19718 My arents and relatives *ere
delighted to see me a4ter about t*o years stay in Dest Pakistan8 My
4ather had a dream at that time in *hich he 4ound himsel4 running
carrying a national 4lag having red atches o4 color8 :e *as
e5hausted and reached a :indu house8 :e reKuested 4or *ater to
drink8 3hey brought *ater& but my 4ather re4used to drink as he
*ould not eat or drink in :indu house8 :indus sho*ed that *ater
bottle had the shado* o4 our Prohet Muhammad<)M>8 :e drank the
*ater *ith satis4action8 1t had the indication that during the 4ight 4or
4reedom the real hel *ould come 4rom #llah through the :indus8
1 recollect an imortant incident& *hich took lace during my
stay at my village home8 3here *as a secret meeting o4 local eole
at )riur about ho* to organi;e armed resistance in case o4 crack
do*n by Pakistan army8 #kbar :ussein Mia& Chairman o4 our =nion
Council and a local leader %obuat #li Mullah invited me in that
meeting8 1 instructed them to remain reared to resist army action
and organi;e training 4or young eole8 1 *as moved to see
enthusiasm among retired AP!& olice and #nsar ersonnel8 On 23
March 1971 that *as the national day o4 Pakistan my younger
brothers *ent to )riur olice station and sa* the national 4lag o4
2angladesh to be hoisted in the remises o4 )riur )chool
ceremonially instead o4 Pakistani "lag8 Peole declared
indeendence o4 2angladesh and sang national anthem o4
2angladesh L)onar 2angla 1 love youM instead o4 national anthem o4
Pakistan8 Peole *ere determined not to allo* the Pakistan army to
go unchallenged8
On 23 March 1971 1 started 4rom my village home 4or ?essore to
Boin my duty8 During my Bourney in the bus 1 heard on the Calcutta
!adio that there *as a clash bet*een the 2 Aast 2engal !egiment
located at ?aydebur and the Dest Pakistan troos8 #s a discilined
soldier 1 could not think o4 remaining absent *ithout leave8 #t
?essore 1 got do*n at cross roads 4rom *here a road leads to*ards
?essore airort through the Cantonment8 Peole there articularly the
ricksha* ullers cautioned me not to enter cantonment and told me
that Dest Pakistani members o4 the army had slaughtered the 2engali
members o4 the army8
@eeing 4aith in #lmighty #llah& 1 gathered courage and
roceeded to*ards Cantonment8 #t the entrance o4 the Cantonment
near the rail*ay crossing 1 *as stoed by a soldier *ho 4rom a sand
bunker at a distance o4 4i4ty yards shouted at me to sto and
challenged me8 !icksha* uller stoed and 1 got do*n 4rom
ricksha*8 )ome soldiers ointed ri4les at me 4rom sand bunkers
*hile others aroached to*ards me and asked my identity8 1
roduced my identity card8 3he soldiers saluted me and took me to
nearby building& *hich *as the o44ice o4 Martial Ca* :eadKuarters8
#4ter liberation o4 the country the building has been converted to
Cantonment College8 My luggage *as also brought to that o44ice8 1
contacted my ne* unit 1'- 1n4antry Dorksho Comany AMA over
telehone8 My commander sent me a Bee8 1 boarded that Bee and
Preface .-387.-388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
reached the o44ice o4 my o44icer commanding MaBor )yed #hmed
Coan8 :e cordially received me8 My accommodation *as arranged in
the 2rigade O44icer7s Mess& *hich is no* the )tation O44icer7s Mess
%o8 18 1 *ent to the mess and occuied !oom no 98 3here 1 met three
2engali o44icers namely Catain %uru;;aman #AC& Cieutenant
!e;aul @arim o4 22 ""& Cieutenant Mon;ur o4 cors o4 Angineer and
some Dest Pakistan o44icers8 3here 1 learnt that most o4 the units had
gone out to Kuell the agitation and urising created by the treachery
o4 military ?unta8 22 "" had gone to @hulna leaving 2engali
Cieutenant !e;aul @arim in the rear8 27 2aluch had gone to @ushtia8
1 Aast 2engal *as sent on e5ercise to Chaugacha and .-Q soldiers
o4 1 Aast 2engal *ere sent on t*o months leave8 2engali )eoys o4
my unit brought a charoy 4or me *ho told me that Dest Pakistanis
had hatched consiracy to eliminate 2engali members o4 the army8
3he situation in the cantonment *as very tense8 3he night o4 2.
March assed a*ay& but *e in ?essore could not sense that Pakistan
army had cracked do*n brutally *ith tanks& artillery& machine guns
and other automatic *eaons on the unarmed civilian eole in
Dhaka8
3he President on Air on "I March
3he ?essore Cantonment *as isolated 4rom the to*n and the
countryside8 "ood sulies to the cantonment *ere stoed8 1n the
o44icer7s mess during lunch 1 could 4ind only chaatti and dal8 3here
*as announcement that President o4 Pakistan /eneral #ga
Mohammad 6ahya @han *ould address the nation over radio and
television in the evening o4 2+ March8 3here *as a radio set in the
room o4 a PunBabi o44icer& the o44icer commanding o4 "ield
1ntelligent =nit8 De gathered in his room to listen to the Presidential
seech8 #s usual there *as national anthem be4ore the seech8
#ll o44icers stood u in silence to honor the national anthem8 1t
*as an unusual demonstration o4 resect 4or national anthem8 1n his
address /eneral 6ahya @han raised the role o4 the army 4or the
e5cellent Bob they have accomlished on the night o4 2. March in
Dhaka and branded )heikh MuBibur !ahman as a traitor o4 Pakistan8
:e comletely banned #*ami Ceague as a olitical arty although it
had received eoleGs mandate8 :e also banned all olitical activities
in Pakistan8 3he te5t o4 6ahya7s seech is reroduced belo*,
LOn the +th o4 this month 1 announced the 2.th o4 March as the
ne* date 4or the inaugural session o4 the %ational #ssembly hoing
that conditions *ould ermit the holding o4 the session on the
scheduled date8 Avents have& ho*ever& not Busti4ied that hoe8 3he
nation continued to 4ace a grave crisis8
1n Aast Pakistan the #*ami Ceague launched a non$co$oeration
and disobedience movement and matters took a very serious turn8
Avents *ere moving very 4ast and it became absolutely imerative
that the situation *as brought under control as soon as ossible8 Dith
this aim in vie*& 1 had a series o4 discussions *ith olitical leaders in
Dest Pakistan and subseKuently on the 1.th o4 March 1 *ent to
Dhaka8
#s you are a*are 1 had a number o4 meetings *ith )heikh
MuBibur !ahman in order to resolve the olitical imasse8 :aving
consulted Dest Pakistan leaders it *as necessary 4or me to do the
same over there so that areas o4 agreement could be identi4ied and an
amicable settlement arrived at8
#s has been reorted in the ress and other ne*s media 4rom
time to time& my talks *ith )heikh MuBibur !ahman sho*ed some
rogress8 :aving reached a certain stage in my negotiations *ith
)heikh MuBibur !ahman 1 considered it necessary to have another
round o4 talks *ith Dest Pakistani leaders in Dhaka8 Mr8 F8# 2hutto
reached there on 21st March and 1 had a number o4 meetings *ith
him8
#s you are a*are the leader o4 the #*ami Ceague had asked 4or
the *ithdra*al o4 Martial Ca* and trans4er o4 o*er8 3he Dest
Pakistanis are living in a state o4 anic& and a very large number had
to leave that Ding out o4 4ear 4or their lives8
3he #rmed "orces& located in Aast Pakistan& have been subBected
to taunts and insults o4 all kindsI 1 *ish to comlement them on the
tremendous restraint that they have sho*n in the 4ace o4 grave
rovocation8 3heir sense o4 disciline is indeed raise*orthy8 1 am
roud o4 them8
1 should have taken action against MuBibur !ahman and his
collaborators *eeks ago but 1 had to try my utmost to handle the
situation in such a manner as not to Beoardi;e my lan o4 eace4ul
trans4er o4 o*er8 1n my keenness to achieve this aim 1 ket on
tolerating one illegal act a4ter another8 #t the same time 1 e5lored
every ossible avenue 4or arriving at some reasonable solution8 1
have already mentioned the e44orts made by me and by various
olitical leaders in bringing )heikh MuBibur !ahman to see reason8
De have le4t no stone unturned8 2ut he has 4ailed to resond in any
constructive manner8 On the other hand& he and his 4ollo*ers ket on
4louting the authority o4 the /overnment even during my resence in
Dhaka8 3he roclamation that he roosed *as nothing but a tra8
:e kne* that it *ould not be *ise to create a vacuum by li4ting
Martial Ca*8 :e could have done anything *ith imunity8 :is
obstinacy& obduracy and absolute re4usal to talk can lead to but one
conclusion that the man and his arty are enemies o4 Pakistan and
they *ant Aast Pakistan to break a*ay comletely 4rom the country8
:e has attacked the solidarity and integrity o4 this country8 3his
crime *ill not go ununished8
De *ill not allo* some o*er hungry and unatriotic eole to
destroy this country and lay *ith the destiny o4 12- million eole8
1n my address to the nation on +th March 1 had told you that it is
the duty o4 the Pakistan #rmed "orces to ensure the integrity&
solidarity and security o4 Pakistan8 1 have ordered them to do their
duty and 4ully restore the authority o4 the /overnment8
1n vie* o4 the grave situation that e5ists in the country today 1
have decided to ban all olitical activities throughout the country& as
4or the #*ami Ceague it is comletely banned as a olitical arty8 1
have also decided to imose comlete ress censorshi8 Martial Ca*
regulations *ill very shortly be issued in ursuance o4 these
decisions8
3he olitical leaders *ere also very much erturbed over )heikh
MuBib7s idea o4 dividing the %ational #ssembly into t*o arts right
4rom the start8 )uch a move& they 4elt& *ould be totally against the
interest o4 Pakistan7s integrity8
3he Chairman o4 the Pakistan Peole7s Party& during the meeting
*ith )heikh MuBibur !ahman& and mysel4 had also e5ressed similar
vie*s to MuBib8
On the evening o4 the 23rd o4 March the olitical leaders& *ho
had gone to talk to MuBib on this issue& called on me and in4ormed
me that he *as not agreeable to any changes in his scheme8 #ll he
really *anted *as 4or me to make a roclamation *hereby& 1 should
*ithdra* Martial Ca* and trans4er o*er8
)heikh MuBibur !ahman7s action o4 starting his non$co$oeration
movement is an act o4 treason8 :is olitical arty has de4ied the
la*4ul authority 4or over three *eeks8 3hey have insulted Pakistan7s
4lag and de4iled the hotograh o4 the "ather o4 the %ation8 3hey
have tried to run a arallel /overnment8 3hey have created turmoil&
terror and insecurity8
1n the end let me assure you that my main aim remains the same&
namely trans4er o4 o*er to the elected reresentatives o4 the eole8
#s soon as situation ermits 1 *ill take 4resh stes to*ards the
achievement o4 this obBective8
1t is my hoe that the la* and order situation *ill soon return to
normalcy in Aast Pakistan and *e can again move 4or*ard to*ards
our cherished goal8
1 aeal to my countrymen to areciate the gravity o4 the
situation 4or *hich the blame rests entirely on the anti Pakistan and
secessionist elements and to act as reasonable citi;ens o4 the country
because therein lies the security and salvation o4 Pakistan8
/od be *ith you /od bless you8
Pakistan Findabad8M
Ful4ikar #li 2hutto& Chairman o4 Pakistan Peole7s Party&
main actor o4 crackdo*n drama a4ter reaching @arachi on 2+ March
4rom Dhaka relieved a sigh o4 relie4 and declared that Pakistan had
been saved or other *ay 4ormal 4uneral o4 Pakistan *as
accomlished8
)enior Ti:er out o< the Ca:e
3he seech ended *ith the national anthem as usual 1 came out o4
the room comletely 4rustrated as i4 returning 4rom 4uneral and burial
o4 Pakistan8 Cieutenant !e;aul @arim o4 22 "" !egiment *ho *as
also listening over the radio reented that he obtained very good
grading in tactics in 1n4antry )chool and could not be o4 any hel to
his 4ello* brethren during the crucial time o4 2engali race8 :e made
a 4orecast that 2engal *ould once again be ut under the tyranny o4
slavery 4or another t*o hundred years8 3he Cantonment *as Kuiet8
3he date trees *ere standing as lea4y sentinels all around ?essore
Cantonment as i4 no *ind had been blo*ing8 1 could sense that the
nature *as *eeing8 My mind *ent back to the time& *hen Clive
de4eated %a*ab )iraB$u$Da*la in the battle o4 Plassey and the
subseKuent su44erings that had come do*n on the eole o4 2engal8 1
took my dinner and turned over the ages o4 the books ertaining to
guerilla *ar4are *ritten by Che /uevera and Mao 3se 3ung8 Mental
lanning croed u 4or 4uture course o4 action8 3hen 1 *ent to
rayer and meditation8 1 rayed 4rantically to #lmighty #llah 4or my
rotection and 4reedom 4rom the clutches o4 tyranny8
%e5t morning 1 *ent to my o44ice and took a Bee to see around
the Cantonment 4or my orientation8 Dhen 1 reached the o44ice o4 my
OC& one "1= o44icer *ho *as 4ollo*ing me entered and asked me
*hy 1 *ent 4or the tri8 1 relied that as *orksho o44icer 1 *ent to
test the vehicle8 Pakistanis started Kuestioning the loyalty o4
2engalis8 My OC MaBor )yeed #hmed Coan took me to a nearby
suly unit 4or lunch8 3here 1 sa* some Dest Pakistani civil servants
*ho took shelter in the Cantonment8 1 took my lunch there8 Co*s
and goats *ere 4orcibly brought 4rom the neighbouring villages and
slaughtered 4or 4eeding the troos8 1 received a telehone message
that 4uneral rayer <%ama;e ?ana;a> *ould be held 4or a %CO *ho
had been killed by 2engali armed elements *hen a column o4 22 ""
*ere advancing to*ards @hulna and all o44icers o4 the garrison *ere
asked to attend the 7?ana;a78 Deliberately 1 did not attend the 7?ana;a7
as 1 could sense a hostile attitude o4 the Dest Pakistani troos and
o44icers to*ards the 2engalis8
3he o44ice hour over 1 came to my room *hen 1 could 4eel that 1
committed the biggest blunder by Boining my unit8 1 *as cursing
mysel48 1 devoted in rayer 4ive times and emhatically sought
Divine hel8 3here *as a radio set in the O44icers Mess *here 1 heard
the ne*s and met the son o4 2rigadier !ahim Durrani& the 2rigade
Commander o4 1-7 2rigade8 #rmed sentries saluted me at the
entrance o4 the O44icerGs mess8 1 s*itched on the radio to Calcutta
radio station8 !adio Calcutta announced that Cieutenant /eneral
3ikka @han had been shot dead and the EMukti 2ahiniG had liberated
?essore Cantonment8 1 *as hay to hear the 4irst ne*s& but 1 laughed
at the second ne*s8 3he son o4 2rigadier !ahim Durrani almost
broke do*n *hen he heard that Cieutenant /eneral 3ikka @han had
been killed8 1 returned to my room and *ent to rayer8 # 2engali Ct
Colonel Mahbubur !ahman osted in 1' Divisional :eadKuarters
during crackdo*n disclosed me a4ter liberation that he sa* the
surgical bandage in the hand o4 Ct /en 3ikka8
#rmy detachment *as sent to cature the #*ami Ceague leaders
4rom ?essore to*n8 On return 4rom the oeration& the PunBabi o44icers
had been describing *hy they could not catch the leaders8 3here
*ere barricades all along the roads and so their Bourney *as not easy8
:o*ever they could get hold o4 Mosiur !ahman 4ormer minister and
a reno*ned olitician o4 #*ami Ceague8 Cater he *as tortured to
death8 On 28 March Catain %uru;;aman in his Polks*agen car took
me to the residence o4 Cieutenant Colonel #bdul :ai& CO 7 "ield
#mbulance8 3here 1 met Cieutenant Colonel )obur o4 CM:& ?essore
Cantonment8 Cieutenant Colonel #bdul :ai told us that one MaBor
Fiaur !ahman announced the indeendence o4 2angladesh on behal4
o4 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman 4rom Chittagong radio and
had given a call to 4ight back the enemy8 Catain )hubid #li 2huiyan
and Catain !a4iKul 1slam also *ere *ith him8 #rmed eole *ere
asked to reort at Caldhighi8 Cieutenant Colonel #bdus )obur *hom
1 met in the residence o4 Cieutenant Colonel #bdul :ai gave me the
4reKuency o4 the clandestine radio station o4 2angladesh
/overnment8 1 tried to tune the station but could not get it8 On 29th
March in the evening 1 *ent to garrison cinema hall to see a movie
*here 1 met a driver o4 1 Aast 2engal *ho told me that they returned
4rom the e5ercise on that day8 1 had no mood to see the movie and so
1 returned to my room8 On 3- March as 1 *as going to my o44ice& 1
sa* some civil Bees in the 2ungalo*s o4 o44icers8 On the *ay 1 met
a 2engali armourer %CO o4 22 "rontier "orce8 :e *arned me that all
2engali troos *ould be killed that day8 2rigadier !ahim Durranni
entered our unit *hile 1 *as standing in 4ront o4 my OC7s o44ice8 1
could read the evil design 4rom the e5ression o4 his crude smiling
4ace8 :e Bust entered our unit and le4t immediately8
"e* ackets o4 ammunition o4 7 "ield #mbulance *as brought
by the PunBabi ?CO o4 that unit to be ket in our unit8 My OC asked
me to assemble all the troos in the recreation room8 :e *ent to
attend a con4erence in martial la* o44ice8 1 addressed the troos o4
my unit and said& SDe all belong to the same 1slamic 4aith8 De are
brothers as Muslims and comrades in arms8 =nited *e stand and
divided *e 4all8 Pakistan *as conceived and shaed by the Muslim
leaders o4 this sub$continent as a homeland o4 the Muslims8 #rmed
con4lict among armed 4orces *ould destroy the e5istence o4
Pakistan8 2engalis& PunBabis& Pathans& 2aluchis and )indhis are all
brothers and must live like brothers8S
1 asked every one to go to the resective sections and to *ork as
usual8 1 *ent to my o44ice in the *orksho hanger8 #gain 1 4ound
2rigadier !ahim Durranni entering the *orksho hanger and
searching 4or me *hen 1 aroached to*ards him& he drove a*ay8 :e
thought that the *orksho o44icer *as a PunBabi8 One 2engali seoy
told me that one PunBabi seoy had slaed 2engali seoy in my
*orksho hanger8 :e also told me that one 2engali naked *oman
*as brought to the Cantonment on the oint o4 bayonet8 One %CO o4
my unit came and told me that kotes o4 1 Aast 2engal *ere locked u
and keys o4 the kote *ere taken a*ay by 2rigadier Durranni 4rom
the Commanding O44icer o4 1 Aast 2engal Cieutenant Colonel
!e;aul ?alil8
1 4oresa* the immediate danger8 # disarmed soldier is as helless
as a naked rostitute on the street8 My unit consisted o4
heterogeneous elements and the 2engalis *ere minority there8 3he
Dest Pakistani soldiers guarded our unit Kuarter guard8 "inding no
other means 4or survival 1 sent t*o o4 my 2engali %COs to 1 Aast
2engal to reKuest the troos o4 1 Aast 2engal to break oen the kote
and to take arms and ammunition and 4ight back the aggressors8
Moments a4ter 1 heard the sound o4 4ire o4 machine guns and other
automatic *eaon8 1t became clear to me that the Dest Pakistani
soldiers had started lanned attack on the disarmed soldiers o4 1 Aast
2engal8 1 Aast 2engal *as caught in dire surrise8 Disorgani;ed&
con4used and erle5ed soldiers o4 1 Aast 2engal under the
leadershi o4 =nit )ubedar MaBor& Cieutenant :a4i;uddin and
Cieutenant #n*ar broke oen the kote and took *hatever arms and
ammunition they could get and challenged the co*ardice attack o4
/odless enemy8 1 Aast 2engal kno*n as the senior tigers o4 2engal
!egiment e5tricated 4rom ?essore Cantonment8
#bout 4i4ty brave sons o4 1 Aast 2engal !egiment embraced
martyrdom on that 4ate4ul day8 Cieutenant #n*ar *ho embraced
martyrdom *as buried near %a;rul 1slam College on the ?essore
?henidah high*ay8 Dhenever 1 ass by the grave& 1 remember him8
Dith solemn rayer 1 beg to #lmighty 4or the salvation o4 his
dearted soul and 4or other heroes o4 the liberation *ar8 Cater on at
1ndian 2OP 2etai 1 4ound the blood stained *eb belt o4 Cieutenant
#n*ar *ith Catain :a4i;8 MaBor /eneral Musta4i;ur !ahman& /OC
.. Division constructed a monument over the grave in recognition o4
his sureme sacri4ice in 199.8 Cieutenant Colonel #bdul :ai *hom 1
met only the revious night *as shot dead in his o44ice along *ith
Preface .'387.'388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
other 2engali o44icers8 2roken *indo*s o4 ?essore CM: still bear
the testimony o4 that massacre8 During my meeting *ith Cieutenant
Colonel #bdul :ai& he advised me not to talk to any 2engali8 :e
*arned me that some 2engalis *ere *orking as the agents o4 the
PunBabis8 )ome 2engali agents in4ormed the PunBabis that Cieutenant
Colonel #bdul :ai had assed some valuable in4ormation to #*ami
Ceague during the eriod o4 non$cooeration movements8 1 met the
brave lady& the *i4e o4 Cieutenant Colonel #bdul :ai at his
residence8 )he told us that there *as no alternative but to crushing
the Dest Pakistan #rmy to save our nation8 2ut that *as not
materiali;ed be4ore 4or *ant o4 bold leadershi8 My OC MaBor ) #
Coan although a PunBabi& *as a nice gentleman8 3hose un4ortunate
2engalis *ho could not e5tricate *ere taken into custody and many
o4 them *ere killed8 MaBor ) # Coan *ent to every unit and
reKuested not to kill the unarmed 2engalis8 #lmighty #llah al*ays
saves the honour o4 saintly man8 1n the month o4 %ovember MaBor )
# Coan *as osted to Dest Pakistan and thus he *as saved 4rom the
humiliation o4 surrender and a disgrace4ul and humiliating time in
POD cam in 1ndia8
Dhen 1 *as con4irmed by the sounds o4 4ire o4 automatic
*eaons that *e *ere under attack& 1 decided to rush to 1 Aast
2engal and Boin them8 1 shouted and called all the 2engali troos
resent in the *orksho hanger and asked them to rush to 1 Aast
2engal8
1 got the strength o4 thousand men8 1t *as a miracle8 1 got the
Divine o*er to 4ight back the enemy8 Most o4 2engali troos
resisted me& as *e *ould 4all in the cross4ire8 3hen 1 got hold o4 a
Bee and decided to leave the Cantonment8 #gain a 2engali )ubedar
1rta;ul o4 my unit stoed me and told me that *e *ould be gunned
do*n by machine gun at )untala Cantonment e5it8 3he last otion
*as to leave the Cantonment on 4oot through the cross$country8
)ubedar 1rta;ul decided to stay back as his 4amily *as in the
Cantonment8 De le4t the Cantonment to*ards the countryside
through the oen 4ield8 De *ere 4ired uon 4rom di44erent machine
gun osts8 1 heard the sound o4 machine gun bullets assing hissing
my ear8 3he Divine o*er rotected all o4 us and *e sa4ely reached a
nearby village Churumankati8 1 must admit that #lmighty #llah
listened to my sincere rayer and thus heled me to Boin the right
side& $ the Ciberation "orce o4 2angladesh8
Most o4 the 2engali o44icers and troos could not escae 4rom
?essore Cantonment and *ere taken in custody8 3hey *ere either
killed or ket in the rison cell to undergo inhuman torture and
su44erings8
3he PunBabi military leadershi *anted to eliminate 2engali
troos in totality8 3heir only 4ault *as that they *ere 2engalis8 1t is
amly roved that the PunBabi leadershi *as *holly and solely
resonsible 4or the disintegration o4 Pakistan and 4or the su44erings
o4 the common eole o4 both the *ings o4 Pakistan8 Pakistan *ould
remain intact i4 Pak army could take 2engali o44icers and troos in
con4idence and could avoid killing 2engali troos8 1t *as 2engali
o44icers and troos *ho organi;ed the Mukti 2ahini and ultimately
became the hard core o4 the liberation *ar8 1 *as an eye*itness o4
the massacre o4 1 A 2engal and other 2engali troos8 1 A 2engal
troos *ere disarmedI all the *eaons and ammunition *ere locked
u in the kote8 2rigadier !ahim Durrani& commander o4 the garrison&
took the keys o4 the kotes a*ay8 3hen 1 A 2engal *as encircled by
Dest Pakistani troos and unarmed troos *ere machine gunned and
killed8 2engali troos o4 suorting and service arms *ere arrested
and killed8 Dhat a heinous designR
Preface ..387..388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
ChaAter H
B%G23323G ?; A-M%) -%+2+TA3C%
Preface .+387.+388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
Genocide in the name o< -eli:ion
Cet us delve into *hat haened in Dhaka on the night o4 2. March
o4 19718 Pakistan *as raed& killed and buried by 6ahyaGs treachery
and indiscriminate killing o4 unarmed 2engalis by the Pakistan
military on the night o4 2. March 19718 6ahya triggered violence and
massacre using the language o4 *eaons8 :e committed genocide 4or
the sake o4 so called solidarity and integrity o4 Pakistan rather than
acceting the electoral victory o4 #*ami Ceague 4or united Pakistan8
3he beginning o4 the end o4 united Pakistan started on 2. March8
)heikh MuBibar !ahman became the cro*nless king o4 Aast
Pakistan& *on the hearts and minds o4 all 2engalis by his charismatic
leadershi8 #ll 2engali :indu& Muslim& Christian and 2uddhist stood
like a solid rock beside 2angabandhu8 1n this month he initiated non$
co$oeration movement8 #ll the o44ices& banks& courts and industries
4ollo*ed the directives o4 2angabandhu8 2angabandhu in all issued
31 directives to run the country during the non$cooeration
movement and those *ere 4aith4ully 4ollo*ed all over Aast Pakistan8
President # M 6ahya @han reached Dhaka on 1. March8 :e met
)heikh MuBibar !ahman on 17 March in the President :ouse and
held a 4ull dress talk8 1t *as a tough and tense session8 3he eole o4
Aast Pakistan *ere in a nerve$breaking situation about the outcome
o4 the dialogue8 3hey sincerely e5ected a olitical solution o4 the
crisis o4 the electoral mandate$ sKuare deal a 4air share and not the
comlete searation o4 Aast Pakistan8 Dhy the maBority in a
democratic society should ask 4or searationN 2ut the maBority o4
Dest Pakistani leadershi *as arrogant and they *anted comlete
domination and e5loitation o4 the resources o4 Aast
Pakistan82ecause& they thought they *ere a martial race8 3hey could
rule the intellectually gi4ted and sohisticated 2engalis by their
numerical sueriority in the armed 4orces8 2hutto added 4uel to the
already ignited 4ire by his threat to the Members o4 Parliament 4rom
Dest Pakistan lanning to Boin the arliament session and sto the
*heels o4 li4e in Dest Pakistan8 3he decision to use 4orce *as
already in the minds o4 military oligarchy and there4ore negotiations
and talks *ere only an eye *ash sho* as its 4ailure *as re$lanned
to legali;e the use o4 4orce8 2hutto and 6ahya *ere all the time on
heavy doses o4 alcohol and military ?unta *as under the domination
o4 /eneral :amid& /eneral Peer;ada& /eneral /ul :asan& /eneral
=mer and /eneral 3ikka *ho *ere hard liners devoid o4 any logic or
intellectual cometency8
#4ter the sham *ith 2angabandhu& 6ahya gave 4inal order to
/eneral 3ikka kno*n as the E2utcher o4 2aluchistanG to commit
manslaughter and genocide8 2ut in reality they *ere getting ready
4rom the beginning 4or armed attack immediately a4ter the victory o4
#*ami Ceague in the /eneral Alection o4 December 197-8 1n turn
/eneral 3ikka asked his 4ield commander MaBor /eneral @hadim
:ussein !aBa& / O C 1' Division to go ahead to subBugate the
2engalis by using brute military 4orce and silence the asirations o4
2engalis8
On 18 March MaBor /eneral @hadim :ussein !aBa& / O C 1'
Division and MaBor /eneral !ao "orman #li& in charge o4 civil
a44airs in martial la* headKuarters sat in / O CG s o44ice to dra4t the
oerational lan nay the genocidal lan8 3he aim o4 the lan *as to
overthro* )heikh MuBibar !ahmanGs de 4acto rule and re$establish
Pakistan /overnmentGs authority by alying brute military 4orce by
killing millions o4 unarmed eole8
3he nickname o4 the oeration *as LOeration
)A#!C:C1/:3M8 3he main 4eatures o4 the L oeration
)A#!C:C1/:3G *as to disarm all 2engali troos& including regular
Aast 2engal 2attalions& arresting all rovincial #*ami Ceague
leaders *hile in con4erence *ith the President& and allocation o4
tasks and areas o4 resonsibilities to various 4ormation and units8 1t
*as like elting stone on hornetGs nests8 MaBor 2ilal *ith a
commando comany raided the house o4 2angabandhu at 32
Dhanmondi 12-- hours on 2. March 1971 and *ithout any
resistance arrested 2angabandhu 4irst brought to second caital& then
to #damBee Cantonment College8 %e5t day 2angabandhu *as shi4ted
to "lag )ta44 :ouse and three days later he *as 4lo*n to Dest
Pakistan8 Ct /en 3ikka claimed that *hen sending 2angabandhu to
Dest Pakistan he sho*ed due resect and honour to 2angabandhu by
saluting him at the tarmac o4 the airort8 Dhile claim and counter
claim o4 both the belligerents arties *ere 4orthcoming about the
*hereabouts o4 2angabandhu Pakistan /overnment ublished the
hotograh o4 2angabandhu taken at @arachi airort8 2angabandhu
*as imrisoned in Cailur Bail8 3here *as mockery o4 trial o4
2angabandhu by 6ahya /overnment& but e5ecution could not be
imlemented by the international olitical ressure and *as 4orced to
4ree him8 3he oeration E)A#!C:C1/:3G and subseKuent violent
military actions o4 Pakistan Muslim #rmy on the 2engali Muslims
*as a blot on the escutcheon o4 1slamic "aith8 Dhat a co*ardice
lanR Co*ard and immoral /enerals can only lan this8 3hese
co*ardice traits *ere dislayed on 1+ December *hen Pakistan
army surrendered en mass and that too to :indus *hom they treat as
co*ards as *orshiers o4 idols8 14 they *ere a real martial race and
true believers o4 1slam they should have *aited to see victory or
elimination 4ighting in the battle4ield8 MaBor /eneral Mohammad
:ussein #nsari& /OC 9 Division o4 ?essore area on the last *eek o4
)etember 1971 *hile talking to 2rigadier #bdur !ahman )iddiKi&
director 1)P! reented that #llah never sares the tyrant8 !ae and
brutality *ere ri4e8 %ia;i oenly encouraged the ?a*ans in their
unsoldierly& inhuman and carnal indulgences8 EDhat is your last
nightGs score& )hera <3iger>N :e *ould ask the ?a*ans *ith a satanic
glint in his eyes8 3he score re4erred to the number o4 *omen the
soldier might have raed8 %ia;i argued shame4ully in suort o4 rae
cases8 E6ou can not e5ect a man to live& 4ight and die in Aast
Pakistan and go to ?helum 4or se5& *ould you8G #s er the killing he
ordered 4or indiscriminate killing& not sho* any mercy to 2engalis8
PunBabis never ruled PunBab e5cet 4or a short interlude o4 2.
years by a one eyed )ikh ruler !anaBit )ingh @ana8 :e had 22 *ives
most o4 them *ere PunBabi Muslims8 PunBabi Muslim co*ardice
traits *ere dislayed at the time o4 artition in 19'7 *hen they in
illogical 4ren;y initiated massacre o4 unarmed :indus and )ikhs in
Cahore8 1n retaliation PunBabi :indu and )ikh in #mritsar killed
Muslim PunBabis and there *as orgy o4 rae o4 Muslim *omen8
Millions *ere killed and urooted 4rom their home in both the
regions o4 PunBab8 )ubseKuently& :indu$Muslim riot sread all over
1ndia8 "ortunately :indu$Muslim o4 2engal restrained their assion
and tolerance8 )uhra*ardy took ledge 4rom Muslim leaders not to
kill any :indu in 2engal in return /andhi calmed the :indus in
Calcutta8 =nlike looting each other roerties in PunBab& :indu$
Muslim in 2engal e5changed their roerties8 :indu$Muslim in both
the 2engals is living in eace and harmony8 2engalis have human
Kualities unlike PunBabis8 :indu$Muslim in 2engal *anted to live as
indeendent nation& but %ehru destroyed that dream8 2ut *e
2engalis took oath that *e might be destroyed& but *ould not be
de4eated& corresonding to ancient oath in 2engali E+an:saAtakC
meaning an army 4ighting to the last *ith the determination to do or
die8
On the other hand #*ami Ceague had conceived no lan to
encounter or attack Pakistan army8 #*ami Ceague *as e5ecting a
olitical solution& not an armed con4lict8 Mr8 3aBuddin #hmed and
other #*ami Ceague leaders claimed that there *as no breakdo*n in
negotiations and the army action *as an act o4 treachery that 4orced
#*ami Ceague Ceaders to go into e5ile& resist the Pakistan army& and
declare indeendence8 #*ami league volunteers only raised some
road barricades to avert surrise attack8
Cast minute attemt *as undertaken by #*ami Ceague to avert
unleasant catastrohe8 3he 6ahya J MuBib arleys agreed on #*ami
Ceague roosal that martial la* be li4ted immediately and o*er be
trans4erred to elected bodies o4 the 4ive rovinces and in the central
/overnment 6ahya @han *ould continue as President8 3*o
committees *ould be 4ormed to dra4t the constitution8 Aach
committee shall comrise o4 M%#s 4rom the Aast and the Dest
*ings8 3he committees& meeting in 1slamabad and Dhaka& *ould
reare searate reorts *ithin a given eriod8 3he %ational
#ssembly *ould meet to discuss these reorts and arrive at a
comromise 4ormula bet*een the t*o8 President *as hay about
this roosal as because his osition *as ket una44ected8 President
assured MuBib that the scheme *ould be acceted i4 2hutto did not
raise any obBection to it8 )o 2hutto *as asked once again to come to
Dhaka8 3he President conveyed the salient 4eatures o4 the #*ami
CeagueGs scheme 4or trans4er o4 o*er to 2hutto& saying that it
a*aited his aroval 4or imlementation8 2hutto vehemently
oosed the roosal *ith an uncomromising rigid stand8 3hus the
*indo* 4or a eace4ul olitical settlement through dialogue and
negotiation had been closed in a very un4ortunate and une5ected
manner8
3o deceive #*ami league nay the 2engalis& the President drove
to Dhaka cantonment in the a4ternoon o4 2.
th
March be4ore the
sunset8 3he PresidentGs Motorcade returned to the President house
*ith the usual rotocol having J the ilot Bee& outriders& the
PresidentsG car *ith 4our$star late and national 4lag8 2ut the
President *as not in the car8 3he President le4t Dhaka 4or @arachi by
air in the evening8 #s a matter o4 4act 2hutto 4loated the idea o4
searate constitutions 4or Aast and Dest Pakistan *ith )heikh as
Prime Minister o4 the Aast and 2hutto as Prime Minister o4 the Dest
keeing 6ahya as President at the centre8 #rnold Feitlin& the
associated ress corresondent in Pakistan conveyed this to )heikh8
1nitially )heikh agreed to this roosal& but subseKuently asked
Feitlin to kill the story8
3o army hierarchy *as over enthusiastic 4or an armed o44ensive
to settle the issue o4 Aast J Dest Pakistan8 /eneral 6ahya *as buying
time on the rete5t o4 dialogue and negotiation and at the same time
staying in Dhaka laying the *ar game *ith his general 4or e44ective
and success4ul oeration lan and 4inal crackdo*n on 2engalis8 #ll
rearation 4or crackdo*n *as comleted by the 19
th
March and
only the timing 4or the assault *as ket secret8 3he timing or :$hour
*as set at -1-- hours J 1 a8m8 o4 2+ March8 2engali Catain # 3
)alahuddin& 21C o4 4ield intelligent unit sensing the imending
attack on Dhaka city& rushed to Dhaka =niversity halls and
residences o4 #*ami league leaders to alert them8 MaBor /eneral
@hadim :ussein !a;a obtained the o44icial order at 11 a8m8 on 2.
March 4rom Cieutenant /eneral 3ikka and assed the same to his
sta44 4or imlementation8 #rmy leaders *ere so imatient that the
troos moved at 1- a8 m8 be4ore the o44icial order *as received at
their end8 "ull te5t o4 LOeration )A#!C:C1/:3M is reroduced
belo* 4or a clear understanding o4 oeration genocide8

Army crackdo&n and Proclamation o< 2ndeAendence
Pakistan #rmy lanned to neutrali;e the laces o4 resistance and they
identi4ied targets *hich *ere Aast Pakistan !i4les at Pilkhana
numbering about .--- Ba*ans& !a;arbagh olice line number about
1--- olice& and =niversity camus8 22 2aluch& 32 PunBab moved to
attack Pilkhana and !a;arbagh resectively8 18 PunBab attacked
university area8
# sKuadron o4 M$2' tanks moved according to lan and 4ired to
create shock action on the oulation8 3his column *as heavily
eKuied to engage in any o44ensive should there be a strong
resistance8 3here *as minor resistance 4rom Aast Pakistan !i4les and
olice that lasted not more than an hour8 #rmy column destroyed and
killed *hatever and *hoever they 4ound on their *ay8 3he #rmy
attacked old Dhaka city *here :indus *ere living8 Dhen the 4irst
shot had been 4ired& the re $recorded voice o4 )heikh MuBibur
!ahman came in the air broadcast over AP! radio and that *as
4urther transmitted and relayed 4rom river and sea shis and many
eole listened on their radio8 2angabandhu roclaimed the
indeendence o4 2angladesh8 Aast Pakistan *as buried under the
Backboot o4 military crackdo*n8 3he 4ull te5t o4 roclamation is
reroduced,
DThis may be my last messa:e( ;rom today Ban:ladesh is
indeAendent( 2 call uAon the AeoAle o< Ban:ladesh, &here.er you
are and &hate.er you ha.e, to resist the army o< occuAation to
the last( Four <i:ht must :o on until the last soldier o< the
Pakistan occuAation army is e>Aelled <rom the soil o< Ban:ladesh
and the <inal .ictory is achie.ed8M 3his roclamation o4
indeendence came as the banner headlines o4 both the 3imes and
the /uardian o4 Condon on March 27& 19718 During the 4ate4ul night
o4 2.
th
March Pakistan army killed several hundred thousand eole
and burnt and destroyed hundred o4 houses8
3he magnitude o4 the reign o4 terror by the Pakistan military *as
so horri4ied that #merican Consulate /eneral o44ice at Dhaka on 28
March desatched a telegram to #merican Ambassy at 1slamabad and
)tate Deartment at Dashington cationed L)elective /enocideM8
On -+ #ril LDangerous DissentM cable *as reared by #merican
Consulate /eneral sta44s at Dhaka and signed by t*enty o44icers and
desatched to #merican Ambassy at 1slamabad and )tate Deartment
at Dashington8 3he dissent cable& on its arrival at the )tate
Deartment& *as signed as a sho* o4 rotest by a 4urther nine senior
o44icers in the )outh #sian Division8 1t *as the most ublic and most
strongly *orded demarche 4rom )tate Deartment servants to the
)tate Deartment that had ever been recorded8 2engali nation *ill
ever salute the brave t*enty$nine #mericans 4or their courageous
action in the crucial eriod o4 2engali race8 Main 4eatures o4 the
Dissent cable contained that =)/ 4ailed to denounce the suression
o4 democracy& atrocities and dislayed moral bankrutcy8 #rcher @
2lood #merican consulate general at Dhaka *as *ithdra*n 4or his
correct reorting and dissent cable& and *as dumed 4irst at
Dashington& state deartment and later on to army Dar College at
Pennsylvania as he *as )ecretary @issingerGs doghouse because o4
his Dhaka action8 On 2' ?une 1971 4ortunately #rcher @ 2lood *as
a*arded 3he :erter #*ard 4or e5traordinary accomlishment
involving initiative& integrity& intellectual courage and creative
dissent8 3he *inners o4 the :erter are selected by committee made
u o4 senators and distinguished rivate citi;ens8 3he :erter #*ard
*as 4ormally handed over to #rcher @ 2lood by secretary o4 state
!oger and Mrs8 :erter8 Dhat a divine consolationR #rcher @ 2lood
*as osted at %e* Delhi as Deuty Chie4 o4 mission *hen Carter
took over as President and e5it o4 @issinger had occurred8 Most o4
the time during his tenure at Delhi #rcher continued as the Charge D
#44airs o4 =) embassy8
#s soon as @issinger became the )ecretary o4 )tate in 1973& he
do*ngraded all those *ho had signed the genocide rotest in 19718
3he attitude o4 @issinger to*ards )heikh MuBibur !ahman *as
e5tremely acrimonious8 1n 197' in Dashington @issinger boycotted
the 4i4teen minutes meeting that President "ord allo*ed 4or )heikh
MuBib8 :e also oosed MuBibGs main reKuest& *hich *as 4or
emergency =nited )tates grain shiment& and some hel *ith debt
relie4& in order to recuerate the country so ravaged by @issingerGs
4riend and ally8 3o cite @issingerGs aide !oger Morris again, L1n
@issingerGs vie* there *as very much a distance hand$o44 attitude
to*ards them8 )ince they had the audacity to become indeendent o4
one o4 my client states& they *ill damn *ell 4loat on their o*n 4or a
*hile8M
Preface +-387+-388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
L1n %ovember 1973& on brie4 4ace saving tour o4 the region&
@issinger made an eight hour sto over in 2angladesh8 Dithin a 4e*
*eeks o4 his dearture& a 4action at =) embassy in Dhaka began
covertly meeting *ith a grou o4 2angladeshi o44icers *ho *ere
lanning a cou against MuBib8 Dhaka C1# station chie4 Phili
Cherry *as oerating a back channel *ithout the kno*ledge o4 the
=) #mbassador in Dhaka& David Augene 2ooster8 :ere the de4eated
4orce in 1971 *ar used the concet o4 L3*o 3rackM olicy8 3here
*ere Bunior o44icers ready to mutiny and there *as a senior o44icer$
the 4uture dictator /eneral *ho *as ready but hesitant8 1n 4act& the
senior 2angladeshi o44icer had dated meetings bet*een MustaKue
and the mutineers more than si5 months be4ore MuBibGs overthro*M8
J ChristoAher 7itchens8
Christoher :itchens through his book E3he 3rial o4 :enry
@issingerG takes the 4loor o4 rosecuting council against the tyrant
and mass murderer @issinger8 :e investigated& in turn& @issingerGs
involvement in *ar in 1ndochina& mass murder in 2angladesh&
lanned assassination in )antiago& %icosia& 2angladesh and
Dashington DC& and genocide in Aast 3imor8 Christoher :itchens
took bold ste in his investigation to 4ind a genuine candidate 4or the
dock8 :e is A5$ )ecretary o4 )tates and %ational )ecurity #dviser&
:enry #8 @issinger *hose record o4 *ar crimes bears comarison
*ith the *orst dictators o4 the recent history8 @issingerGs ambition
and ruthlessness have directly resulted in both *idesread&
indiscriminate slaughter in 2engal and murder o4 )heikh MuBib8
Dith 4ull backing o4 @issinger& 4or negotiating the ink$ong
dilomacy bet*een Dashington and Peking through Pakistan
embassy in Peking& 6ahya had the audacity to commit genocide in
2angladesh$ 4or the elimination o4 entire 2angladeshi race8 3here
*as one motive 4or realolitik 4or the shame that %i5on and
@issinger *ere to visit Peking 4or its comlicity in the e5termination
o4 2engalis8 6ahyaGs 1n4ormation Minister and close associate / D
Chaudhury later *rote& L14 %i5on and @issinger had not given him
4alse hoe and understanding that he *ould be rotected by
Dashington and Peking& he had been more realistic8M Most o4
@issingerGs artners in crime have been unished8 L:is o*n lonely
imunity is rankI it smells to heaven8 14 it is to ersist then *e shall
shame4ully vindicate the ancient hilosoher #nacharsis& *ho
maintained that la*s *ere like cob*ebsI strong enough to detain
only the *eak& and too *eak to hold the strong8 1n the name o4
innumerable victims kno*n and unkno*n& it is time 4or Bustice to
take a handM8 ChristoAher 7itchens8
#lmost all the 4oreign Bournalists stationed at Dhaka *ere
rounded u on the night o4 2. March and desatched out o4 Dhaka so
that evidences o4 mass massacre *ould go unnoticed8 )imon Dring&
then a 27 year old reorter 4or the Condon Daily 3elegram& evaded
the roundu by hiding on the roo4 o4 the 1ntercontinental :otel and
later on *ent around the city to see 4irsthand the results o4 armyGs
reression8 :e 4le* out to 2angkok via @arachi t*o days later *ith
his notes intact <hidden in his socks> desite having t*ice stried
and searched8 Michael Caurent& an #ssociated Press hotograher
and #rnold Feitlin& the #ssociated Press corresondent& eluded army
and 4le* out o4 Dhaka8 2akery man at 1nter Continental :otel
cooked bread *here the 4ilms *ere concealed 4or smuggling out to
out side *orld8 Dring and FeitlinGs reorts *ere the 4irst to sho* the
outside *orld the e5tent o4 4ury o4 military crackdo*n8 /rate4ul
nation on the anniversary o4 silver Bubilee o4 1ndeendence Day
invited both o4 them including all 4oreign dignitaries *ho suorted
the cause o4 2angladesh8

Armed -esistance Boiled )o&n
1t *as Pakistan army that declared *ar against unarmed oulation
by attacking them8 6ahya and his military ?unta triggered the civil
*ar8 #*ami Ceague and the 2engalis had no rearation to engage in
an armed con4lict *ith the o*er4ul and *ell$organi;ed Pakistan
army8 3he Pakistan army o44icers 4rom the *estern *ing antagoni;ed
2engali troos in the army by their contemtuous misbehaviour8 Aast
Pakistan !i4les and olice 4orces *ere also their target 4or killing on
the 4ate4ul night o4 March 2.8 Pakistan army by their action invited
2engal army& AP! and olice to 4ight them back8 1n ?essore
Cantonment *e 4ought back the attacking army and made the *ay
out o4 the Cantonment8 3hus the rearation 4or resistance and
organi;ed armed resistance started in the )outh Destern art o4 the
then Aast Pakistan8
%o* the Kuestion be4ore me *as *hat should 1 do a4ter the
miracle o4 getting this ne* li4e through my escae 4rom the valley o4
deathN 3he only otion le4t to me *as to 4orm the resistance
movement and 1 thought that it could be better organi;ed 4rom my
o*n hometo*n Magura8 #rmy ersonnel *ho escaed *ith me 4rom
the cantonment reKuested me to allo* them to go to their home to
see their near and dear ones and romised to reort me back at
Magura to*n8 1 gave them some money but they had never reorted
back8
On the *ay 1 talked *ith the eole& 1 *as encouraged to see that
most o4 the eole irresective o4 cast& creed and religion e5ressed
their *illingness to suort the liberation *ar8 1 needed some trained
men and *eaons8 1 reached )imakhali $ a village ba;aar on the
eastern bank o4 river Chittra on ?essore $ Magura high*ay8 3here 1
4ound a grou o4 armed eole headed by :avilder #ktar belonging
to an artillery regiment8 Mr8 )horab :ussein MP o4 #*ami Ceague
*ho *as my cousin sent them8 1 took the command o4 the grou8
3hey *ere only about 4i4ty8 Most o4 them belonged to irregular #nsar
4orce8 3hey carried 3-3 ri4les *ith only 4e* rounds o4 ammunition8
1n the evening *e got hold o4 a vintage bus and roceeded to*ards
?essore to*n8 De stoed at @he;ura 2a;aar8 1 mysel4 *ith 4e*
armed ersons *ent to the local olice station8 1 asked the o44icer$in$
charge o4 olice station to handover all the ri4les and ammunition to
us8 #4ter some altercation he handed over all ri4les and ammunition
bo5es to us8 3hen *e roceeded 4urther to*ards ?essore to*n and
stoed near a school and sent the night there8 1 had a stomach
uset& as 1 had to take 4ood here and there8 %e5t morning *e again
started to*ards ?essore8 On the *ay 1 4ound e5odus o4 4rightened
eole running 4rom to*n to*ards the countryside 4or 4ear o4 li4e8
De halted at :asimur 2a;aar about three miles 4rom ?essore to*n
to 4ind out the enemy activities in the to*n8 :undreds o4 local eole
gathered there to hel us8 3hey gave us 4ood and *ater8 3hey brought
some 2iharis and asked my ermission 4or e5ecution8 On enKuiry 1
4ound them innocent and ordered them to Boin other 2iharis in to*n
and remain neutral8 1 told them that 2iharis had undergone immense
su44erings at the time o4 artition o4 1ndia and above all they *ere
our Muslim brothers8
De gathered that ?essore to*n *as under the control o4 Aast
Pakistan !i4le and the enemy *as con4ined in the ?essore
cantonment8 #gain *e started 4or ?essore to*n and reached ?essore
ne* market8 "rom there 1 sent a detachment to*ards Cantonment
and took osition on the eastern bank o4 river 2hairab covering the
bridge over the river8 1 mysel4 along *ith the rest entered the to*n8
Dhen 1 reached near ?essore central Bail& 1 heard that risoners in the
Bails had been 4reed8 2engali Bailor 4reed the risoners on the
condition that they *ould 4ight 4or the liberation o4 motherland8 2ut
later their activities roved that they had gone back to their ast
criminal lines8 3hese criminals engaged themselves in looting :indu
houses and robbing the :indus 4leeing to 1ndia to escae the
onslaught o4 Pakistan army8 )ome catured !a;akers during the
liberation eriod con4essed to 3a*4iK$e$Alahi Chaudhury& *ho *as
)DO o4 Meherur be4ore the start o4 *ar that those *ith good 4amily
background Boined liberation *ar and only the bastards collaborated
*ith the occuation army8
1 *ent to 2D! lines in 4ront o4 circuit house8 3here 1 met
)ubedar #bdul Malek *ho *as courageously conducting the
resistance against the occuation army8 :e told me that Pakistan
soldiers *ho *ere guarding the imortant installations like telehone
e5changes had been eliminated8 :e 4urther told me that the bulk o4
the 2D! troos had been deloyed at Chasra and 1 could hear the
machine gun 4ire o4 2D! at Chasra8 1 4ound t*o +$ounder guns at
2D! :eadKuarters8 )ubeder Malek told me that 2engali o44icer
Catain #*lad and Catain :asmutullah deserted them and
surrendered to Pakistan #rmy8 #4ter the liberation these t*o o44icers
lost their Bob 4or collaboration *ith the Pakistan army8 3hey lay
do*n in 4ront o4 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman7s car and
begged 4or re$emloyment8 2angabandhu *as kind to emloy
Catain #*lad in the 3rading Cororation o4 2angladesh and
Catain :asmatullah in olice service8 2oth o4 them *ere ill reuted
4or corrution in their ne* assignments8
1n the mean time 1 managed a Bee& but there *as no 4uel8 1 *ent
to the deserted etrol um and managed to get some 4uel$a4ter lot o4
e44orts8 1 had a round o4 the to*n8 #ll the houses and shos *ere
locked and the to*n *as giving a ghostly look8 1 came back to
)ubedar #bdul Malek and asked him to leave the lace and Boin the
4orces at Chasra and e5tricate to*ards 2angaon in case o4
*ithdra*al8 1 could see P1# aircra4t over our head at ?essore to*n
coming 4rom Dhaka and landing at ?essore airort8 P1# aircra4t must
have been carrying troos to rein4orce ?essore cantonment8 De 4ired
at the aircra4t& but that *ent too high beyond the range o4 small arms
4ire8
District Budge o4 ?essore *as entraed in his house8 :is men
reKuested me to rescue him 4rom his house that *as close to the
cantonment8 :e reKuested me 4or a li4t8 1 sent my Bee to rescue him
and his 4amily8 :e le4t *ith my Bee and never returned the Bee8 1
*ould never 4orgive that ungrate4ul Budge8 1 4elt that it *as un*ise to
stay there and get killed8 1 lost con4idence in the irregular 4orces most
o4 *hom deserted me8 )o 1 decided to go to my hometo*n Magura
and to organi;e resistance movement 4rom there8
On the evening o4 -3 #ril 1971 1 reached Magura by ?essore$
@ha;uria$Magura road8 1 came to Magura on 4oot& ricksha* and auto
ricksha* covering a distance o4 2. miles and had to cross river t*ice
by boat8 3he eole *ere delighted to receive an army o44icer *ho
could render military leadershi to liberate the country8 Peole o4
Magura cordially received me8 1 *ent to meet Mr8 Daliur !ahman&
)DO Magura at #nsar cam at %omani Maidan8 1 4elt very bad
*hen 1 entered the o44ice o4 )DO as 1 *as *earing a dirty lungi and a
vest8 1 had no shoe on8 Mr8 Daliul 1slam sho*ed comlete allegiance
to the PeoleGs !eublic o4 2angladesh and organi;ed the resistance
movement at Magura8 :e told me that some Pak soldiers escaed
4rom @ushtia and took shelter in a cater caused by urooting banyan
tree some*here bet*een ?henidah and Magura8 3housands o4 eole
4rom the surrounding areas attacked the osition by *hatever arms
they could manage8 3he enemy *ould sho* the steel helmet by
ushing *ith the bayonet o4 the ri4le8 )eeing the helmet our 4orces
4ired indiscriminately8 Mr8 Daliur !ahman managed some
homemade bombs and those *ere sent to eliminate them8 One brave
man cra*led u to the osition and killed one Pak soldier *ith a
boomerang8 3he Pakistani soldiers *ere only about ten in number8
2ut he embraced martyrdom8 One night the enemy 4ound a ga and
escaed to ?essore cantonment *ith the hel o4 locals *ho *ere
4orced to guide them on gunoint8
#t Magura 1 bought one shirt& a trouser and a air o4 shoe8 1
stayed at Magura 4or that night8 My village home *as about seven
miles 4rom Magura8 My younger brother #na*ar a medical student
*as at Magura *ho told me that there *as rumour that 1 *as killed at
?essore cantonment8 1 asked my brother to tell my arents to ray 4or
me8 %e5t morning 1 *ent to %omani Maidan *here 1 met Mr8
#sadu;;aman MP#8 Mr8 #sadu;;aman and the )DO asked me to
sto the advance o4 Pakistan #rmy at #lamkhali8 1 started by a
3oyota Bee 4rom Magura8 1 could not use the main high*ay as
roadblocks *ere laced all along the road8 3he local eole made
!oadblocks sontaneously by lacing big trees that *ere cut 4rom
the roadside8 3housands o4 eole articularly the small children
*ished me *ith the slogan S?oy 2anglaS8 3he slogan *ere iercing
in my heart and reminding me that 1 must 4ight 4or these children so
that osterity can live in 4reedom8 Dhen 1 reached #lamkhali 1 4ound
thousands o4 eole to 4ight back the Pakistan #rmy8
3here 1 4ound one section o4 solid AP! soldiers *ho could be
relied uon8 3he %abaganga !iver crossed ?henidah $ Magura high
*ay at #lamkhali8 3he *idth o4 the river *as 1-- 4eet8 3here *as
about 1. 4eet *ater in the month o4 March$#ril8 3he bank o4 the
river *as 4lushed *ith the ground8 3here *ere trees on both sides o4
the river& *hich obstructed the line o4 sight8 1 immediately
reconnoitered to take de4ensive osition on the eastern bank o4 the
%abaganga8 3he road ahead o4 bridge over the %abaganga had been
cut o44 by the local eole so that no mechani;ed column could cross
the %abaganga and go to*ards Magura8 # telehone link *as
established at #lamkhali behind the de4ensive osition8 1 talked to
the )DO o4 Magura8 )everal times 1 talked to Mr8 Mahbubuddin
#hmed& )DPO& ?henidah over telehone *ho organi;ed the armed
resistance at ?henidah8 My telehone oerator Pankas located a
2engali MaBor named MaBor #bu Osman Cho*dhury8 1 could hear
his 4aint voice on telehone8 MaBor #bu Osman Cho*dhury told me
that he *as at Chaudanga AP! headKuarters and only Catain #;am
Cho*dhury *as *ith him *ho *as 4ighting at @ushtia8 !umour
sread that Pak army *as advancing to*ards #lamkhali and *ithin
no time all eole including #rmy soldiers and #ir 4orce airmen
e5cet the Aast Pakistan ri4le soldiers *ere vanished8 AP! soldiers
romised that they *ould 4ight till death and *ould not leave me
alone8 De stayed in de4ensive osition to receive the enemy& but the
enemy never came8 1nstead t*o dead bodies o4 27 2aluch regiment
*ere brought 4rom ?henidah8 1 had sent them to Magura 4or dislay8
# comany o4 27 2aluch regiment numbering about 1.- took
osition in @ushtia to*n on 2. March to imose the authority o4
6ahya @han8 On 29 March 2angladesh liberation 4orces comrising
o4 Aast Pakistan ri4les& Police& #nsars& students and general eole
attacked Pakistani osition at Police Cine o4 @ushtia under the
command o4 Catain #;am Cho*dhury& valiant 4ighter o4 liberation
4orce8 Ciberation 4orce used outdated *eaons like 3-3 ri4les and 4e*
machine guns8
1t *as the moral stength o4 2engali 4ighters that de4eated the
Pakistan army8 @ushtia *as liberated 4rom the occuation o4
Pakistan #rmy8 )urviving troos o4 27 2aluch !egiment escaed
4rom @ushtia and *as heading to*ards ?essore garrison8 Mr8
Mahbubuddin #hmed )DPO ut a tra at ?henidah by cutting the
metal road and camou4laging it8 3he liberation 4orce laid ambush on
that site8 3he 4irst Bee o4 the convoy o4 the escaing troo 4ell in the
ditch8 !i4le 4ires came 4rom all sides and most o4 them *ere killed8
Only 4e* could escae and *ent in hiding in the countryside8 )ome
o4 them survived a 4e* days by eating ra* vegetables8 One soldier
took shelter in the house o4 a 2engali and this remained secret 4or
sometime8 Dhen the ublic kne* it& the house *as encircled8 3he
host re4used to hand over the soldier8 3he host *as all out to save the
li4e o4 his guest8 2ut the eole *ere deserate8 3hey killed the
2engali host be4ore killing the Pakistani soldier8
#t night 1 stayed in the house o4 my school mate Piku *ho later
on became a 4reedom 4ighter8 1 stayed at #lamkhali 4or t*o days8 1n
the mean time Catain #3 )alahuddin and Catain Musta4i;ur
!ahman came 4rom Dhaka8 3hey *ere rovided *ith a Bee by Mr8
)orab :ussein MP to Boin me8 3hey told me that they had been
instructed by MaBor @halid Mushrra4 to contact 1ndian authority to
get military hel8 AP! troos *hom 1 *as commanding 4or 4e* days
*ere boarded in a truck and 1 instructed them to Boin their
headKuarters at Chuadanga8 1 o44ered mysel4 to Boin the t*o Catains8
De embarked a motor truck and started 4or ?henidah8 #t ?henidah *e
met a young courageous boy named MussaddeK *ith a 3-3 ri4le in
his arm8 1n the later art o4 *ar& he *as *ith me as *ireless oerator8
1 met him in 2arrackur *hile he *as undergoing training as
*ireless oerator8 :e told us that they had given some heroic
resistance to Pakistan army8 ?henidah to*n gave a deserted look8
Dhen *e *ere in 4ront o4 D#PD# o44ice& a )abre <"$8+> aircra4t
4le* over stra4ed ?henidah8 De *ere narro*ly escaed8 "rom
?henidah *e again started 4or Chaudanga8
#t Chuadanga *e halted 4or a *hile and heard that AP! "orces
had Boined liberation *ar under the leadershi o4 MaBor #bu Osmam
Cho*dhury8 #gain *e started our Bourney 4or Meherur8 #t
Meherur *e stayed in the residence o4 Mr8 Matiur !ahman brother
o4 Catain Musta4i;ur !ahman8 :e *as a magistrate in the )DO7s
court8 1n his o44ice 1 met a young brave man *ho *as not shattered
by barbaric action o4 Pakistan #rmy8 #t 4irst sight 1 took him as a
revolutionary student leader 4rom his talking& osture and age8 1
inKuired about that smart young man 4rom Mr8 Matiur !ahman8 :e
told me that he *as )DO o4 Meherur8 :is name *as Mr8 3a*4iK$e$
Alahi Cho*dhury8
#t Meherur 1 met MaBor #bu Osman Cho*dhury& Catain @8%
:uda8 3he )DO o4 Chaudanga *as Mr8 1Kbal& a Dest Pakistani
o44icer8 :e shi4ted to Meherur *ith his *i4e and *as staying in the
residence o4 Mr83a*4iK$e$Alahi Cho*dhury8 Mr8 3a*4iK$e$Alahi
Cho*dhury again shi4ted Mr8 1Kbal and his *i4e to Meherur Bail 4or
sa4e custody8 3here *ere about thirty$4ive Dest Pakistanis including
Dest Pakistani AP! Ba*ans in the Bail custody8 Mr8 3a*4iK$e$Alahi
Cho*dhury took them to 1ndia to hand them over to 1ndian 2)"8 3he
)ector commander o4 2)" re4used to accet them& as he had not
received any instruction 4rom 1ndian /overnment in that regard8
3hey *ere returned back to Meherur Bail8 Cater on *hen Mr8
3a*4iK$e$Alahi Cho*dhury *as a*ay on some oerational duty& they
*ere taken out 4rom the Bail and killed by the instruction o4 an
in4luential lady at that time8 =n4ortunately Mr8 1Kbal *as the brother$
in$la* o4 #*ami league leader Dr @amal :ussein *ho *as arrested
by Pakistan army and imrisoned in :ariur Bail in Pakistan8 Cater
on Mr8 3a*4iK$e$Alahi Cho*dhury *et 4or this sad incident and
*anted to have an enKuiry a4ter liberation8 2ut nature took its o*n
revenge8 3he lady *as killed by troos in a cou in 197. in her
/ulshan residence8
Preface +'387+'388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
Battle o< 5ushtia
Pakistan army su44ered the initial maBor de4eat in @ushtia in their
indiscriminate shoot out and dislay o4 their military might in March
19718 Pakistan armyGs )her Dil ?a*ans <lion hearted troos> as
6ahya called them on 2+ March 1971 in a nation*ide address *as
deloyed in @ushtia and *as comletely annihilated by Mukti
2ahani8
@ushtia is a district to*n8 1t is an imortant communication
center as a number o4 roads and rail*ay line converged to @ushtia
to*n8 @ushtia to*n is connected *ith ?henidah& ?essore& Chaudanga
and 2heramara by road8 !iver /orai assed on the eastern side o4
@ushtia to*n8
#s er the oeration lan EOeration )earch CightG& Delta
Comany o4 27 2aluch regiment *as deloyed at @ushtia on the
night o4 2. March 19718 3hey started indiscriminate killing o4
civilians and terrori;ed the civil oulation8 Delta Comany o4 27
2aluch took osition in @ushtia Filla )chool& Police Cine and
Direless )tation8 MaBor )hoaib *ith Catain )amad established
headKuarters at @ushtia Filla )chool *ith 9- soldiers8 Catain )akil
took the ossession o4 Police Cine *ith '. soldiers8 Cieutenant8
#taullah )hah established the )ignal Centre at Direless )tation *ith
1. soldiers8 3hey *ere in the rocess o4 consolidating their de4ense
osition in order to establish the authority o4 the /overnment o4
Pakistan8
2engalis *ere not ready to accet the illegal authority o4 the
!Ugime o4 Pakistan8 3he illegal authority must be 4louted at any cost8
MaBor #bu Osman Chaudhury and Catain #! #;am Chaudhury in
consultation *ith olitical leaders and civil o44icials and in
consideration o4 the grave olitical situation and Pakistan armyGs
crackdo*n on civil oulation& decided to attack enemy osition in
@ushtia to*n8 3he overall resonsibility 4or the oeration o4 @ushtia
to*n occuied by enemy *as vested on Catain #! #;am
Chaudhury8 3he date and time o4 the attack *as 4i5ed on 29 March at
-'-- hours8
1t *as lanned to attack three enemy ositions simultaneously so
that one ost could not rein4orce the other8 #ccordingly tasks *ere
allotted to task 4orce commanders8 Catain #! #;am Chaudhury
*ould attack and cature @ushtia Filla )chool 4rom south*est corner
o4 the circuit house8 )ubedar Mu;a44ar #hmed *ould attack and
cature Police Cine 4rom ?agati side8 %aib$)ubedar Moniru;;aman
<)haheed> *ould attack Direless )tation8
2esides stes *ere taken to block enemy rein4orcement 4rom
?essore Cantonment8 # blocking osition *as established at /aragonB
12 miles east o4 ?henidah on ?henidah J@ushtia road by a latoon o4
' Dings AP! to sto the escae o4 retreating Pakistan #rmy 4rom
@ushtia8 One latoon o4 AP! *as laced in de4ensive osition at
2isaikhali on ?henidah J ?essore road to sto any rein4orcement 4rom
?essore Cantonment8 #bout t*o$mi5ed latoon o4 AP!& olice and
#nsar *ere ket as reserve at ?henidah under )DPO Mahbubuddin
#hmed to meet any eventuality8
)ubedar Mu;a44ar #hmed *ith his Comany 4rom Pragur in the
olice station o4 Daulatur *as to Boin the battle8 :e needed more
time to collect all AP! solders 4rom di44erent 2OPs and sought more
time to organi;e and consolidate *ith the aroval o4 MaBor Osman8
3ime *as shi4ted to 3- March 1971 at -'-- hours8
Catain #! #;am Chaudhury moved on 28 March 1971 at -9--
hours 4rom Chaudanga to @ushtia on 4oot 4ollo*ing Chaudanga$
#lamdanga J Poradah$ @ushtia non$metal road covering a distance
o4 2- miles and reached Poradah in the evening8 3hey stayed the
night o4 28 (29 March and the *hole day o4 29 March 1971 at
Poradah at a distance o4 8 miles 4rom @ushtia to*n8 Delay o4 one
day a44orded t*o bene4its8 3roos got comlete rest and 4ood& and
gathered enemy in4ormation regarding strength& deosition 4or
lanning o4 attack8 2oth the Comanies reached the target area much
be4ore : hour8 Catain #! #;am took osition in :osital area and
)ubeder Mu;a44er took osition in ?agati area8
Mortar detachment commander )ubedar P@ 1brahim started
4iring mortar on Filla )chool and Police Cine 1. minutes be4ore :
hour as er the lan8 #s soon as Catain #! #;amGs Comany
reached :osital area& enemy 4ired 4rom recoilless ri4les& machine
guns and all automatic *eaons8 =nder the cover o4 *alls and
building Mukti 2ahini started 4iring *ith rocket launcher& machine
guns and automatic *eaons8 Catain #;am changed his osition
and took osition behind one storied building adBacent to the
Preface +.387+.388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
boundary *all o4 @ushtia Filla )chool at a distance o4 7. yards 4rom
the Pakistan army osition8 )ubedar Ma;a44ar and %aib )ubedar
Moniru;;aman also simultaneously launched attack8 1t *as a hell 4or
the Pakistan #rmy8 3hey *ere comletely taken by surrise8 3hey
never thought that rice eaten gentle& olite and sohisticated 2engalis
could be so 4erocious8 MaBor )hoaib sent )O) messages to ?essore
Cantonment& but no assistance arrived8 2y 1'-- hours Pakistan army
su44ered& 2. *ere killed and a large number *ere inBured8 Catain
#;am sent a section near to )P 2ungalo* to engage 4leeing Pakistani
troos 4rom Police Cine and Direless )tation to*ards Filla )chool8
#t that time )ubedar Mu;a44arGs grou *as 4iring 4rom three$storied
building o4 a local ?udge adBacent to the Police Cine and killed a
good number o4 Pakistani soldiers8 1n the evening Pakistani troos
vacated the Police Cine and Direless )tation and concentrated in
Filla )chool8 #t about 23-- hours on 3- march 1971& about .- troos
o4 27 2aluch Kuietly le4t the Filla school& *alked 1--- yards on
@ushtia$?henidah road and boarded the vehicles and started 4or
?essore Cantonment8 :uge Kuantities o4 arms& ammunition and
vehicles *ere catured8
#t about 1--- hours on 31 March 1971& Pakistan )abre ?et <"$
8+> stra44ed @ushtia to*n& again on -1 #ugust 1971 at -9-- hours "$
8+ stra4ed @ushtia to*n8
!etreating Pakistan army led by MaBor )hoaib *ere ambushed at
/aragonB and most o4 them *ere killed8 During the entire @ushtia
oeration 1.- Pakistan #rmy men including MaBor )hoaib& Catain
)akil and Catain )amad *ere killed8 Cieutenant #taullah )hah *as
catured and taken as POD8 3hus the Delta Comany o4 27 2aluch
!egiment ceased to e5ist in the o44icial battle list o4 the Pakistan
#rmy8
# rein4orcement comany suorted by artillery 4rom ?essore
Cantonment *as ambushed at 2isaikhali and +- Pakistani troos
*ere killed8
7eroic -ole o< Police at Pabna
# comany o4 2. PunBab 2attaloin numbering 13- soldiers under the
command o4 Catain #sghar had been sent 4rom !aBshahi to take
control o4 Pabna to*n on 2. March 19718 3hey took the ossession
o4 district treasury and telehone e5change and imosed cur4e*8
3hey arrested #*ami Ceague MP #minuddin& %#P leader Dr8
#melendo Dhakkhi and many olitical leaders and *orkers and
subseKuently killed all o4 them8
On 27 March 1971 Pak #rmy *ent to olice lines to take over
the olice armoury including all *eaons and ammunition8 3he total
number o4 2engali olice *as 1-- in the olice lines8 2old and
sirited Police re4used to surrender their *eaons and ammunition
on the rete5t that the Deuty Commissioner %urul Huader had
issued o44icial instruction not to hand over *eaons to Pak #rmy8 On
this oint there *as argument and counter argument and at one stage
there *as e5change o4 4ire and in the encounter three Pak #rmy got
killed8
On 28 March 1971 at -'3- hours Pak #rmy lanned surrise
da*n attack on the olice lines8 Police adoted a clever strategy
instead o4 staying in olice linesI they *ere sitting like tigers on the
roo4 o4 the buildings and vantage oints along the city roads and
alleys8 Police 4rom the district Bail also Boined them8 3he initiative
*as *ith the olice and started killing Pak #rmy oint blank 4rom
the vantage oints8 Pak #rmy *as caught in surrise and never
e5ected such attack 4rom the olice8 PunBabis al*ays took 2engalis
as non$martial race and co*ard8 3hey 4orgot that in 19+. Cahore *as
de4ended by 2engal tigers *ho had saved PunBabi *omen 4rom
being raed by the :indus8 Most o4 the attacking #rmy$)her dil
?a*an o4 6ahya *ere killed and rest ran a*ay *ith their li4e8 3he
4ighting continued during 27& 28 and 28 March 19718 Pak #rmy *as
killed like Backals and rats8 Pakistan army at telehone e5change and
treasury *ere eliminated8 1n 4uture o44ensive& Pak #rmy *ith this
lesson never moved less than one battalion strength *ith a oint
latoon o4 treacherous 2engali !a;akars as vanguard8
Pak #rmy brought air 4orce to bomb and stra4e Mukti 2ahini
osition& but had little e44ect8 :elicoter *as sent to evacuate the
*ounded& but could not land8
Catain #sghar and Cieutenant !ashid *ere killed8 Pak #rmy
lost t*o o44icers& three ?CO) and 8- other ranks8 One more o44icer
and 32 other ranks *ere *ounded8 !ein4orcement under MaBor
#slam 4rom !aBshahi *as sent *ith heavy *eaons to rescue the
Preface ++387++388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
survivors8 MaBor #slam tried to e5tricate the survivors utting the
*ounded in a retrieved vehicle8 Catain M# !ashid& #dButant o4
)ardah Cadet College organi;ed t*o comanies o4 AP! 4rom 2OP
and the )ardah olice lines and ambushed the retreating 4orces o4
MaBor #slam at #rani bridge along 1shurdhi$!aBshahi rail*ay line
and killed most o4 them including MaBor #slam8 Mukti 2ahini had
good caches o4 *eaons and ammunition8
1n rerisal 2. PunBab !egiment killed #ssistant Deuty
Commissioner o4 !aBshahi @udrat$1$Alahi Cho*dhury& Civil )ervice
o4 Pakistan& a brilliant o44icer and Mamun #hmed& suerintendent o4
olice and many other civilians8
Catain <later on Colonel> M# !ashid *as hanged in 1981 in
Chittagong 4or his controversial involvement in the killing o4 the
President Fiaur !ahman8 1t might have been the travesty o4 Bustice as
the courtroom *as established in Chittagong Central Bail and the
conduct o4 the Budges and rosecutors o4 court martial *ere
obBectionable as they allegedly used to sho* thumb in the courtroom
to the de4ending o44icers8 :M Arshad& the then Chie4 o4 )ta44 in the
kno*ledge o4 the imending cou attemt 4ailed to save the li4e o4
the President8
2en:al Military in %ast Pakistan
2engali "orces o4 Pakistan #rmy osted in Aast Pakistan on 2.
March 1971 ,
1 Aast 2engal at ?essore Cantonment8
2 Aast 2engal at ?oydebur Cantonment8
3 Aast 2engal at !angur Cantonment8
' Aast 2engal at Comilla Cantonment8
8 Aast 2engal at Chittagong Cantonment8
Aast 2engal !egimental Center at Chittagong(
3otal number o4 Aast 2engal troos *as about 4ive thousand8
Other arms and )ervices units like #rmour& #rtillery& )ignal&
Angineers& #rmy )ervice Cors& Ordnance& Medical Cors& Alectrical
0 Mechanical Angineering Cors etc constituted 2-Q 2engalis o4
the total 4orces o4 Pakistan army stationed in Aast Pakistan
numbering about seven thousand8 # 4e* hundred o44icers and troos
*ho *ere on leave also Boined the liberation *ar8 2esides military&
aramilitary 4orces like AP!& #nsars and Police also Boined Mukti
2ahini8
Aast Pakistan !i4les numbered about t*enty thousands8
Police "orce *ere about hundred thousands8
#nsars *ere several hundred thousands8
Most e44ective 4orce comosed o4 students and youths *ho *ere
several hundred thousands8
1 Aast 2engal stationed at ?essore *as sent to Chaughacha on
e5ercise duty to kee them in darkness as to the intention and
lanning o4 Pakistan army8 )hould there be any action on the 2engali
soldiers this unit did not have any scoe to react8 :al4 o4 the troos
o4 the regiment *ere sent on leave to reduce its oerational strength8
3he unit had 4our 2engali o44icers Cieutenant Colonel !e;aul ?alil&
Commanding O44icer& Catain :a4i;uddin& Cieutenant #n*ar and
Cieutenant @ha*Ba )ha4i Dasiuddin8 3he 1 A 2engal *as ordered to
4all back to ?essore Cantonment on the evening o4 29 March 19718
2rigadier !ahim Durani 2rigade commander 1-7 2rigade asked the
Commanding O44icer o4 the regiment to deosit arms and
ammunition to kote and it had to be done *hen he took a*ay the
keys o4 the kote8 On 3- March 1971& 2. 2aluch regiment suorted
by artillery attacked the disarmed 1 Aast 2engal !egiment8 3roos o4
1 Aast 2engal under the command o4 Cat8 :u4i;uddin broke oen
the kote and reulsed the attack and e5tricated 4rom ?essore
Cantonment8 1n the 4ighting about 4i4ty soldiers including Cieutenant
#n*ar embraced martyrdom on 3- March 19718 Cieutenant Colonel
!ea;ul ?alil and Cieutenant @ha*Ba Dasiuddin did not leave the
Pakistan #rmy8 Cieutenant @ha*Ba )ha4i Dasiuddin *as the son o4
Cieutenant /eneral @ha*Ba Dasiuddin8
1 Aast 2engal !egiment turned as one o4 the hard cores o4
4ighting 4orces o4 the Ciberation Dar8
2 Aast 2engal !egiment *as stationed at ?oydebur 3- km north
o4 Dhaka8 3he 2attalion *as housed in the !aBbari o4 ?oydebur8 1n
the ast the !aBbari *as the o44icial residence o4 the 2ha*al RaB8
3his 2attalion *as lucky because the 2engali O44icers in the
regiment out numbered the Pakistanis8 Cieutenant Colonel Masudul
:ossain @han& Commanding O44icer o4 the regiment& MaBor @ M
)a4iullah& 2nd in command& MaBor %urul 1slam& MaBor Mainul
:ussein Cho*dhury& Cat8 #)M %asim& Catain #;i;ur !ahman&
Catain /M :elal Morshed and )econd Cieutenant 1brahim *ere the
o44icers o4 2 Aast 2engal !egiment8 2rigade :eadKuarters *ere
located at Dhaka and its 2rigade Commander *as 2rigadier #rbab8
3he morale and the 4ighting 4orce o4 the 2attalion *ere *eakened by
the ill motives o4 the higher authority8 3he comanies o4 the battalion
*ere searated and desatched to di44erent locations to *eaken the
oerational e44ectiveness o4 the battalion8 One comany o4 the
regiment *as sent to Mymensingh under the command o4 MaBor
%urul 1slam and another comany *as sent to 3angail& MaBor @a;em
@amal as its commander8 One latoon *as retained at Ordnance
"actories at /a;iur and another latoon *as sent to !aBendraur8
2rigade commander 2rigadier #rbab along *ith 7. o44icers and
other ranks *ith 4ull teeth arms landed at the !aBbari o4 ?oydebur
on 19 March 19718 Clearing the road barricade 4rom 3ongi to
?oydebur Chourasta& he indiscriminately used arms and killed
several civilians8 :e 4orced the local civilians to clear the road
barricades8 2rigadier #rbab asked the 2 Aast 2engal over *ireless to
reach the Chourasta and instructed to use ma5imum 4orce i4 needed8
2rigade commanderGs aim *as to disarm the battalion8 3he 2 Aast
2engal *as 4ully armed to 4ace any situation *hatsoever8 )eeing the
state o4 readiness o4 the 2
nd
2engal& Pakistani 2rigade Commander
*as alarmed and did not dare to take attemt to disarm the regiment8
3here *as a road barricade at ?oydebur !ail*ay crossing *here
about 4i4ty thousand eole assembled8 =nder the order o4 2rigadier
#rbab oening 4ire disersed the cro*d and some civilians *ere
killed on the sot8
Cieutenant Colonel #"M #bdur !aKuib& a 2engali o44icer&
relaced Commanding o44icer Cieutenant Colonel Masudur !ahman
@han8 :e *as an o44icer o4 2aluch !egiment8 :e *as in Command
o4 32 PunBab !egiment in Dhaka in 19718 :is battalion on March 1&
1971 had staged a crackdo*n on #*ami Ceague suorters and
brutally killed Kuite a number o4 innocent 2engalis in Dhaka8 On 27
March 1971& MaBor @ M )a4iullah and other 2engali o44icers asked
the ne* commanding o44icer& Cieutenant Colonel !aKuib to take
some action but he *as reluctant8 MaBor @M )a4iullah decided to
concentrate the 2attalion at Mymensingh 4or 4uture lan o4 action8 2
Aast 2engal le4t ?oydebur on 28 March 1971 and reached 3angail
and Boined its #lha Comany8 2y the evening o4 29 March 1971 the
battalion comleted its concentration at Mymensingh8
3 Aast 2engal !egiment *as located at )aidur& a small garrison
2- km Dest o4 !angur8 Cieutenant Colonel "a;al @arim& a Dest
Pakistani o44icer *as the commanding o44icer8 3his battalion had a
4e* 2engali o44icers amongst *hom *ere MaBor %i;amuddin&
Catain #shra4& Cieutenant Mukles& Cieutenant #n*ar& Cieutenant
!a4iK )arker and Cieutenant )iraBul 1slam8 3he battalion 4ought
gallantly against the numerically suerior enemy and in4licted heavy
causalty on them8 Cieutenant !a4iK )arkar and Cieutenant )iraBul
1slam embraced Martyrdom8 #4ter successive battles therea4ter this
battalion assembled at :illi8
' Aast 2engal !egiment *as located at Comilla Cantonment8
Cieutenant Colonel @hi;ir :yat *as the Commanding o44icer o4 the
battalion8 MaBor @haled Mosharro4 *as the brigade MaBor o4 .7
2rigade located at Dhaka8 Dest Pakistani #rmy authority could not
trust MaBor @haled Mosharro48 :e *as osted to ' Aast 2engal& as its
2nd$in$Command8
Pakistani #rmy command at Comilla Cantonment thought it *ise
to send ' Aast 2engal out o4 the Cantonment to carry out cold$
blooded massacre o4 other 2engali troos8 ' Aast 2engal *as slit u
and sent to di44erent laces8 Charlie and Delta comanies *ere sent
to 2rahmanbaria8 #lha comany *as sent to )hamshernagore&
)ylhet under command o4 MaBor @haled Mosharra48 #t one stage
Commanding o44icer Cieutenant Colonel @hi;ir :yat *as arrested8
MaBor @haled Musharro4 took over as the Commanding o44icer8
Other 2engali o44icers *ho Boined MaBor @haled Mosharro4 are
MaBor )ha4aat ?amil& Catain #inuddin& Cieutenant /a44ar and
Catain #bdul Matin8
MaBor )ultan& the Pakistani 2rigade MaBor o4 .3 2rigade
committed cold$blooded murder o4 the 2engalis8 :e rounded u the
2engali troos every*here at the layground and military barracks
and killed them indiscriminately8 #ll 2engali troos numbering about
hundred including MaBor #yub 2em and Cieutenant )alahuddin o4
13. 1n4antry Dorksho AMA *ere taken to a room and locked 4rom
outside8 #t dead o4 night& all o4 them *ere killed8 )eoy Deen
Muhammad *as unhurt and retended as i4 he had also been killed8
Dhen the Pakistanis le4t a4ter the killing& )eoy Deen Muhammad
tried to escae8 :e 4ound a ventilator near the roo4& but it *as too
high 4or him8 :e iled u the dead bodies in di44erent ositions& some
arallel and others cross*ise and thus could touch the ventilator8
Avery time the dead bodies had been rolling do*n and the ventilator
escaed his hands8 #4ter reeated e44orts he could some ho* get hold
o4 it and escaed 4rom the death tra and articiated in the
liberation *ar8 #4ter liberation he *as my driver *hen 1 *as
commanding 2ase Dorksho AMA in 19728
Catain :aider o4 3$Commando battalion at Comilla cantonment
consulted MaBor Mannan to Boin liberation *ar8 1n rely MaBor
Mannan *arned Catain :aider that he *ould reort about his
intention to Pakistani authority i4 insisted on the same issue8 #4ter
liberation MaBor Mannan became Minister o4 2angladesh
/overnment8 Catain :aider <Cater on Cieutenant Colonel> *as
killed on -7 %ovember 197. along *ith MaBor /eneral @halid
Mussarra4& 2ir =ttam and Colonel @ % :uda& 2ir 2ikram8
3here *as another survivor Cieutenant 1mamu;;aman 4rom
Comilla Cantonment8 :e along *ith another Catain hal4 2engali
o44sring o4 2engali and 2ihari *as locked u in a room8 :e *as
shot by a )ubeder o4 Pakistan #rmy8 3he o44ice room *here
Cieutenant 1mamu;;aman *as locked u *as on the to o4 a hill8
)ubeder took him as dead and le4t the room8 Cuckily Cieutenant
1mamu;;aman *as not hit& but he retended to be dead a4ter he
received only minor inBury8 #t an oortune moment in the same
night& he oened the *indo* o4 the room and Bumed through the
*indo*& somersaulted& ran& cra*led& hid in rice 4ield& again ran and
escaed the death tra and got ne* lease o4 li4e to 4ight the enemy8
3he Deuty Commissioner and the )uerintendent o4 Police o4
Comilla district *ere locked u in a near by room and Cieutenant
1mamu;;aman heard the 4iring shots *hich killed both o4 them8
8 Aast 2engal !egiment *as located at Chittagong :alishahor to
be desatched to Dest Pakistan8 Cieutenant Colonel !ashid ?anBua
*as the commanding o44icer o4 the regiment8 MaBor Fiaur !ahman
*as the second in command o4 the regiment8 Other o44icers o4 the
regiment *ere MaBor Mir )ha*kot #li& Catain Oli #hmed& Catain
@haliKu;;aman& Catain )adeK :ussein& Cieutenant Ma4u;ur
!ahman and Cieutenant )hamser Mobin Cho*dhury8 MaBor Fiaur
!ahman *as desatched to Chittagong Port by his commanding
o44icer *ith the intention o4 getting him killed at the ort8 On the *ay
Catain @haliKu;;aman came rushing to MaBor Fiaur !ahman and
in4ormed him the ill motive o4 his CO8 MaBor Fiaur !ahman
disarmed the Dest Pakistani troos accomanying him and revolted8
Dhen the lan o4 CO *as uncovered and 2engali troos became
4urious and killed Cieutenant Colonel ?anBua CO o4 the regiment8 1ts
rerisals started in Chittagong& Comilla and other Cantnments by
Pakistan #rmy8 8 Aast 2engal *as 4i4ty ercent o4 its strength at that
time8 8 Aast 2engal moved to*ards @alurghat and 4ought the enemy
at di44erent laces8 #t the @alurghat 2ridge Cieutenant )hamser
Mobin Cho*dhury *hile engaged in 4ighting against the enemy *as
seriously inBured and catured by the enemy8 Catain :arun #hmed
Chaudhury *as also inBured8 During the initial eriod MaBor Fiaur
!ahman had the uniKue and rare oortunity to announce the
indeendence o4 2angladesh over high$o*ered radio at @halurghat
4irst in his o*n and second time on behal4 o4 2angbandhu )heikh
MuBibur !ahman8 1n history he *as at the right lace and at the right
time *hen the destiny beckoned 4or him t*ice once on 27 March
1971 and -7 %ovember 197.8 2y the time o4 his si5teen years
commissioned service career in 1971 MaBor Fia had achieved t*o
background Kualities and e5eriences$skill o4 oratory and courage to
accomlish the rarest o4 the rare oortunity o4 making the o4
announcement o4 the indeendence o4 2angladesh8
:e *as instructor at military academy at @akul and he
commanded a comany o4 1 Aast 2engal in +. 1ndo$Pak *ar at
2edian$@asur )ector along 2!2 canal in Cahore 4ront *here 1 A
2engal reulsed 17 1ndian divisional attacks under continuous air
suort and destroyed most o4 the 1ndian main battle tanks
<Centurian> and saved Cahore 4rom being catured by the 1ndian
army8 1 Aast 2engal !egiment obtained 17 gallantry a*ards and its
2engali commanding o44icer Cieutenant Colonel # 3 @ :uK *as
decorated *ith the second highest Pakistani %ational gallantry a*ard
:ilal$i$?urat8 %isan$i$:aider the highest gallantry a*ard generally
ket reserved 4or the martyrs8 1 Aast 2engal obtained ma5imum
number o4 gallantry a*ards in 19+. 1ndo$Pak *ar among all
Pakistan units8 1t *as the rare honour 4or the 2engal 3igers8
1n Chittagong another imortant and 4ierce battle *as 4ought in
@umira on 28 March 19718 # Pakistani column comosed o4 2'
"rontier "orce !egiment and 88 Mortar battery under the command
o4 2rigadier 1Kbal )ha4i& commander .3 2rigade o4 Comilla
roceeding to*ards Chittagong *as ambushed by 1-- men o4 Aast
Pakistan !i4les and some olice at 783- PM8 Cieutenant Colonel
)hahur @han *ith 1.2 other ranks *as killed8 3here *as a hot
rumour that )hahur *as shot and killed on the very 4irst day o4 the
crack do*n by 2rigade maBor )ultan& as he did not arove o4 the
Pakistan #rmy action and *as oosed to the killing o4 2engali
o44icers and troos in Comilla Cantonment8 Mukti 2ahini catured
t*o truckloads o4 ammunition8 1' gallant soldiers o4 Mukti 2ahini
embraced martyrdom8 On 29 March 1971& 2 Commando battalion
*as asked to link u 2' "" *as also ambushed by Mukti 2ahini8
Cieutenant Colonel )uleiman& CO o4 2 Commando 2attalion&
Catain )ikander and 19 O!s *ere killed in the same site8
MaBor /eneral Mitha @han& HM/ o4 Pakistan #rmy *as moved
to Dhaka on -7 March 1971along *ith 3ikka 4rom /:H& !a*alindi
arrived by a helicoter on 29 March 1971 to Chittagong to motivate
the demorali;ed troos8 #rtillery and gunboats 4rom the sea *ere
brought in to suort 2' ""8 Ceaderless Mukti 2ahini 4ought
courageously and e5tricated8
3he troos o4 9 Division 4rom @harian Cantonment already
brought in& in the month o4 "ebruary 1971 and stationed at Dhaka
airli4ted to Chittagong8 P%) ?#:#%/1! sailed 4rom @arachi on -2
March 1971 arrived at Chittagong ort on 27 March 1971*ith t*o
in4antry battalions and t*o sKuadrons o4 tanks8 3he massive
rein4orcement 4orced the Mukti 2ahini to leave the City stronghold8
Aast 2engal !egiment Centre *as located at Chittagong8 3he
Commandant o4 the !egimental Centre *as 2rigadier Mu;amdar& a
2engali O44icer8 #nother 2engali o44icer Cieutenant Colonel M !
Cho*dhury *as the Chie4 1nstructor8 3here *ere a 4e* thousand o4
2engali recruits and instructors in the Aast 2engal !egimental
Centre8 ?ust be4ore the crackdo*n 2rigadier Mu;under *as attached
to Division headKuarters in Dhaka8 Cieutenant Colonel M !
Cho*dhury *as killed8 Most o4 the 2engali o44icers& troos and
recruits *hile in slee at dead o4 night *ere killed8 Commanding
o44icer o4 CM:& Cieutenant Colonel 2adiul #lam Cho*dhuryI
O44icer Commanding station *orksho& Catain Mohammad #khand
*ere also killed brutally by Pakistan army8
ChaAter *
BA3G1A)%+7 G?V%-3M%3T 23 %K21% A3)
?-GA326AT2?3 ?; M45T2 BA7232(
Crossin: to 2ndian +oil
1 crossed the 1ndian border to see the attitude o4 the eole o4 1ndia
to*ards our cause8 1 *ent to 2ahramur& @risnanagore and Calcutta
*hile at times 1 traveled by bus and sometimes by train8 3he eole
o4 1ndia *ere very symathetic to our cause8 3he 1ndian ress and
electronic media ublished the brutal atrocities committed by Pak
army on the innocent 2engalis8 Aven the international rint and
electronic media had given *ide ublicity about Pakistan armyGs
atrocities8 1 bought a %e*s*eek& issue o4 -+ #ril 1971& its cover
age bearing cation civil *ar in Pakistan *ith the hotograh o4
)heikh MuBibur !ahman8 %e*s*eekGs Coren ?enkins 4iled a reort
entitled Pakistan lunges into civil *ar *here he described )heikh
MuBibur !ahman as oet o4 olitics *ho is eloKuent in three
languages o4 Pakistan in =rdu& 2engali and Anglish8 3he challenges
by 6ahya and counter challenges by )heikh MuBib *ere in the
reamble o4 the article that is Kuoted belo*,
LThe man and his Aarty are enemies o< Pakistan( The crime
&ill not :o unAunished( We &ill not allo& some Ao&er hun:ry
and unAatriotic AeoAle to destroy this country and Alay &ith the
destiny o< ="! million AeoAle(C
President
Mohammed Fahya 5han
LCome out o< your houses &ith &hate.er &eaAons you ha.e(
-esist the enemy <orces at any costMuntil the last enemy soldier
is .an8uished, and sa.e the country <rom the ruthless
dictatorshiA o< West Pakistan(C
$ +heikh Mujibur -ahman
1n Calcutta 1 sent my night in a olice station8 3hey treated us
as guests 4rom ?oy 2angla8 3he government o4 1ndia *as also in our
4avour but till then not decided to e5tend us any military hel8 2eing
a searate nation 1ndia could not and should not have inter4ered in
the internal a44airs o4 another sovereign country *ithout any valid
reason that a44ected their interest and sovereignty as *ell8 1ndia cared
4or *orld oinion8 1ndia could at that stage at best suort the
legitimate stand o4 the eole o4 Aast Pakistan by imarting military
training to the young men *ho could reach there by sulying arms&
ammunition and *eaons as a matter o4 olitical suort8 #4ter all a
country needs very reasonable grounds to attack another country
only *hen their o*n interest is in Beoardy8
1 came back to Meherur on 1. #ril 1971 and met Catain
Musta4i;ur !ahman8 :e asked me to take a convoy to 1ndian 2OP at
2etai8 3he convoy consisted o4 about hundred Bees& trucks and buses
loaded *ith arms& ammunition& POC& rice etc including another three
trucks 4illed carrying + crore taka8 3here *as a river assing beside
Meherur to*n8 3he river *as almost dry8 # very thin stream o4
*ater *as 4lo*ing through its narro* channel in the centre8 #
temorary 2ridge made *ith local e5edients e5isted over the river8
One o4 2angladesh !i4les truck artially *ent o44 the bridge *ith its
4ront le4t *heel and 4ell artially into the river8 1t created a
roadblock8 De tried to take the truck on the other side o4 the river&
but all our e44orts 4ailed8 1n the mean time *e had the message that
Pak #rmy *as about to reach Meherur8 1 brought a road roller and
*ith the hel o4 local eole ushed do*n the stranded truck into the
river and thus *hole convoy could cross the river8
#t night there *as rain4all8 3he non$metal road ahead o4 us *as
absolutely muddy and not motorable8 #ble leadershi& bravery and
initiative o4 Catain )alahuddin and untiring hardshi o4 AP! troos
heled us to reach 1ndian 2OP at 2etei8 De had to ush the vehicles
through mud as their engines 4ailed to ull8 1t *as really a hard task8
De 4ound a 2)" Catain at the 2etai 2OP *ho allo*ed us to
stay there8 2ut *e *ere *ithout any 4ood8 :o*ever the 2D! troos
cooked khechuri$ a mi5ture o4 rice and ulses *ith oil& onion& chilli
and turmeric& *hich *as our lunch 4or that day8 #t 2etai 1 met
Catain #! #;am Cho*dhury *ho o44ered me a late o4 khechuri8
1n the evening all 2angladesh !i4les troos assembled8 MaBor Osman
Cho*dhury addressed them and motivated the troos so that they
could 4ight back the Pakistan army 4or the 4reedom o4 our
motherland8 3he o44icers resent on that occasion included Cat #3
)alauddin& Cat Mu;ta4i;ur !ahman& 3a*4iK$e$ Cho*dhury& )DO
Meherur& Mahabubuddin #hmed& )DPO ?henidah and )a4iKullah&
lecturer o4 ?henidah Cadet College8 1t *as so un4ortunate that MaBor
Osman Cho*dhury7s contribution to liberation *ar *ent unnoticed8
:e *as not a*arded any gallantry a*ard8 #ll the sector commanders
*ere a*arded 2ir =ttam 4or holding the ost irresective o4 their
er4ormances and gallant action8 MaBor Osman and MaBor ?alil *ere
e5cetions amongst them8
Ban:ladesh Go.ernment in %>ile
On 1+ #ril 1971& a 4oreign Bournalist *as trying to take a sna o4
2D! troos along *ith the national 4lag o4 1ndia that *as 4lying at a
2OP8 1 got hold o4 the Bournalist and removed the 4ilm and asked him
i4 he had the courage to go inside 2angladesh and make a 4ilm on the
genocide taking lace over there8 On the morning o4 17 #ril 1971& 1
came to learn that 4ormal declaration o4 rovisional /overnment o4
2angladesh in e5ile *ould take lace at Plassey8 3he lace *as a
mango groove in Aast Pakistan territory under Meherur sub$
division8
On 17 #ril 1971& *e started 4or 2aidaynathtala a small village
near 1ndian border in Meherur later kno*n as MuBibnagore to
attend the installation ceremony o4 2angladesh /overnment8 1
carried my submachine gun8 On the *ay 1 had been stoing my Bee
at laces to enKuire about the location o4 the lace o4 the ceremony8
#t one lace& 1 came to kno* that the name o4 the lace *as Plassey8
3he shock *ave o4 e5citement *ent through my veins8 My mind
*ent back to the time o4 %a*ab )iraBudda*la& the last indeendent
ruler o4 2engal *ho *as de4eated by the treachery o4 his
commander$in$chie4 Fa4ar #li @han *ho had a consiracy *ith
2ritish o44icer Cord Clive o4 Aast 1ndia Comany8 %a*ab
)iraBuda*la *as catured by the in4ormation given by his o*n
subBect and e5ecuted by Mohammad #li 2eg Miran& a butcher& by
order 4rom Fa4ar #li @hanGs son hired by the Anglish8
On the middle o4 the ceremony *e reached MuBibnagore8 MaBor
#bu Osman cho*dhury& Catain )alahuddin& Catain Musta4i;ur
!ahman& Catain # ! #;am Cho*dhury Catain @% :uda& 3a*4iK$
e$Alahi Cho*dhury& and Mahbubuddin #hmed attended the historic
ceremony8 Mr8 )yed %a;rul 1slam *ho *as made the #cting
resident o4 the rovisional government o4 2angladesh *as
addressing the huge gathering8 :undreds o4 4oreign Bournalists 4rom
all over the *orld *ere resent there8 Actin: President +yed 3a@rul
2slam deli.ered his historic sAeech( The :ist o< the sAeech is
Aroduced belo&,
L3o$day a ne* nation is born in this mango garden8 3he eole
o4 2engal *anted to move 4or*ard *ith their o*n culture& tradition&
hoes and asiration during the last 4e* years8 2ut vested interest
grou in Pakistan never allo*ed materiali;ing these asirations8
3hey launched armed attack on us8 De *anted to move
democratically& but *ere not allo*ed8 3hey initiated barbarous attack
on our unarmed eole8 3hat is *hy *e have chosen the ath o4
4ighting8 1n this 4ighting& ultimate victory *ill be ours8 De *ill drive
out the Pakistani aggressors8 De *ant eace4ul co$e5istence *ith all
countries o4 the *orld8 De *ant to see the victory o4 humanity&
democracy and 4reedom8
2angabandhu continued movement against the e5loitation and
autocratic rule o4 Pakistan during the last 23 years8 :e *anted to
establish olitical& economic and cultural rights o4 the 2engalis8 De
have received his dynamic leadershi at times o4 our crisis8 %e*born
state o4 2angladesh *ill remain 4orever on the *orld ma8 %o o*er
on earth can erase it8 1n every ste during the last 23 years Pakistani
oortunist& industrialist& caitalist& army and civil grous continued
to suress the 2engali movement8 De *anted to get our rights
imlemented through eace4ul means8 1t is a matter o4 shame and
sorro* that Dest Pakistanis termed )her$e$2angla "a;lul :uK as
traitor and ut :usyen )haheed )uhra*ardy in Bail8 De cannot
comromise *ith them8 De cannot 4orgive them8 President
2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman the great oular leader
symbol o4 unity 4or the oressed eole o4 2angladesh 4ought 4or
olitical& economic and cultural rights o4 the eole o4 2engal *ho is
also ut behind the bar8 "reedom movement *ill be achieved under
his leadershi8M
)yed %a;rul 1slam announced the name o4 Colonel Muhammad
#taual /hani Osmany& sc as the Commander$in$Chie4 o4
2angladesh #rmed "orces8 Colonel Muhammad #taul /hani
Osmany *as kno*n as a brilliant and talented o44icer in Pakistan
#rmy *ho ossessed slendid soldierly Kualities8 2ut #yub @han
derived him o4 his due romotion and many Bunior o44icers
suerceded him8 :e had 28 years o4 glorious commissioned service
to his credit8 :e 4ought in Dorld Dar 11 in 2urma and held imortant
aointments in Pakistan #rmy8 :is service arms 4rom #rmy
)ervice Cors to in4antry regiment *ere changed on
recommendation o4 2ritish instructor 4or his outstanding
er4ormance in the )ta44 College8 De roudly observed that under his
leadershi& 2angladesh #rmed "orces *ere organi;ed only in seven
month8 1t *as an outstanding 4eat and has no arallel in history8 :e
*as a*are o4 his osition as Commander$in$Chie4 o4 2angladesh
#rmed "orces8 :e maintained his dignity and ride as Commander$
in$Chie48 :e *ould al*ays maintain that his country needed hel&
not alms8 :e *as very conscious o4 his osition8 On one occasion he
had to reach an oerational area by helicoter but he instructed his
ilot to circle in the sky until commander o4 1ndian army landed to
receive him8 1ndian commander *as *ith the rank o4 MaBor /eneral
and Osmany *as *ith the rank o4 Colonel8 2ut Osmany *as
Commander$in$Chie4 o4 2angladesh #rmed "orces8 1t *as
organi;ational leadershi o4 Colonel Osmany that in a very short
time 2angladesh #rmed "orces launched an all out o44ensive against
the Pakistan #rmy8
Pro4essor M 6usu4 #li read out the roclamation o4
1ndeendence order o4 2angladesh8 The conte>t o< the
Aroclamation o< 2ndeAendence order o< Ban:ladesh is
reAroduced belo&:
LDhereas 4ree elections *ere held in 2angladesh on December
-7& 197- to elect reresentatives 4or the urose o4 4raming a
constitution& and
Dhereas in these elections out o4 1+9 the eole o4 2angladesh
elected 1+7 reresentatives 4rom the #*ami Ceague& and
Dhereas /eneral8 6ahya @han summoned the %ational
#ssembly o4 the elected reresentative o4 the eole to meet on
March -3& 1971& 4or the urose o4 4raming a constitution& and
Dhereas instead o4 4ul4illing their romises and *hile still
con4erring *ith the reresentatives o4 the eole o4 2angladesh& the
Pakistan authorities declared an unBust and treacherous *ar& and
Dhereas in the 4acts and circumstances o4 such treacherous
conduct 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman& the undisuted
leader o4 7. million eole o4 2angladesh& in order to establish the
legitimate right o4 sel4$ determination o4 the eole o4 2angladesh&
duly made a declaration o4 indeendence at Dhaka on March 2+&
1971& and urged the eole o4 2angladesh to resist the occuation
army& and
Dhereas in the conduct o4 a ruthless and savage *ar the
Pakistani authorities thrusted uon the eole o4 2angladesh and are
still committing numerous acts o4 genocide and unrecedented
tortures& amongst others on her civilian and unarmed eole& and
Dhereas the Pakistan /overnment by initiating an unBust *ar
and committing genocide and by other reressive measures made it
imossible 4or the elected reresentatives o4 the eole o4
2angladesh to meet and 4rame a constitution 4or the country and
4orm a /overnment o4 their o*n& and
Dhereas the eole o4 2angladesh by their heroism& bravery and
revolutionary 4ervour have established e44ective control over the
territories o4 2angladesh&
De& the elected reresentatives o4 the eole o4 2angladesh& as
duty$bound by the mandate given to us by the eole o4 2angladesh
*hose *ill is sureme& have duly constituted ourselves into a
Constituent #ssembly& and
:aving held mutual consultations& and in order to ensure 4or the
eole o4 2angladesh eKuality& human dignity and social Bustice&
Declare and constitute 2angladesh to be a )overeign Peole7s
!eublic and thereby con4irm the declaration o4 indeendence
already made by 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman& and
Do hereby con4irm and resolve that till such time as a
constitution is 4ramed8 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman shall
be the President and that )yed %a;rul 1slam shall be the Pice$
President o4 the !eublic& and
3hat the President shall be the )ureme Commander o4 the
armed 4orces o4 the !eublic&
)hall e5ercise all the e5ecutive and legislative o*ers o4 the
!eublic including the o*er to grant ardon&
#nd to aoint a Prime Minister as and *hen he considers it
necessary shall have the o*er to levy ta5es and e5end monies&
)hall have the o*er to summon and adBourn the Constituent
#ssembly& and& do all other things that may be necessary to give to
the eole o4 2angladesh an orderly and Bust /overnment8
De the elected reresentatives o4 the eole o4 2angladesh& do
4urther resolve that in the event o4 there being no President or the
President being unable to enter uon his o44ice or being unable to
e5ercise his o*ers and er4orm his duties due to any reason
*hatsoever& the Pice$President shall have all the authorities to
e5ercise all the o*ers& duties and resonsibilities herein con4erred
on the President8
De 4urther resolve that *e undertake to observe and give e44ect
to all duties and obligations devolved uon us as a member o4 the
4amily o4 nations and by the Charter o4 the =nited %ations8
De 4urther resolve that to give e44ect to this resolution& *e
authori;e and aoint Pro48 M 6usu4 #li our duly constituted
otentiary to give to the President and Pice$ President the oaths o4
o44ice8
2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman *as declared as the
President o4 the !eublic8 Pro4essor M8 6usu4 #li conducted the oath
o4 o44ice o4 Pice$President& Prime Minister& and other ministers8
"ollo*ing *ere the ministers o4 cabinet o4 the Provisional
government o4 2angladesh,
Pice$President )yed %a;rul 1slam <#cting
President>
Prime Minister 3aBuddin #hmed
"inance Minister M8 Mansur #li
:ome& !elie4 and !ehabilitation Minister M Huamru;;aman
"oreign and Ca* Minister @handakar MustaK #hmed8
# contingent o4 smartly turned out 2D! troos led by MaBor
#bu Osman Cho*dhury resented a guard o4 honour to Mr8 )yed
%a;rul 1slam& :onourable #cting President o4 2angladesh8 1 *as in
civvies *ith a Chinese )M/8 1 had given my intervie* to a 22C
reorter and a "rench Bournalist8 22C reorter told me that it *as
very di44icult to get our indeendence& as young eole *ere not
4ighting8 3hey are running a*ay 4rom the country and taking shelter
in 1ndia or hiding in the countryside8 1 did not agree *ith his
arguments and convinced him that young 2engalis had been 4ighting
against Pak #rmy8 2y sho*ing my )M/ 1 told him LCook 1 am
young and 1 am a 4reedom 4ighterM8 #t MuBibnagore 1 met Colonel
#taul /hani Osmani and other olitical ersonalities8 1 4ound my
cousin )horab :ossain *ho *as a Member o4 Parliament8 Cater on
he became a minister in 2angabandhu7s cabinet8 1 met a "rench
Bournalist *ho *as in Dhaka on the night o4 2. March 19718 :e had
observed the atrocity o4 the Pak #rmy in Dhaka and made the 4ilm
on the attack on 2engalis by Pakistan #rmy8 :e had ut the 4ilms in
his under*ear 4or smuggling it outside *orld but he *as checked at
Dhaka airort and those 4ilms *ere sie;ed8 "rom @arachi he had
4lo*n to Calcutta to attend the installation ceremony o4 2angladesh
government8
3he 4ormation o4 2angladesh /overnment in e5ile besto*ed the
Cucas standi o4 its cabinet to negotiate *ith 1ndian /overnment and
the outside *orld8 Conduct o4 *ar under an authoritative leadershi
aided vitality and momentum in our struggle 4or achieving comlete
4reedom 4rom the clutches o4 Pakistani colonial rule8
Birth o< Mukti Bahini
3he 4ormation o4 2angladesh /overnment in e5ile under united
single leadershi *as a maBor ste 4or*ard to continue the 4ight
against the Pakistani occuation army8 3he installation ceremony o4
2angladesh /overnment *as over8 De returned to 2etai *here
Mukti 2ahini *as temorarily camed8 Our 4orces *ere instructed to
assemble at 2angaon 4or re$organi;ation and 4or lanning to conduct
oeration8
On the night o4 19 #ril 1971 *e started our Bourney 4or
2angaon via @rishnanagore and !anaghat8 1t *as raining that night
inceasantly8 Catain )alahuddin& Catain Musta4i;ur !ahman and 1
*ere traveling in the same Bee8 3he Bee had been roceeding in
rains on very sliery road and on the *ay *e averted a serious
accident and miraculously got a ne* lease o4 li4e8 3he Bee at one
time *ent out o4 the metaled road& stoed at earth shoulder o4 the
road8 De decided to travel by three di44erent transorts to avert the
robability o4 all o44icers getting killed in one go8 3he transort in
*hich 1 *as traveling had a leaked canoy through *hich *ater *as
ouring8 "rom @rishnanagore some o4 our transorts loaded *ith
crores o4 ruees by mistake roceeded to*ards Calcutta8 Catain
)alahuddin rushed and got those transorts back to Boin the convoy8
De reached 2angaon in torrential rains8 #t night 1 stayed there in
the house o4 a custom suerintendent8 2y that time 1 Aast 2engal
!egiment concentrated in the custom colony at 2angoan8 Colonel
Muhammad #taul /hani Osmany& our Commander$in$Chie4 visited 1
Aast 2engal !egiment ne5t morning8 1 Aast 2engal commanded by
Catain :a4i;uddin resented guard o4 honour to Colonel #taul
/hani Osmani8 3he strength o4 1 Aast 2engal *as only about 1+.8
:e addressed 1 Aast 2engal to in4use 4ighting sirit in them& and then
he *ent to Aast Pakistan Custom O44ice 4or a meeting *ith
2angladesh military o44icers8 #t the custom o44ice he described ho*
he survived on the 4ate4ul night o4 2. March 1971 and ho* he
escaed 4rom Dhaka city8 :e *as staying in 2anani residential area
o4 Dhaka on that night8 Dhen he heard sound o4 the 4ire o4 *eaons&
he le4t his house and stayed near the 2anani Cake and *hen the
situation *as normal& he returned to his house and 4ound bloodstain
on the 4loor o4 his house8 :e trimmed his big moustache and le4t
Dhaka city *ith his rivate car8 "irst thing he managed *as a ma o4
2angladesh8 1n his initiating move he visited 2angaon to gather
in4ormation about the conditions o4 2engal army and AP! 4or
subseKuent lanning8
%e5t morning Catain Musta4i;ur !ahman and me *ere going to
*atch the de4ensive osition o4 Mukti 2ahini mainly comosed o4
AP! troos at 2angaon8 2e4ore *e could reach the de4ense osition&
*e heard the burst o4 M/ and other automatic *eaons8 De took u
osition behind a banyan tree8 # battalion o4 Pakistan #rmy dressed
in AP! uni4orm launched a da*n attack on Mukti 2ahini de4ensive
osition8 Our 4orces oened u their *eaons& *hen Pak soldiers
came in 4ront o4 their bunkers they could be recogni;ed only 4rom
their aearance8 Mukti 2ahini *as caught in surrise8 3here *ere
heavy casualties at our side8 3he brave :avilder MuBibur !ahman
*ho *as romoted to the rank o4 %aib )ubeder by )ector
Commander in4licted heavy causalities to enemy and embraced
martyrdom8 :e *as gunned do*n *hen his ammunition got
e5hausted and he had been rushing to another M/ ost8 3he de4eat
o4 our troos at 2angaon had a demorali;ing e44ect on our troos8
Cater on osthumously %aib )ubeder MuBibur !ahman *as a*arded
gallantry a*ard8
#t noon 1 met MaBor /eneral ?acobs Aastern command o4 1ndian
army at 2angaon check ost on the 1ndian side8 1 introduced mysel4
to /eneral ?acobs8 :e *as very nice to me8 De became 4riendly in no
time8 )oldiers have resect 4or each other by instinct and /eneral
?acob had this noble sirit in him8 1 inKuired about their in4antry
ri4le8 :e sho*ed me a )C!8 "or the 4irst time 1 sa* this tye o4
ri4le8 :e asked his #DC to give me a )C! to have an idea o4 its
oeration8 Dhile 1 *as cocking the ri4le other o44icers
accomanying the general *ere alerted8 /eneral told them not to
*orry and told them that 1 *as a de4ected o44icer o4 Pak army and
hence 1 kno* ho* to handle such *eaons8
#t the check ost on the 1ndian side Mr8 3a*4iK$e$Alahi
Cho*dhury& Mr8 Mahbubuddin #hmed and another gentleman *ere
sitting on a bench in a small shelter o4 the custom deartment8 1 *ent
there and sat near the gentleman8 #s he *as an unkno*n 4ace 1
*anted to kno* his identity8 :e remained silent8 :e could learn
about me as 1 *as in 4riendly comany o4 an 1ndian general8 Cater 1
4ound out that this gentleman *as our :onourable Prime Minister
Mr8 3aBuddin #hmed8 /eneral ?acob reKuested me 4or a military ma
o4 2angladesh8 1 searched 4or one but could not manage to get it and
regretted the reKuest o4 /eneral ?acob8 1n the a4ternoon Mr8 3a*4iK$
e$Alahi Cho*dhury brought a late o4 rice and reKuested me to share
*ith them as *e *ere *ithout 4ood 4or the *hole day8
1n the same a4ternoon a member o4 2ritish Parliament Mr8 ?ohn
)tone :ouse came to 2angladesh custom o44ice8 3aBuddin #hmed
brie4ed the Member o4 the 2ritish Parliament about the killing and
atrocities in 2angladesh committed by Pakistan #rmy on unarmed
2engalis8 Cater on Catain )alahuddin also in his lucid language
brie4ed the massacre o4 Pak army in Dhaka and other laces in
2angladesh8
?ust a4ter the dearture o4 our Prime Minister and the 2ritish MP
Mr8 ?ohn )tone :ouse& Pak #rmy launched an attack on our custom
o44ice osition8 De *ere not reared 4or such an attack to a osition
so close to international border8 2)" relied the 4ire8 3here *as
rumour that Pak army catured MaBor #bu Osman Cho*dhury8 3he
*i4e o4 MaBor #bu Osman *as very an5ious and she asked me about
the 4ate o4 MaBor #bu Osman8 1 consoled her that MaBor #bu Osman
*as sa4e8 De le4t our territory and retreated to the 1ndian side8
2angladesh #rmed "orces *ere organi;ed under the C$in$Cshi
o4 Colonel #taul /hani Osmany& MP8 2D"Gs :H *as located at 8&
3heatre road& Calcutta& o44icially called Mugibnagore8 3he overall
resonsibility o4 the :H *as command& control& and administration
o4 Mukti 2ahini and lanning o4 oeration8 Colonel Muhammad
#taul /hani Osmany& MP *as aointed as Commander$in$Chie4 o4
2angladesh #rmed "orces8 Cieutenant Colonel #bdur !ab& MP *as
aointed as Chie4 o4 #rmy )ta44 resonsible 4or Aastern #reaI
/rou Catain # @ @handaker *as aointed as Deuty Chie4 o4
)ta44 and Chie4 o4 #ir )ta448 2esides other sta44s& Cieutenant )heikh
@amal *as aointed as #DC to C$in$C8
2angladesh #rmy and Para$militaryGs de4ected troos comosed
o4 mainly #rmy and 2D! *ere groued into sectors and comanies8
1n all ten sectors *ere organi;ed& they *ere 1& 2& 3& '& .& 8+& 87& 88&
89 and 11 sectors8 3he brie4 descrition o4 the sectors are given
belo*,
:H 1 )ector *as located at :orinaI the area o4 resonsibility
*as the district o4 Chittagong& Chittagong :ill 3ract e5tending u to
Aast bank o4 !iver Mohuri8 )ector Commander *as MaBor Fiaur
!ahman8 Dhen MaBor Fiaur !ahman took over the command o4 EFG
"orce in the month o4 ?uly& MaBor !a4iKul 1slam *as made )ector
Commander8
:H 2 )ector *as located at Meghalaya8 1ts area o4 oeration
included the districts o4 %oakhali& Comilla& Dhaka city and a ortion
o4 "aridur district and the )ector Commander *as MaBor @haled
Musarra48
:H 3 )ector *as located at Mantola <)ylhet>& its area o4
command consisted o4 a ortion o4 the districts o4 Comilla and
)ylhetI @ishorgonB sub$division and northern area o4 Dhaka district8
)ector Commander *as MaBor @ M )ha4iullah8
:H ' )ector *as located at @hoyi the area o4 resonsibility *as
art o4 the district o4 )ylhet8 )ector Commander *as MaBor Chitra
!anBan Dutta8
:H . )ector *as located at )hillong the area o4 resonsibility
*as a ortion o4 )ylhet& #meerigoB and *estern area o4 Cakhai8
)ector Commander *as MaBor Mir )ha*kat #li8
:H + )ector *as located at Patgram <!angur> the area o4
resonsibility *as the districts o4 !angur& DinaBur and sub$
division o4 3akurgoan8 )ector Commander *as Ding Commander M
@ 2ashar8
:H 7 )ector *as located at 3arangur8 1ts command area
encomassed the districts o4 !aBshahi& Pabna and 2ogra8 )ector
Commander *as MaBor %a;mul :uK8 MaBor Ha;i %uru;;aman
became sector commander a4ter MaBor %a;mul :uK *as killed in a
tragic road accident8
:H 8 )ector *as located at @allayani the area o4 resonsibility
*as the district o4 ?essore& @ushtia& "aridur and @hulna8 )ector
Commander *as MaBor #bu Osman Chaudhury and 4rom #ugust
MaBor #bul Man;ur8
:H 9 )ector *as located at :asanabad8 3he area o4
resonsibility *as the district o4 2arisal& Patuakhali8 )ector
Commander *as MaBor M # ?alil8
:H 11 )ector *as located at MohendragonB8 3he area o4
resonsibility *as the district o4 3angail and Mymenshing8 )ector
Commander *as MaBor #bu 3aher8
3he sector under *hich 1 4ought *as named as 8 )ector8
"ollo*ing comanies *ere raised under 8 )ector8
E#G Comany *as located at 1tenda oosite o4 )atkhira&
Comany Commander *as Catain #3 )alahuddin8 Cater on Catain
Mahbubuddin #hmed& a olice o44icer& commanded the comany8 1
also commanded the comany 4or a month in the month o4 #ugust8
E2G Comany *as located at 2anur oosite to Darsana8 1ts
Comany Commander *as Catain Musta4i;ur !ahman and 1 also
commanded the comany 4or a month in the month o4 ?uly&
ECG Comany *as located at 2etai oosite to Meherur and its
Comany Commander *as Catain # ! #;am Cho*dhury and 1 also
commanded this comany8
EDG Comany *as located at 2oyra oosite to Chaugacha8 1ts
Comany Commander *as Catain @handker %u;mul :uda8
EAG Comany *as at :akimur oosite to )atkhira8 1ts
Comany Commander *as Pro4essor )ha4iKullah8
E"G Comany *as located at )hikarur oosite to Pragur8 1ts
Comany Commander *as Cieutenant ?ahangir8 Cater on Catain
3a*4iK$i$Cho*dhury took over as comany commander8
V:7 Comany *as located at Petraole oosite to 2angaon8 1ts
Comany Commander *as Catain 3a*4iK$A$Alahi Cho*dhury
2esides there *as a sub$sector commander Catain /iasuddin
Cho*dhury8 :is headKuarters *as located at Calgola oosite to
!aBshahi8 )ector :eadKuarters 8 )ector *as located at @allayani and
1 *as comany commander at sector headKuarters8 MaBor #bu
Osman Cho*dhury *as )ector Commander and in #ugust MaBor
Man;ur relaced him8 3actical headKuarters *as located at !anaghat8
#reas o4 resonsibilities o4 8 )ector *ere districts o4 ?essore&
@hulna& @ushtia& "aridur& !aBshahi and Pabna8
One night Catain M %urul :uda 4rom 9 )ector came to me at
2angaon *ith a sli 4rom MaBor #bu Osman Cho*dhury 4or
issuance o4 32 Cight machine guns& .-- automatic ri4les and
su44icient ammunition8 3hose *ere issued to Catain M %ural :uda8
MaBor M# ?alil *as sector commander o4 9 )ector8 Pak army
ambushed the motor launch *hile going to*ards 2arisal *ith these
armsI he abandoned the motor launch and returned to his )ector
:eadKuarters at 3aki in the district o4 2asirhat8 #t this Colonel
Osmani *as very much annoyed *ith him and sho*ed his serious
indignation8
Colonel Osmany accomanied by Mr8 3o4ael #hmed and MaBor
)ha4at ?amil visited our headKuarters at 2angaon once again8 On that
occasion MaBor M # ?alil *as also resent8 MaBor M # ?alil
reKuested 4or 4resh suly o4 arms and ammunition 4rom our sector8
Colonel Osmany turned do*n the reKuest8 MaBor Osman leaded 4or
MaBor ?alil8 Colonel Osmany insulted MaBor ?alil in *hatever
language he could and shouted at him in resence o4 many o44icers
and oliticians& *hich *as humiliating on the art o4 a Commander8
Colonel Muhammad #taul /hani Osmany& C$in$C in4ormed us
that he roosed 4our tyes o4 gallantry a*ards in recognition o4
brilliant and brave er4ormances in *ar 4ield8 :e read out the *ritten
contents o4 the a*ards8 3hese gallantry a*ards *ere Bir +heresto,
Bir /ttam, Bir Bikram an! Bir Pratik.
Bir +heresto0 gallantry o4 highest order in the 4ace o4 enormous
odds entailing the eril o4 certain death& in *hich but 4or the
individuals gallant deed the enemy *ould have succeeded in
in4licting grave loss on our 4orces8 #lternately& the individualGs
gallant deed caused the destruction to the enemy o4 a magnitude&
having vital in4luence on the course o4 oerations8 Assential$ three
*itnesses& #*ard$ 3@ 1-&---8--8
2ir =ttam$ gallantry o4 high order8 #s above but o4 a lesser
degree8 Assential$ 3*o *itnesses8 #*ard 3@ .&---8--8
2ir 2ikram$ gallantry o4 commendable order8 #s above but o4 a
still lesser degree& Assential $ One *itness8 #*ard $ 3@ 2&---8--8
2ir Pratik$ gallantry certi4icate8 O4 a degree not coming u to
any o4 the above standard but o4 a ositive nature *arranting
recognition8
Catain )1M %oor$ =n$ %abi @han and Catain )hari4ul :oKue
Dalim accomanied Commander$in$Chie4 as his sta44 o44icer8
Catain %oor$=n$%abi @han a4ter attending a course at Huetta
landed at Dhaka on 28 March 19718 :is 4ather$in$la* *ho *as civil
surgeon at DinaBur *as brutally killed8 :e observed the atrocities
and brutalities o4 Pak army on innocent civilians in Dhaka8 :e
decided to leave Pak #rmy and Boined the liberation *ar8
Catain %urul #4sar my classmate in 2=A3 *ho attended the
course on tactics *ith Catain %oor$=n$%abi @han and returned to
Dhaka by the same 4light *anted to Boin the liberation *ar8 2ut his
brothers resisted on the ground that i4 he *ould Boin liberation *ar&
his 4amily members *ould be massacred and so he reorted his unit
31 Cavalry at !angur Cantonment8 On the last *eek o4 March he
*as taken in custody and killed later on8
Catain Dalim also a4ter comletion o4 Bunior tactics course at
Huetta along *ith Cieutenant Matiur !ahman and Cieutenant %oor
escaed 4rom Pakistan during the Boining time8 Cater on these
Catain Dalim and Cieutenant %oor along *ith other o44icers killed
2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman in 197.8 2oth these o44icers
*ere retired 4rom service under 2angladesh #rmy #ct <2##$1+>
*ithout trial8 1t *as true that they *ere bad elementsI they should
have been court$martialed and a*arded more severe unishment8
Punishment is a*arded 4or maintenance o4 disciline in the army and
acts as deterrent8 Once the criminal escaes the unishment& ne5t
time he *ill commit bigger crime8 A5actly that had haened in case
o4 Dalim and %oor *ho subseKuently committed heinous crime8
3hey took the revenge by killing 2angabandhu8 2##$1+ is bad la*
*here one$sided verdict is given& accused has no scoe to de4end his
case8 :e cannot go to civil court to redress his grievances8 3he
constitution o4 the country does not give any shelter to army soldiers8
#rmy o44icers are being retired 4rom service by the authority o4
2##$1+ at the *ish o4 the government in o*er8 )ome mechanism
may be *orked out to check this trend8 #rmy ersons are issued
*eaons to use 4or authori;ed duty& but dealt severely *hen this
o*er is misused8 3his is most Busti4ied8 3he *eaon o4 2##$ 1+
*as made by the imerial army to deal *ith the native troos8 1t is
time that it needs revision in an indeendent democratic country8
1ndia has already revised Manual o4 1ndian Military Ca* <M1MC>
and li4ted the imerial restriction and oened the legal doors to the
civil courts 4or the o44icers and soldiers to redress their grievances8
Cieutenant Matiur !ahman killed MaBor /eneral Fiaur !ahman
in 19818 1t is an irony o4 4ate that a grou o4 4reedom 4ighters killed
the 4ather o4 the nation 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman in
197. and another grou killed the great 4reedom 4ighter MaBor
/eneral Fiaur !ahman in 19818 1n 1971 all *ere comrade$in$arms8
Cieutenant Matiur !ahman <later on Cieutenant Colonel> *as not
selected 4or a )ta44 College course in #merica8 Cieutenant Colonel
Matiur !ahman *as 4rom ublic school o4 Co*er 3oa in Pakistan
and a regular o44icer and held imortant aointments in 2angladesh
#rmy8 # short service Cieutenant Colonel *ho did not articiate in
the liberation *ar *as selected 4or the said 4oreign course8 1t might
be an inBustice to Cieutenant Colonel Matiur !ahman8 3his
insigni4icant incident should not have ignited the anger o4 Cieutenant
Colonel Matiur !ahman against Fiaur !ahman8 #nd he took leading
role in the killing o4 Fiaur !ahman that should not have ever
occurred8
Catain Dalim recorded the ersonal history o4 all the army
o44icers located at 2angaon at the instruction o4 Colonel Osmany8
3his *as reKuired 4or lanning o4 organi;ed *ar8
Millions o4 eole 4rom 2angladesh *ho *ere targets o4 killing
by Pakistan army rushed to 1ndia8 :undreds o4 re4ugee cams *ere
set u along the border8 3he living and sanitary condition o4 the
re4ugee cams *ere simly horrible and miserable8 6outh cams
*ere also established *here they *ere imarted hysical and
military training8 )ome time in the last *eek o4 May 1971& Prime
Minister o4 1ndia& )reemoti 1ndira /handi assed our cam *hile
visiting re4ugee cams8 #t that moment Colonel Osmany *as *ith
us8 De *ere instructed to remain hidden so that accomanying
ressmen could not see us8 2ut 1 *as eagerly *aiting to have a
glimse o4 the :onourable Prime Minister o4 1ndia8 3his great leader
o4 1ndia had been doing everything to hel us to liberate 2angladesh
and had given us arms& shelter& 4ood& medicine& sanctuary 4or the
4reedom 4ighters o4 2angladesh8 1 sa* her 4rom a distance8 )he *as
digni4ied and grace4ul8
Catain #bdul :alim arrived at 2angaon in the last *eek o4 May
19718 :e reached 2angaon *earing a lungi and a vest8 1 heled him
to rocure ant and shirt8 Daliur 1slam and @amaluddin )iddiKue
both members o4 Pakistan Civil )ervice and other o44icers visited our
cam8 Daliur 1slam told us that *e *ere the only hoe and he could
see the ray o4 4reedom through us8 14 *e betray& the country *ould
never be liberated8 @amaluddin )iddiKue e5ressed his *ish to
Commander$in$Chie4 to articiate in battles8 Cater on he Boined V#7
Comany under command o4 Catain )alahuddin at /u;adanga
oosite to )atkhira and articiated in a battle8 :e could not sustain
the hysical and mental ressure o4 the battle8 :is atriotic emotion
subsided and he le4t the Mukti 2ahini cam as his taste o4 battle *as
met8 :e understood that he might lose his li4e any moment8 :e
returned to his armchair Bob8 @amaluddin )iddiKue *as )DO o4
%arail be4ore Pakistan #rmy crackdo*n8 :e described that a4ter
crackdo*n in the absence o4 la* he could identi4y good and evil
men8 # number o4 looting and raing incidents took lace in the
absence o4 la* en4orcing agencies8
1n the mean time 1 received a message that my younger brother
#n*ar$u;$;aman& 4inal year M22) student& reached Calcutta8 :e
*as staying there in the house o4 a :indu gentleman *ho migrated
4rom my village in 19'78 1 heard that olice *arrant against me *as
sent to my village home under instruction 4rom the army8 1 also heard
that my arents had deserted our home and *ere staying in the house
o4 our relatives8 Occasionally Pak army used to go to my village8
Once 1 visited my cousin )horab :ussein MP at 2angaon8 One
1ndian gentleman allo*ed him to stay in his house8 3here *ere some
other olitical leaders o4 2angladesh *ith him8 3hey *ere totally
demorali;ed and le4t the hoe o4 achieving 4reedom8
3o in4use courage and remove 4rustration 4rom the minds o4
these olitical leaders 1 told them that *e had been 4ighting 4or our
e5istence and survival8 3he *hole nation *as 4ighting against the
occuation army8 3he days o4 coloni;ation had gone8 De the 4reedom
4ighters *ere 4ighting 4or 4reedom and Pakistan army *as 4ighting
4or subBugation8 De *ere 4ighting 4or a genuine cause and Pakistan
army *as obeying orders o4 6ahya8 Pakistan army thought that they
*ould 4ace unarmed civilian and then they *ere 4acing armed
4reedom 4ighters8 3hey thought the 2engalis are non$martial and
co*ard and then they *ere caught in surrise and got killed in
thousands by the 2engalis8 Pakistan army *as told that they *ould
be killing only :indus but in reality they *ere killing their Muslim
brethren8 3he cause 4or 4ighting by Pakistan army *as based on
4alsehood and ersonal ambition o4 2hutto and 6ahya8 De *ould be
cro*ned *ith Pictory8 1 e5ressed my 4irm belie4& 4aith and
conviction that the country must be liberated8 Political leaders
resent there a4ter my sirited arguments understood that 2engal had
many courageous eole *ho had strong conviction 4or liberating
2angladesh 4rom the illegal occuation o4 military regime o4
Pakistan8
1 Aast 2engal !egiment *as located searately at 2angaon but
*as not laced under our )ector Commander8 Catain :a4i;uddin
*as the acting commanding o44icer o4 the unit8 :e *as the only
o44icer o4 the unit8 1 Aast 2engal *as not included in sector troos8
Catain :a4i;uddin *as allo*ed to oerate indeendently by
Commander$in$Chie48 :e had the mind to re$organi;e 1 A 2engal8
:e did not like that A 2engal to be commanded by an #)C o44icer8
Cieutenant Colonel Megh )ingh *as the sector commander o4 2)"
at 2angaon8 :e *as all out to hel us8 :e even critici;ed the 1ndian
government as Banius 4or not issuing order to attack the occuation
army in 2angladesh8 Dhen he met Ct /eneral #urora& he o44ered his
resignation and *anted to Boin Mukti 2ahini8 Once his 4orces even
chased the soldiers o4 Pak army into 2angladesh8 1n the rocess the
occuation army catured t*o o4 his seoys8 Cater on they *ere
sho*n on Pakistan television8 During the *ar& Cieutenant Colonel
Megh )ingh 4ought in the *estern 4ront and 1 learnt that his 4orces
*ent 7- miles inside Dest Pakistan territory8 MaBor Megh )ingh&
sector commander o4 2)" used to in4use 4ighting sirit among the
4reedom 4ighters o4 2angladesh8
)hoban *as a magistrate in Meherur )DOG Court counted the
Pakistan currency *e brought 4rom 2angladesh8 3he amount o4
money *as about + crore *hich *as handed over to the government
o4 2angladesh in Calcutta8 1n the mean time government o4 1ndia
started issuing us 4ree ration and 4resh sulies8 De *ere given tents&
Bungle boots& mosKuito nets etc8 3he government o4 1ndia at this
stage started making regular ayment o4 salary to 2angladesh
4reedom 4ighters8 )ector commanders *ere aid !uees .-- and
other o44icers in the army *ere aid !uees '-- er month8 ?CO)
and %CO) *ere aid !uees 1--8-- and !uees 7- er month
resectively8 "ood *as 4ree 4or all o44icers and troos8 #ll *ere aid
in 1ndian currencies8 Civil o44icers *ere aid !uees .-- er month8
3he members o4 arliament *ere aid !uees 1.- er month8
Mukti Bahini at 5allyani
1t *as decided to establish :eadKuarters o4 8 )ector at @allyani8 1n
the third *eek o4 May 1971& 1 moved to @allayani 4rom 2angoan
along *ith the headKuarters elements and established the sector
headKuarters at @allayani8 @allayani is a modern beauti4ul satellite
to*n '- km east o4 Calcutta city and 3- km 4rom 2angladesh border
in the district o4 2' Parganas8 !esidential houses there can be
comared *ith the houses o4 /ulshan in Dhaka and /ulbarg in
Cahore8 )ubedar #bdul Malek along *ith some members o4 Mukti
2ahini and mysel4 started 4or @allayni *ith a convoy8 1 *as
instructed to reach %ehru :osital *here the members o4 the 1ndian
army *ould receive us8 Dhen 1 reached @allayani 1 *as sho*n a
ne*ly built si5 storied =$shaed hostel o4 %ehru hosital comle5
*ith three *ings and asked to make our accommodation in that
building8 1 *as accommodated in a room in the second 4loor in a
*ing8 My o44ice *as set u in the 4irst room o4 the ground 4loor8
O44ice o4 sector commander *as set in the 1st 4loor8 One *ing *as
used 4or ration& *eaons and ammunition and the third *ing *as
used 4or accommodation o4 regular troos and 4resh trained Mukti
2ahini8
3he tactical headKuarters o4 8 )ector *ere established at
!anaghat8 )ector Commander *ith his sta44 *as stationed at tactical
headKuarters8 My Bob at @allayani *as to receive arms& ammunition&
ration& medicine and other *ar materials 4rom the 1ndian army and to
maintain liaison *ith the Mitra 2ahini8 My assignment also included
receiving trained guerillas *ho used to get training in di44erent
training centres in 1ndia and to desatch them to di44erent
comanies(sub sectors 4or 4urther induction to 4ight the Pakistan
#rmy in occuied 2angladesh territory8
One$day one boy died o4 cholera in %ehru :osital located in
4ront o4 our headKuarters and his mother cried iercing the sky8
MaBor )ankor !oy Cho*dhury& 2rigade MaBor o4 1ndian Charlie
)ector hearing the heart$rending cry commented that this *as the
reason *hy *e should 4ight back the barbarous army to sto the
reeatation o4 such un4ortunate deaths8 Charlie )ector *as raised at
2arrackur by 1ndian army to organi;e and render logistic suort to
Mukti 2ahini8 1n some instances 1ndian army had given suicidal lan
to Mukti 2ahini& but *e could reBect the attack lans in some rete5t8
2ut EFG "orce *as committed to their attack lan and *as massacred
in @amalur and %akshi8 MaBor )ankor !oy Cho*dhury *as a
talented and matured o44icer having human Kualities and 1 could see
in him bright 4uture8 My assessment *as correctI later he *as made
not only /eneral but became the Chie4 o4 )ta44 o4 the 1ndian #rmy
Once 1 *as delivering motivation seeches at @allayani to a
grou o4 guerillas trained 4rom training centres in 1ndia& 1 told them
that their task *ould be to carry out attack& raid and ambush etc8
3hey lodged comlain to MaBor )ankor !oy Chaudhury& 2rigade
MaBor& Charlie )ector that they did not have the roer training to go
4or 4rontal attack8 3hey had only 21 days training *hich is not
enough8 MaBor )ankor !oy motivated them to enter inside
2angladesh and remain there *ith the ossession o4 arms and
ammunition and not to loose them8 :is advice had 4ar reaching
deeer meaning and imlication8 14 these 4reedom 4ighters could
sustain themselves in enemy occuied territory& they could gain
courage& con4idence and moral strength 4or subseKuent 4ighting8
During our liberation *ar almost every one had conBunctivitis an
eye disease having eye turned red8 1 received a letter 4rom sector
commander that the same eye disease had attacked him8 3he 1ndians
named the disease as L ?oy 2anglaM 1 had the same eye trouble8 One
day *hen 1 *as busy in my o44ice at @allayani& MaBor Fia *ho *as
4ortunate to announce the indeendence o4 2angladesh on behal4 o4
2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman 4rom @alurghat !adio landed
at my o44ice8 1 4ound him deressed and *as not hoe4ul about the
liberation o4 2angladesh as 4our more divisions o4 soldiers *ere
4lo*n 4rom Dest Pakistan and 4ive #rmy divisions *ere oerating in
2angladesh against our irregular 4ighters8 1 e5ressed di44erent vie*s
to him emhasi;ing that victory *ould be ours as *e had been
4ighting 4or the cause o4 our liberation and *e *ould obtain the
blessings o4 #llah *ho is al*ays *ith the oressed8 #llah never
reBects the rayers o4 three tyes o4 ersons as mentioned in holy
Huran& $ rayers o4 arents 4or their children& rayers o4 Musa4irs
<3ravelers> and rayers o4 the oressed8 1t is di44icult to redict ho*
#llahGs hel *ill be besto*ed on us8
1ndia *as all out to hel us liberate 2angladesh8 More over all
actions o4 /overnment o4 Pakistan *as *rong *hich could not be
sustained8 De had been 4ighting 4or li4e and death8 1t *as a rainy day8
MaBor Fia had lunch *ith me8 2e4ore his dearture 1 reKuested him
to say a 4e* *ords to the 4irst batch o4 cadets *ho *ere selected 4or
commission in the army8 3hese selected cadets *ere *ith me 4or
medical check u and 4inal disatch to military academy at Murti a
temorary military academy8 MaBor Fia delivered a good seech *ith
commanding voice 4or the boys and dearted 4or Calcutta8 1 took the
cadets to a "ield #mbulance o4 1ndian army at @asraara 4or medical
e5amination8 "e* days later )heikh @amal& son o4 2angabandhu
)heikh MuBibur !ahman and other t*o cadets reorted to me at
@allayani8 Other t*o cadets *ere #bdul Huiyum and #lok Das
/uta8 )heikh @amal stayed *ith me 4or a 4e* days8
3here *as a strong rumour that 2angabandhu& )heikh @amal
and other members o4 the 4amily *ere killed on the 4ate4ul night o4
the 2. March 19718 )heikh @amal described his ordeal o4 escae
4rom Dhaka8 :e took shelter in the embassy o4 Poland8 Cater he
escaed 4rom Dhaka& *ent to "aridur and then to 1ndia8 #t Calcutta
he stayed *ith #minul :uK 2adsha8 1 *anted to o44er @amal some
money 4rom my ay8 )heikh @amal declined to receive and told me
that 2adsha gave his minimum reKuirements& a shirt and a ant8 Dith
)heikh @amal and other cadets *hile returning 4rom @ashraara
a4ter medical e5amination& our Bee *as stoed as its 4uel got
e5hausted8 3he Bee had no hood cover8 De *ere *aiting as the
driver *ent to bring etrol 4rom a nearby etrol station8 )uddenly it
started to rain8 # grou o4 young boys recogni;ed us as 4reedom
4ighters o4 ?oy 2angla and reKuested us to take shelter in a tea stall8
3hey *ere eager to kno* about the 4ate o4 2angabandhu and )heikh
@amal8 3hey could not kno* that )heikh @amal *as *ith them8
3hey *ere blaming that Colonel Osmany hired a modern house at
@allayni 4or his *i4e and children& *hereas millions o4 :indu
re4ugees remained under the oen sky or trees8 3hank /od that
Colonel Osmany *as bachelor and he had hardly any vice& other*ise
it *as di44icult to re4ute this blame8
One evening )ultana Faman& *i4e o4 MaBor %uru;;aman
commander 7 )ector accomanied by her daughters& %yla Faman
and Cubna Faman visited my o44ice at @allayani8 1 reali;ed that
4amilies o4 4reedom 4ighter o44icers had no shelter to have
com4ortable living in 1ndia8 1 reKuested 2rigadier )halek commander
Charlie )ector o4 1ndian army to allot some houses 4or 4amilies o4
our o44icers8 1' houses *ere reKuisitioned by 1ndian army and
handed over by 1ndian MA) to me 4or the 4amilies o4 our o44icers8
3he houses *ere allotted to /rou Catain # @ @handkar& MaBor
@halid Musarra4& MaBor @a;i %uru;;aman& MaBor #bu Osman
Chaudhury& Catain #;am Chaudhury& MaBor @M )ha4iullah& MaBor
#bul Man;ur and some other o44icers8
"light Cieutenant ?amaluddin Choudhury MP# *as osted at 8
)ector :eadKuarters as sta44 o44icer8 :is Bob *as more or less
olitical8 :e *as very clever and ambitious like his younger brother
#bdul !ou4 Choudhury8 Dhen MaBor #bu Osman Chaudhury *as
relaced by MaBor #bul Man;oor& he headed a delegation comrising
o4 Mr8 !a*san #li MP 4rom ?essore and Mr8 )alahuddin MP 4rom
"aridur to meet #cting President )yed %a;rul 1slam at Calcutta8 :e
entered the o44ice o4 the President along *ith the delegation and
threatened the President sho*ing his red eyes8 :e roosed the
President to ost back MaBor #bu Osman Chaudhury to 8 )ector as
)ector Commander8 President said to them& SDon7t sho* your red
eyes8 !emember 1 am the President o4 2angladesh8 /o and talk *ith
Mr8 3aBuddin on this issue8 /et out 4rom my o44ice8S #4ter being
bullied by the President& they *ent to the Prime Minister7s o44ice and
met Mr8 3aBuddin8 On 4limsy ground Colonel Osmany used to o44er
his resignation8 "light Cieutenant ?amaluddin roosed to Prime
Minister to accet the resignation o4 the C$in$C and himsel4 *anted
to become the commander$in$chie4 as he *as the member o4
Provincial #ssembly *ith de4ense background8

Mujib Bahini
Mr8 !a*san #li MP *as attached *ith 8 sector headKuarters as
olitical adviser8 "light Cieutenant ?amaluddin *as so crook that one
day he sent Mr8 !a*san #li to 2oyra *ith an o44icial letter to be
handed over to Catain @ % :uda& comany commander o4 VD7
comany8 3he letter could be sent by a normal runner& but he sent a
Member o4 Parliament8
3here *as the regular 2angladesh #rmy vis$a$vis emerged a
arallel liberation 4orce named SMuBib 2ahiniS8 MuBib 2ahini had
4our central leaders namely )heikh "a;lul :uK Moni& 3o4ael #hmed&
#bdur !a;;ak and )iraBul #lam @han8 MuBib 2ahini *as organi;ed
and 4inanced under the leadershi o4 1ndian /eneral Oban8 #bout 2.
trained youths o4 MuBib 2ahini *ere brought to our sector
headKuarters 4or interrogation8 3his task *as assigned to Mr8 !a*san
#li MP& "light Cieutenant ?amaluddin MP# and me to 4ind out the
ideology and intention o4 the 4ormation o4 MuBib 2ahini8 A5temore
seech by each o4 them *as arranged8 1t *as 4ound out that the
ultimate motive o4 MuBib 2ahini *as to gras state o*er a4ter the
liberation *ar *as over8 MuBib 2ahini had no serious intention to
4ight Pakistan army8 MuBib 2ahini did not come under uni4ied
command o4 our Prime Minister& Mr8 3aBuddin8 1 *as shocked to
learn the motives o4 MuBib 2ahini8 De *ere 4ighting liberation *ar
under t*o searate commandsR MuBib 2ahini used to get money&
arms and ammunition 4rom their 4our central leaders *ho used to get
the same 4rom /eneral )uBan )ingh =ban8
Dhile rearing 4or the *ar against Pakistan& 1ndian
/overnment side by side reared a lan so that indeendent
2angladesh remains under the shere o4 1ndian in4luence8 !esearch
and #nalytical Ding <!#D> o4 1ndian /overnment *as assigned to
*ork out a lan to imlement the desire o4 the 1ndian /overnment8
Dhile *hole 2engali nation and valiant Mukti 2ahini *ere
deserately 4ighting against Pakistan #rmy under the leadershi o4
2angladesh /overnment in e5ile& !#D *as organi;ing MuBib 2ahini
at 3anduar near Deradun *ithout the kno*ledge o4 2angladesh
/overnment in e5ile8
1ndian /overnment constituted three committees 4or *ar
rearation& to maintain contact *ith 2angladesh /overnment and to
render assistance to Mukti 2ahini8 One is olitical and the other t*o
are *ar related8 Political committee *orked as bridge bet*een 1ndian
/overnment and 2angladesh /overnment8 D P Dhar& Chairman&
lanning commission& Ministry o4 "oreign a44airs *as made the head
o4 this committee8 /eneral Maneksha* Chie4 o4 #rmy )ta44 *as the
leader o4 the *ar council related to the rearation o4 *ar8 DP Dhar
*as also included in *ar council8 /eneral Maneksha* 4ormed
another committee headed by Deuty Chie4 o4 #rmy8 3his Boint
intelligence committee *as constituted in co$ordination *ith the
intelligence branches o4 three de4ense 4orces8 /eneral Maneksha*
included !#D in this committee8 3hough Deuty Chie4 o4 #rmy
)ta44 *as made the Chairman o4 this committee the 4ull authority
remained *ith /eneral )ham Maneksha*8 ?oint 1ntelligent
Committee in addition to its normal 4unction o4 rearation 4or the
*ar& lanned to organi;e a secial 4orce *ith the 4reedom loving
youths o4 2angladesh8 !#D *as given the task to imlement this
lan8 /eneral )ham Maneksha* took its direct resonsibility8 MaBor
/eneral =ban an e5ert to organi;e secial 4orce *as given the
resonsibility to 4orm this 4orce8 :e got do*n to business *ith
utmost keenness8 3his task became easy 4or him because the said
4our student leaders heading the MuBib 2ahini did not haily accet8
3aBuddin #hmed as Prime Minister o4 the /overnment o4
2angladesh in 2angladesh8 MaBor /eneral =ban took this
oortunity to organi;e MuBib 2ahini *ith the assistance and co$
oeration o4 these senior student leaders8 2engalis are over
ambitious8 3hey do not have the atience to *ait 4or their turn8
MaBor /eneral =ban *as directly resonsible to /eneral )ham
Maneksha*8 3hat is *hy MuBib 2ahini boys*ould o4ten be called
sons o4 )ham Maneksha*8 :e *as also resonsible to Mr8 !% @a*&
Director o4 !#D8 #s MaBor /eneral =ban *as resonsible to t*o
bosses& he took this advantage and started on his o*n arrangement
inducting trained MuBib 2ahini boys inside 2angladesh *ithout the
kno*ledge o4 Cieutenant /eneral #urora& Commander& Aastern
Command8 1t created dual command in Aastern region and naturally
it *as not accetable to Cieutenant /eneral #urora8 :e created
ressure on the #rmy headKuarters to bring MuBib 2ahini under his
command8 2ut #rmy :eadKuarters consoled him that MuBib 2ahini
had some 4ar$reaching secial urose8 Dhen 3aBuddin #hmed&
Prime Minister o4 2angladesh /overnment& came to learn about the
e5istence o4 MuBib 2ahini& he reKuested /eneral )ham Maneksha*
to leave MuBib 2ahini under the command o4 2angladesh
/overnment8 /eneral )ham Maneksha* relied in the same tune as
o4 Cieutenant /eneral #urora8 Chitya !anBan )utar& a Member o4
rovincial assembly o4 Aast Pakistan assembly in 197- on #*ami
Ceague ticket& *ent to 1ndia during non co$oeration movement in
19718 :e *as stationed at 21 !aBendra !oad& Calcutta and he acted
as the contact man bet*een MaBor /eneral Oban and the 4our student
leaders8 Chitya !anBan )utar cunningly united 4our$student leaders
encashing olitical rivalry against 3aBuddin #hmed *ho became the
Prime Minister o4 2angladesh /overnment in e5ile against the desire
o4 these 4our student leaders8
3he student leaders claimed that neither the olitical leaders nor
the eole o4 the country but it *as them *ho had given the eole a
dream 4or the liberation o4 the Aastern Ding o4 Pakistan and
sychologically made them ready to start an armed struggle 4or the
indeendence o4 2angladesh8 3hese young student leaders thought
that they had the ma5imum contribution to the creation o4 *ar like
situation through violent agitation and sacri4ice o4 lives o4 their
student suorters8 3here4ore in the leadershi o4 the /overnment in
e5ile and in the leadershi o4 the liberation *ar& they must enBoy an
authority8 1nstigated by Chitya !anBan )utar and under the umbrella
o4 rotection 4rom MaBor /eneral =ban having the suort o4 !#D
4rom the background 4our student leaders roosed to 4orm Dar
Council challenging the Premiershi o4 3aBuddin #hmed8 3hey
demanded that this roosed Dar Council *ould conduct liberation
*ar and they *ould enBoy signi4icant authority and control in *ar
matters8 #ctually they *anted to have a arallel government side by
side that *as s*orn in at MuBibnagar o4 Meherur& but the
2angladesh /overnment in e5ile turned do*n their roosal8 1n
order to materiali;e their lans the said 4our student leaders *ith the
material assistance and secret arrangement o4 the !#D started to
organi;e a arallel 4orce named MuBib 2ahini under their o*n
command in de4iance o4 the desire o4 2angladesh /overnment
"irst grou o4 MuBib 2ahini reorted 4or their military training at
the hilly to*n o4 3unduar t*o kilometers a*ay 4rom Deradun *here
1ndian Military #cademy is located8 #4ter the e5iry o4 a 4ortnight&
MaBor /eneral Oban and 4our student leaders met at 21 !aBendro
!oad8 3raining started on 29 May 19718 MaBor /eneral =ban *as the
main lanner and director o4 3unduar 3raining Cam8 1n all ten
thousand MuBib 2ahini youths including the to notches *ere trained
in 3unduar8 3heir training ended on 2- %ovember 19718
"our student leaders divided 2angladesh into 4our ;ones to
conduct MuBib 2ahini oeration8 %orthern region sector comrised
o4 !angur& !aBshahi& Pabna and DinaBur8 )iraBul #lam @han *as
the sector commander 4or this area8 :is second$in$command *as
Monirul 1slam8 Cho*dhury8 )outhern region included @hulna&
?essore& @ushtia& "aridur& 2arisal and Patualkhally8 1ts leader *as
3o4ael #hmed and @a;i #ri4 #hmed *as his second$in$command8
Aastern region sector *as constituted *ith Chittagong& Chittagong
:ill 3racts& Comilla& %oakhali& )ylhet and some ortion o4 Dhaka8
)heikh "a;lul :oK Moni *as the leader o4 this sector8 #)M #bdur
!ob and #bdul Huddus Makkon *ere Bointly second$in$command8
Central sector *as comrised o4 Mymenshing& 3angail and some
ortion o4 Dhaka8 3he leader o4 this sector *as #bdur !a;;ak8 )ayed
#hmed *as his second$in$command8 3hus the seed o4 di44erence in
the *ar 4or liberation *as so*n in at the very birth o4 a nation that
brought several catastrohes 4or years to come a4ter the
indeendence o4 2angladesh and they are still continuing8
ConsAiracy in %>ile
#*ami Ceague leaders and 2engali #rmy *ere the main targets o4
Pakistan #rmy8 #*ami Ceague leaders escaed the onslaught o4
Pakistan #rmy and took re4use in 1ndian territory8 3he surviving
2engali members o4 the #rmy 4ought back the Pak #rmy and
retreated to 1ndian soil8 3aBuddin #hmed along *ith 2arrister #mirul
1slam crossed over to 1ndia on 3- March19718 #ccomanied by Mr8
/olok Ma;umder o4 2)" they le4t Calcutta 4or Delhi by air on -1
#ril 197183aBuddin #hmed as envoy o4 2angabandhu had
reliminary discussion *ith )mt 1ndira /andhi on -' #ril 19718 :e
had second meeting *ith the 1ndian Prime Minister on -+ #ril 1971
and *as acceted as leader o4 2angladesh liberation struggle
considering his ersonality& articulation and his osition in the arty
hierarchy8
3aBuddin #hmed thus received the reKuired 4ull olitical suort
to 4orm the /overnment in e5ile and oerate the activities o4 the
rovisional 2angladesh /overnment and the Mukti 2ahini 4rom the
1ndian territory8 3his single decision o4 )mt 1ndira /andhi endo*ed
3aBuddin #hmed *ith !e facto authority regarding 2angladesh
during the entire eriod o4 liberation *ar8 !est 2engali leaders had to
accet his leadershi8 %o* the gigantic task o4 4orming /overnment
and consolidating his authority reosed on 3aBuddin #hmed to carry
4or*ard the liberation struggle8 :e had to move in Chanakya style to
o44set the ambition o4 others and consiracy o4 some o4 them through
securing the suort o4 maBority #*ami Ceague leaders in retaining
his osition o4 Prime Minister8 3hat *as the time *hen the nation
had to be in4ormed about the olitical status o4 3aBuddin #hmed in
the arty hierarchy 4or his accetance as the legitimate national
leader nay the Prime Minister8
1n that endeavour& 2arrister #mirul 1slam and !ehman )obhan& a
reno*ned economist reared Prime MinisterGs dra4t address to the
nation8 3he seech *as tae recorded at Delhi8 On return 4rom Delhi
to Calcutta& 3aBuddin #hmed met senior #*ami Ceague leaders M
Huamru;;aman and Catain M Munsur #li8 2oth o4 them acceted
3aBuddin #hmed as Prime Minister and agreed to become his cabinet
minister8 )heikh "a;lul :aK Moni& ?ubo Ceague leader and nehe*
o4 2angabandhu oosed 3aBuddin #hmed to become Prime Minister
o4 2angladesh8 1nstead he roosed to 4orm a *ar council8 Aven
)heikh "a;lul :aK Moni *ith the signature o4 '2 #*ami Ceague
leaders *rote )mt 1ndira /andhi to sto the telecast o4 the seech o4
Prime Minister 3aBuddin #hmed& *hich she ignored8
2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman& at the height o4 the non$
cooeration movement& 4ormed a L:igh CommandM comrising o4
4ive #*ami Ceague leaders including arty /eneral )ecretary& three
Pice$Presidents and himsel48 3aBuddin #hmed needed the suort o4
#*ami Ceague leaders including the reviously 4ormed high
command *ho survived the onslaught o4 Pak #rmy to authenticate
his remiershi8 On 1- #ril 1971 3aBuddin #hmed accomanied by
Catain Munsur #li& 2arrister #mirul 1slam& )heikh "a;lul :aK
Moni and 3o4ael #hmed set out to search 4or the senior #*ami
Ceague leaders by a small aircra4t8 !etired /eneral %arendra )ingh
assigned by 1ndian /overnment to assist 3aBuddin #hmed also
accomanied8 3he aircra4t landed in the contiguous areas o4
!aBshahi& 2ogra and Pabna Districts but no leader could be traced8
3hen the aircra4t landed at 2agdugra airort and 4rom the airort
they reached )iliguri by road8 2arrister #minul 1slam handed over
the recorded cassette to /olok Mo;umder to be aired 4rom a
clandestine radio station at )iliguri 4orest8 #t 983- 8m on 1- #ril
1971 seech o4 Mr8 3aBuddin #hmed& Prime Minister o4 2angladesh
*as broadcast8 1t *as also broadcast by air 4rom the #kashbani as a
regular rogramme8 1t *as a bombshell 4or those *ho oosed the
leadershi o4 3aBuddin #hmed and silenced the ambition o4 his
oonents8 %e5t day on 11 #ril 1971& they again set out to search
)yed %a;rul 1slam near the border area o4 Mymensingh *here they
could locate him8 )yed %a;rul 1slam congratulated 3aBuddin #hmed
as Prime Minister o4 2angladesh and consented to accet the ost o4
Pice$ President8 :e also agreed to continue as #cting :ead o4 the
state8 %o* only @handakar MustaK #hmed& a senior #*ami Ceague
leader le4t to accet the remiershi o4 3aBuddin #hmed8 3he aircra4t
4le* to #gartola in search o4 @handakar MustaK #hmed *here they
met @handakar MustaK #hmed and retired Colonel M#/ Osmany8
@handakar MustaK #hmed claimed to become the Prime Minister o4
2angladesh as senior #*ami Ceague leader8 :e *as 4rustrated and
disaointed *hen he understood the stage *as already set and
3aBuddin #hmed had consolidated his osition among the #*ami
Ceague leaders as *ell as *ith the Prime Minister o4 1ndia8
%egotiation continued 4or t*o days8 @handakar MustaK #hmed
re4used to be the member o4 the Cabinet and desired to be sent to
Mecca8 =ltimately ho*ever& he agreed to accet the Cabinet ost on
one condition that he should be given the ort4olio o4 "oreign
Minister8 :e *as given 4oreign ministry but his ambition 4or higher
aointment& attitude and arrogance did not die do*n8
1n the cabinet @handakar MustaK #hmed 4rom the beginning
took the stand against Prime Minister *ith serious dissatis4action as
i4 e5loding like o*der cake *ould create obstruction in every
roBect8 :e *ould constantly instigate )heikh "a;lul :aK Moni
against the Prime Minister 3aBuddin #hmed8 "oreign Minister
brought Mahbubul #lam Chasi and 3aheruddin 3akur 4rom #gartola
and aointed Mahbub #lam Chasi as his 4oreign secretary and
engaged 3aheruddin 3akur 4or incitement against Prime Minister8
2e4ore the arrival o4 Mahbubul #lam Chasi& 2arrister #mirul 1slam
*as maintaining communication *ith the outside *orld8 2arrister
#mirul 1slam *as asked to leave the 4oreign mission at 9& Park
Circus #venue8
"oreign Minister engaged ?ahirul Huiyum& an MP o4 #*ami
Ceague 4rom a Comilla constituency& to develo a contact *ith =)
Consulate at Calcutta and communicate to them that he had been
designated to establish a link *ith the =nited )tates o4 #merica8 :e
aroached =) Consulate at Calcutta on 3- ?uly 1971 and in4ormed
them that he *ould return in t*o *eeks time 4or an ans*er8 3he
Consulate reorted about this aroach to )tate Deartment in
Dashington8 )ecretary o4 )tate :enry @issinger recogni;ed this
contact *ould be e5losive i4 it *as revealed in 1slamabad8 1ndia
*ould take all out measures to sabotage the roBect8 %evertheless
a4ter checking *ith his President& )ecretary o4 )tate aroved the
)tate Deartment suggestion that =) Consulate should receive
?ahirul Huiyum and robe 4or readiness o4 the #*ami Ceague to
negotiate *ith the Pakistani /overnment8
?ahirul Huiyum aeared in the =) Consulate at Calcutta on
schedule date on 1' #ugust 19718 :e a44irmed that i4 )heikh MuBibur
!ahman *ere allo*ed to articiate in these negotiations& his grou
might settle 4or less than indeendence so long as 1slamabad
acceted the #*ami CeagueGs si5 oints8 MustaKue& as "oreign
Minister o4 2angladesh made all these rogress in negotiations
*ithout the consent or rior kno*ledge o4 his Prime Minister or the
2angladesh cabinet8
)ecretary o4 )tate visuali;ed that the Calcutta contact might be
an oortunity to nudge 1slamabad to*ards a olitical solution8
#ccordingly )tate Deartment instructed #mbassador ?oseh
"arland to tell 6ahya o4 =) contacts in Calcutta and ossibility o4 a
settlement based on the si5 oints8 6ahya *elcomed the imort o4
this demarche& as he *as traed in crisis :e *as groing 4or a *ay
out8 :e even acceted "arlandGs suggestion that =) use their good
o44ices to arrange secret contacts bet*een his /overnment and the
2angladesh /overnment in e5ile8
Dhen on 27 #ugust 1971 ?ahirul Huiyum sho*ed interest in
e5editing contacts& )tate Deartment *ent one ste 4arther8 On -'
)etember 1971 "arland suggested to 6ahya that )tate Deartment
*ould contact 2angladesh "oreign Minister& ostensibly to check out
?ahirul Huiyum bona 4ide& and )tate Deartment *ould reort back
to ?ahirul Huiyum o4 6ahyaGs *illingness to engage in secret talks8
3hough 6ahya *as in Kuandary to negotiate *ith banned olitical
arty& he agreed8
On -1 )etember 1971 as suggested by )tate Deartment 6ahya
aointed a civilian governor 4or Aast Pakistan& relacing the much$
hated Martial$ Ca* #dministrator8 On -. )etember 1971 6ahya
e5tended the amnesty to almost all citi;ens8 6ahya even assured =)
aid co$coordinator that a death sentence against )heikh MuBibur
!ahman *ould not be carried out8
3he movements and contacts o4 "oreign Minister o4 2angladesh
/overnment in e5ile and his grou *ith =) Consulate at Calcutta
*ere interceted by 1ndian intelligence agency8 1t *as established
that @handakar MustaK #hmed& Mahbubul #lam Chasi& ?ahirul 1slam
and other three ersons had regular contact *ith =) Consulate in
Calcutta8 @handakar MustaK #hmed 4loated an idea that 2angladesh
could not have both indeendence and sa4e return o4 2angabandhu&
thus must choose bet*een indeendence and 2angabandhu& *anted
united Pakistan in a comromise 4ormula *ith a greater autonomy8
:o* a leader having the least o4 sel4 resect could ever think o4 a
=nited Pakistan a4ter so much o4 bloodshed& orgy o4 rae& killing&
looting& burning& genocide and manslaughter in 2engalN 2engal may
be destroyed but *ould not accet moral de4eat that *as the
thousand yearsG old slogan o4 the 2engali race8 During the months o4
#ugust& )etember and October o4 1971 @handakar MustaK grou
had eight contacts *ith =) Consulate in Calcutta and "arland
aroached 6ahya three times during these days8
1ndian /overnment *arned @handakar MustaK to sto contact
*ith =) Consulate and he *as ut under surveillance8 1ndia *ould
not allo* Pakistan to escae 4rom the crime committed in Aast
Pakistan and to continue the rogress o4 negotiation bet*een
Pakistan and #*ami Ceague8 1ndia *as also not the 4ool to miss the
straregic oortunity o4 the century8 Moreover 1ndia *ould not soon
again have Pakistan at such a disadvantage& China in the throes o4
domestic uheaval <the Cin Piao cou>& the =nited )tates divided by
Pietnam& the )oviet =nion almost unconditionally on 1ndiaGs side
and insurgency roblem in %agaland and Mi;oram *ould be solved
once 4or all8
On 23 )etember 1971& ?ahirul Huiyum in4ormed =) Consulate
about the 1ndian intelligence surveillance and restriction o4
movement imosed on MustaK grou and thus their 4urther contact
*as stoed8
@handaker MustaK #hmed *as lanning to attend =% /eneral
#ssembly in %e* 6ork8 3his *as stoed as it *as arehended that
he could announce unilateral declaration about the comromise
4ormula *ith Pakistan *ith ma5imum autonomy8 1nstead ?ustice #bu
)ayeed Cho*dhury 4rom Condon attended =% /eneral #ssembly as
leader o4 the delegation8
3he short statured MustaK had hardly any Kuality and ersonality
to become the Prime Minister o4 2angladesh8 #4ter the liberation o4
indeendent 2angladesh @handakar MustaK #hmed *as success4ul
in his camaign o4 muckraking and character assassination in his
heinous& aggressive and resent4ul attemt to convince 2angabandhu
to believe that 3aBuddin #hmed never *anted the sa4e return o4
2angabandhu 4rom the rison o4 Pakistan8 :aving 4ailed to make any
dent in the leadershi o4 3aBuddin #hmed during liberation *ar&
MuBib 2ahini leaders oisoned the ear o4 2angabandhu8 #s a result
3aBuddin #hmed sun out 4rom the constellation o4 2angabandhu8
3he consirators and immature Bunior leadershi encircled
2angabandhu like sycohants& *hich led to the tragic death o4 the
4ather o4 the nation8 3o avenge the 4ailure to become Prime Minister
o4 2angladesh during liberation *ar& @handaker MustaK arranged the
situation in a manner that led to the killing o4 helless )yed %a;rul
1slam& 3aBuddin #hmed& Catain Munsur #li and M Huamru;;aman
in the custody o4 the Dhaka Central ?ail that cannot be conceived o4 a
civili;ed society8 MustaK a veteran olitician *ill be branded in the
history o4 2angladesh as consirator& criminal& hated culrit& heinous
murderer and manslaughterer8
ChaAter 0
G4%-211A WA-;A-% ?; ;-%%)?M ;2G7T%-+
BarrackAur
2arrackur& a 4e* km 4rom Calcutta is the oldest Cantonment in
1ndian sb$continent8 :ere in 18.7 2engali seoys took u arms
against the 2ritish colonial rule8 3he 2ritish called this *ar as seoy
mutiny and *e call it atriotic )eoy Dar8 1n 1971 Pakistanis called
us miscreant and rebelI but the Dorld at large named us E"reedom
"ighterG and in the country eole *ould call us in love as EMukti
2ahiniG or Ciberation #rmy8
During my stay at @allayani once 1 *ent to 2arrackur
Cantonment to sign documents 4or collection o4 arms and
ammunition8 3here at lunch in their o44icerGs mess 1 met 2rigadier
)halek& MaBor )ankor !oy Chaudhury& MaBor ChatterBee and other
o44icers o4 1ndian Charlie )ector8 Charlie )ector *as established to
assist logistic suort to Mukti 2ahini )ectors8 3he 4ood *as served
*ith delicious tinned 4ish8 3he 4ish *as imorted 4rom !ussia8
2rigadier )halek& at the dining table& *anted to kno* *hen 1 *as
going to get married8 1 had no earth under my 4eet& moreover& 1 *as
in a 4oreign soil and thinking about marriage in such a environment
*as out o4 my imagination8 #t one oint MaBor )anker came to my
rescue8
2rigadier )haleK *as hinting to our atriotic ;eal8 :e hinted at
Catain Dalim *ho eloed *ith the daughter o4 a second secretary o4
2angladesh Ambassy at Calcutta and married her *ithout the consent
o4 her 4ather8 :er 4ather comlained to Colonel Osmany8 Colonel
Osmany sho*ed his indignation in 4ront o4 her 4ather and romised
to take action against Catain Dalim8 #t that very moment Catain
Dalim and his *i4e *ere hiding in the same room under a cot8
Catain Dalim and daughter o4 the said second secretary a4ter*ards
came out 4rom the hiding and touched the 4eet o4 Colonel Osmany8
Colonel Osmany took no action8 #4ter liberation they *ent to
2angabandhuGs house to touch his 4eet8 2angabandhu blessed the
ne*ly married coule that came in the ne*saer ne5t day8 3ouching
o4 4eet 4or sho*ing resect is very dangerous& as it can melt the heart
o4 the ersons *hose 4eet are touched8 #4ter*ards he can derive
many bene4its and even cause serious damage8 Dalim caused 4atal
damage to 2angabandhuGs li4e on 1. #ugust 197.8 David "rost a
reno*ned 2ritish Bournalist commented that )heikh MuBib should
have amutated his legs i4 he *ould *ant to live8 3ouching o4 4eet in
1slam is rohibited8 1t is a :indu custom and cultural ractice8
Muslims o4 1ndia adoted this habit 4rom :indus8
#t the Charlie )ector headKuarters 1 4ound some o4 our 4reedom
4ighters *ho *ere undergoing training on signal communication
eKuiment8 3hey *ere taught ciher and Morse code8 AMA
ersonnel o4 2angladesh armed 4orces *ere reairing mechanical
transorts and small arms belonging to 2angladesh #rmed "orces8 1
*as sho*n a big go do*n having *eaons like ri4les& CM/ and
M/s8 1 sa* some cargo lane in the sky o4 2arrackur and learnt that
vintage tye *eaons *ere imorted 4rom other countries 4or Mukti
2ahini and those *ere carried to 2arrackur by cargo lanes8 1 had
signed vouchers 4or arms and ammunition those *ere disatched to
our headKuarters at @allayani8
1 moved 4reely in 2arrackur Cantonment and *as received in
many o44ices in 2arrackur8 Avery*here 1 *as sho*n *arm
hositality8 1 moved in a Bee *ith 2angladesh national 4lag8 1n Dest
2engal nay in 1ndia there *as no security check and harassment o4
Mukti 2ahini8 Mukti 2ahini *as highly resected by the 1ndian
eole 4or their atriotic sirit and ;eal8 1 carried an identity card but
never got checked8 1 reKuested 2rigadier )haleK 4or a book on
guerilla *ar4are and later on he sent me the same8
Base CamA at BanAur
1 *as osted at 2anur to relieve Catain Musta4i;ur !ahman and
take over the command o4 NBO comany o4 8 )ector in the month o4
?une8 1 rocured a rUci on di44erent oerations o4 *ar and minor
tactics like raid& ambush etc and re4reshed my memories be4ore 1
*ent to take command o4 the comany8 Catain #bdul :alim *as
asked to take over N)O comany at 2oyra8 2oyra is a lace in 1ndia
oosite to Chaughacha in the district o4 ?essore8 1 droed Catain
#bdul :alim at 2oyra and 1 started 4or 2anur8 2anur is a lace in
1ndia oosite to Darsona8
1n ?une 1971& 1 reorted my arrival at the comany located at
2anur8 3he base cam inside 1ndia *as a 4e* hundred yards 4rom
2angladesh border8 Dhile 1 *as entering the base cam 1 came
across the commanding o44icer 1' PunBab o4 1ndian army *ho *as
leaving the cam8 :e stoed my Bee and enKuired about me8 On
my introduction he thre* a challenge mentioning that the 4reedom
4ighters *ere not e44ective 4ighters8 :is intention *as to inBect anger
and 4ighting sirit in me so that 1 *ould engage in itched battle *ith
the enemy8 :e 4urther mentioned that he gave an oeration lan to
4reedom 4ighter Catain Dalim and that the same lan *as 4ound in
the street o4 Calcutta8 3here *as in4ormation that at Darsana Pakistan
army o44icers had brought *omen in the bunkers and *ere torturing
them in heavily drunk condition8 Catain Dalim assured the
Commanding O44icer o4 1' PunBab that he *ould cature the o44icers
and bring them to the cam8 Cater on the commanding o44icer told
me that he *as 4urious on Catain Dalim *hom he had given a lan
to attack Darsana enemy osition8 Oerational lan *ith a sketch
given to Catain Dalim *as suicidal& but he romised to go 4or the
oeration8 2ut instead he *ent to Calcutta and reorted the matter to
Colonel Osmany8
Commanding O44icer 1' PunBab *anted me to do the same task8
1 met commander o4 the cam Catain Musta4i;ur !ahman8 3he
members o4 the Mukti 2ahini *ere accommodated in tents8 Catain
Musta4i;ur !ahman and 1 mysel4 *ere ut u in a searate tent and
*e *ere given charoys and toilet 4acilities8 #rms and ammunition
*ere ket in dug in bunker covered *ith tent8 3his kote *as
rotected by barbed *ire and guarded by sentry8 POD cage *as
constructed by timber& bamboo and barbed *ire8 3he Commanding
o44icer o4 1' PunBab sa* 4e* risoners in the POD cage8 :e
instructed me to disose o4 the risoners meaning to kill them8 1t *as
not ethical to eliminate them& so 1 set them 4ree *ith *arning not to
assist Pakistan army8 !egular *eaons training *ere carried out in
the cam8 Dummy target made o4 hessian cloth *as laced in the
training area and bayonet 4ighting *as racticed to in4use
aggressiveness among the 4reedom 4ighters8
"rom my childhood 1 heard everyone to call me a lucky man8 My
comrades in arms in my unit also said that 1 brought luck to the
comany as because the ne5t morning our 4ighting atrol arty
brought a dead body o4 a Pakistani soldier8 1n the revious night our
4ighting atrol *as sent to )arabari in Darsana commanded by %aik
3abibur !ahman8 3hey 4ell in the ambush o4 the enemy8 Anemy got
hold o4 )eoy :a4i;ur !ahman8 %aik 3abibur !ahman received a
blo* on his 4ace and asked to remove maga;ine o4 his *eaons8
)eoy 3aramia took osition on the ground and started 4iring *ith
his CM/8 Other members o4 Mukti 2ahini also oened 4ire8 Anemies
also returned 4ire8 Our boys had *on the battle8 Anemy su44ered '
dead and 8 o4 them *ere inBured8 De got it con4irmed later on8 Our
side su44ered one minor inBury8 #s a testimony o4 our victory the
dead body o4 one Pakistani soldier *ith 4ull uni4orm *as brought to
dislay to 1ndian army and sho*n to the ress8 3he ne5t day the
hotograh o4 Pakistani soldier killed by Mukti 2ahini *as
ublished in the 1ndian )tatesman8 )urviving and retreating Pakistani
soldiers killed innocent 4armers and 4ishermen8 Pakistani dead
soldier *as buried in accordance *ith 1slamic 4uneral services8 #
letter and 4e* money receits *ere discovered 4rom the erson o4
dead body8 "rom the letter& it *as revealed that his near ones in
Pakistan *as *orried about his li4e *hile the receits sho*ed that
money sent by money order *as beyond his means o4 income8 1 4elt
e5tremely sorry 4or the oor soldier8 3he architect o4 killing a
PunBabi Muslim by the 2engali Muslim and vice versa *as Ful4iker
#li 2hutto& President 6ahya and his military ?unta8
3he 4ate must have relation *ith time and sace8 1n 19'7 my
arents& my younger brother and mysel4 *ere rushing 4rom 2ombay
to ne*ly created Aast Pakistan by train in a 4irst class comartment
locked 4rom inside8 De *ere destined to come via Calcutta8 3here
*as :indu$Muslim riot in Calcutta8 # :indu gentleman advised my
4ather to avoid Calcutta& so by assing Calcutta he changed route via
!anaghat$2anur to Darsana8 My 4ather *as relieved o4 an5ieties
*hen *e reached Darsana on 1' #ugust 19'78 1n 19'7 our li4e *as
in danger in 1ndia and in 1971 it *as in Aast Pakistan8 1 *as 4ighting
in the same crossroad 4or li4e and death 4or the creation o4
2angladesh8 1n 19'7 4ight *as bet*een the :indus$ the Muslims and
in 1971 4ight *as bet*een the 2engali Muslims and the PunBabi
Muslim *hile the 2engali Muslims *ere receiving shelter and 4ood
4rom the 2engali :indus 4or their e5istence8 1ndian soil became the
sring boat 4or the 2engali 4ighters 4or organi;ing and launching
attack 4or liberation o4 2angladesh8 3he 2engali :indus in 1971
became the most trusted and tested 4riend o4 the 2engali Muslims as
i4 they *ere the t*ins o4 one mother having searate 4aiths8
3he area o4 oerational resonsibility o4 OBO comany at 2anur
*as in the district o4 ?essore& @ushtia and "aridur8 3he comany
had t*o tyes o4 4ighters SNyomita BahiniS or regular troos and
S"ono BahiniS or citi;en 4orces8 Nyomita Bahini ket the Pakistan
army engaged in border area *hile "ono Bahini 4orces *ere sent
dee into the 2angladesh territory8 "ono Bahini 4orces carried out
minor oerations like raids& ambush& killing o4 collaborators& making
roaganda amongst the eole 4or gaining ublic symathy&
boosting the morale o4 the eole& sending battle intelligence and
enemy in4ormation to )ector :eadKuarters and allied 4orces&
organi;ing local resistance 4orces etc8 1 *ent to see the enemy
osition at ?ibannagore8 "rom a distance 1 *as trying to locate the
enemy osition at ?ibanagore *ith the hel o4 binocular8 2e4ore 1
could locate the enemy& the enemy located me and oened machine
gun 4ire on me8 3hey missed me narro*ly8 )ome other night 1 tested
4e* old light machine guns on that enemy osition8 Cater on an
attack *as launched on this osition and 4e* o4 our 4reedom 4ighters
embraced martyrdom8 "inally an attack *as launched on the same
enemy osition commanded by Catain Musta4i;ur !ahman8 3he
osition *as caturedI un4ortunately Catain Musta4i;ur !ahman
*as seriously inBured and evacuated to 2arrackur :osital8
1 *as in command o4 the comany 4or about a month8 Catain
Musta4i;ur !ahman *as carrying out mine *ar4are in his area o4
oeration8 3he )ector Commander thought it *ise to ost me to NBO
comany at 2anur8 1t *ould be easy to continue mine *ar4are 4or
me8 )oon a4ter my arrival 1 established contact *ith 1ndian army
o44icers at !anaghat8 1 got a rUcis on mine *ar4are 4rom an 1ndian
o44icer and *ent through it8 1 asked :avildar #li #kbar o4 Angineers
cors to give demonstration about the 4unctioning o4 3%3 slab& cord&
detonator& 4use& anti$ersonnel mines and anti$tank mine8 3hus 1
acKuired the reKuired kno*ledge to conduct mine *ar4are8 1nitially
*e used antitank mines along the rail*ay track Darsona$ ?essore and
Darsona$Chuadanga8 #nti$tank mines destroyed number o4 rail*ay
engines and bogies8 Anemy as recaution took sa4ety measures8 3hey
started to ut t*o emty *agons in 4ront o4 the engine8 3hese created
ne* roblem 4or us& be4ore the engine ( bogy could come over the
mine& mine *ould e5lode earlier by the ressure e5erted by rails
and sliers *hich *ould receive transmitted ressure 4rom the load
o4 the bogy laced in 4ront o4 the train8 3he intended damage to the
enemy could not be materiali;ed8 )o *e also changed our tactics8 De
adoted a techniKue to e5lode antitank mines by remote control
electric s*itch instead o4 ressure s*itch8 3his techniKue *as
e5cellent and success *as cent ercent8 3he success *as better than
revious method8 Pirtually the movement o4 enemy by train *as
comletely stoed8 1nitially *e used to dig metal road and ut
antitank mines8 #4ter initial damage& enemy became very cautious8
Anemy could detect the mines by care4ul observation o4 the road8
Cater on mines *ere camou4laged by co* dung& tree leaves and
ainting *ith liKuid bitumen8 !egular activity o4 the comany *as to
dominate the areas o4 Chuadanga& Darsona and ?iban %agore by
sending 4ighting atrol8
Once 1 *ent to @risnanagore *here there *as only one 1ndian
in4antry battalion <1' PunBab>8 3his battalion had been caming
temorarily at @risnanagore8 1 stayed one night in the o44icerGs mess
o4 that battalion8 1 met the commanding o44icer o4 the 2attalion8 3he
commanding o44icer told me that he *as very much imressed by the
conduct and ersonality o4 Colonel Osmany8 # searate guerilla
cam *as set u at !anaghat 4or the youths trained a4resh 4rom
1ndian training center8 1 visited the cam along *ith the CO o4 1'
PunBab8 :e *anted to test the 4reedom 4ighters *hether they could
identi4y the electric ylon8 "reedom 4ighters *ere taken near to a
ylon and sho*n the ylon8 3hese guerillas *ere the 4irst batch o4
trained 4reedom 4ighters that had undergone 21 days military training
in Chakulia in the district o4 2ihar8 3hey *ere *aiting 4or induction
inside 2angladesh territory8
1 collected ay o4 4reedom 4ighters o4 my comany 4rom
@risnanagore8 Dhile 1 *as returning by train one o4 my :indu
village mate *ho took re4uge in 1ndia met me in the train and could
sense that 1 *as carrying some amount o4 money8 %e5t day he visited
me in the cam *ith his land documents and reKuested me to give
him some money in e5change o4 his document8 1 have no desire 4or
any roerty e5cet the liberation o4 the country8 1 entertained him in
the cam& but re4used to accet his o44er8
Dherever 1 *ould 4ind a youth cam in my *ay& 1 used to ste in
and used to ask about their condition and *el4are8 6outh cams *ere
set u to accommodate the young ersons coming 4rom 2angladesh
and *aiting 4or disatch to training centre8 3hese cams *ere
temorary shelters 4or them and usually olitical leaders o4
2angladesh managed them8 Most o4 the youths in the youth cams
*ere su44ering 4rom skin diseases8 /enerally 1 used to carry dettol
and *ould distribute the same among the a44ected ersons8 Once 1
steed in a cam but that *as a olice cam8 3heir condition *as
miserable8 3hey *ere *ithout money and 4ood8 1 sent them some
4ood items 4rom my comany8 1 in4ormed the matter to Mahbubuddin
#hmed& a olice o44icer *ho *as )DPO o4 ?henidah8 Mahbubuddin
#hmed *ith the assistance o4 #bdul @haleKue 1/P o4 the
government in e5ile took care o4 the olice ersonnel *ho took
re4uge in 1ndia8
-aids on )arsana
Darsana& a border to*n o4 @ushtia district& *as one o4 the
strongholds o4 enemy in my area o4 oeration8 1 considered it
imortant to launch an attack on Darsana enemy osition to destroy
them8 3he oeration *as lanned *ith the assistance o4 Mitra 2ahini
commanding o44icer o4 1' PunBab8 3he enemy strength *as one
comany o4 18 PunBab o4 Pakistan army commanded by Catain M)
:annan8 2esides regular troos& enemy had aramilitary 4orces like
!angers and !a;akars8 3he enemy *as in 4orti4ied dug in osition8
3he enemy reared .- 4eet *ide and 7 4eet dee tank obstacle along
their de4ense line to rotect Darsana 4rom the threat o4 attacks by
tank8
3he attack *as to be launched by t*o latoons o4 Mukti 2ahini
suorted by Mitra 2ahini artillery8 3he aim o4 the attack *as to kill&
harass and break the morale o4 the enemy8 Mukti 2ahini assembled
at /edey rail*ay station in the evening o4 28 ?uly 19718 3he 4inal
oerational order *as brie4ed by the commanding o44icer o4 1'
PunBab8 3he enemy osition *as to be bombarded by artillery 4ire
4rom 29-'3- hrs to 29-.-- hrs8 1mmediately a4ter the li4ting o4
artillery 4ire& enemy osition *as to be hysically assaulted by t*o
latoons o4 Mukti 2ahini to cause ma5imum damage to the enemy
and then to *ithdra* to our base8 3*o 4reedom 4ighters *ere sent to
Darsana earlier *ith *ireless set that secured their osition on a big
tree *ho directed the observed artillery 4ire8
#t -1-- hours on 29 ?uly 1971 1 mysel4 along *ith the t*o
latoons o4 Muktibahini started our ?ourney 4or the oeration 4rom
/edey rail*ay station8 De *alked a distance o4 about 3 miles and
ket on *aiting near the bank o4 %aragangni !iver8 3he entire route
*as muddy8 3he enemy osition *as another three hundred yards
4rom the river8 3here 1 4ound some indisciline8 )ome o4 our boys
started smoking and 1 revented them 4rom doing so8 1 *as erturbed
by the rattling sound roduced by the collision o4 helmets in the
darkness that could detect our move8 My *rist*atch had stoed and
1 had to 4ind out the time 4rom some one else8 De s*am across the
river and then 4ound the tank obstacles made by the enemy8 De
negotiated the tank obstacle *ithout any oosition and then through
the sugarcane 4ield reached the target8 # barrage o4 artillery shelling
4ired 4orm a battery o4 1-. mm guns bombarded enemy strongholds8
3hen *e launched attack on the enemy bunkers8 3he enemy *as
romt to react and had returned our 4ire8 De carried out our
oeration 4or about 3- minutes and the enemy osition *as overrun
by us8 De 4ound dead bodies o4 enemies lying here and there8 #
Pakistani 4lag *as 4lying there& *hich *as removed and brought by
us8 De retreated 4rom Darsana and reached a sa4e ;one8
1 mysel4 4ired only nine rounds o4 ammunition 4rom my sten gun8
One o4 our Mukti 2ahini boys *as inBured8 # medical assistant %aik
"ai;ur !ahman *ho accomanied us gave him 4irst aid8
Commanding o44icer o4 1' PunBab *as an5iously *aiting 4or us8 :e
*as hay *hen he heard my debrie4ing8 Anemy su44ered 3' killed8
3he success4ul oeration at Darsana in4used a great deal o4
con4idence in Mukti 2ahini boys and kindled enthusiasm 4or 4urther
oeration8 Dhen 1 reached our base cam& 1 4ound Catain
Mu;ta4i;ur !ahman *ho *as a*ay 4rom the cam 4or other duties8 1
*as so tired and so 1 *ent to slee8 Dhen Catain Musta4i;ur
!ahman arrived& he took over the command o4 the comany8 1
debrie4ed Catain Musta4i;ur !ahman about our action on Darsona
and 1 le4t 4or our sector headKuarters at @allyani8 2y that time
Catain Musta4i;ur !ahman gathered detailed in4ormation about the
enemy casualty in our Darsana oeration8 :e sent a situation reort
to sector headKuarters about the brave assault by the Mukti 2ahini
boys oerating under my command that night8 Avery one *ith
*armth received me 4or my bravery8 MaBor Osman congratulated me
4or my gallant action8
Akbar Bahini
2anur *as a base cam oosite to Darsana in 1ndia *here 1 *as
the comany commander8 "rom the ne* arrivals at 2anur 1 used to
receive in4ormation about the activities o4 enemy and Mukti 2ahini
o4 my home Police station )reeur8 1 received letters 4rom my sisters
*ho in4ormed me that Pakistan army *ould occasionally visit our
area8 On hearing the ne*s they deserted the village and took re4uge
in the house o4 our relative in other areas8 #kbar :ussein& chairman
o4 )rikole union Parishad organi;ed a large 4orce o4 Mukti 2ahini
comrising o4 e5$army& AP! and the local eole8 #4ter his
matriculation he Boined Pakistan #ir "orce8 :e *as arrogant and
*ould not accet orders8 On some occasions being bullied& he thre*
his shoes to*ards his o44icers8 :e *as court martialed at @arachi #ir
2ase and *as sent home8 1n olitical career& he *ould rise& but
because o4 his arrogant attitude he 4ailed to attain any mentionable
olitical height8 :e had done lot o4 social *ork8 :e established
college& school and madrashas& constructed roads in his area8 :e
also sent me a letter8 :e described that he could not remove ri4le
4rom his shoulder since the *ar started8 1t *as easy in his area to kill
the enemy8 :e *anted some machine guns and ammunition8 1
disatched some machine guns& ammunition and antitank mines 4or
him& *hich *as carried by @hondaker #bu :ossain and !aBa8
Dhen the Pakistan army declared *ar against unarmed 2engalis
on 2. March the 2engalis *ere in de4ensive osture& so *as the case
*ith #kbar :ossain8 #kbar :ossain along *ith #*ami Ceague
*orkers took *eaons and ammunition 4rom Magura olice treasury
and established Mukti 2ahini cam at Magura8 #t one stage #*ami
league leaders )ohrab :ossain& #taur #li& #sadu;;aman and Daliul
1slam& )DO Magura le4t Magura 4or 1ndia and a4ter that some so
called Mukti 2ahini eole engaged themselves in criminal activities
and looting8
)ituation became disorgani;ed and *ent out o4 control o4 #kbar
:ossain8 #t last he le4t Magura 4or )reeur *ith one Chinese and
si5 83-3 ri4les8 Pakistan army had given instruction and encouraged
criminals to loot the roerties o4 :indus and #*ami Ceague
suorters8 Aven the olice 4orces *ere engaged in looting might be
by the instruction o4 Pakistan army8 1n the initial hase he started to
rotect the lives and roerties o4 the :indus8 :is 4orces had
eliminated all dacoits and criminals o4 the area8 )uorters o4
Pakistan took re4uge in Pakistan army cams out o4 his 4ear8
Huamru;;aman an e5$air 4orce sergeant also organi;ed Mukti
2ahini 4orce in )ailkua8 Dhile in Pakistan he married a girl 4rom
the state o4 )u*at and 1 *as told that 4or this marriage he had to ay
the 4ather o4 the girl seventy eight thousand ruees8 During the *ar&
his Pathan *i4e stayed in his village home8 Dhile Pakistan soldiers
visited the village& she used to talk *ith them in oshtu8 )he told
them that she had le4t her 4amily and society 4or the imrovements o4
inter *ing relation and 6ahya had sent them to kill Muslim brothers8
3he old 4ather o4 Huamru;;aman *as arrested and tortured8 3he li4e
o4 the 4ather o4 Humru;;aman *as sared by the intervention o4 the
Pathan *oman8
2oth #kbar :ossain and Huamru;;aman *ere hysically tough
and si5 4eet tall8 3heir 4orces eliminated all dacoits and criminals o4
Magura and "aridur8 1n the rocess #kbar catured arms and
ammunition 4rom the dacoits8 3he heinous lan o4 Pakistan army
*ent in vain and bounced back8 Magura olice 1nsector #bdul
:akim and )riur OC Matiur !ah man Boined duty and established
some sort o4 authority and asked arms holders to surrender their arms
and ammunition to the olice8 Many comlied& but #kbar :ussein
did not ay heed to their instruction8 Mullah %abuat #li and
@handker %a;ayet #li became his deuties and close advisers8 3he
chairman o4 %arua union and a 2ihari barber Chand @han created
reign o4 terror in the district o4 "aridur8 Peole o4 "aridur
aroached #kbar 2ahini to take armed action against them and
relieve them 4rom their atrocities8 1n resonse to their reKuest& #kbar
:ussein started his 4irst e5edition *ith only 18 ri4les and destroyed
both the criminals along *ith their gang8
Huamru;;aman met me at @allayni in the month o4 May8 :e
returned to his area )ailkua in 2angladesh 4rom 1ndia *ith some
arms and ammunition8 :e roosed #kbar :ussein to attack on
)ailkua olice station8 #kbar :ussein got encouraged and assured
him o4 all out suort8 3hey lanned to attack )ailkua olice
station8 On -. #ugust an attack *ith .- 4reedom 4ighters *as
launched on )ailkua olice station8 3he Police 4orces there
surrendered to this combined attack o4 #kbar and Huamru;aman
2ahini and .7 ri4les and 4our thousand ammunition *ere catured
*hich met Mukti 2ahiniGs acute shortage o4 ammunition8 Montu
2ahini o4 )ailkua also suorted this oeration8
#4ter the de4eat at )ailkua& Pakistan army desatched 2.
2aluch !egiment to that area8 Pakistan 4orces advanced along the
banks o4 river @umar8 #kbar 2ahini organi;ed de4ensive osition at
Mingram on the south bank o4 river @umar and Huamru;;aman took
osition at #l4aur taking advantage o4 a big canal8 Dhen the Pak
4orces reached the *estern bank o4 #l4aur canal& Huamra;;aman
*ith his 4orces oened 4ire and engaged in a itched battle8
Huamru;aman& though a sergeant 4rom air 4orce dislayed
outstanding 4eat o4 courage and heroism de4eating a regular 2aluch
regiment advance8 #kbar 2ahini e5tended its 4ruit4ul suort 4rom
their osition on the other bank o4 the river @umar8 #t that time
@umar !iver *as 4ull *ith *ater to its brink8 Pak army su44ered ..
killed and *ere retreated to*ards )ailkua and then to ?essore
cantonment8 3he retreating Pak army killed a valiant 4reedom 4ighter
%a;rul 1slam along *ith his grou at #baiur8 1n this oeration
Mukti 2ahini catured si;eable Kuantities o4 ri4les and ammunition8
#4ter liberation MaBor #bul Man;ur asked me to arrest
Huamru;;aman& a valiant 4reedom 4ighter8 MaBor Man;ur *as used
to listen back biting talks o4 the subordinates and he *as to take
action accordingly8 )ilently 1 called Huamru;;aman at Magura& told
the design o4 Man;ur and asked him to leave the area8 :e le4t the
area and settled do*n in Dhaka8 #nother local Mukti 2ahini leader
)ona Mia *as arrested and ut in Bail by MaBor Man;ur8
#cademically MaBor #bul Man;ur *as brilliant& but he did not attain
the reKuired maturity8 1n his subseKuent military career& he had to
sacri4ice his li4e 4or immature behaviour8
1n the 4irst *eek o4 October last maBor e5edition o4 #kbar
2ahini *ith +. 4ighters *as launched on !anger and !a;aker cam
at 2inodur under Magura8 #kbar 2ahini reached the target area on
4oot and sometimes by boat8 3he oeration *as artially success4ulI
the osition could not be catured as enemy *as rein4orced 4rom
Magura8 Mukul& a valiant 4reedom 4ighter& *hile advancing 4rom the
do*n sloe o4 the river *as hit by a bullet *hich ierced through the
helmet into his head and he embraced martyrdom on the sot8 Anemy
su44ered heavy casualty8 #kbar :ossain and Huamru;;aman& valiant
4reedom 4ighters should have been a*arded gallantry a*ard 4or their
heroic action in daring oerations undertaken by them as
commander8 1 initiated citation 4or both the commanders but it *as
un4ortunate that my sector commander sitting in 1ndia during
liberation *ar ignored their atriotic action8 May be my *ritings
*ill bear the testimony o4 their heroism in the history o4 2angladesh8
/eneral Musta4a;ur !ahman told me that he initiated my citation 4or
gallantry a*ard but it *as not ublished in the ga;ette 4or unkno*n
reason8
/u@adan:a Base CamA
3he command o4 2anur Comany& 4or a short *hile& boosted my
morale and con4idence& *hich 1 lost 4alling back to 1ndian territory8 1
*as again assigned the duty o4 o44icer commanding )ector
:eadKuarters at @allyani8 3hen 1 *as desatched to /u;adaga
oosite to )atkhira to take over the command o4 OAO comany 4rom
Mahbubuddin #hmed *ho brie4ed me about the comany and area
o4 oerational resonsibility8 1 met 1ndian #rmy units at 2asirhat8
Mysel4 accomanied by Muhbubuddin visited 13 !aBut 2attalion at
the cam area8 !aBut renamed Mahbub as %eolian 4or his bravery
and 1H8 !aBut o44icers 4astened 1Rakhi Ban!han1 symbol o4
4riendshi and brotherhood on my *rist8 3he iece o4 colour thread
4astened around the *rist in order to sa4eguard the latter 4rom all
evils8 #ccording to tradition& 6amuna& sister o4 6ama& Cord o4 Death&
4elicitated her brother on the second day o4 the ne* moon in the
2engali month o4 @artika& besto*ing immorality on him8 #n 1ndian
Hueen @arnabati o4 Chitor 4earing imending attack 4rom 2ahadur
)hah o4 /uBrat sought hel 4rom Ameror :umayun sending Rakhi
Ban!han8 :umayun resonded to E!akhi 2andhanG and demarche o4
Hueen o4 Chitor8 3hey had given me a hotograh o4 2angabandhu
)heikh MuBibur !ahman that *as garlanded by a necklace made o4
hotograh o4 Mahatma /andhi8
1t *ill be aroriate here to give a brie4 background o4 LAC
comany8 "irst commander o4 the comany *as Catain # 3
)alahuddin *ho *as very intelligent and brave o44icer8 :e conducted
a number o4 e44ective oerations in the area8 On 29 May 1971&
#lha Comany osition *as attacked by 22 "rontier "orce o4
Pakistan #rmy8 A5 AP! and students manned our de4ense osition8
3he comany had one obsolete Picars heavy machine gun that
had to be cooled by *ater *hile 4iring 4rom it8 Aven then it had
created devastating e44ect on attacking enemy8 O44icer commanding
the enemy 4orces shouted to cature our osition and encouraged
them by the assurance that oorly trained Mukti 2ahiniGs aim *ould
not be accurate *ith their outdated *eaons8 2ut in that attack
enemy 4orces su44ered heavy causalities8 More than 1-- *ere dead
and ultimately they ran a*ay leaving behind the dead bodies8
Catain # 3 )alahuddin collected the dead bodies8
1 4eel sad to mention here that Colonel Muhammad #taul /hani
Osmani became 4urious on Catain # 3 )alahuddin on some 4alse
allegations 4rom the President o4 youth Ceague that deserted his
comany be4ore an imending attack8 3he student leader lodged 4alse
comlaints against Catain )alahuddin that he *anted to kill him8
3he student olitical humbug attached *ith his comany *as asked
to accomany him in an attack& instead he ran a*ay and reorted to
Colonel Osmany that Catain )alahuddin lanned to kill him8 #4ter
the liberation that leader *as killed in a cou *ith his 4amily8 #llah
does not tolerate e5cess8
Catain # 3 )alahuddin *as called back to Calcutta o44ice o4
Colonel Osmany8 :e reorted to the commander$in$chie4 *ith a
truckload o4 dead bodies o4 Pakistani soldiers that included dead
bodies o4 some o44icers as *ell8 Colonel Osmany got cooled do*n to
some e5tent seeing the dead bodies but his ego and emotion
revailed8 Catain # 3 )alahuddin *as un4ortunately removed 4rom
the command8 Colonel Osmany *as guided by ego and emotion
rather than by 4acts and truth8 #s Catain # 3 )alahuddin *as a
handsome brilliant o44icer al*ays *ith mega*att smile having a
background o4 intelligence training and service& 1ndian intelligence at
"ort Dilliam icked him u 4or their intelligent service8 :e *orked
4or the 1ndian intelligence till the liberation8 #4ter liberation 1 met
MaBor )alahuddin at #rmy headKuarters and ne5t day 1 4ound him
Catain8 :e used to be demoted in the morning and romoted in the
evening by Colonel Osmany in his o44ice8
3he command *as given to Mahbubuddin #hmed *ho *as also
an intelligent and brave o44icer8 1n action Mahbub roved himsel4 a
battle seasoned o44icer although he *as an o44icer o4 olice cadre8
Our main comany de4ense line *as at 2homra in )atkhira8
3here *as a canal behind our de4ense osition8 3*o 1ndian
comanies o4 13 !aBut !egiment *as in the deth osition8 3*o
hundred yards ahead o4 it *as Pakistan enemy osition8 AP! %k
?ahangir dislayed highest degree o4 courage in that de4ense osition
and by several attemts the de4ense could not be dislodged by the
enemy8 :e *as romoted to %aib )ubedar8 MaBor 3agore and MaBor
2hola commanded the 1ndian comanies8 MaBor 3agore told me that
he took art in 19+2 *ar against Chinese invasion on 1ndia8 :e had
to run back 4orty miles during *ithdra*al8 2ut in 1971 he *as a
battle$seasoned soldier8 MaBor 2hola *as a !aBut and got ne*ly
married8 :e *as 4ond o4 betel lea48 1 used to carry betel leaves 4or
him *henever 1 visited him8 1t *as very un4ortunate and sad 4or me
*hen 1 enKuired about him a4ter liberation8 1 came to kno* that on
1+ December *hen he *as 4ighting in )iromoni near @hulna to*n&
he *as hit 4rom the burst o4 CM/ 4ire and got killed8
On the le4t side o4 our de4ense osition& there *as a vast oen
rice 4ield 4looded *ith *ater e5tended u to a 4e* miles8 1t is
mentioned that #man rice& late autum cro o4 addy gro*s in *ater8
#s the *ater increases the rice lant also increases to coe *ith the
rise o4 *ater8 One morning my troos got hold o4 a country boat *ith
men and *omen *earing Pakistani dress and *ere brought to my
cam8 On interrogation 1 could kno* that it *as the 4amily o4
Durgadas 2hattacharya& Pro4essor o4 Dhaka =niversity8
One night *hile 1 *as sleeing at the base cam in the
underground covered by a tent 1 *as a*akened by the arrival o4 our
ne* sector commander MaBor #bul Man;ur8 #t that time my younger
brother Mon*aru;;aman *as on his *ay to Boin the training cam
*ho had been staying *ith me8 :e got his guerilla training 4rom
Chakulia in 2ihar and 4ought in my area o4 oeration in Magura in
the later stage8 My second brother #n*aru;;aman& *ho *as a 4inal
year M22) student& *as the medical o44icer o4 NAO comany and NBO
comany o4 8 )ector and he carried out many minor surgeries o4
*ounded 4reedom 4ighters8
1n the morning a4ter break4ast 1 took him to sho* my de4ense
osition at 2homra8 Dhen *e *ere on the bunker describing the area
in 4ront o4 our de4ense to MaBor Man;ur& enemy started 4iring on us8
MaBor #bul Man;ur Bumed and took osition in a ditch8 1 shouted
and ordered my troos to oen 4ire8 #4ter sometime& enemy 4ire *as
silenced8 MaBor Man;ur came out 4rom the hidden bunker and
congratulated me8 #4ter that *henever he met me he used to call me
L/eneralM8
"our 2engali military o44icers escaed 4rom 4our di44erent laces
o4 Pakistan and assembled at )ialkot8 3hey crossed the 1ndo$Pak
border and Boined our liberation *ar8 1n the month o4 ?uly1971 three
brave& brilliant and dashing o44icers reorted to MaBor #bul Man;ur
in his o44icial residence in )ialkot 3hey *ere MaBor #bu 3aher 4rom
@ohat& MaBor Fiauddin 4rom !a*alindi and MaBor 2a;lul /hani
Pat*ary 4rom ?helum8 MaBor #bul Man;ur *as an outstanding
o44icer o4 Pakistan army& graduated 4rom Canadian )ta44 College and
had held imortant aointments in Pakistan8 :e served in M)
2ranch o4 /:H o4 Pakistan army and *as 2M o4 Para brigade o4
Pakistan army8 1n 1972 Colonel #bu 3aher& #dButant /eneral o4
2angladesh army met me *ith his *i4e at #:H o44icer7s mess and
described his escae ordeal 4rom Dest Pakistan8
MaBor #bul Man;ur *as reluctant to de4ect 4rom Pakistan army8
2ut 2egum Man;ur *as deserate to leave Pakistan even *ithout
MaBor #bul Man;ur as 2angladesh *as bleeding and burning by the
atrocities o4 Pakistan army8 MaBor #bul Man;ur because o4 the
uncomromising attitude o4 his *i4e le4t his residence along *ith his
*i4e and children accomanied by three o44icers leaving behind his
ne* car& television set and other valuables *orth about 2 lac ruees8
Dhile leaving the house he s*itched on his 3P and lights o4 his
house to con4use the authority8 :e used an old car u to the border
and le4t them behind8 3hey crossed the Pakistan border at )ialkot and
reached Delhi a4ter a long hurdle8 Colonel Osmany *ent to Delhi to
receive these o44icers8 #ll these 4our o44icers made glorious
contribution in our liberation *ar8 =n4ortunately MaBor /eneral #bul
Man;ur *as killed in a cou in 1981& Colonel #bu 3aher *as hanged
in a 4ailed cou in197.& Ct Colonel Fiauddin *as dismissed in 197'
and Colonel 2a;lul /hani *as rematurely retired in19818 1n 198.
*hen the son o4 MaBor /eneral #bul Man;ur *as admitted in
Mir;aur Cadet College on his merit& Ct /en #tiKur !ahman& C#)
o4 2angladesh #rmy on hearing the in4ormation charged MaBor
/eneral #)M %asim& #dButant /eneral o4 2angladesh #rmy *hy the
son o4 a traitor had been admitted in the Cadet College8 1t is
mentioned that MaBor #tiKur !ahman *as romoted to the rank o4 Ct
Colonel on 17 #ril 1971 licking the PunBabis 4eet& *hile *e *ere
taking the oath 4or 2angladesh /overnment on the same day8 #tiKur
!ahman belonged to Mir;a4ar clan migrated to Aast Pakistan 4rom
Murshidabad in 19'7 *as one o4 the biggest consirators in Arshad
regime8 Dhen Arshad regime *as being toled in 199-& Ct /en
#tiKur !ahman on CP! honed several #rmy commanders to stage
cou to suress democracy in 2angladesh& his attemt *as 4oiled by
removing him 4rom the cantonment8
-aids on Baikhari B?P
2aikari *as a border out ost in )atkhira occuied by a comany o4
Pakistan #rmy8 # 1-- 4eet *ide !iver searated the 2OP 4rom the
1ndian 3erritory8 3here *as a t*o$storied building and a mosKue
situated in the outer erihery o4 the 2O" 4acing the 1ndian side8
Pakistan army used these as illbo58 Mukti 2ahini led by Catain
3a*4iKue$e$Alahi and Catain Mahbubuddin #hmed several times
attacked this 2OP& but the enemy could not be dislodged8 3he
/overnment in e5ile commissioned 3a*4iK$e$Alahi Cho*dhury&
Civil )ervice o4 Pakistan and Mahbubuddin #hmed& Police )ervice
o4 Pakistan *ith the military rank o4 Catain8 1t *as a very good
decision by the /overnment 4or rendering e44ective leadershi by
these t*o atriotic o44icers8 During )econd /reat Dar& 2ritish
o44icers serving in civil deartments in 1ndia *ere a*arded the
military rank and *ere issued military uni4orm and sent to 2urma
4ront to 4ight8 1 *as osted to 7#7 Comany o4 8 )ector 2angladesh
#rmed "orces in the month o4 #ugust 1971 relacing Catain
Mahbubuddin #hmed8 3he comany headKuarters *as located in
1tinda& other side o4 2homra 2OP in the district o4 )atkhira8 3he
Comany consisted o4 regulars <Niyomito Bahini> and citi;en
soldiers <"ano Bahini> 4rom amongst the civilians8 3he strength o4
Niyomito Bahini *as constant consisting mainly have #rmy&
2angladesh !i4les and #nsars *hereas "ano Bahini& *hose strength
4luctuated& consisted o4 students and other youths8 "ano Bahini boys
*ere assigned seci4ic minor tasks and inducted dee inside
2angladesh territory as guerilla 4ighters *hereas Niyomito Bahini
ket the bulk o4 the occuation army committed to the border8
2aikari 2OP *as situated about 1. miles a*ay 4rom our base
cam8 My redecessor Catain Mahbubuddin #hmed& brie4ed me
about the comany activities and 4orthcoming oeration on 2aikhari
2OP8 On -. #ugust 1971 1 *ent to reconnoiter 2aikhari 2OP and its
surrounding areas8 1 crossed the river mentioned earlier and entered
into 2angladesh territory behind enemy osition and gathered
in4ormation 4rom the local eole about the enemy activities and
movements8 3he enemy7s logistics *ere sulied 4rom )atkhira8
3here *as no metal road 4rom )atkhira to 2aikhari8 3he enemy
*ould receive their suly 4rom )atkhira by bullock cart8 3he enemy
had telehone and *ireless communication *ith )atkhira8 3hey *ere
eKuied *ith mortars& machine guns& light machine guns and
automatic ri4les8 1 also *ent to see the enemy osition 4rom the other
side o4 the 2OP across the river8 1n order to ascertain the enemy
strength and their disosition *e also 4ired some shots 4rom light
machine gun and automatic ri4les8 3he enemy relied back *ith
machine gun& light machine gun and automatic ri4les8 #t -2-- hrs on
the night o4 -+ #ugust 1971& t*o latoons o4 Mukti 2ahini issued
*ith arms and ammunition assembled in the base cam8 Dhile 1 *as
brie4ing our Mukti 2ahini about the mode o4 conduct o4 oerations a
Mitra 2ahini <allied 4orce> o44icer *as resent there8 :e *ished us all
success8 1 asked all articiating Mukti 2ahini 4ighters to get into the
*aiting bus that took us near 2aikhari 2OP8
1 met a Mitra 2ahini artillery o44icer there8 :e gave me a
*ireless set and assigned a code *ord 4or me8 :e also gave me a
very$ light istol 4or giving green signal to launch assault on enemy
osition8 De crossed the river by a bridge made o4 single bamboo
through *hich only one erson can ass at a time in one direction8
Dhen *e entered the enemy occuied territory& main body took
osition 2-- yards behind enemy de4ense taking advantage o4 high
bank o4 a ond8 3he cut o44 arty *as sent at a oint bet*een
)atkhira and 2aikhari 2OP8 3he task o4 the cut o44 arty *as to cut
the telehone *ire maintaining communication link *ith the rear8 1
*as *ith the main body8 Dhen every rearation *as comlete 4or
the assault 1 4ired a very light signal istol in the air at an angle o4
'.W to*ards the direction o4 the enemy to alert Mitra 2ahini artillery
osition that all *ere set 4or action8 Mitra 2ahini gun started shelling
on the enemy osition8 1 called the *ireless oerator near me8 1 took
the handset o4 *ireless eKuiment and broke the *ireless silence and
directed artillery gun osition o44icer to inoint the 4ire on the
enemy and corrected the landing o4 the shells to 4all on the enemy
bunkers8 De oened all our *eaons8 3he oeration continued 4or
about hal4 an hour8 Cater on it *as gathered that nine enemy soldiers
*ere killed and the rest abandoned the osition8
#4ter the success4ul comletion o4 the mission Mukti 2ahini task
4orce returned to our base cam8 Mukti 2ahini hysically occuied
2aikhari 2OP ne5t morning8 1 *as resting the ne5t day& as 1 *as
tired8 #4ter a 4e* days 1 *ent to 2aikhari 2OP along *ith 1ndian and
2ritish television team to record the scene o4 the atrocities and
destruction carried out by Pakistan #rmy8
BBC in 1iberated Area
#minul :uK 2adsha& a student leader and later on #ssistant Press
)ecretary to 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman visited my cam
at /u;adanga8 1 *anted to sho* the *orld the action o4 4reedom
4ighters& enemy atrocities and liberated 2angladesh territory8 1
invited him to visit liberated area o4 2angladesh accomanied by
Bournalists 4rom 4oreign media8 #4ter a 4e* days a team o4 22C
Bournalists& 1ndian ne*smen and television technicians reorted to
me at my cam8 3he team *as taken to 2aikhari 2OP earlier
catured by me8
3he lace *as in4ested *ith antiersonnel mines8 2e4ore
abandoning the osition& enemy lanted antiersonnel mines8 3he
e5losion o4 mines inBured some civilians *ho had earlier attemted
to visit the lace8 )ome mines *ere detected and recovered by us8
Dhile 1 *as entering 2OP enclosure& 1 laced my leg on a hidden
mine& my si5th sense *arned me not to ut ressure8 1 used my stick
to unearth the mine8 1 *as miraculously saved by the grace o4 #llah8
#s 1 have mentioned earlier there *as a t*o$storied building beside
2OP 4acing the river on the 1ndian side8 3he enemy used the building
as illbo58 1t *as not ossible 4or us to kee the 2OP ermanently
under our control8 )o 1 decided to destroy it8 1 ut some 3%3 slab on
the ground 4loor that *as ressuri;ed *ith the heavy load o4 an
abandoned iron chest8 3he electrical circuit *as made and an electric
s*itch detonated the e5losive8 3he building became a lum o4
bricks *ithin a 4raction o4 a second8
3here *as a mosKue beside the river8 3he enemy also used the
mosKue as illbo5 disregarding the sanctity o4 religious lace8 22C
made a 4ilm on the destruction caused by Pakistan army& the action o4
4reedom 4ighters& bunkers abandoned by Pakistan army and recorded
the local eoleGs slogans LPakistan Mur!a)a!& 6ahya
Mur!a)a!M<death to Pakistan& death to 6ahya> voicing the
destruction o4 Pakistan and 6ahya8 )imilarly all liberated areas o4
2angladesh *ere recorded to be sho*n to the *orld and to re4ute the
claim o4 Pakistan /overnment that they *ere in comlete control o4
2angladesh territory8
Gono Bahini at +atkhira
"ono)ahini cam mostly comrising o4 young students *as
established at a distance o4 4e* yards 4rom the Mukti 2ahini base
cam8 Most o4 the "ono Bahini boys *ere 4rom *ell to do and
resectable 4amilies8 1t *ould make me sad to think that the lives o4
these boys might be sacri4iced at such a tender age8 #n MP# o4
2angladesh /overnment *as osted there 4or olitical motivation
and as guardian8 1 used to visit the "ono)ahini cam to see their
*el4are& training& morale and oerational 4itness8 3here *as no
medical o44icer in my cam8 )o 1 had to carry out the medical
insection8 On my insection 1 4ound some boys *ere a44ected by
syhilis and gonorrhea8 #roriate measures *ere taken 4or their
treatment and reventive measures *ere also undertaken8 3he
*ounded 4reedom 4ighters used to be sent to 1ndian army7s #dvance
Dressing )tation or 2ase :osital8 One "ono)ahini 4reedom 4ighter
inBured by mine e5losion at 2aikhani 2OP *as sent to 2arrackur
hosital 4or treatment8 2ut he could not be saved8 :e e5ired at
2arrackur :osital8 1 *as in4ormed that an 1mam carried out his
4uneral and burial as er 1slamic rituals8 During his evacuation he
told us not to *orry 4or him8 On searching his bedding and bag his
address *as 4ound and it *as kno*n that he belonged to the district
o4 !aBshahi. "ono)ahini 4reedom 4ighters *ith seci4ic missions
*ere inducted in the district o4 @hulna8 3hey had carried out a
number o4 success4ul oerations8 1n one such oeration at )atkhira
/onobahini 4ighter laid anti$tank mines ble* u one bus named
V2alakaG carrying Pakistani troos8 1t *as later on gathered that
enemy lost 4orty o4 its soldiers8
%a:le ComAany, a heroic 1e:end
1 already commanded t*o EMukti 2ahiniG comanies comrising
NNiyamita Bahini1 and '"ono Bahini1 in t*o di44erent theatres o4
oerations in 8 )ector& 2angladesh #rmed "orces8 1 *as entrusted
*ith the task o4 running administration and controlling logistics in
the )ector :eadKuarters and to maintain close liaison *ith the NMitra
2ahini7( 1n the month o4 October 1971& MaBor Muhammad #bul
Man;ur& )ector Commander& 8 )ector& 2angladesh #rmed "orces&
asked me to think and lan intensive guerilla activity dee inside
2angladesh territory8 :e also hinted that 4inal o44ensive by
2angladesh #rmed "orces and VMitra Bahini1 might be launched in
the last *eek o4 %ovember 19718 # aer on the conduct o4 guerilla
*ar4are *as reared by me and aroved by sector commander8
Dhile rearing the oeration lans& 1 consulted the books *ritten by
Che /uevara and 4e* other books on insurgency given to me by
2rigadier )halekh& Commander Charlie )ector o4 the 1ndian #rmy8
3he )ector Commander areciated the aer8 3he doctrine o4
guerilla *ar4are *as based on the 4ollo*ing rinciles8
Mobility8 /uerillas must be eKuied lightly having ersonal
*eaons& ammunition and clothing8 "or 4ood& medicine and shelter&
guerillas must rely on the mass eole8 /uerillas must not be tied
do*n to a lace 4or long8 )eedy manoeuvre is the key to survival8
)urrise8 2asic olicy o4 guerilla tactics should be hit and run&
*ait& lie in ambush and again hit and run8 Anemy must be caught in
surrise and must be struck *here he e5ects the least8
)urvival8 /uerillas must survive to continue the liberation
struggle to the end8 3he guerilla band is an armed nucleus& the
4ighting vanguard o4 the eole8 1t dra*s its great 4orce 4rom the
mass o4 the eole8 3his is an indisensable condition8 3he guerilla
4ighter need to have a good kno*ledge o4 the surrounding country
side& the ath o4 entry and escae& the ossibility o4 seedy
manoeuvre and good hiding laceI and the most imortant& they must
count on the suort o4 the eole8 #ll endeavours must be ut to
gain the suort and co$oeration o4 general oulation8 )uorters
o4 Pakistan army and other olitical grous creating hindrance in the
conduct o4 liberation *ar have to be liKuidated8 #ll e44orts must be
ut to avoid encirclement to 4ight the decisive battle8
)ecurity and 1ntelligence8 #ll ossible measures must be taken
4or the rotection o4 guerillas and *eaons8 #ll activities and
movements must be restricted to nighttime only8 1dentity o4 guerillas
must be ket secret and they must mi5 in the ocean o4 human
oulation as 4ish in *ater8 1ntelligence net*ork must be made *ith
comany as the nucleus and other guerilla bands as electron in the
erihery o4 shells8 1n4ormation must 4lo* 4rom comany to bands
and vice$versa8
Comosition o4 4orces8 Aagle Comany comrised o4 the
4ollo*ing 4orces8 ,a/ One latoon o4 VNiyamita Bahini18 ,b/ T*o
latoons o4 V"ono Bahini18 ,c/ One *ireless team 4or maintaining
communication *ith sector headKuarters at 2arackore *ith the hel
o4 a small man ack set *eighing ten ounds having long ground
ariel8 Po*er ack containing thirteen 18. volts dry cells *as the
source o4 o*er suly8 Cells *ere readily available in the local
market8 ,d/ # surgical team consisting o4 doctor *ith necessary
surgical instruments and medicines8
2esides the above 4orces& 4ollo*ing 4orces *ere laced under
command 4or success4ul conduct o4 oerations8 ,a/ #ll trained
guerilla bands inducted earlier or later in our area o4 oeration8 ,b/
#ll local VMukti 2ahini7 erson *ho *ere trained inside 2angladesh8
Mission o4 Aagle Comany( On 4inal day o4 induction in the area
o4 resonsibility& )ector commander gave me the 4ollo*ing tasks8
1n Phase One, <a> Dominate the area o4 oerations that is&
Magura& ?henidah& !aBbari and the surrounding areas8 /aining
oular suort o4 the general oulation by motivation& aying
money to *ar a44ected eole and 4ree medical service8 <c>
Alimination o4 the suorters o4 Pakistani army& that is& !a;akars& #l$
2adr& #l$)hams and members o4 eace committee etc8
1n Phase 3*o, <a> #ll the tasks mentioned in hase one8 
Alimination o4 Volitical grou7 and carrying out sabotage 4or the
cause o4 liberation struggle8 <c> Minor oerations that is& raids&
ambush& sabotage etc8
1n hase 3hree, <a> Cut o44 and isolate enemy ositions8 "inal
o44ensive and destruction o4 Pakistan army8
"inal rearation8 "or about 4i4teen days be4ore the induction&
ersons o4 guerilla grous had intensive hysical& *eaon and
tactical training in a guerilla base8 3he route o4 march *as marked on
the ma8 3he guides and carriers *ere selected and given necessary
instruction8 )ignal oerators learnt necessary ciher codes8 3he
ersonnel o4 comany *ere issued *ith arms& ammunition&
e5losives& mines& time encils etc8 # camera *as given by 2rig
)halekh to take hotograh o4 imortant installations& enemy
ositions& likely river crossing sites etc8 Coad carriers *ere selected
4or carrying ammunition& e5losives& medicine etc8 !oute 4or
in4iltration *as reconnoitered 4e* days earlier8
)ays o< induction(
27 October 1971 *as the day o4 induction8 De assed a very
busy day8 #t about 2--- hrs the sector commander gave us the 4inal
brie4ing8 3he comany commander Cat <retd /eneral> Muhammad
Musta4i;ur !ahman 22& ndc& sc& C and other members o4 VMukti
2ahini7 resent in the base cam *ished us every success in our
mission and said good bye to us8 #t about 21-- hrs *e le4t the base
cam8 1t *as a very dark night and things *ere not visible even at a
distance o4 4ive 4eet8 3he comany including other load carriers
numbering about t*o hundred moved in a single 4ormation8 1 mysel4
*as at the head o4 the comany and 2(Ct /olam Musta4a *as at the
tail8 Muhammad #li a veteran smuggler *as my guide8 :e acted as
my eye8 1 had 4oregone the use o4 comass and other methods used
in atrolling8 #nother guide *as *ith 2(Ct /olam Musta4a8 De
byassed enemy osition at ?ibannagore *ithout being detected and
crossed rail*ay line bet*een #ndul 2aria and =thali8 Our movement
*as halted at 2egumur 2il about three miles 4rom the rail*ay track
due to the resence o4 breast high *ater and detection device laid by
Pakistan army8 3he Pakistan army laced a cord across the bil to 4eel
the movement o4 VMukti 2ahini78 De 4ell back and byassed the bill8
2aldia village& eight miles south o4 Chuadanga three sides o4 *hich
*ere rotected by *ater obstacle *as our re$selected hideout 4or the
ne5t day8 #t da*n& *e reached 4our miles short o4 2aldia& but
ultimately *e reached our re$selected hideout in daybreak and took
hasty de4ense in the 4orm o4 a ring *ithout any loss o4 time8
De contacted the headman o4 the village& gave him the money
and asked him to arrange our 4ood8 "rom the *elcome and treatment
that *e had 4rom the local eole& *e 4elt as i4 *e *ere the members
o4 the same 4amily8 1t is really di44icult 4or me to e5ress the 4eelings&
sentiments and love sho*ed to us8 "ood *as cooked in about ten
houses and *e had our 4ood at about 17-- hrs8
3he same evening *e started 4or the ne5t hideout village )uti on
the north bank o4 the river Chitra8 #t 2aldia& t*o student 4reedom
4ighters *ho used to deliver 4iery seeches in the VMukti 2ahini7 base
cam deserted us leaving behind a t*o$inch mortar and a grenade$
thro*ing ri4le8 De sent t*o days and one night at )uti8 3here *e
heard interesting ne*s that ten thousand 4reedom 4ighters *ith all
sohisticated *eaons entered 2angladesh 4rom MuBibnagar at
daybreak near 2aldia8 1t *as the result o4 our movement 8 1t raised
the morale o4 the general eole to the highest eak and at the same
time created demorali;ing e44ect on enemy8
%e5t evening a4ter sunset *e again started 4or our ne5t hideout at
Chandur village 4ive miles north*est o4 ?henidah8 De crossed
?henidah$Chuadanga road at %agarbattan *ithout being detected by
the enemy8 De reached Chandur as er our lan8 3here 1 *as
introduced to a school teacher *ho had already organi;ed a local
VMukti 2ahini7 grou8 #s er the instruction o4 my sector commander
1 administered his oath o4 allegiance to the government o4 the
Peole7s !eublic o4 2angladesh and handed over a V)anad7
authori;ing him as local union commander8
Public suAAort(
3he eole o4 Aast Pakistan *ere totally 4rustrated *hen the
2engali nationalist leader 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman
*as termed as traitor and his olitical arty disbanded8 Dhen
military government in Pakistan tried to sustain themselves in o*er
by military 4orce against the *ill o4 the eole& eace *as already
breached8 #n attitude o4 resistance throughout Aast Pakistan *as
4inally crystalli;ed in an outbreak o4 4ighting& rovoked initially by
atrocity& killing and massacre o4 innocent eole8 Militant 2engali
nation sho*ed total hostility to*ards the 4orces o4 oression8
Peole *elcomed us *herever *e *ent8 Peole never hesitated
to rovide us 4ood& shelter and enemy in4ormation even at the risk o4
their lives8 1 dumed reserved ammunition and e5losives in village
Mingram and =medur8 )ecrecy o4 the ammunition dum *as so
maintained that the mother o4 Dr8 Musarra4 only kne* the location o4
the dum in Mingram8 )he hersel4 dug the ammunition it to
maintain secrecy8 1n case o4 my death the in4ormation *as to be
reorted to my second in command8 Dr8 Musarra4 at the time o4
liberation *ar *as ersonal assistant to ?ustice #bu )ayeed
Chaudhury at Condon8
3he sontaneous co$oeration and assistance rendered by local
eole e5ceeded all bounds o4 e5ectation8 1n the darkness o4 night
Preface 1--3871--388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
*hile moving through the village& *e heard the voices o4 old men
and *omen blessing us saying& SMay #llah cro*n these 4reedom
loving 4ighters *ith victory and honourS8 One night a hundred year
old *oman blessed me keeing her hand on my head8 1 could 4ind
the tears rolling do*n her cheeks *hile raying to #lmighty 4or our
victory and rotection8 Cocal guides *herever needed took us to our
destination8
#n old man o4 seventy& in one night& *ith an a5e in his hand
guided us u to the bank on the river Madhumati8 Country boats
rovided by the local eole *ere used to cross rivers and bils8 3he
in4ormation regarding the enemy advance used to reach us in
lightning seed8 2i$cycle *as used to ass enemy in4ormation to us8
3he suort o4 local oulation 4rom *here *e dre* the real
strength8 1t *as imossible to survive *ithout the suort o4 oular
mass8
My saintly 4ather received a Divine message8 During the middle
o4 the *ar& *hile 1 *as engaged in 4ighting secially in enemy
dominated area behind the enemy lines 4i4ty miles inside
2angladesh& my 4ather *as *orried 4or my li4e8 Prohet
Muhammad<)M> *ho had aeared in dream to my 4atherGs vision
asked him not to *orry 4or my li4e and disclosed early ne*s o4
victory and liberation o4 2angladesh*hich consoled him8 :e
described this message to me in a re$selected !P in the battle ;one8
;a.ourable climate and terrain(
3he terrain o4 2angladesh& *atered abundantly by nature in her
generous mood& caret$like green addy 4ields e5tended as 4ar as the
eye can see and interlaced by countless streams and rivulets& hal4
hidden under the rich lu5uriance o4 vegetation is most ideal 4or
guerilla oerations8 1t *as most di44icult 4or Pakistani conventional
army to reach rural areas due to bad road communication&
4lood*ater& rivers& canals& 4orests& hills& bils& marshes etc8
Movements o4 tanks& artillery guns& and mechani;ed transorts *ere
restricted to metal roads articularly during the monsoon 4rom the
month o4 May to October8 /uerilla activity in the *ar o4 liberation
*as most active and e44ective during these eriods8 /uerillas 4aced
no di44iculties 4ighting the enemy on *ater and land8 1t *as very
di44icult 4or soldiers o4 Pakistan army to reach guerilla hideouts
covering cross$country distance o4 8 to 1. miles through *ater& mud&
cros 4ields and Bungles8 3hey could never attain the surrise8
Administration in the hideouts(
/uerilla movement at daytime *as comletely restricted to
hideout8 Most o4 our hideouts *ere in deserted villages8 #t daytime&
enemy movements *ere observed 4rom the tos o4 trees8 )entries
*ere osted all around the cams8 #t -'-- hrs every day *e used to
get u and take osition covering all likely enemy aroaches8 De
used to cook our 4ood t*ice a day8 De managed cooking utensils and
rations 4rom the local eole on ayment8 1t *as our daily routine to
ass situation reort in ciher coded to our )ector :eadKuarters by
*ireless8 3here *ere several combing oerations by enemy8 Avery
time *e could success4ully escae e5cet in village @amanna *here
one local guerilla band *as encircled by battalion strength and in that
action t*enty$nine 4reedom 4ighters *ere killed8 On the same night&
Pakistan army *ith another battalion strength encircled village
Mingram hardly 4e* miles 4rom @amanna *here 1 *as utting u
*ith 4e* local guerillas8 De could luckily escae because o4 the
observance o4 early *arning system8
Guerilla oAerations and other tactical acti.ities(
1 contacted leaders o4 guerilla bands and local VMukti 2ahini7
grous and re$organi;ed them Kuickly8 1 administered the oath o4
allegiance to the /overnment o4 the Peole7s !eublic o4 2angladesh
to 3hana commanders Chairman #kbar :ussein Mia 4or )riur and
Huamra;;aman 4or )ailkua8 2oth o4 them *ere retired air 4orce
sergeants and handed them the V)anad7 issued and signed by
commander 8 )ector8 3hen *e geared u the activity as er
instructions issued earlier8
Police station at )ailkua manned by Dest Pakistan rangers&
olice and !a;akars *as raided by a grou o4 VMukti 2ahini7 led by
2(Ct /olam Musta4a8 3here *as heavy casualty on enemy side and
the ne5t day the olice station *as vacated8
3he ne5t oeration *as to conduct raid on )riur olice station8
3he olice station *as encircled and the enemy mostly olice and
!a;akars *ere comelled to surrender8 Catain DahabGs name *as
announced by loudseaker to install 4ear in their mind8 Pakistan
#rmy including their collaborators *as shit scared o4 Catain
Dahab8 )ubstantial Kuantity o4 arms and ammunition *ere catured8
3he *hole area o4 Magura and ?henidah subdivisions brought
under our domination *ith the e5cetion o4 heavily rotected
Magura and ?henidah to*ns8 One o4 our guerilla bands ambushed a
military convoy on road running bet*een Magura and ?henidah
destroying seven military vehicles and causing heavy casualty to
Pakistan army8 # guerilla band ambushed another military convoy
coming 4rom Magura to Cangalband 2a;aar8 # 4e* o44icers and
%COs o4 Pakistan army *ere killed and a Bee *as catured8 Cater
on the Bee *as sunk in a ond8 Pakistan army severely beaten came
in strength and started burning village @omlaur by sreading
hoshorous8 1mmediately& 1 sent a section *ith 4e* CM/s to 4ire
4rom the nearby village and enemy *as 4orced to return to their
strong base at Magura to*n8 On the same day Pakistan army *as
coming *ith comany strength to*ards )riur 4rom Magura8 3hey
*ere ambushed and 23 o4 them *ere killed and the rest 4led back to
Magura to*n8
De had time encils *ith hal4 an hour and one$hour 4use8 De
reared time bombs *ith e5losives& broken glass& detonator and
time encil8 2reaking the end o4 time encil activated the bomb8 De
lanted number o4 them in the o44ice o4 imortant ersons& !a;akar
and Pakistan army cams and in some imortant installations8 3hese
bombs *ere laced *ith the hel o4 our agents lanted as !a;akars
and other government o44icials8 1t created real anic in the minds o4
Pakistan army and their suorters8 1n the last *eek o4 %ovember&
1971 *e could hear 4rom Pangsa at "aridur the sound o4 13-mm
gun being 4ired by allied 4orce 4rom 2angladesh border8 De received
the instruction 4rom sector commander through couriers to intensi4y
our activity8 De intensi4ied our oerational activities& sent raid arties
to enemy ositions and assed battle intelligence to our sector
headKuarters at MuBibnagar over *ireless communication8
On -3 December 1971 Pakistan attacked 1ndia in the Destern
4ront& Pakistan air 4orce bombers ut surrise attack on air bases in
1ndia8 3he 4ull$scale o44ensive by VMitra 2ahini and Mukti 2ahini7
*as launched on -3(' December 19718 1 called the 1ndian air 4orce
by chier coded signal to strike on enemy osition at Magura
indicating the target the enemy :eadKuarters established in D#PD#
comle5 *ith si5$4igure grid re4erence and the bombing on enemy
targets *as carried out success4ully8 POC dum in D#PD# godo*n
caught 4ire and the bla;e o4 4ire *ent very high8 Pakistan #rmy
vacated Magura leaving behind huge Kuantity o4 logistics like
*eaons& ammunition& rations& clothing& boots and etrol etc8 Aven
the marked mas and list o4 collaborators *ere 4ound intact8 #rrested
4reedom 4ighters 4rom custody escaed in the melee8 "i4ty thousand
gallons o4 POC *ere catured8 Pakistan army had virtually no
security about their activity& movements and de4ense layout8 /uerilla
raid arties ushed in Magura to*n on night -.(-+ December8 Mukti
2ahini7 entered Magura to*n on -7 December 19718 "or the 4irst
time 1 established direct contact *ith NMitra 2ahini78 1 *as taken to
2rigadier !aBendranath brigade commander +2 Mountain 2rigade o4
VMitra 2ahini7 and hence4orth *e started 4ighting in close co$
oeration *ith VMitra 2ahini78
#t Magura 1 received a *ritten message 4rom Pakistan army that
they *ould like to surrender to me as 1 am a Muslim and they *ould
not like to surrender to any :indu8 Pakistan army thought that 1
*ould 4all rey to their tra8 # *ritten message by VMitra 2ahini7
asking Pakistan army to surrender *ithout 4urther blood shed *as
sent8 3*o young men carried the message across the Madhumati
!iver at Domain *ith *hite 4lag in their hands8 1n rely both o4 them
*ere critically inBured& oneGs throat *as slit by bayonet and others
head *as cut and *ere told that Pakistan army never kne* ho* to
surrender8 3he Pakistan army abandoned ?henidah and Magura 4or
my activity *ithout giving any battle and took deliberate de4ense in
villages @amarkhali and Domain taking advantage o4 natural
obstacle& the Madhumati !iver that *as about 3-- yards *ide8 1 *ent
to visit the 4or*ard most troos at village !aBadharur astride the
high*ay on the south bank o4 the river Madhumati8 1 le4t the Bee
and *alked to a battalion headKuarters and had discussion *ith
commanding o44icer o4 the battalion about the rogress o4 the battle8
1n one stage Commanding O44icer& searching his soul having doubt in
his mind& osed Kuestion to me *hether 2engalis *ould remember
the blood shed by 1ndian soldiersN 1n rely 1 assured that 2engalis
are not ungrate4ul and *ould remember the sacri4ices o4 1ndian
soldiers8 Could *e kee our *ordsN #s M/O 1 remember that a
decision *as taken in P)OGs con4erence to construct eitah in the
remises o4 Aternal "lame 4or 1ndian soldiers *ho sacri4iced their
lives 4or our 4reedom8 Dhile 1 *as returning 4rom the battalion
headKuarters& the area *as shelled by enemy artilleryI their observer
must have observed the Bee earlier8 1 *ent under a culvert& *here a
section o4 VMukti 2ahini7 boys *ere resting8 1 le4t under the heavy
sho*ers o4 artillery shells8
On some other occasions *hile 1 *as moving by a military Bee
accomanied by a commanding o44icer o4 a regiment o4 VMitra
2ahini7 through village %akoil on the south bank o4 the Madhumati&
one man rushed to sto our Bee8 :e crossed the river MadhumatiI
brought in4ormation that enemy had changed the osition at Domain8
AnemyGs ne* location *as assed by *ireless to our gun osition
and the enemy immediately started receiving the heavy ounding8
3his *as one o4 the hundred events *e came across during the *ar8
De crossed the Madhumati !iver on 11 December 19718 1 *as
given the 4ollo*ing tasks,
a8 Crossing the river Madhumati at Potra& 4ive miles ustream
4rom @amarkhali 4erry head in the darkness o4 night and establish
bridgehead across the river8
b8 Providing su44icient number o4 country boats 4or 4errying the
troos and their ammunition and eKuiment etc8
#4ter a grou o4 VMukti 2ahini7 numbering about 1.- secured
bridgehead on the other bank o4 the Madhumati at Potra& VMitra
2ahini7 along *ith a sKuadron o4 amhibious tanks crossed the river8
One tank sank *hile s*imming across8 %e5t day attack *as
launched on enemy osition at village )amadhinagar& Domain and
@amarkhali by the combined 4orces o4 NMitraO and NMukti 2ahini7(
2(Ct /olam Musta4a and %a;rul 1slam& a local guerilla commander&
led VMukti 2ahiniG8 1 could see the allied bombers diving and
droing bombs in enemy osition at village Domain and
@amarkhali sitting in 1ndian 2rigade :eadKuarters at Magura8
1 *as *orried 4or the reeated declaration o4 cease$4ire by
)ecurity Council in =%O and the cruising o4 #merican )eventh "leet
to*ards the *ater o4 the 2ay o4 2engal8 VMitra 2ahiniG o44icer and
*ar corresondent told me that veto *ould be alied against cease$
4ire8 "i4ty allied bombers 4or suicidal mission *ere ket ready to
destroy the )eventh "leet8 On 1+ December 1971 at 1.-- hrs *hile 1
*as busy in headKuarters& +2 Mountain brigade& listened over radio
broadcast that the Pakistan army had surrendered8 1 *as
over*helmed *ith Boy8 1t *as the haiest moment in my li4e8
Once again *e demonstrated to the *orld that the 2engalis are a
4ighting and martial race8 Cike our ancestors 1sha @han& 3itu Mir&
)urBa )en& seoys o4 2engal %ative 1n4antry& 2engal Cavalry& 2engal
#rtillery and Aast 2engal !egiments had roved this *ith glories o4
battles to their credit8
Ban:ladesh Air <orce in 1iberation War
and
%Aisode o< a Aatriotic Ben:ali Pilot
Chauvinist )hamsul #lam o4 2angladesh #ir 4orce *as a shining star
in the sky o4 2angladesh8 :e *as ut in rolonged con4inement&
subBected to inhuman torture& su44ered continued mental agonyI ut
to unimaginable insult and humiliation by the Pakistan #rmy8 2ut
ultimately he dislayed his dauntless courage and bravery o4 a
4ighter ilot in escaing 4rom torture cell8
)hamsul #lam *as commissioned in Pakistan #ir "orce in /DP
2ranch as ilot o44icer on ?uly 19+78 #s a "light Cieutenant )hamsul
#lam *as osted at #ir 2ase !a*alindi *ith %o8+ )Kuadron8 :e
sa* the massive olitical turmoil o4 Pakistan in 19+9 and roundtable
con4erence o4 the leaders o4 all olitical arties 4rom close Kuarters
chaired by President #yub @han attended by )heikh MuBibur
!ahman Bust released 4rom #gartala consiracy case8 :e *as *itness
to the e5it o4 desot President "ield Marshal Muhammad #yub @han
and taking over o4 o*er by another military dictator /eneral 6ahya
@han *ho romised to hold 4ree and 4air election8 :e *itnessed the
-7 December 197- Pakistan %ational #ssembly election and
observed that the Dest Pakistani o44icers *ere comletely 4rustrated
a4ter the victory o4 #*ami Ceague in %ational #ssembly8 1t *as the
4ear o4 Dest Pakistanis that 2engalis *ould rule Pakistan8 3he honey
and butter so 4ar enBoyed by them *ould cease to e5ist and the
e5loitation o4 resources o4 Aast Pakistan *ould sto8 "light
Cieutenant #lam iloted C$13-: 3ransort #ircra4t that 4erried Pak
troos 4rom @arachi to Dhaka via Colombo in the month o4 "ebruary
19718 :e carried out ten sorties and each tri o4 1.- troos *as
4erried8 :e managed to kee a coy o4 the tri sheet each time and
assed the same to 2angabandhu to alert him about the heinous
intention o4 Pak military ?unta8
3he mass murder and shooting do*n o4 innocent 2engalis and
burning o4 their houses on the night o4 2. March 1971 and therea4ter
*ere ublici;ed in the *orld rint and electronic media came to his
kno*ledge8 :eavy *eaons like tanks& artillery guns& gun$ boats and
)aber Bets *ere used e5tensively to carry out the killing o4 2engalis8
%aturally he as a conscious 2engali *as hurt& shocked& ained&
4rustrated and agoni;ed hearing the tales o4 genocide and rae o4
2engali *omen in the then Aast Pakistan8 :is disturbed mind *as
ricking his conscience all the time8 :e assed many a sleeless
night8 :is thought al*ays *ent 4ar beyond his *orklace to his dear
2angladesh& *hich *as ro4usely bleeding8 :e talked to some senior
2engali o44icer about his desire to escae and Boin the liberation *ar8
)enior 2engali o44icer cautioned him not to discuss this serious
matter anymore and advised him to take indeendent decision
*ithout consulting anyone8 Dhen "light Cieutenant #lamGs heart *as
bleeding and charged *ith the 4ire o4 atriotism to take the revenge
o4 genocide committed against 2engali race he *as determined to
Boin liberation struggle& he reKuested his O44icer Commanding 4or
one$month leave on the ground he did not receive in4ormation about
his arents and liked to see his arents in Dhaka8 :is reKuest 4or
leave *as turned do*n8 3hen he asked 4or -7 days leave to visit his
sister at @arachi8 3his time his leave *as granted8 :e *ent to his
bank to collect money8 :e had about si5ty thousand !uees in his
bank account8 :e *rote the cheKue 4or !uees 4orty thousand
although he had si5ty thousand !uees in his account Bust to
hood*ink the Dest Pakistani bank manager about his intention8 )till
the bank manager doubted his intention and asked *hat he *ould do
*ith that big amount o4 money8 :e relied that it *as not his
concern8
:e le4t !a*alindi on -3 May 1971 by air and reached @arachi8
:e managed a P1# ticket <@arachi$Dhaka> through one o4 his 4riends
Preface 1-'3871-'388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
in some seudonym8 :e boarded the P1# lane on -' May 19718 :e
*as in civvies8 :e ut 4orty thousand !uees in the luggage8 P1#
aircra4t landed at Dhaka airort on the same day at about 1+3- hours8
#s he disembarked 4rom the aircra4t he 4ound 4our stranger air 4orce
o44icers at the gang*ay8 3hey talked absolutely normal in 4riendly
atmoshere and asked "t Ct #lam as to *hy he had come to Dhaka8
:e relied that he had come to see his arents8 "t Ct #lam *ent
straight to the assenger lounge and *aiting 4or the luggage8 #irort
*as deserted& there *as no orter& and uni4ormed ersons *ere
manning the airort8 #4ter lase o4 about an hour& one o4 the
a4orementioned air 4orce o44icers aroached him and asked "t Ct
#lam *hether he needed any hel8 "t Ct #lam reKuested him i4 he
could bring his luggage as he *as *aiting 4or the same8 3he
Pakistani stranger asked 4or the luggage tug8 :e gave the Pakistani
stranger his luggage tug8 3he Pakistani strangers got his luggage and
asked him to accomany them8 #lam 4ound his luggage in the
military Bee8 3he stranger o44icers asked #lam *here he *ould like
to go8 #lam relied that he *ould go to his arentGs house at
Malibagh8 3he stranger o44icers asked him to get into the *aiting
military vehicle8 3he military vehicle carrying him stoed at P#"
o44icerGs mess8 Dhen #lam insisted to go to his house& the stranger
o44icers relied that he needed cur4e* ass to move in the city8 )o
#lam reKuested them to arrange cur4e* ass 4or him8 #4ter the lase
o4 an hour the stranger o44icers said that the o44icer on duty *ho
issue cur4e* ass *as not available8 )o #lam *as asked to stay the
night in the P#" o44icer mess8 # room in the O44icerGs Mess *as
allotted 4or #lam8 #s soon as #lam entered the room& the door o4 the
room *as bolted 4rom outside8 #lam 4ound sentries *ere laced
around his room8 3he concierge on duty *arned him not to try to
escae and in4ormed him that ne5t morning #lam *ould be taken to
2ase commander 4or intervie*8 :e reali;ed that his brother o44icers
ut him under locku in his o*n o44icerGs mess8 Dhole day assed&
no body turned u8 #t night at about 12-- hours& an escort came and
in4ormed #lam that he *ould be taken to 2ase commander 4or
intervie*8 #lam *as handcu44ed and blind4olded and ut in a
military transort and taken to unkno*n destination8 Dhen #lam *as
untied o4 the blind4old& he 4ound himsel4 in a closed room&
reviously used as ammunition dum located in Dhaka Cantonment
on the oosite o4 resent P%) :aBi Mohasin8 #lam 4ound there
some other o44icers namely Cieutenant )hamsher Mobin Cho*dhury&
Catain #*alad :ussain and 4e* others8 3hey *ere lying on the
4loor acked like sardines8 #lam managed small sace among the
catives and lay do*n there sKuashed together like sardines in tiny
rison cell8 3he ne5t night at 12-- hours& #lam *as asked to
accomany an army escort8 )omeone among the risoners reminded
him to be mentally strong *hile leaving the rison cell8 #4ter he
steed a 4e* yards& he *as given a strong thrust by a bamboo ole
4rom behind8 :e 4ell do*n on the ground *ith a severe ain8 :e *as
asked to stand u and move8 #4ter a 4e* yards& he sa* a body o4
troos in the moonlight8 3he body o4 troos 4anned out8 Dhen he
reached among the body o4 troos& someone asked him in =rdu <3um
murga ka tara4 bot Bau> sit do*n like a chicken8 #lam hesitated to sit
do*n as ordered8 3he troos 4orced him to sit& as they desired8 3hey
started beating him *ith *his& kicking *ith nailed boots and
torturing him *ith hot *ater and hot iron rods inhumanly 4or about
t*o hours8 3his tye o4 torture continued 4or some days8
# gentleman as risoner *as brought in a shabby dress&
hysically and mentally shattered& incarcerated in the same rison
cell8 :e ket Kuite mum 4or 4e* days8 3he catives in the cell took
him as lanted sy and also ket mum8 #4ter 4e* days he oened his
mouth8 3he gentleman named ) @ M #bdullahGs crime *as that he
accorded shelter in his Mogba;;ar house to the *i4e o4 MaBor Fiaur
!ahman *ho revolted and declared *ar against the /overnment o4
Pakistan 4or illegal occuation o4 2angladesh and *aging *ar
Preface 1-.3871-.388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
against unarmed oulation o4 2angladesh8 1n 2angladesh this
gentleman became the Chairman o4 Petrobangla and also the member
o4 2angladesh Public )ervice Commission8 Fia 4amily and #bdullah
4amily came in close contact *hen they *ere serving in !a*alindi
in 19+-s8
3hen #lam *as taken to an interrogation cell at )her e$2angla
%agore MP hostel8 :e *as stried o44 his clothes and made him
4ully naked and laced in a closed room8 :e *as ordered to stand u
non$sto motionless belo* a thousand *atts bulb hanging over his
head8 %e5t day he *as interrogated as to *hy he had come to Dhaka8
:e relied that he had come to Dhaka to meet his arents8 3he rely
*as not to their satis4action8 3he same inhuman torture *as
continued 4or ne5t day and night8 On the second day also he *as
again interrogated *ith the same Kuestion and his rely *as not
di44erent8 1n third night he could not bear the torture and collased8
3hen he *as again asked *hy he had come to Dhaka8 3his time he
said he had come to Boin the liberation struggle8 %o* the
interrogators said Lyou have come out *ith the truth& i4 you have told
the truth earlier& you *ould not have to undergo such torture8M
#lam could hear the cry o4 agony and angs o4 human souls
coming out 4rom other rooms8 :e *as reKuested to act as interreter
4or risoner in a nearby room by the interrogators8 :e consented to
do the same8 :e *as taken to a room *here he 4ound ool o4 blood
on the 4loor8 3his tye o4 blood is only 4ound in slaughterhouses8
3here he 4ound a dying man8 3he ool o4 blood oo;ed out 4rom the
mouth and nose o4 this dying man *ho *as reeatedly tortured8 :e
asked him *hy he had been brought there8 Dhatever he could gather
4rom his 4aint voice& it revealed that a grou o4 "reedom "ighters
ambushed a military convoy at ?amalur& si5teen military soldiers
*ere killed& many inBured and numbers o4 military vehicles *ere
damaged8 3he area *as cordoned by helidroed troos8 #ll the
4reedom 4ighters managed to escae e5cet the simle 4armer
carrying the ammunition bo58 :e 4elt that the ammunition bo5 *as
costlier than his li4e8 :e *as running *ith the load o4 ammunition
bo5 *eighing about 2- @/ as a result he remained *ithin the
cordoned area and *as catured8 #4ter hearing his eisode& he *as
knocked by military Backboot& got the bang on his 4ace& collased and
embraced martyrdom8 Dhat a sacri4ice 4or a atriotic oor 4armerR
"orgettable nation has 4orgotten all these sacri4ices8
"t Ct #lam *as taken to earlier resort J abandoned ammunition
dum J torture rison cell8
On 1' #ugust 1971 President 6ahya @han declared general
amnesty& "t Ct #lam *as granted amnesty and 4reed 4rom all charges8
:e *as taken to 2ase commander #ir commodore Masud *ho asked
him to go to Dest Pakistan as Pak #ir 4orce had shortage o4 4ighter
o44icers8 )o his services *ere reKuired in the Destern 4ront8 :e had
sho*n the #ir commodore the torture marks on his entire body8 :e
asked 4or one monthGs leave and *as instead granted seven days
leave8 :e asked 4or his luggage& but they re4used and told that he
*ould be given at the time o4 his roceeding to Dest Pakistan8 :e
*ent to P#" o44icerGs mess8 :e le4t P#" o44icers mess *ith a lungi
and vest though the Pakistanis sho*ed bonhomie and o44ered him
4resh dress8 2ut as a roud and sel4 resecting o44icer *ho re4er
death and *ould die& not bo* his head to anyone )o he re4used the
o44er *ith emotion o4 anger and bitter hatred *hich 4lo*ed like
molten lava through his heart and mind and he *alked u to
"armgate& and nobody 4ollo*ed him8 "rom "armgate he took a ta5i
and *ent straight to his arentGs house at Malibagh8 "t Ct #lamGs
sister sa* him& could not believe that her brother had such miserable
condition8 3he eole o4 the locality& hearing the ne*s rushed to his
house8 )eeing his miserable condition& sorro* and anger o4 the
eole burst into tears and 4lames8 "or the ne5t three days he *as in
dee slee emerging 4rom torture cell o4 rolonged con4inement&
agony& torture& insult and humiliation8 )ome young 4reedom 4ighters
Preface 1-+3871-+388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
e5tended sincere assistance to guide him to 1ndia8 :e acceted their
gesture o4 4raternity8 :e *as carried by boat 4rom the resent
!amura 3P station to Comilla through rivers& canals and bils8
#nother arty took him to #gartala8 :e *as 4lo*n 4rom #gartala to
Calcutta8 :e got a ne* lease o4 li4e *hich he vo*ed sacri4ice 4or the
de4eat and destruction o4 Pak hyenas8
Dhen the 1ndo$Pak *ar broke out on -3 December 1971& he had
4lo*n number o4 sorties o4 bomber aircra4tsI and bombed and
rocketed enemy targets at Dhaka and Chittagong8 :e dislayed his
undaunted courage and determination and created anic and havoc in
the minds o4 co*ard enemies and destroyed number o4 enemy
targets8 :e *as a*arded 2ir =ttam 4or his gallant action by
2angabanduGs /overnment8
Cet us see ho* a small grou o4 dedicated ilots and technicians
achieved miracle *ith atriotic ;eal& determination and innovation
*ith *hatever 4lying machines they could master8
# grou o4 ten #ir "orce O44icers and P1# Pilots and +7
technicians assembled at Dimaur base o4 DD$11 in the state o4
%agaland on 28 )etember 19718 3he #ir 4orce O44icers *ere
)Kuadron Ceader )ultan Mahammud& "light Cieutenant 2adrul #lam
and "light Cieutenant )hamsul #lam8 P1# ilots *ere Catain #bdul
Mukith& Catain @a;i #bdus )atter& Catain )hahabuddin #hmed&
Catain #bdul @haleKue& Catain #kram #hmed and Catain
)ar4uddin8 /rou Catain Chandan )ingh o4 1ndian #ir "orce *as
resonsible 4or training& administration and the air oeration8 #ir
Chie4 Marshal PC Cal o4 1ndian #ir "orce issued order to release one
transort lane DC$3& one helicoter #luette 111 and a )inge engine
Otter #ircra4t to ne*ly born 2angladesh #ir 4orce contingent at the
reKuest o4 2angladesh /overnment8 Dhimaur 2ase had .--- 4eet
long run*ay8 3ransort lane DC$3 could not be taken 4or oeration
to enemy occuied territory& as it roduced big noise and released too
much smoke *ith illuminating 4lash o4 4ire8 3here4ore DC$3 *as
used 4or logistic urose *ithin the sa4e ;one8 Catain #bdul
@haleKue& Catain #bdul Mukit and Catain #bdus )atter iloted
DC$38 Otter #ircra4t *as made oeration *orthy by 4itting :unter
rocket od& each od could carry 4our rockets& '8 rockets *ere 4itted
in its *ings& 2' rockets in each *ing8 3hree bomb$carrying racks&
each caable o4 carrying three 2.$ound bombs in each rack *ith
4urther nine sare bombs *ere 4itted8 3he aircra4t *as also armed
*ith t*o 83-3 bro*ning machine guns8
3he helicoters *ere also armed *ith rockets and machine guns
*ith necessary modi4ications8
A5tensive training 4lights and real time shooting ractice on
dummy targets *ere carried out to give the ilots con4idence and
make them oerationally 4it8 2y 2- %ovember 1971 they *ere
comletely 4it 4or air oeration8
"light Cieutenant )hamsul #lam and his team along *ith Otter
aircra4t *ere moved to @ailashtila airstri in the state o4 #ssam&
south o4 @umbigram8 #mmunition and other logistics *ere moved
by road8
)Kuadron Ceader )ultan Mahammud and his team *ith his
helicoter moved to 3aliamura near #gartala8 #rial ictures o4 the
otential targets taken 4rom high altitude by 1ndian #ir "orce *ere
sho*n to the 2engali ilots be4ore the start o4 the mission8 3he
designated o44icer o4 /rou Catain Chandan )ingh handed over
4irst mission lan in closed enveloe to )Kuadron Ceader )ultan
Mahmmud and "light Cieutenant )hamsul #lam on 28 %ovember
19718 #ll the ilots *ore the 4lying suits and issued *ith the ersonal
*eaons8
3he schedule time 4or take o44 *as 22-- hours on 28 %ovember
19718 1t *as delayed by the order o4 higher command till 2--- hours
on -3 December 19718 "light Cieutenant )hamsul #lam and his team
*ere assigned to destroy the aviation 4uel storage tanks at Patenga&
Chittagong8 )Kuadron Ceader )ultan Mahmmud& "light Cieutenant
2adrul #lam and Catain )habuddin *ere assigned to destroy the
4uel storage tanks at /odnail near %arayanganB8 Pakistan #ir "orce
launched re$emtive attack on the targets in 1ndia in the Destern
4ront at 173- hours on -3 December 19718
3he commander o4 the mission 4or Chittagong oeration& "light
Cieutenant )hamsul #lam& co$ilot Catain #kram #hmed& a gunner
and a bombardier took o44 4rom @ailashtila airstri at 22--hrs on -3
December 19718 2e4ore entering 2angladesh territory at 3aliamura&
they *ere sho*n the 4lashlight to ensure them that they *ere
4ollo*ing the correct route8 3he aircra4t had no night navigation
eKuiment and had to 4ly on the basis o4 ma and brie48 1n
2angladesh territory they maintained radio silence8 3hey entered
2angladesh territory at )hubhaur 2ridge and 4ollo*ed the seashore
o4 2ay o4 2engal$ observed the searchlight at )itakundu and reached
the mouth o4 @arna4uli !iver8 1t *as a moonlit night8 3hey had 4lo*n
over the target area 4or reconnaissance8 3hey selected the assigned
targets8 3hey made three attemts and rocketed the 4uel tanks$ each
time targeting t*o to three targets8 3he 4irst rocket *as released at
one minute assed 12-- on -' December 19718 3he 4uel tanks burst
into 4lames illuminating the *hole area like daylight8 3hey also
rocketed t*o 4uel tankers anchored at @arna4uli !iver8 "uel tankers
also burst into 4lames8 Anemy anti$ aircra4t gun came into action and
there *as 4lash o4 light in the sky o4 Patenga8 3hey moved a*ay to
sa4ety into the sea and returned to airbase8 3he total duration o4 the
mission *as 8 hours 3- minutes8 1t needs to be mentioned here that
2angladesh ilots *ere the 4irst to undertake 4irst air strike on enemy
targets be4ore 1#" mission8
)everal such sorties *ere undertaken by 2#" contingent at
di44erent targets till the surrender o4 the enemy8
1llegitimate President Arshad *ho snatched o*er 4rom the
democratically elected /overnment by the 4orces o4 gun *as born
enemy o4 4reedom 4ighters ignominiously dismissed /rou Catain
)hamsul #lam& 2ir =ttam 4rom 2#" in 198. on 4ictitious charges&
though the court o4 enKuiry could not 4ind the merit o4 the case 4or
discilinary action and could not recommend such drastic
unishment8 Arshad *as the great enemy o4 4reedom 4ighters *ho
*orked 4or Pakistan #rmy as their agent in our liberation *ar8
President /eneral Fiaur !ahman& 2ir =ttam choose incometent&
mediocre& debauch& corrut& gutless& ansy& shameless& characterless
and sineless and aarently loyal& submissive and harmless Arshad
as Chie4 o4 )ta44 o4 2angladesh #rmy instead o4 outstanding&
4lamboyant and "reedom "ighter MaBor /eneral Muhammad #bul
Man;ur& 2ir =ttam8 /eneral Fia even donned another 4unny ca on
Arshad as chie4 atron o4 4reedom 4ighters *ithout *hose clearance
4reedom 4ighters certi4icate could not be issued8 %ot content *ith
a*arding all these gi4ts to buy loyalty o4 Arshad& /eneral Fia ut
another 4eather on his ca as chie4 o4 national co$ordination cell 4or
checking corrution& this anchorage Arshad used to hook u the
retty *ives o4 corrut /overnment o44icials like 2adruddin Omar&
Musarra4 etc& etc8 Cieutenant Colonel # : :eleluddin& sc& escaed
4rom Dest Pakistan and actively articiated in liberation *ar& the
Commanding O44icer o4 #rmy security unit <#)=> in 198- submitted
a reort on ArshadGs all *icked deeds directly to the President Fia
*ho overlooked it and did not take any action8 1n the 4irst
oortunity as President& Arshad sacked the commanding o44icer
4rom the #rmy8 Arshad had no ride and moral standing in the #rmy
as non$"reedom "ighter& but he had the tacit suort o4 reatriated
o44icers and troos *ho lost their t*o years seniority to the 4reedom
4ighters8 2angabandhuGs /overnment granted t*o years seniority to
4reedom 4ighters8 /eneral Fia as 4reedom 4ighter derived the
ma5imum bene4it out o4 this rivilege romoted to the rank o4 MaBor
/eneral Bust be4ore the start o4 reatriation8 1n 1973 *ithin the san
o4 t*o years 2angabandhu romoted Fia 4rom MaBor to MaBor
/eneral8 MaBor /eneral Fiaur !ahman being suerceded by MaBor
/eneral )a4iullah and *ith 4urther e5tension o4 his service by
another three years *as 4rustrated dre* the symathy and suort o4
reatriated o44icers *ho *ere also 4rustrated& guilty conscience as
de4eated Pakistani 4orce and second class non 4reedom 4ighter
o44icers in the army8 Arshad as the Chie4 o4 #rmy )ta44 could not
rotect the li4e o4 President Fiaur !ahman as he himsel4 *as
reortedly involved in the consiracy and had 4ull kno*ledge o4
consiracy8 Coyalty vanished into oblivion8 1ntelligence agencies like
D/"1& %)1& )2& D2 etc assed the ne*s o4 imending cou lan to
kill President Fiaur !ahman to /eneral Arshad and D/"1 Chie4
MaBor /eneral Muhabbat ?an Cho*dhury both o4 *hom
intentionally suressed the in4ormation o4 the lanned attack on the
li4e o4 the President8 Military )ecretary to the President having the
kno*ledge o4 imending cou neither accomanied the President nor
alerted the President about the imeding cou8 1n 19+8& MaBor
Arshad& D##0HM/ 1- 2de and MaBor )adiK& Comany
Commander 3 Aast 2engal as good 4riend sent the Aid holyday
together *hile osted in )ialkot8 MaBor #bdur !ahman& 2ty
commander <MaBor /eneral in 2angladesh> *ith his *i4e Cucky
Boined us in the residence o4 MaBor )hamsul :uda Cho*dhury8
MaBor Arshad gave me a li4t in his !enault car8 Arshad *as
commissioned 4rom O3) <O44icer 3raining )chool at @ohat>I hardly
o44icer 4rom O3) can go beyond the rank o4 MaBor8 Ciberation o4
2angladesh oened his 4ortune8 MaBor Arshad *as romoted to the
rank o4 Cieutenant Colonel in 197- out o4 the *ay by e5tra e44ort o4
Cieutenant /eneral @ha*Ba Dasiuddin& Colonel Commandant o4
Aast 2engal !egiment8 Arshad killed t*o birds in one stone and
though hesitant lacking initiative encouraged by anti$liberation
4orces grabbed the state o*er8 Arshad subseKuently through his
miss$governance and corrution looted the /overnment treasury as
President o4 2angladesh and caused loss o4 millions o4 Dollars some
o4 *hich reortedly *ere deosited in 4oreign accounts8 1t *as the
time *hen 4inancial deredation took its root& consicuous
consumtion and illegal earning *as o44icially atroni;ed and
corruting all the institutions o4 the state8 Arshad initiated the
massive rigging and tarnishing o4 electoral rocess till then culture
and climate o4 4air oll could not be brought to ractice8 Money thus
lundered by debauch Arshad sent 4or Mary 2adruddin& Finnat
Musarra4& and many others 4or adultery *hich in 1slam is unishable
*ith death by thro*ing stones burying *aist dee under earth8 :is
*as a time *hen even *i4e$s*aers tried to become guardians o4
ublic morals8 Arshad must be taken to the dock 4or ublic
rosecution 4or collaboration *ith enemy 4orces& lundering o4 state
money& adultery and murder o4 "reedom "ighters along *ith his
abettors8
Chauvinist )hamsul #lam& 2ir =ttam conscience about his sel4
resect never *rites his rank /rou Catain *ith his name neither he
aealed 4or revie* o4 his case and restoration o4 his rank8 3here are
number o4 instances *here dismissal orders *ere revie*ed& ranks
restored and re$instituted in service8 Cieutenant /eneral )hahab;ada
6akub @han& cors commander Aastern Command o4 Aast Pakistan&
on return to Pakistan *as sacked and stried o44 his rank *ho
resisted to use military 4orce in Aast Pakistan8 Cater on *ith the
change o4 government his rank *as restored and he *as t*ice
"oreign Minister o4 Pakistan8 1n 2angladesh Cieutenant /eneral
#)M %asim& 2ir 2ikram and others *ere dismissed *ho resisted
unla*4ul command$ the illegal actions8 3he ranks o4 Cieutenant
/eneral #)M %asim& 2ir 2ikram and his associates *ere restored
*ith the change o4 government8 1t is a general 4eeling that though it
is too late still /rou Catain )hamsul #lam& 2ir =ttam Es dismissal
order may be cancelled to undo the inBustice in4licted to him as er
rovision o4 #ir 4orce !ules and !egulation8 <)ource, )hamsul #lam&
2ir =ttamGs intervie* *ith the author>8
ChaAter I
MA-23% WA-;A-% A3) ?P%-AT2?3 BAC5P?T
3a.al ;orce
1n the initial stage no naval 4orce e5isted in the Mukti 2ahini8 3here
*as not even a single naval o44icer in Mukti 2ahini8 3he 4irst
reckonable numbers o4 naval seamen *ere eight submariners *ho
escaed 4rom "rance and reached Delhi to Boin liberation *ar8
Colonel Muhammand #taul /hani Osmany& C$in$C very keenly 4elt
the absence o4 naval 4orces in Mukti 2ahini8 2angladesh is a riverine
country having t*o maBor seaorts one in Chittagong and other in
Mongla8 Mr8 3aBuddin #hmed& Prime Minister o4 the e5ile
/overnment o4 2angladesh and Colonel M#/ Osmany& C$in$C
undertook the initiative to raise naval 4orce to encounter the enemy
in sea and rivers8 #s a result o4 this initiative naval training cam
code name EC2PG *as established near the bank o4 river 2hagirathi at
Plassey in the district o4 Murshidabad8 On the13th o4 May 1971& 3.7
youths 4rom the di44erent youth cams located along the 2angladesh
border *ere recruited 4or 4rogman training8 Cater on the strength o4
naval recruits *as raised to .1.8 Commander M8% )umanth o4
1ndian navy *as given the overall resonsibility 4or training o4 naval
recruits8 Cieutenant Commander /8M8 Martin& Cieutenant )amir
@umar Das& Cieutenant @oil and many other Bunior o44icers assisted
him8
Dhile 1 met Cieutenant )amir @umar Das at 2arrackur he
brie4ed me about the training activities o4 Mukti 2ahini 4rogmen at
Plassey8 2engali youths remained about t*enty hours daily in *ater
undergoing various training under all adverse condition& environment
o4 machine gun 4ires and bomb e5losions etc8 Mukti 2ahini trainees
*ere issued heavy diet on *ar 4ooting8 3hey *ere given training ho*
to ut limet mine in sea going$shi8 1t *as un4ortunate that Ct )amir
@umar Das and MaBor %a;mul :uK o4 Mukti 2ahini *ere killed in a
road accident *hile returning a4ter launching naval attack at
Chittagong ort8 1ndian authority rocured Dorld Dar 11 made t*o
thousand mines each *eighting . @g 4rom 6ugoslavia 4or use by the
Mukti 2ahini commandos against enemy sea target8 Aach o4 these
limet mines cost X12-- each8 3he training o4 naval recruits
continued till -2 #ugust 19718
The Great ?rdeal
2engali submarine cre*s numbering eight under*ent through a great
ordeal to escae 4rom their training establishment at 3olon in "rance
to 2ombay in 1ndia8 3olon is a beauti4ul ort city in "rance *here
"rench marine academy and dry dock are located8
1n 19+9 /overnment o4 Pakistan signed a contract *ith its
"rench counterart 4or the rocurement o4 three submarines on barter
agreement o4 4oreign e5change earned by e5orting Bute and Bute
goods o4 Aast Pakistan8 3*o o4 the submarines le4t 3olon 4or
Pakistan be4ore 2.th march 1971& the third one P%) Mangro *as to
leave 3olon seaort on -1 #ril 19718
Pakistani seamen *ere undergoing training on P%) Mangro 4or
its oeration at 3olon seaort *here 13 out o4 .7 *ere 2engalis8
3hese 2engali submariners *ere shocked to hear the ne*s bulletin o4
22C and PO# on the 2.th March about the barbarous massacre o4
2engalis in Aast Pakistan by Pakistan army8 3hey 4elt distressed at
the horri4ying ne*s o4 motherland8
On 2.th March 9 out o4 13 2engali submariners assembled in a
closed$door session 4or a collective decision and all *ere unanimous
to sacri4ice their lives 4or the cause o4 motherland8 3hey *ere /ha;i
Md !amatullah& )yed Musarra4 :ossain& #min =llah )hiekh& #bdul
Dahed Cha*dhury& 2adiul #lam& #bdur !aKuib Mia& #bdur !ahman
and Mannan8 On gathering more in4ormation about the declaration o4
indeendence o4 2angladesh& active resistance by 2angladesh
military and atrocities o4 Pak army& they assembled again on 28
March and 4inally decided to leave the submarine to Boin liberation
*ar8 3here *ere another grou o4 trainees at 3olon 4rom )outh #4rica
*ho *ere aroached 4or assistance in their escae endeavor and
they agreed to do so8 )outh #4rica *as under colonial rule and kne*
the ain4ul su44ering o4 4oreign rule8 #ll the .7 assorts *ere ket in
the locker o4 the submarine8 Collections o4 the assorts *ere a real
di44icult task8 2adiul #lam and #bdul Dahed Cho*dhury very
secretly accomlished it8 3hey got their nine reKuired assorts and
those *ere searated and burnt the rest8
A5ceting Mannan all o4 them reached Marseille 1-- km 4rom
3olon in searate grous8 1t *as con4irmed later that Mannan
ermanently settled in the =nited @ingdom and is no* a rich
businessman8 #4rican 4riends accomanied them u to Marseille8
3hen they reached /eneva but they *ere denied entry 4or not having
visa8 On being denied entry to /eneva& they reached Ceon on the
other 4rontier o4 "rance8 3hey started Bourney 4or )ain 4rom Ceon8
3he custom authorities at Portbo rail*ay station o4 )ain allo*ed
them entry& as there *as rovision to issue visa 4or1. days on arrival8
3hey reached Madrid via 2arcelona and contacted 1ndian embassy8
Mr8 2edi& Charge d #44airs o4 1ndia& *elcomed them and on his
initiative they obtained olitical asylum in 1ndia8 3hey *ere issued
1ndian assorts8 3hey reached 2ombay on 8 #ril via !ome and
/eneva8 Pakistani dilomats at !ome and /eneva tried their best to
take them in their custody8 2ut their e44orts 4ailed *ith the
intervention o4 1ndian dilomats at every ste8 On 1- #ril
submariners reached Delhi 4or debrie4ing and initial training in the
!iver ?amuna at Delhi8 On -8 May they *ere sent to 2angladesh
#rmed "orceGs :H and Boined Plassey 4rogman shi training cam
near the river 2hagirati in the district o4 Murshidabad8
?Aeration BackAot
3he naval o44ensive oeration code named $ E?ackotG *as organi;ed
and lanned to attack shis& barge& gunboats& ontoons and other
river(*ater vessels at Chittagong and Mongla sea orts& Chandur&
%arayanganB river orts and Daudkhandi 4erry simultaneously on
the1'th #ugust 19718
3he aim o4 the oeration E?ackotG *as to destroy shis and
*ater vessels at sea and river orts and interrut the smooth 4lo* o4
Pakistani logistic suort through the sea and river routes8 3he
success o4 the ne*ly 4ormed 2angladesh naval 4orce shattered the
moral strength o4 the enemy8
#4ter success4ul comletion o4 training o4 4rogman shi 4or t*o
and hal4 months at Plassey 4ive sKuads *ere comosed as er si;e o4
the task8 +- 4rogmen in each sKuad *ere desatched 4or t*o seaorts
at Chittagong and Mongla *hile 2- 4rogmen in each sKuad *ere
assigned 4or Chandur and %arayanganB river orts and nine 4or
Daudkhandi 4erry head8 #ll the 4rogmen *ere brought to 2arrackur
bet*een -2 #ugust and -' #ugust 4or desatch to their oerational
oints in 2angladesh8
On -.th #ugust 1ndian military aircra4t 4le* the commandos
earmarked 4or Chittagong& Chandur& %arayanganB 4rom 2arrackur
to #gartala8 On the same day commandos earmarked 4or Mongla ort
*ere brought by road to @enning near Diamond harbor .- km 4rom
@hidhirur dock8
?Aeration on Chitta:on: Port
On +th #ugust 2rigadier )abeth )ingh& commander Delta )ector o4
1ndian army and Catain !a4iKul 1slam *elcomed the commandos at
#gartola8 #lha& 2ravo& Charlee and Delta )ectors o4 1ndian army
*ere secially raised to rovide logistic suort to Mukti 2ahini and
4or the co$ordination o4 the oerations8 3hen 4or the ne5t t*o days
commandos *ere brie4ed on lanning& grouing& co$ordination&
route& mas and chart o4 Chittagong ort and @arna4ully !iverGs tidal
behaviour& river current and some other asects o4 naval *ar4are8
)ubmariner #bdul Dahed Cho*dhary *as given overall
resonsibility 4or co$ordination8 #t the oerational level +- men
grous *ere sub$groued into three sKuads having 2- 4rogmen in
each o4 them8 3he three$sKuad commanders *ere Dr )hah #lam&
Ma;arullah and #bdur !ashid8 !eKuisite Mukti 2ahini 4ighters under
the command o4 Cieutenant Ma4u; *ere detailed 4or organi;ing their
security and guiding them through the sa4e routes8 Aach o4 the
commandos *as issued *ith a limet mine& air o4 4ins& grenade&
e5losives& kni4e& dry 4ood and some clothing& a load o4 .- kg8
#t the night o4 -8 #ugust the commandos crossed the
international border at )ubroom and entered 2angladesh territory8 On
9 #ugust they reached village 1shakhali o4 Miresharai8 "rom )uvour
2ridge a sKuad o4 2- roceeded to*ards "au;derhat along the
coastline8
On 1-th #ugust other t*o sKuads started their Bourney and
reached )amitir hut at the outskirt o4 Chittagong city on Dhaka$
Chittagong high*ay8 3here they urchased vegetable and basket to
carry mines& *eaons and eKuiment8 Pegetables *ere used as cover
to conceal the mines& *eaons and eKuiment in the baskets8 3he
vegetable baskets *ere loaded on the roo4 o4 a assenger bus8 "rom
the bus stand the baskets *ere carried by Pick u Bee sulied by
Mr8 #;i;ul !ahman TA%& PDP to Chittagong cityGs di44erent laces
like %i;am !oad& @akoli :ouse near CD# market& Moulavi Para&
)obuBbagh& Chauckba;ar and Aast %asirabad8 3he commandos
entered searately in the Chittagong city in a grou o4 2 or 3 to avoid
detection8
On 13 #ugust the *arning song L#ami tomai ?ato
)huniyechilem gaanM in the voice o4 PankaB Maullick *as heard over
Calcutta radio8 /rou leader #8D8 Choudhury instructed the
commandos to cross the @arna4ully !iver by 1'th #ugust8 #s er
earlier instruction second song 4or launching attack *ould be layed
a4ter 2' hours8 Mines& *eaons and eKuiment concealed in
vegetable baskets *ere transorted to Ma;ir 4erry head at the bank o4
@arna4ully by Pick u Bee and ambulance sulied by Mr8 #;i;ul
!ahman o4 PDP8 #nd then *eaons *ere 4erried by boat and taken
to a 4arm at village Charlakkha on the oosite bank o4 the river8
3*o sKuads o4 '- commandos reached the target area and the third
sKuad that *as searated at )huvour 2ridge could not reach on
schedule8 Commandos *ere *aiting to listen the second song on the
1' #ugust8 2ut Pakistan army *as alert that Mukti 2ahini large$scale
attack *ould be launched on the1'th #ugust& the 1ndeendence Day
o4 Pakistan8 On 1.th #ugust second song L#amar utul a;ke ?abe
rothom shoshur bariM 4or lunching attack in the voice o4 )handhya
Mukhaadhya *as layed 4rom Calcutta radio8 #ttack had to be
launched on subseKuent night at 12--$ -2-- hours a4ter hearing the
song8
#4ter the sunset on 1. #ugust commandos started to take 4inal
rearation 4or naval oeration8 3hree o4 the commandos broke
do*n and re4used to take art8 Commandos organi;ed into 12
grous& each grou o4 three commandos reached care4ully to the
bank o4 @arna4ully on the other side o4 the ort8 3hey *ore the 4ins
in the legs& mines 4astened *ith the chest *ith the hel o4 handloom
to*el </amcha> and dagger in *aist belt8 #8D8Choudhury along *ith
three other *aited at the riverbank8 #t -1-- hrs on the night o4 1.$1+
#ugust commandos three in a grou holding each otherGs hand dived
into the river and started s*imming to*ards the target shis8 3here
*ere searchlights all$around in the river8 Pakistani gunboats *ere
atrolling in the river8
On reaching the target they dived and cleaned the shi bottom by
the kni4e *here limet mines had to be attached8 2y ne5t dive
limets *ere stuck at the bottom o4 the shi8 Detonators *ere
activated8 3hen all o4 them started s*imming back to sa4ety8 %o
sooner had they reached the 4ar bankI the mines started e5loding
one a4ter another8 Anemy 4orce and commercial shis hearing the
e5losion started blo*ing the siren8 3he naval gunboats started 4iring
indiscriminately8 )his& barges& gunboats and ontoons started
sinking in the river8 On 1.th #ugust at Chittagong ort 1- targets
*ere destroyed and sunk8 #mong them *ere MP #l #bbas& MP
:armu;& barge Orient& t*o gunboats& and ontoons8 3he ne*s sread
all over the *orld8 3he international ne*saers ublished the ne*s
as their headlines8
On comletion o4 the oeration commandos care4ully crossed
@arna4ully !iver and entered the bank to the city8 Colonel Osmani
C$in$C 2angladesh "orces reKuested 4oreign shiing comanies not
to send shi to 2angladesh *ater as Mukti 2ahini acKuired the skill
and otential to strike shis in the 2angladesh Dater8
?Aeration Mon:laAort
# sKuad o4 +- commandos under the command o4 submariner
#shanullah *as desatched to Mongla ort in the revie* o4
oeration E?ackotG lans8
#t @enning the commandos *ere brie4ed 4or the last minute
about the ma& river route& and other details o4 oeration8 )i5 country
boats *ith roo4s and sails *ere *aiting in the river to carry the
commandos8 Cimet mines and *eaons *ere loaded in the boats8
On -+ #ugust si5 commandos and 4our guerillas embarked in each o4
the boats8 Aach guerrilla *as carrying a )C!8 3*o CM/s *ere
carried 4or the entire 4leet8 /uerilla 4ighters *ere detailed 4or the
rotection o4 the team8 2oatmen as *ell *orked as guide 4or roer
direction o4 the route8
@enning *as a lace in 1ndia8 On -7th #ugust the commandos
reached @oikhali Mukti 2ahini cam via Madra and )hamsher
%agar8 3hey 4aced roaring high *aves to the height o4 1- 4eet at river
estuary at MadraI and dangerous and torrential current had been
4lo*ing in the !aBmongol !iver8
@oikhali cam *as inside )undarban 4orest that had secial
characteristics8 Mukti 2ahini boys *ould live on *ooden lat4orm
4i5ed on the trees 4or sa4ety 4rom 4erocious animal like royal 2engal
tigers and high tide *hen ground *as 4looded8 Cieutenant
Commander / M Martin and MaBor ?alil bade goodbye to the
Commandos8 Cieutenant Fiauddin *as resonsible 4or the rotection
o4 the commandos in river route8
On -7 #ugust the commandos sailed 4or Mongla ort 4rom
@oikhali Mukti 2ahini cam8 On the *ay vie*ing the beauti4ul
natural scene 4ascinated them although the Bourney *as di44icult and
dangerous8 On 12 #ugust they reached @alabagi under @aira olice
station& south o4 @hulna8 On 13 #ugust they reached a village
)utarkhali and established temorary cam there8 Cieutenant8
Fiauddin and guide !ea;uddin along *ith 12 commandos le4t the
main arty 4or :iron oint 4or searate oeration8
On 13 #ugust commandos heard the same *arning song as
mentioned in oeration Chittagong ort8 !econnaissance o4 the ort
*as carried out on 1' #ugust8 On 1. #ugust they heard the 4inal
song 4or launching attack as mentioned earlier 4or oeration
Chittagong ort8 "rom )utakhali they sailed 4or village 2alia )anta8
3hey *ere delayed 4or high tide to reach oosite bank o4 Mongla
ort8 3hey reached at -'3- hours8 3hey 4i5ed 4ins& limet mines and
dagger and dived in the river and started s*imming to*ards the
targets8 3here *as searchlight in the ort and gunboats *ere
atrolling8 3hey avoided detection by their high skill o4 training8 3he
leader o4 the grou #shanullah instructed to attack si5 shis out o4
total 4i4teen shis anchored at the ort8 3hey ut limet mines under
the shis and s*am back to the bank8 1n this oeration 4ive shis
*ere sunk8 2esides #merican )8) Cighting *ith *ar materials *as
damaged8 #mong the destroyed shis& t*o *ere #merican& t*o
Chinese& one$?aanese and one Pakistani8
%o sooner had they reached a sa4er distance series o4 e5losions
*ere heard8 3he covering arty 4rom the launching bank o4 river
Passur oened CM/ 4ire8 Pakistan gunboats cre*s *ere erle5ed
and started 4leeing do*n the stream8 3he commandos retuned to their
hide out by boat and decided to leave Mongla area 4or 1ndia8 2ut
Mukti 2ahini guerrilla 4ighters re4used to return8 #s a result seven o4
the commandos being searated 4rom the main body 4ollo*ed *rong
route amidst heavy thundering and storm and *ere catured by
Pakistan army at 2udhata in )atkhira on 18 #ugust8 One escaed8
"ailing to e5tract any in4ormation& they tortured and shot dead naval
commando #4tabuddin& and )iraBul 1slam8 3he rest 4our escaed 4rom
?essore Bail on 18 )etember8 Cieutenant Fiauddin took 11
commandos to !aBaur instead o4 :iran ointI as a result there *as
no oeration at :iran oint8 3he rest o4 the grou numbering '1
returned Plassey cam8
ChandAur ?Aeration
Chandur is the most imortant river ort in 2angladesh8 3he
enemyGs troos and logistic sulies like *eaonsI eKuiment& ration
and 4ood etc *ere transorted through this ort 4rom Dhaka and
Chittagong to 2arisal& "aridur& Comilla& Mymensing and
%arayanganB8 3he aim o4 this oeration *as to destroy the maBor
river communication and restrict and disrut the movement o4 enemy
logistic suly and movement o4 troos8
# sKuad o4 2- naval commandos under submariner 2adiul #lam
*as entrusted *ith the resonsibility o4 destroying the steamer& 4erry&
barge and ontoon at Chandur river ort8 3he sKuad started their
Bourney 4rom Plassey cam on -3 #ugust and reached 2o5nagore
border via 2arrackur& #gartola& )onamusi and Meghalaya8 On -9
#ugust 8at this oint 2rigadier )abbeth )ing and Cieutenant )amir
@umar Das bade 4are*ell to them8 Aach naval commando *as
issued *ith one limet mine& a air o4 4ins& s*imming costume& one
dagger& hand grenade& and sten gun8 3here *as no guide 4or the
grou8 3hey entered 2angladesh territory and by assed Mainamoti
cantonment and reached a village *here they took shelter in the
house o4 a Muslim league leader keeing his son as hostage8 3hey
sent the day in his house and a4ter sunset again started the Bourney
taking the son o4 Muslim league leader *ith them as hostage8 On 12
#ugust they reached village Dadashi in Chandur by boat and on
4oot8 Commando )haBahan @abir and commando )hamsul @abir
*ere t*o brothers *ho belonged to this village8 3heir 4ather Mr8
1brahim *as an elderly teacher8 3he commando sKuad took shelter in
his house8 3hey shi4ted to another hide out close to Chandur river
ort in the house o4 @abir @han& uncle o4 )haBahan @abir8
#s er the earlier instruction they heard the *arning song and
launching song 4rom Calcutta radio station on 13 #ugust and 1.
#ugust resectively8 3hey had on reconnaissance already identi4ied
si5 *ater vassal targets 4or destruction8 3he commandos reared
themselves *ith limet mines& 4ins and daggerI and dived into the
river and started s*imming to*ards the targets8 3he river had violent
*aves and strong current8 3here *ere searchlights all around the
river8 3hey reached the targets8 1n 4irst dive they *ent si5 4eet under
*ater beneath the shis and cleaned the algae8 1n the second dive
they stuck the limet mines on the cleaned lace and oened the
rubber ca to allo* *ater to enter 4or activation o4 mines8 Delay time
*as '. minutes8 3hey started s*imming back to sa4ety8
1n the mean time rocket service shi E/ha;iG carrying Pak troos
anchored at the estuary o4 Meghna and Dakatia !iver8 3he
commandos started s*imming backstroke keeing nose and eye over
the *ater8 3hey addled *ith the 4ins only *ithout making noise8
3hey had ut *ater hyacinth overhead to camou4lage against
detection8 On hearing the sound o4 e5losion Pak army started 4iring8
2y the time commandos *ere in sa4e distance8 3hey missed the
rescue boat& as the rescue team le4t earlier hearing the sound o4
e5losion8 :o*ever by 4orcibly sei;ing a 4ishing boat they reached
the house o4 1brahim master8 1t *as licked out to Pak army that
1brahim master had given shelter to commandos8 On 17 #ugust
1brahim master and his son )haBahan @abir *ere arrested by Pak
army8 1n a deserate attemt )haBahan @abir escaed 4rom the enemy
custody but Pak army killed his 4ather8 On 17 #ugust all commandos
assembled together and le4t 4or Plassey cam8
?Aeration 3arayan:anj -i.er Port(
# sKuad o4 2- naval commandos under submariner #bdur
!ahaman *as desatched to %arayanganB via #gartala in the 4irst
*eek o4 #ugust8 3hey reached %arayanganB by assing Mainamoti
cantonment through the middle o4 the enemy ignoring enemy threat8
Cike other sKuads& they brought *ith them limet mines& 4ins&
dagger& sten gun& grenades& dry 4oods and radio8 On 11 #ugust they
took shelter close to %arayangonB river ort in the house o4 an
#*ami Ceague leader8 3hey carried out the reconnaissance o4
%arayanganB river ort in daylight8
On 1. #ugust receiving the e5ecutive signal 4rom Calcutta radio
the team leader asked the commandos to get ready8 "our grous *ere
reared and each grou comrised o4 three commandos8 Dhile
aroaching the target they encountered !a;akers on the *ay *ho
*ere neutrali;ed by using the kni4e8 #t 12$3- hours the commandos
dived into the river and reached the target8 3hey cleaned the algae
4rom the bottom o4 the shi and stuck the limet mines there and
activated the detonator8 A5losion started *hile they *ere in *ater8
"our river cra4ts *ere comletely destroyed8 1n a 4e* days they
returned to 1ndia8
)audkhandhi ;erry 7ead
# sKuad o4 nine commandos under the command o4 )haBahan
)iddiKue *as disatched to Daudkhandhi 4erry head that crossed the
1ndian border and entered 2angladesh territory in the 4irst *eek o4
#ugust8 3hey reached village 2andaramur in Daudkhandhi by boat
and on 4oot8 3hey carried limet mines& 4ins& knives& sten guns and
radio set8 3hey took shelter in the house o4 a Pir )haheb #llama )hah
@amal o4 village 2andaramur8 Pir )haheb rendered all necessary
assistance and he *as in rayer until the sKuad returned 4rom
oeration8 On hearing the e5ecutive signal 4rom Calcutta radio
station& they got ready 4or oeration on 1. #ugust8
3he oeration on Daudkhandhi 4erry head *as delayed on 1.
#ugust as one o4 the guides #bul @alam 4ell sick on *ay to the
target8 %e5t day on 1+ #ugust oeration *as launched8 1n this
oeration they used one big boat *ith a roo4 and a small oen boat8
3he distance o4 the target area *as . miles 4rom the hideout8 3hey
le4t the big boat 18. miles 4rom the target and reached the target area
by small boat in three tris8 3hey dived into the river and s*am to
the ontoons and stuck the limet mines to the ontoons and
activated the detonators8 3hey reached the small boat by s*imming
and used the small boat to reach big boat in three tris8 #ll the mines
*ere e5loded at -2$'. hours8 Pak army retaliated by 4iring
indiscriminately on hearing the sound o4 e5losion8 3he commandos
reached the house o4 Per )haheb by boat and roceeded to #gartala
*here they reached on 18 #ugust8
ChaAter $
C?3V%3T2?3A1 WA-;A-% A3)
BA3G1A)%+7 B-2GA)%+
Ban:ladesh Bri:ades
Mukti 2ahini *as organi;ed to oerate in di44erent )ectors in
unconventional *ay 4rom the month o4 #ril 19718 /uerilla *ar4are
continued to harass& *eaken and bleed the enemy through minor
oerations like raid& ambush8 2ut it *as not caable to gain& hold or
consolidate ground through these tyes o4 oerations8 #s er the
teachings o4 sta44 college te5t or military doctrine& only conventional
army can achieve the ultimate victory8 3he enemyGs tactical de4eat is
only ossible in a conventional battle8 Colonel Osmany *ho *as a
ro4essional in4antry o44icer *ho served in the to hierarchy o4
Pakistan army& reali;ed this concet and in the month o4 ?uly in
senior o44icersG con4erence selt out his decision to raise brigade si;e
4ormation8
6 ;orce
#rmed "orces :eadKuarters issued raising order o4 EFG "orce on -7
?uly 1971 under the command o4 MaBor Fiaur !ahman& sc8 1
st
& 3
rd
and 8
th
Aast 2engal !egiments *ere to be integrated in EFG "orce8
MaBor Moinul :ussein Chaudhury 4rom )ector 3& MaBor )ha4aat
?amil 4rom sector 2 and MaBor #minul :aKue 4rom )ector 1 *ere
osted to 1
st
& 3
rd
and 8
th
2engal !egiment resectably as their
commanding o44icers8 3he battalions concentrated in 3eldaha& in 3ura
:ills north o4 Mymensingh in early ?uly 1971 4or training and
making u the de4iciencies through 4resh recruitment8 !igorous
training *as imarted to ne*ly 4ormed brigade troos 4or launching
oeration and by 28 ?uly1971 the 4ormation *as oerational8 #
battalion or brigade launching an attack *ould achieve t*o main
goals& one$ initiative *ould remain *ith the attacker and t*o morals
o4 troos *ould remain high8
Battle o< 5amalAur
@amalur *as a strong Pakistani border out ost <2OP> in the
district o4 ?amalur8 1t is a land *ith hills& dense 4orest& and marshes&
onds and addy 4ields *ith unusual homesteads in the cluster o4
villages8 3he 2OP *as located '- miles north o4 ?amalur to*n and
on the south o4 /aro hills at 3ura range and one kilometer 4rom
international border8 3here *as road communication bet*een
?amalur and @amalur 4or easy movement o4 mechanical transort8
3he 2OP *as commanded by Catain #hsan Malik o4 31 2aluch
o4 Pakistan army *ho had 7- regular troos& one latoon o4 !angers
and three 81 mm mortars under him to hold that ost against
une5ected Mukti 2ahini attack8 3he 2OP had t*o erimeter
de4enses& outer and inner and number o4 4orti4ied concrete bunkers8
3he de4ense had in its erimeter booby tras& unBees& barbed *ire
and mine 4ields8 Communication trenches *ere dug in to rovide
easy movements bet*een the bunkers8
EFG "orce lanned three oerations 4or three battalions& 1 Aast
2engal to cature @amalur 2OP& 3 Aast 2engal to attack and
destroy 2ahadurabad /hat enemy comle5 and 8 Aast 2engal to
cature %akshi 2OP8
3he mission o4 1 Aast 2engal *as to cature @amalur 2OP& D$
Day *as 4i5ed as -1 #ugust 1971 and the :$ hour *as -33- hours8
3he comosition o4 1 Aast 2engal *as as under,
a> !econnaissance /rou <E! /G> J MaBor Moinul :ussein
Chaudhury& Commanding O44icer 1 Aast 2engal& Cieutenant Colonel
Fiaur !ahman& EFG "orce commander also accomanied the ! /rou
to observe the 4irst attack o4 his 4orce and located at "=P area8
b> #l4a <E#G> Comany led by Catain Mahbub acted as cut o44
arty at =thaniara8
c> 2ravo <E2G> Comany under Catain :a4i;uddin #hmed *as
the le4t 4or*ard Comany8
d> Delta <EDG> Comany under Catain )alahuddin Mumta;
*as the right 4or*ard Comany8
e> "orming u lace <"=P> *as 1--- yards north o4 @amalur
2OP& secured by Cieutenant Mannan& Charlie <ECG> Comany8
4> Charlee <C> Comany *orked as Protection Party J
Cieutenant Mannan and "lying o44icer J Ciakot8
g> #ssembly area J *as at MahendragonB
On 31 ?uly 1971 a4ter sunset Delta Comany under Catain
)alahuddin Mumata; and 2ravo Comany under Catain :a4i;uddin
#hmed set out 4or @amalur 2OP 4rom the assembly area
MohendragonB8 2ut sudden rain slo*ed do*n the movement o4 the
troos8 3he guide lost the *ay as rain4all created comlete darkness8
#s a result attacking troos could not reach "=P on schedule8 1ndian
artillery started re$ : hour bombardment as er timed rogram
be4ore the Mukti 2ahini could reach "=P and make the assault
4ormation8 3he artillery 4ire suort *as ket on call as *ell as timed
rogram8 3he *ireless communication *as Bammed and disruted 4or
unkno*n natural cause8 #s a result the artillery 4ire suort could not
be called at right time8 3he enemy at 2OP alerted by the artillery 4ire
started shelling on the 4orming u lace8 Our artillery shells also
started landing on "=P8 1t *as di44icult 4or the assaulting troos to
4orm u8 #s a result they got disorgani;ed8 #t one stage Cieutenant
Colonel Fiaur !ahman shouted J LCome on& act any cost& you *ill
launch the attackM8 :o*ever& under the ersuasive leadershi o4
Cieutenant Colonel Fiaur !ahman and MaBor Moin the attack *as
launched8 2ut the enemy artillery remained active& 4orcing the
assaulting troos to hit the ground8
Catain )alahuddin& being a determined soul& shouted at his
troos to march 4or*ard and even he used the megahone$asking
enemy in =rdu to surrender8 1t *orked *ith tremendous imact8 3he
troos regained their courage and launched the assault8 3hey crossed
the 4irst line o4 enemyGs de4ense and about 2- o4 them got inside the
community centre and resorted to hand to hand 4ight8 Only t*o o4
them could come out alive and rest embraced martyrdom8 3he enemy
under the ressure o4 the attacking Mukti 2ahini 4ell back to their
second line o4 de4ense *here 4rom they *ere rearing to launch a
counter attack8 Cieutenant Colonel Fiaur !ahman& *ho *as
observing the *hole situation 4rom the close vicinity& shouted L1 *ill
accet 9.Q casualty& but ress them out& MoinM8
Catain )alahuddin *as determined to ress home the assault8
:e *as directing his under command by using megahone& also he
*as in *hite shirt e5osed himsel4 to oen enemy 4ire8 )uddenly
Catain )alahuddin Mumata; *as hit by a machine gun burst in his
chest and he embraced martyrdom8 Catain :a4i; miraculously
survived in site o4 his stengun being blo*n to ieces 4rom the
slinters o4 artillery shell8
#4ter the martyrdom o4 Catain )alahuddin and inBury o4
Catain :a4i;uddin the attack o4 Mukti 2ahini got disorgani;ed8
#reciating the ossibility o4 no success& the attacking 4orce *as
ordered to 4all back at -73- hours on -1 #ugust 19718
1n all eight attacks *ere launched on @amalur 2OP& 4irst on 12
?une 1971& third on 1. #ugust 1971& 4ourth on -+ )etember 1971&
4i4th on 1- )etember 1971& si5th on early %ovember 1971& seventh
on 1. %ovember 1971 and eightth on 28 %ovember 19718 3he
osition could not be catured on reeated assault8 =ltimately they
*ere starved out 4or shortage o4 4ood and ammunition8 #t last at
19-- hours on -' December 1971 Catain #hsan Malik hoisted a
*hite 4lag to surrender and the battle o4 @amalur 4inally came to an
end8 3he 2aluch Catain surrendered *ith 1'- men a4ter holding a
brigade o4 besiegers 4or 21 days *ithout su44ering causality in site
o4 heavy 1ndian artillery bombardment and 4orty sorties o4 air strikes8
Mukti 2ahini casualties *ere si5ty$one dead including Catain
)alahuddin and another si5ty$si5 inBured on -1 #ugust 19718
Deaons lost *ere one M/& 12 CM/& 4our stenguns& thirty ri4les and
one rocket launcher8 Pakistan army casualties *ere about 4i4ty dead
assessed on the basis o4 di44erent in4ormation8
#n imortant success by Mukti 2ahini *as achieved at
=thaniara by the cut o44 arty led by Catain Mahbubur !ahman8
3he cut o44 arty ambushed Pakistan army convoy o4 3 trucks8 Pak
army su44ered t*elve deadI trucks *ere destroyed and they retreated
to 2akshigonB8
3he causes o4 4ailure o4 the attack *ere assault by ra* recruits o4
Mukti 2ahini& oor 1ndian artillery 4ire suort& absence o4 artillery
observer& 4orti4ied enemy de4ense& lack o4 counter bombardment o4
artillery& and shortage o4 o44icers& in ointed enemy artillery suort
and many others8
Battle o< 3akshi
%akshi 2OP *as situated in the district o4 Mymensingh8 %akshi& a
small village about 1. miles north o4 )herur to*n and 17 miles
*est o4 :aluaghat oosite to 3ura range o4 /aro hills o4
Meghalaya8 3he area *as covered *ith shal 4orest and had some*hat
high hills 4rom the lain ground8 3he 2OP *as located in a lo* land
surrounded by hills8 3he 2OP had lain land and addy 4ields in its
immediate adBoining area u to the e5tent o4 +-- yards8
# number o4 natural nullahs assed through this lain land8 1n
rainy season& heavy *ater current 4rom the hills asses through this
lain lands8 Other villages around %akshi 2OP *ere connected by
road to ?amalur via ?inaigathi and )herur8
3he 2OP *as occuied by a latoon o4 31 2aluch !egiment8 3he
commanding o44icer o4 the regiment *as Cieutenant Colonel )ultan
Mahammud *ho *as t*ice a*arded )itra$e$ ?urat <)?>& second
highest gallantry a*ard 4or Pakistan army 4or his gallant action8
Cieutenant Colonel )ultan Mahmmud )? *hen asked to surrender by
1ndian commander& he in a de4iant rely sent a letter *ith a bullet in
it asking him to meet *ith a sten in his hand instead o4 a en8 3his
brave o44icer 4ought all the *ay 4rom )herur to Dhaka and charged
%ia;i *hy he had acceted the instruments o4 surrender8 2esides a
regular latoon& 2OP had t*o latoons o4 !a;akars8 3he commander
o4 ost *as MaBor !ia;8 3he latoon had 3$inch mortar suorted by
artillery battery8
Pakistan army organi;ed the de4ense o4 the 2OP like a strong
4ort8 1t had thick mud *all around the 2OP8 3here *ere number o4
concrete bunkers along the *alls8 #3- 4eet by 3- 4eet big concrete
bunker *ere in the middle o4 the 2OP8 #ll the bunkers *ere caable
o4 *ithstanding artillery& mortar and rocket launcherGs shells and they
s *ere interconnected *ith communication trench8
3he de4ense o4 the 2OP *as 4urther strengthened by barbed *ire
4encing all$around it8 3he 4ield o4 4ire *as cleared u to +-- yards by
cutting trees8 #nti ersonnel mines and booby tras *ere laid outside
the barbed *ire 4encing8 2amboo unBees *ere 4i5ed around the mud
*all8 2esides *ater stream *as 4lo*ing around 2OP as natural
obstacle8
EFG "orce *as raised in the month o4 ?uly 1971 at 3eldhala across
the 1ndian border in Maghalaya8 1t *as a large area having *ide
range 4acilities 4or military training and tactical e5ercise8 3he troos
*ere given e5tensive training during the month o4 ?uly 1971 4or
subseKuent oeration against Pak army8 8 Aast 2engal *as tasked to
attack and cature %akshi 2OP8 MaBor # ? M #minul :aK *as the
commanding o44icer o4 8 Aast 2engal8 3he 2ravo and Delta
comanies o4 8 Aast 2engal *ere tasked as assault comanies8 3*o
latoons *ere detailed as cut o44 arty at !angutia to revent enemy
escae through the road8 3he latoon had additional task to rovide
covering 4ire to attacking 4orce and to act as reserve8 3o the *est o4
the 2OP a latoon o4 AP! took u osition on a high ground to
deict a 4alse attack8 "ire base at a high ground *as laced on the
north o4 2OP at a distance o4 8-- yards 4rom obBective *here
suorting *eaons 1-+mm and 7.mm recoilless ri4les& and machine
guns *ere laid in *ell reared sand bags rotection8 2esides&
battalion had 3$inch mortar detachment in its out4it8 Catain #min
#hmed Chaudhury *as the task 4orce commander8
Catain #min #hmed Chaudhury carried out e5tensive
reconnaissance 4or three days 4rom 31 ?uly to -2 #ugust 19718
)ubeder :akim had served in the 2OP be4ore 2+ March8 :e
indicated the task 4orce commander the e5act locations o4 enemy
bunkers& barbed *ire& unBees& mine4ields etc8 3he enemy strength
about '. regularsG troos *as con4irmed 4rom a /aro *ho *as a
cook in the 2OP8
On -2 #ugust 1971 EFG "orce Commander Cieutenant Colonel
Fiaur !ahman insected the *eaons ositions and other details o4
the lan and aroved the lan8 :alBati village *as made assembly
on -' #ugust 19718 area and shal 4orest on the east as "=P8 : hour
*as set at -3'. hours
Catain Mahbub <martyr on -8 December 1971> o4 1 Aast
2engal be4ore launching attack told Catain #min L )ir& i4 you have
any con4usion in your mind& donGt go 4or the attackM8 1n rely
Catain #min said& L1 *ill not die like a 4oolM8 #t 12-- hours on -3
#ugust MaBor )ha4aat ?amil *arned Catain #min LdonGt go 4or
imossible task all by yoursel4 J #ll the bestM8
#n 1ndian artillery battery *as to rovide 4ire suort 4or the
attack8 #ssaulting troos reached "=P 4rom assembly area8 #s "=P
*as not marked& there *as some chaos and con4usion although AP!
guide accomanied the assaulting troos to lead them to "=P8 3he
*alking assault troos through *ater *as noiseless as articiating
troos racticed the same in revious nights8 #t the same time t*o
latoons *ere sent to !angutia as cut o44 arty to revent enemy
4rom escae8
3he assaulting troos took u osition in the "=P at -33. hours
at night8 2ravo Comany *as on the le4t and Delta Comany on the
right8 Prior to : hour the coded signal *as communicated through
*ireless to the suorting artillery 4or re : hour bombardment8
#llied artillery oened u *ith 4ull vigor and at the same time enemy
artillery and mortar started 4iring8 O*n artillery shells started landing
in 4ront o4 "=P and some right on the "=P& although the obBective
*as 1--- yards a*ay 4rom "=P8 3he oorly trained 4reedom 4ighters
dashed to the ground and si5 o4 them *ere seriously inBured8 Out o4
2-- 4reedom 4ighters o4 t*o comanies e5cet 1- army& 8 AP! and 3
olice& all *ere simle villagers *ith ' *eeks training8
1ndian artillery *as very oor in engaging the target in
comarison to Pakistan artillery8 1ndian artillery *as very oor in the
rearation o4 artillery task table8 3he oor er4ormance and skill o4
the 1ndian gunners *as also e5erienced 4rom other theatres o4 *ar
in 19718 3he artillery suort should have been on call as demanded
by Catain #min instead o4 timed rogram *hich could 4acilitate the
assaulting troos to reach very near to enemy stealthy and could
achieve surrise8 3here *as no artillery observer accomanying the
assault troos to observe and direct the 4ire8
Machine guns and recoilless ri4les 4rom the 4irebase oened u
*ith 4ull vigor in tune *ith the re : hour bombardment8 #dvancing
troos advanced to*ards the obBective in an e5tended line 4ormation8
On reaching the nullah .-- yards ahead and taking its cover Catain
#min ordered his 2 inch mortar detachment to 4ire enemy osition
still 33- yards a*ay 4rom o*n osition8 #t this oorly trained troos
got inned do*n and continued to 4ire aimlessly to*ards the enemy
4rom behind the nullah bank8 Catain #min started shouting& kicking
and dragging the collars o4 troos8 "inally assaulting troos reached
very near to 2OP gate8 "reedom 4ighters started battle cry L6aa #li&
%araye 3aKbir and #llahu #kbar& ?oy 2anglaM8 )eeing the aggressive
sirit o4 4reedom 4ighters enemy troos started running a*ay8
#t this stage o4 the battle& *hen the victory *as very close to
4reedom 4ighters& an enemy artillery air burst shell blasted over our
troos killing good number o4 4reedom 4ighters8 Comany
commander *as hit by a slinter in his right leg8 2ut he 4urther
moved .- yards be4ore he could reali;e the e44ect o4 the *ound8 :e
reached *ithin . yards o4 enemy bunker and again got hit in his right
leg by unBee8 2OP *as devastated8 Catain #min yelled out L3he
2OP has been destroyed8 Move 4or*ardM8 Our troos *ere chasing
the enemy but some o4 them *ere caught in the mine4ield& some got
hit by bullets and some *ere slintered by artillery airbursts8 Catain
#min *as hit by automatic *eaon 4ire that had blo*n o44 his sten
gun8
3he hoe 4or the cature o4 %akshi 2OP *as over8 1n this
oeration 2+ 4reedom 4ighters embraced martyrdom and another .-
got inBured8 Catain #min *as rescued in dying condition by the
initiative o4 MaBor #?M #minul :aK and he sent rest o4 the
liberation *ar eriod in 1ndian and /erman hositals8 3he oeration
at @amalur and %akshi shattered the morale o4 4reedom 4ighters and
Cieutenant Colonel Fiaur !ahman lost his 4ace to 1ndian army8
Bahadurbad Ghat ?Aeration
2ahadurabad /hat is situated on the eastern bank o4 2ramautra
!iver in De*angonB 3hana o4 ?amalur subdivision under
Mymensingh District8 2ahadurbad /hat *as a maBor transshiment
oint *here rail*ay service arranges transshiment o4 goods and
assengers trains8 During the *ar this /hat *as used by the Pakistan
army 4or transshiment o4 all military cargo and also troos 4or
%orth 2engal articularly 4or 2ogra& !angur and DinaBur8
"ulsari /hat *as on the oosite bank o4 2ramautra !iver in
/aibanda subdivision o4 the district o4 !angur connected to meter
gauge rail*ay8 3he de4ense o4 2ahadurbad /hat *as the
resonsibility o4 31 2aluch o4 Pakistan army8 :eadKuarters o4 the
!egiment *as located at ?amalur8 Commanding o44icer o4 31
2aluch !egiment *as Cieutenant Colonel )ultan Mahmmud8 3he
headKuarters o4 a comany o4 31 2aluch !egiment *as located at
De*angonB8 3he comany commander *as Catain !a4iK *ho *as
a*ay 4rom the comany *hen the Mukti 2ahini assault came in8 3he
de4ence o4 2ahadurabad /hat *as reosed on this comany8
EFG "orce made a simultaneous lan o4 oeration at 2ahadurabad
/hat& %akshi 2OP and @amalur 2OP8 3 Aast 2engal *as tasked to
crush 2ahadurabad de4ense comle5 o4 Pakistan army8 MaBor
)ha4aat ?amil *as the commanding o44icer o4 3 Aast 2engal8 EDG
Comany headed by Cieutenant )1M %oor$=n$%abi @han& AMA *as
given the overall resonsibility to assault on the enemy 4erry /hat
comle58 One latoon o4 E#G Comany *as ositioned at )obuBur
/hat oosite bank o4 2ramautra !iver to 4orm a 4irebase and to
neutrali;e the robable gunboat attack in 2ramautra !iver8 #nother
latoon o4 E#G Comany *as ositioned at "ara;iara 2ridge
bet*een 2ahadurabad /hat and De*angonB in the rail*ay track8
!est o4 the E#G Comany headed by Cieutenant #n*ar *as laced at
?halur char as a rear guard *ith suorting *eaons till the
*ithdra*al o4 main assaulting Comany8 :eadKuarters Comany
*as located in the Madrasha area and ?halur char /hat under the
direct command o4 MaBor )ha4aat ?amil *ho *ould rovide mortar
suort to assaulting comany8
)everal arties carried out e5tensive reconnaissance8 Cieutenant
)1M %oor$=n$%abi @han *ho obtained 4ull in4ormation o4 enemy
disosition carried out the last reconnaissance8
3he rear assembly area o4 the regiment *as at the Ma;ar o4
:a;rat )hah @amal and the 4or*ard assembly area *as at @athar 2il
:igh )chool ground on the bank o4 Moharani Canal8 12 boats *ere
to be arranged at Moharani canal /hat 4or transortation o4 Mukti
2ahini u to ?halur char at a distance o4 8 miles8 Distances o4 3
miles 4rom ?halur char to Madrasa area had to be covered on 4oot8
#mmunition in su44icient Kuantity had to be carried as the oeration
had to be conducted dee inside 2angladesh8 #ll rearation 4or the
oeration *as comlete at 3eldhala and the 4inal oeration order *as
given at @athar 2il :igh )chool ground8
: hour *as 4i5ed at -'-- hours on -1#ugust197183he
detachment o4 recoilless ri4les and 3$inch mortar *as to accomany
the battalion as alternative o4 4ield artillery gun8 On 31 ?uly 1971 at
12-- hours #& D and :H Comany o4 3 Aast 2engal le4t 4or 3eldhala
by military trucks& covered a distance o4 3- km and reached :a;rat
)hah @amal Ma;ar8 Mukti 2ahini entered into 2angladesh at :a;rat
)hah @amal Ma;ar and reached @athar 2il designated "or*ard
#ssembly area crossing three !ivers at a distance o4 2. km at 2---
hours8 3his *as the 4irst assembly area8 :ere EPiku chairmanG
rovided administrative back u including 4ood and battle
intelligence8 3he battalion had about 3.- soldiers o4 all ranks
consisting o4 trained and ne* recruits8 /ha;i %asser& Commander o4
/a;i %aseer " " Comany o4 11 )ector and a local student belonging
to the area o4 oeration *as the main guide8 %asser had 8 latoons o4
Mukti 2ahini to assist him8 2esides %asser other t*o local Mukti
2ahini leaders Cut4or and @ader also acted as guides8
EDG Comany under Cieutenant )1M %oor$=n$%abi @han lined
u in "=P 4or attacking 2ahadurabad /hat comle58 "=P *as along
the ailes o4 a sugar cane 4ield erendicular to the obBective at a
distance o4 1-- yards8 3he attacking troos crossed the sugar cane
4ield and got the 4ull vie* o4 the goods train& Betty& search lights
to*er& generator *agon and /hat comle58 1t *as reveille time and
enemy troos *ere in stand to osition8 )ubeder @aram #li 4ired his
38.$inch rocket launcher at the generator set ket in the goods train8
3he )ubeder also engaged the assenger train and destroyed its
engine8 )imultaneously )ubedar 2adi MiaGs latoon 4rom the right
started lobbying hand grenades in the comartment o4 the
assengerGs train *here Pakistani troos *ere sleeing8 3he attack
began to sread all over the /hat comle58 )ubedar 2hola MiaGs
latoon 4rom the right attacked the hontoon and "erry at the /hat
area8 3he rail*ay stations& bogies& rail*ay streamers and Betty
every*here the enemyGs *eaons sites *ere destroyed8 2ahadurabad
/hat *as thus liberated8 Cieutenant #na*er *as to rotect the ?halur
char area as rear guard till the *ithdra*al o4 main assaulting
Comany but he deserted the area earlier8 MaBor )ha4aat ?amil
e5ressed his indignation 4or undigni4ied act8 :o*ever in the ne5t
attack at De*angonB& Cieutenant #n*ar dislayed achievement8
3he ne5t day -2 #ugust1971 attack *as e5tended u to
De*ngonB8 # and D Comany engaged in battle *ith the enemy at
De*angonB 2a;ar area& sugar mill and !a;akar cam8 3he enemy
*as de4eated in De*angonB8 3his incursion *as a great achievement
4or EFG "orce8 Cieutenant Colonel Fia embraced Cieutenant )1M
%oor$=n$%abi @han and told him that he had saved the 4ace o4
Cieutenant Colonel Fia a4ter their de4eats at @amalur and %akshi8
Battle o< Chotokhel
1t( +2M 3oor4n3abi 5han
Commander
Chotokhel Oeration
!adhanagar is a 2a;aar *hich 4alls in the a5es o4 )ylhet$3amabil$
Dauki$)hillong in the district o4 )ylhet8 1t is about 1- km 4rom
1ndian border& Dauki8 3he control o4 the a5is *as very imortant
4rom the Pakistan oint o4 vie*8 3he de4ense o4 greater )ylhet&
2rahambaria& and #shugonB u to 2airab 2a;aar *as deendent
uon the control o4 )ylhet$3amabil a5is8 Anemy established 4orti4ied
de4ense around @hadimnagar& :ariur& ?ainta& Darbo5& Pukash& and
/oinghat e5tending u to !adhanagar8 One Comany o4 31 PunBab
!egiment& one Comany o4 3- "rontier "orce !egiment& one
Comany o4 !anger and a 4e* hundred !a;akars de4ended
!adhanagar comle58 3hree irregular Mukti 2ahini Comanies *ere
engaged to cature this enemy comle58 #t the later art o4
liberation *ar allied command visuali;ed the imortance o4 this a5is8
EDG Comany o4 3 A 2engal *as oerating in !aumari liberated
area in the greater district o4 !angur under @urigram )ub$ Division
and dominated !aumari char area commanded by Cieutenant )1M
%oor$=n$%abi @han8 Cater on E#G Comany rein4orced it8
Cieutenant %oor$=n$%abi @han established civil administration in
the area& trained 4e* thousands o4 4reedom 4ighters8 :e 4oiled
number o4 Pakistani attacks in the area8 3he imortant ersonalities
like "inance Minister o4 2angladesh& Mr8 Munsur #li& and MaBor
/eneral /urbo5 )ingh /ill o4 1ndian #rmy accomanied by his *i4e
and MaBor Fiaur !ahman& EFG "orce Commander aid visit to the
liberated area8
3he 3 A 2engal *as *ithdra*n 4rom !aumari in the 4irst *eek
o4 October 1971 and sent to cature Chattack by the order o4 Colonel
Osmany and MaBor /eneral /urbo5 )ingh /ill8 3he area o4
resonsibility 4ell under number . )ector and its )ector Commander
*as MaBor Mir )ha*kat #li8 3he attack on Chattack *as lanned
*ith misleading enemy in4ormation and reconnaissance reorts
sulied by Mir )ha*kat #li 8 E#G and E2G Comany led by Catain
#n*ar and Catain #kbar *ent 4or the main attack8 Catain Mohasin
o4 ECG Comany and Cieutenant %oor$=n$%abi o4 EDG Comany *ere
sent as cut o44 arty8 ECG Comany su44ered a maBor set back& 2+ o4
them *ere killed& and most o4 the surviving soldiers lost their
*eaons8 Catain Mohasin reached the base cam a4ter three days8
Cieutenant %oor$=n$%abi could not consolidate his osition at the
re$selected location as because the route to the site *as ha;ardous
*ith *ater obstacle and marches8 3he main attack 4ailed8 Catain
#kbar by his art4ul leadershi could *ithdra* to sa4e ;one and *as
saved 4rom total annihilation as Pak #rmy blocked the rear o4 Mukti
2ahini8 #4ter the Chattack oeration& E#G and EDG Comany *ere sent
to 2holaganB 4rom *here moved to 3amabil area8
"rom +
th
%obember1971& both the Comanies *ere laced 4or
engaging Pak #rmy in !adhanagar comle5 #rea8 On 2+ %ovember
1971& 1ndian #rmy lanned attack on !athanagar and Chotokhel
enemy osition8 #ccording to the rearation 4or attack Mukti 2ahini
sei;ed around the enemy comle5 by 2' %ovember 19718 One
Comany o4 .(. /urkha !egiment *ould launch attack on
Chotokhel8 3*o Comany o4 .(. /urkha !egiment *ould launch
attack on !adhanagar8 "=P at Cuni village 4or attack on Chotokhel
*as to be rotected by EDG Comany8 # latoon o4 EDG Comany o4 3
A 2engal *ould accomany the main attack8 "=P at @a4aura village
*ould be rotected by E#G comany o4 2( Cieutenant Man;ur and
*hich *ill also rovide 4ire suort during the attack on !adhanagar8
EDG Comany o4 Minor 3igers *ould act as cut o44 arty at /ora and
)imultala village to sto any enemy re$en4orcement8 Chotokhel *as
catured at the cost o4 3+ soldiers but ultimately could not be
retained8 1t *as *ithdra*n on the same day at about 12-- hours at
noon under enemy ressure8 #llied "orces could not cature
!adhanagar due to the determined resistance by Pak #rmy8 #lso the
terrain *as un4avorable to the attackers8 +7 soldiers including
Comany Commander MaBor 2 P )ingh and 4our o44icers o4 .(.
/urkha !egiment *ere killed8 3otal numbers o4 inBured *ere 1+78
1n conventional *ar in a number o4 oerations Mukti 2ahini
could not bring any tangible result8 1ndian #rmy high command
al*ays insisted Mukti 2ahini 4or conventional attack8 )everal times
Mukti 2ahini articiated in conventional attacks but they su44ered
heavy casualty8 3his time the 4amous elite "orce o4 1ndian #rmy
E3he /urkha !egimentG su44ered devastating de4eat8
MaBor /eneral /urbo5 )ingh /ill called MaBor )ha4aat ?amil
Commanding O44icer o4 3 A 2engal and asked him to launch attack
on enemy osition at Chotokhel Bust the ne5t day o4 the de4eat o4 the
/urkha !egiment but MaBor )ha4aat ?amil *as not interested in
conventional attack8 Cieutenant Colonel !aB )ingh& commander o4
1ndian A )ector resonsible 4or Mukti 2ahini logistic suort and
oeration reached Cuni& EDG Comany osition o4 3 A 2engal and
started ursuing Cieutenant %oor$=n$%abi to launch attack on
Chotokhel8:e insisted that *hen hundreds o4 /urkhas sacri4iced
their lives 4or the liberation o4 2angladesh& ho* could Mukti 2ahini
avoid 4ighting and remain in sa4e ;oneN
2engalis had to 4ight themselves 4or indeendenceI no outsider
*ould come but liberate their country8 3hey could get some
assistance only8 Cieutenant %oor$=n$%abi @han reali;ed these matter
agreed to go 4or the attack but *ithout 1ndian artillery suort8
Cieutenant %oor$=n$%abi oted to go 4or silent attack to attain
ma5imum surrise8 On the assurance o4 Cieutenant %abi& Cieutenant
Colonel !aB )ingh le4t the EDG Comany osition 4ully satis4ied8
#4ter the dearture o4 Cieutenant Colonel !aB )ingh& MaBor )ha4aat
?amil reached Cieutenant %abiGs bunker and enKuired *hat
Cieutenant Colonel !aB )ingh had told8 Cieutenant %abi narrated
everything to MaBor )ha4aat ?amil8 MaBor )ha4aat ?amil assed
remarks that the oeration *ould be suicidal and asked Cieutenant
%abi to give a second thought8
Cieutenant %oor$=n$%abi *as determined to have victory or to
die& not to back out 4rom the challenge or commitment given to
Cieutenant Colonel !aB )ingh8 Cieutenant %oor$=n$%abi *as also a
leader in 2=A38 :e *as the PP o4 the university during 19+9 mass
movement8 :e kne* the art to motivate troos under his command8
:e had been *ith EDG Comany 4or last 8 months8 :e understood
their mind and caability8 :e had the con4idence in their ability8 :e
called his latoon commanders and told them his decision and asked
them to in4orm the troos8 Cater art o4 the same night on 27
%ovember 1971& all the troos o4G GDG Comany *ere assembled in
the Comany #ssembly area8 1t is mentioned that one latoon 4rom
each comany o4 E2G and ECG *ere attached to EDG Comany by the
instruction o4 MaBor )ha4aat ?amil8 Cieutenant %oor$=n$%abi
addressed the troos to motivate them to go 4or the attack8 :e
declared that he *ould be in the 4ore4ront o4 the comany in assault8
3here *ere only three volunteers *ho raised their hands to
articiate in the assault8 3hey *ere %aik 1brahim& %aik )haheed and
)ubedar 2adi8 "or the last si5 *eeks EDG Comany had no rest& and
thus they *ere e5hausted and tired8 Aven a latoon o4 GDG Comany
articiated in the attack launched by /urkhas8 Moreover they had
seen the devastating de4eat o4 .(. /urkhas8 3heir morale *as at the
lo*est ebb8
Observing the negative attitude and avoiding tendency o4 the
troos& 2attalion Commander MaBor )ha4aat ?amil raised his hand to
articiate in the attack as an ordinary soldier8 On this gesture o4 CO&
the *hole comany raised their hands8 #ll *ere determined to do or
die8 3his is called real sirit$de$cors8
On 28 %ovember at -3.- hours all latoons le4t the "=P and
reached the assault line at -3.. hours8 3here *as heavy 4og all
aroundI visibility *as restricted to 1-(2- yards8 #t a distance o4 1.-
yards Mukti 2ahini oened 4ire on Pakistani enemy osition8 #t the
same time& o*n troos 4rom /ora and Duarikhel oened Machine
gun and !ecoilless ri4le 4ires on enemy osition at Chotokhel8 1t *as
a hell 4or the Pakistan #rmy8 1n a moment& latoon o4 :avilder
Mannan catured the south*est side o4 the village8 %e5t the :H
latoon catured the main osition o4 the village8 Many Pak soldiers
*ere killed and rest o4 them ran a*ay *ith their lives8 3he latoons
o4 )ubeder 2adi and :avilder @hair also entered Chotokhel8
Chotokhel *as liberated and huge Kuantities o4 ammunition and
*eaons *ere catured8 Mukti 2ahini consolidated in bunkers and
de4ense reared by Pak #rmy visuali;ing the 4orthcoming counter
attack by Pak #rmy8 3he roblem o4 ammunition *as solved& as it
*as detected by %aik 1brahim that /$3 !i4le ammunition could be
4ired by )C!8 Machine guns& Cight Machine guns and !ecoilless
ri4le catured by Mukti 2ahini increased the 4ireo*er o4 Mukti
2ahini8
3here *ere several determined counter attacks by Pak #rmy
suorted by artillery 4ire but Mukti 2ahini courageously reulsed
them8 Aach soldier *as issued *ith 1- hand grenades and a number
o4 energa grenades8 Mukti 2ahini e5tensively used automatic
*eaons& grenades and energa grenades to reulse *aves o4 enemy
counter attacks8 =n4ortunately MaBor )ha4aat ?amil *as inBured and
evacuated to a hosital at )hillong8 3he romised subseKuent attack
on !adhanagar by 1ndian #rmy never came8 #ll the 4orces around
!adhanagar comle5 *ere laced under command o4 Cieutenant
%oor$=n$%abi by *ritten order o4 MaBor )ha4aat ?amil8
"ailing to obtain any 1ndian resonse& on 29 %ovember 1971 at
1.-- hours Cieutenant %oor$=n$%abi decided to attack enemy
ositions at !adhanagar comle5 *ith the Mukti 2ahini Comanies
deloyed in the area8 3he attack lan *as as under,
a8 Comanies o4 )ubedar Musarra4 and :avilder !a4iKue
*ould liberate Mura 2asti& Comilla 2asti and 1slamur village8
b8 3he Comany o4 Ct Motiur !ahman *ould cross the !iver at
?a4long and cature ?a4long 2a;aar8
c8 Mu;ahid Catain Daud "arooK at Pittikhel and E#G Comany
o4 3 A 2engal commanded by Cieutenant Man;ur at @a4aura *ould
launch attack on 3- "" !egiment at !adhanagar8
d8 #ll Mukti 2ahini Comanies around !adhanagar comle5
*ould launch simultaneous attack 4rom their ositions8
3he result *as unrecedented8 3he enemy 4ought tooth and nail
to consolidate their osition8 Chotokhel *as the :H o4 the enemy
and the cature o4 Chotokhel *as vital 4or the occuation o4
!adhanagar& *hich *as on the route o4 *ithdra*al 4rom !adhanagar8
Pak #rmy ut determined e44orts to cature Chotokhel but all enemy
attemts *ere 4oiled8 =ltimately at mid night o4 29 %ovember 1971&
enemy vacated !adhanagar and *ithdre* to*ards /oain /hat8
Mukti 2ahini solely liberated !adhanagar comle58
1ndian high command *as astonished seeing the glorious victory
o4 Mukti 2ahini in caturing !adhanagar comle5& *hich the elite
4orce o4 1ndian #rmy .(. /urkhas 4ailed to acieve8 Cieutenant
Colonel !aB )ingh recommended Cieutenant %oor$=n$%abi 4or a
gallantry a*ard o4 2angladesh eKuivalent M#:#P1!$C:#@!# in
the 1ndian #rmy8 M#:#P1!$C:#@!# is eKuivalent to 21!$
):!A)3O in 2angladesh and %1)#%$e$ :#1DA! in Pakistan8
MaBor /eneral /urbo5 )ingh /ill sent his congratulation to
Cieutenant %oor$=n$%abi 4or cature o4 Chotokhel and !adhanagar
and laced .(. /urkha !egiment and 2. #ssam !egiment under his
command 4or the subseKuent cature o4 /oyainghat and )alutikar8
On -1 December 1971 Cieutenant Colonel !aB )ingh issued a *ritten
oerational order 4or cature o4 /oyainghat 3hana :eadKuarters8 1n
this oerational order Cieutenant %abi *as aointed as oeration$
in$charge o4 the #llied "orces as they reosed 4ull con4idence on
him8 3his is a uniKue e5amle o4 the glorious role o4 Mukti 2ahini in
liberation *ar8
Battle o< )halai
Dhalai 2OP is near to the international boundary o4 )reemongal
3hana o4 Moulviba;ar district8 3he 2OP *as located only .-- yards
a*ay 4rom international border and three miles *est o4 Dhalai !iver
*ithin the area o4 Dhalai tea garden8 @amalur& /anganagar&
Mohanur& 2aligan and Patra @hola tea garden are the imortant
laces around Dhalai 2OP8 # road 4rom #mbasa <1ndia> to Dhalai
2OP and another 4rom Dhalai to )reemongal made Dhalai 2OP one
o4 the most imortant enemy aroach into )ylhet sector8 Dhalai
2OP *as the most 4orti4ied de4ense 4ort o4 Pak #rmy in this area8
3he enemy de4ended comle5 included Dhalai 2OP& Dhalai tea
garden& O44icerGs 2unglo*& 3ea "actory& Coolies Cines and 3*in
:uts8 3- "" !egiment *ith a !a;akar Comany took u strong
osition in Dhalai 2OP controlling Dhalai$ )reemongal a5is and 3-
km 4rontier along the border8 3he de4ense *as 4orti4ied *ith barbed
*ire& concrete bunkers and mine 4ields8 3he Mukti 2ahini and 1ndian
#rmy launched a series o4 attacks Bointly on Dhalai 2OP in the last
*eek o4 October 19718
# co$ordination con4erence *as held among 2rigadier )D)
6adav& Commander +1 Mountain 2rigade& Cieutenant Colonel Fia&
Commander EFG "orce and MaBor Fiauddin& CO 1 A 2engal in mid
October 1971 to 4ormulate the lan to launch o44ensive on Dhalai
2OP81 A 2engal *as given the resonsibility to cature Dhalai 2OP
*ithin the integrated lan o4 ?oint "orce8 1n the oerational lan&
Charlie Comany under command o4 Cieutenant Huiyum *ould
launch attack 4rom the south o4 Dhalai 2OP and #l4a Comany
commanded by Catain Mahboob& 2ravo Comany commanded by
Catain :a4i;uddin and Delta Comany commanded by Catain
2a;lul /hani Pat*ary *ould establish blocking osition at Patra
@hola tea garden at a distance o4 3 miles 4rom Dhalai 2OP in
Dhalai$ )reemongal a5is8
On 28 October 1971 at -33- hours Charlie Comany occuied
"=P at a distance o4 +-- yards south o4 Dhalai 2OP and -'-- hours
Charlie Comany started assault 4rom "=P8 Cieutenant %oor *ith his
le4t 4or*ard Platoon 4irst assaulted on the enemy8 #4ter a *hile& right
4or*ard Platoon under )ubeder #bul :ashem rushed to*ards the
enemy osition8 2oth the latoons *ere 4ollo*ing 4ire and move
techniKue8 #t the same time M/& 1-+ !ecoilless !i4les and 3$inch
mortar rovided 4ire suort 4rom the 4ire base around "=P8 3he Pak
#rmy retaliated *ith all their *eaons8 3he enemy 4ire *as so
intense that the assaulting 4orce could not make any head*ay and
halted at a distance o4 2-- yards 4rom the obBective8 # CM/ ost
halted the move o4 the assaulting 4orce8 Cieutenant Huiyum asked
)eoy :amidur !ahman to neutrali;e the CM/ ost8 )eoy :amidur
!ahman moved *ith t*o CM/s8 One CM/ rovided him the 4ire
covers8 :e cra*led *ith the other CM/ to enemy CM/ bunker and
destroyed the CM/ ost and killed a number o4 enemies8 2ut
ultimately he embraced martyrdom8 )eoy :amidur !ahman *as
a*arded 2ir )hresto 4or this valiant action8 2y -9-- hours on 28
October 1971& Cieutenant Huiyum regained control over his
Comany and took u dug do*n de4ense osition +-- yards south o4
Dhalai 2OP8 =ltimately this served as 4irebase 4or subseKuent attack
by 1ndian #rmy8 Mean*hile several rein4orcement attemts by
Pakistan #rmy 4rom the north *ere 4oiled by the combined e44orts o4
2ravo Comany and Delta Comany at Patra @hola tea garden8 #t
Patra @hola tea garden Catain Mahbub encountered Pakistan #rmy
*here he killed si5 o4 the enemies8
On -1 %ovember 1971& subseKuent attacks *ere launched 4irst
by 2 ?at 2attalion& then combined 4orces o4 2 ?at and 7 !aButana
!i4les *ho catured Dhalai 2OP8 2 ?at lost 2. dead and '2 inBured8
Pakistan #rmy le4t +- o4 their dead bodies8 1nvisible de4ense o4
Pakistani 4orti4ied osition *as destroyed and this shattered the
morale o4 Pakistan #rmy8 #t the same time morale o4 Mukti 2ahini
and 1ndian #rmy *ere raised 4or victory o4 subseKuent oerations8
Battle o< Char:ram
On 21 %ovember 1971& '(. /urkha 2attalion launched attack on
#tgram and catured the osition a4ter the hard 4ought battle8 '(.
/urkhas lost one MaBor& eight )econd Cieutenants including a
number o4 soldiers8 Anemy su44ered heavy casualties8 #s the '(.
/urkhas su44ered heavy causality& 2rigadier Datkey o4 1ndian #rmy
reKuested Cieutenant Colonel Fia to clear Chargram Dakbungalo*
enemy osition8 Cieutenant Colonel Fia asked Catain :a4i; o4 D
Comany to clear the enemy osition8 Catain :a4i; on 21
%ovember 1971 at -'-- hours launched attack on Chargram 4rom the
"=P *ithout artillery suort and catured the enemy osition8 2-
3ha*l )couts o4 Pak ara military *ere catured8 Cieutenant Colonel
Fia& EFG "orce Commander *ho *as sitting in 1ndian territory
congratulated Catain :a4i; 4or this une5ected victory8 During the
rogress o4 the battle Cieutenant Colonel Fia rebuked Catain :a4i;
*ho rebu44ed the bullshit *ho *as sitting 4ar behind the battle ;one8
Prestige o4 Mukti 2ahini *as elevated in 4ront o4 1ndian /eneral
/onsaleve *ho also congratulated Catain :a4i;8
Martyrdom o< CaAtain Mahabub
1 A 2engal took u temorary de4ense alongside )urma !iver at
/ouriur8 On 28 %ovember 1971& 31 PunBab o4 Pakistan #rmy
launched attack on #lha Comany osition o4 1 A 2engal8 Catain
Mahbub o4 #lha Comany reulsed the attack8 .- enemies
including MaBor )ar*ar *ere killed and 2. Pakistanis *ere catured
alive8 # most tragic incident haened in this action& at the end o4 the
battle *hen Catain Mahbub *as guiding the artillery shoot on
enemy osition by *ireless he *as suddenly killed by enemy 4ire8
3he atriotic o44icer Catain Mahbub escaed 4rom Pakistan to Boin
liberation *ar8 :e *as buried near /ouriur mosKue8 /ouriur *as
renamed as Mahbubnagar8 :o* can 2angladesh reay the sureme
sacri4ices o4 martyrs$ only by renaming a villageN 1ts citi;ens are not
at all aying resect to the martyrs8 3hey have 4orgotten to remember
the sureme sacri4ices o4 million martyrs8 3hey are resorting to
corrution and terrorism8 3here is no security o4 li4e in 2angladesh8
Peole have no 4aith in la* en4orcing agencies8 !ousseau& "rench
hilosoher& *riter& and olitical theorist *ho insired "rench
!evolution *hile interreting democracy had rightly said that
election is 4or the day o4 election and rest o4 the days its citi;ens are
chained8 3hen the autocracy and dictatorshi revailed8 Democracy
has become urchasable commodity in 2angladesh8 Democracy in
2angladesh is o4 the muscle o*er and black money& by the muscle
o*er and black money and 4or the muscle o*er and black money8
Peole have become the hostage o4 muscle o*er and black money8
1ts custodians are stealing the national treasures8 Corrution
undermines democracy8 1t creates a culture o4 imunity destroying
the rule o4 la* and creating a class o4 overlords *ho need to kee
their dark deeds hidden in dark laces8 Crooked olitician care little
4or their reresentative duties and serve those *ho can ay rather
than those *ho elected them8 3hey have achieved a bad name 4or
2angladesh as being the most corrut country in the *orld 4or
consecutive 4our years8 %o* the olitical scientists think that the
country has earned most o4 the re$conditions to reach to the stage o4
4ailed state8
5 ;orce
E@G "orce *as raised at Melaghar in the 1ndian state o4 3riura *ith
the troos o4 2 )ector and ' A 2engal in the month o4 )etember
19718 '& 9 and 1- Aast 2engal !egiments *ere raised distributing the
troos o4 ' A 2engal and some 2 )ector troos under the command
o4 Catain Mohammed #bdul /ha44ar& MaBor #inuddin and Catain
Fa4ar 1mam resectably8 Aighteen )ector Comanies remained as
)ector troos under Catain #3M :aider8 MuBib 2attery *ith 4ield
gun *as raised under command o4 Catain #bdul #;i; Phasa8 3he
command o4 E@G "orce and 2 )ector *ere laced under Cieutenant
Colonel @halid Musarra4& sc8 1n his absence MaBor )haleK *ould be
E@G "orce commander and MaBor #3M :aider *ould be 2 )ector
commander8 3he area o4 resonsibility o4 ' A 2engal !egiment *as
)aldhanadi& 9 A 2engal !egiment *as @asba and 1- A 2engal
!egiment *as 2elonia8 2y 4irst *eek o4 October 1971 all these
battalions *ere ready to carry out o44ensive oeration8
Battle o< +aldhanadi
)aldhanadi is a lace under @asba P) in the district o4 Comilla8 1t is
a 4e* hundred yards 4rom the 1ndian border o4 3riura state8 #
rail*ay line has assed through )aldhanadi8 )aldhanadi !iver assed
by the north$south side o4 )aldhanadi area )aldhanadi *as very
imortant to Pakistan #rmy both strategically and tactically since it
dominated Dhaka$#khaura$ )aldhanadi$Comilla$Chittagong rail*ay
a5is8 3he base cam o4 ' A 2engal *as located at @onaban near
#gartola in the 1ndian state o4 3riura& sa4e heaven 4or Mukti 2ahini8
Pakistanis 4aced great di44iculties to use the #khaura$ Comilla
rail*ay line 4or movement o4 their logistics since their line o4
communication *as o4ten disruted by Mukti 2ahini ambushes and
harassing 4ire8 !oads and tracks *ith Mandabagh& @aimur& @uti&
@amalur& @asba and /obindaur connected )aldhanadi rail*ay
station8 Pakistan #rmy deloyed strong 4orce at )aldhanadi area to
rotect the rail*ay a5is8 33 2aluch *ith the suort o4 artillery
rotected the general areas o4 @asba& @amalur and Mandabagh
*hile 3- PunBab !egiment covered )aldhanadi and %ayanur areas
in the south8
2e4ore describing the battle o4 )aldhanadi& t*o daring ambushes
by Mukti 2ahini needs to be mentioned8
On 18 ?une 1971 Pakistan "orces *ere carrying ammunition and
e5losive bo5es and other logistics in a rail*ay trolley 4rom @asba
rail*ay station to their osition located at )aldhanadi rail*ay station
area8 # 4oot column o4 Pakistani soldiers *as moving along either
sides o4 the rail*ay line escorting this trolley8 Catain /ha44ar
detailed a latoon o4 ' A 2engal under command )ubedar #bdul
Dahab to ambush the trolley8 3he ambush arty took osition 1.-
yards east o4 the rail*ay line o4 Mandabagh rail*ay station8 3he
latoon had t*o M/s& si5 CM/s& one t*o$inch mortar and one
rocket launcher8 #t 1'3- hours trolley *ith escort reached ambush
site8 Mukti 2ahini oened 4ire on the target8 Anemy le4t the trolley
and took osition along rail*ay high ground and returned the 4ire8
#mmunition and e5losives caught 4ire by Mukti 2ahini rocket 4ire8
Anemy su44ered heavy causalty8 Mukti 2ahini *ithdre* 4rom the
ambush site8 1t *as a big blo* to the morale o4 Pak #rmy8
On 1- ?uly 1971 )ubedar #bdul Dahab received in4ormation
that a Pakistani 4orce *ould move along )aldha !iver through the
village ?hikura8 )ubedar #bdul Dahab moved 4rom @onaban cam
to ambush area and observed a seedboat along *ith seven country
boats& *hich *ere advancing southeast through the )aldha !iver
escorted by 1--$4oot soldiers *ho *ere moving along both the banks
o4 the river8 Mukti 2ahini missed the oortunity& as the time *as
insu44icient 4or rearation to launch attack on the enemy column
assing through )aldha !iver8 )ubedar #bdul Dahab 4oresa* the
ossibility that the enemy *ould 4all back along the same route and
decided to ambush them during their return Bourney8 )ubedar #bdul
Dahab sited the cut o44 arty& main body and *aited 4or enemy to
reach in their tra8 #t about 1'3- hours one seedboat *as seen
coming back at a high seed through the river8 Dhen the seedboat
entered into the ambush site& Mukti 2ahini oened 4ire 4rom all their
*eaons8 #ll assengers o4 the boat *ere killed8 #mong the killed
*ere seven o44icers including t*o Cieutenant Colonels& one )ubedar
MaBor& three )eoys and one non$2engali businessman8 Catain
2okhari o4 .3 "ield !egiment #rtillery *ho committed innumerable
atrocities in Comilla to*n *as also killed8
Considering the strategic imortance o4 )aldhanadi rail*ay
station& G@G "orce commander Cieutenant Colonel @halid Musarra4&
sc decided to cature this osition8 )aldhanadi area *as strongly
held by 3- PunBab !egiment8 2uilt u area like the )aldhanadi
rail*ay station& go do*n and 2a;aar area made direct assault
di44icult8 )o Catain /ha44ar dre* u an intelligent lan o4 attack8
3he lan *as in t*o hases8 1n one hase $ one comany *ould
carry out 4our raids in the surrounding enemy held areas8 3hese
*ould be latoon raids and *ould be conducted simultaneously8 3his
*as to con4use the enemy about the main attack8 #s er the lan
raiding arties *ere sent on -7 October 1971 to the nearby enemy
cams at 2ara Dushia& Chandla& /obindaur and @ayanur to launch
4aint attack on the enemy8 3he Pakistanis retaliated back *ith heavy
M/s and mortar 4ire 4rom all these cams as *ell as )aldhanadi
rail*ay station areas8 3he e5change o4 4ire continued throughout the
night and 4inally came to an end in the morning8
Mukti 2ahini launched 4ull$scale attack on )aldhanadi rail*ay
station at -8-- hours on -8 October 19718 %aib )ubedar )iraB&
)ubedar Mangal Mian and )ubedar 2elayet *ith a latoon each took
u osition on the east& north and *est o4 the obBective resectively8
)ubedar #bdul DahabGs a comany ositioned behind the latoon o4
)ubedar Mangal Mian8 Mukti 2ahiniGs attack rogressed as lanned8
3he enemy had 4our big bunkers on the southern bank o4 the river8
3he t*o o4 the bunkers *ere destroyed by recoilless ri4les 4ire8 3he
enemy le4t the broken bunkers and took shelter in the remaining t*o8
)ubedar 2elayet immediately took the initiative and Bumed into the
river *ith his troos8 3hey s*am across the river and occuied the
broken entrenchment8 3his action got the enemy in the 2a;aar area
searated 4rom those in the station8 Catain /ha44ar interceted an
enemy conversation *here he listened that the enemy *as not in a
osition to hold the osition any more8 /uessing the *eakness and
lo* moral o4 the enemy& Catain /ha44ar ressed in his attack more
vigorously8 Anemy could not hold the osition any more8 #round
11-- hours the enemy started 4alling back on %ayanur rail*ay
station in the south8 )aldhanadi rail*ay station area at last *as
liberated8 Anemy launched several counter attacks 4rom %ayanur
area but 4ailed to recature )aldhanadi rail*ay station8 Dhile
carrying reconnaissance 4or enemy counter attack& )ubeder 2elayet
*as killed by an enemy snier8 :uge number o4 *eaons and large
Kuantities o4 ammunition *ere catured in this oeration8 Colonel
Osmany sent secial congratulation to Catain /ha44ar 4or his grand
victory8
:ere the /overnment o4 2angladesh 4or the 4irst time during *ar
announced gallantry a*ard 4or 2ir =ttam to Catain /ha44ar and
%aib )ubedar 2elayet <osthumously> and )ubedar #bdul Dahab
*as a*arded G2ir 2ikramG8 #ll other gallantry a*ards o4 2angladesh
liberation *ar *ere announced long a4ter the liberation *ar8
Battle o< 5asba
@asba is a olice station in the district o4 Comilla situated at ;ero
line o4 1ndo$2angladesh border8 1t *as strategically imortant 4or
Pakistan #rmy because Dhaka$ 2rahambaria$#khaura$@asba$
Comilla$Chittagong rail*ay line assed through @asba8 3he
maintenance o4 this rail*ay line *as very vital 4or Pakistan #rmy 4or
transortation o4 arms& ammunition and other logistics8 1t *as easy
4or Mukti 2ahini to attack and disrut this rail*ay line across
@onaban cam in the 1ndian state o4 3riura8 MaBor #inuddin
commanded the area bet*een /angashagar and @asba *ithin the
oerational resonsibility o4 9 A 2engal8 @asba and Cutamura *ere
strongly held by the enemy8
@asba changed hands several times bet*een Mukti 2ahini and
Pakistan #rmy8 2y the end o4 )etember 1971& )ector troos already
in4licted heavy casualty on enemy8 Dhen 9 A 2engal became
oerationally 4it& Cieutenant Colonel @halid Musarra4& E@G "orce
commander reared an oerational lan to cature @asba by 9 A
2engal suorted by MuBib 2attery <387mm gun>8 Cieutenant
Colonel @halid Musarra4 remained overall commander o4 the
oeration8 #s er lan& 9 A 2engal !egiment launched the attack at
-.-- hours on 22 October 19718 #4ter re$: hour bombardment by
MuBib 2attery& t*o Comanies led by Cieutenant #bdul #;i; and
)ubedar MaBor )hamsul :uKue assaulted the enemy osition 4rom
the north and the south8 Pakistan #rmy *as taken by surrise and
enemy started loosing ground8 9 A 2engal catured @asba a4ter three
hours o4 4ighting8 1n this battle& '3 Pakistanis including 3 o44icers
*ere killed and more than +- got inBured8 Mukti 2ahini catured
huge number o4 *eaons and large Kuantities o4 ammunition in this
oeration8
# tragic event occurred in this oeration8 # slinter o4 enemy
artillery shell hit Cieutenant Colonel @halid Musarra48 1t *as a
grievous inBury8 :e *as evacuated to #gartala hosital 4or medical
treatment8
Battle o< Belonia Bul:e
2elonia is a border to*n o4 "eni district situated in the southeast o4
2angladesh8 2elonia has a uniKue osition sitting in the ti o4 a iece
o4 territory o4 2angladesh Butting out inside 1ndia in the shae o4
eninsula8 3he 2elonia 2ulge e5tends 4rom north to south over a
sace o4 1+ miles and 4rom east to *est about + miles measuring an
area o4 about 1-- sKuare miles8 1t consists o4 t*o thanas namely J
Parasuhuram and Chagalnaiya8 3he river Mahuri runs 4rom north to
south through the 2ulge8 # meter gauge rail*ay line runs "eni to
2elonia8 3here are t*o metal roads& one going 4rom "eni to 2elonia
and other 4rom Chhagalnaiya to 2elonia8 #rea is Bust like the lain o4
2angladesh8
3here *ere a number o4 2OPs along the 2elonia 2ulge border
manned by AP!8 AP! consisted o4 2engali and Dest Pakistani
soldiers8 2engali AP! killed all Dest Pakistani soldiers& consolidated
at "eni and 4ormed a 4ull$4ledged Comany8 # latoon o4 3
Commando 2attalion o4 Pakistan #rmy *as tasked to guard
tactically imortant )hubhaur 2ridge over "eni !iver8 3his AP!
Comany attacked the enemy at )hubhaur 2ridge on 31 March
1971 and the *hole commando latoon *as annihilated8
3he 2engali elements o4 Pakistan #rmy 4ought during the month
o4 #ril J May 1971 and 4ell back to 1ndian 3erritory8 #s er the
revious understanding o4 MuBib J 1ndira /andhi& 1ndian 2order
)ecurity "orce <2)"> and 1ndian #rmy stationed near the border
*elcomed the Mukti 2ahini8 MaBor Fia and MaBor @halid Musarra4
got the sanctuary in 1ndian soil in the 1ndian state o4 3riura8 3hese
t*o senior o44icers lanned to occuy some 2angladesh territory8 2y
May 1971& MaBor Fia organi;ed and established 1 )ector and @halid
Musarra4 organi;ed and established 2 )ector8 3he Pakistan #rmy did
not hysically occuy 2elonia 2ulge8 1t *as easy to occuy and kee
2elonia under occuation as three sides o4 the 2ulge *ere
surrounded by 1ndian 3erritory8 #s er lan& on 1 ?une 1971& troos
o4 1 )ector entered into 2elonia 2ulge through the eastern border
immediate south o4 Chandga;i and deloyed 4acing south in
e5tended line 4ormation 4rom the border u to Mohuri !iver8 #t the
same time troos o4 2 )ector also entered 4rom the *estern border
and took u ositions u to Mohuri !iver linking u 1 )ector8 3he
o44icers o4 Mukti 2ahini *ho took art in this oeration *ere
Catain Oli #hmed& Catain Ma4u;ur !ahman& Catain Motiur
!ahman& Catain /a44ar& Cieutenant 1mamu; Faman& Cieutenant
)hidul 1slam and Catain ?a4ar 1mam8 Dhen Pakistan #rmy
discovered the resence o4 Mukti 2ahini in the area they launched
several attacks on Mukti 2ahini8 "ailing to dislodge the Mukti 2ahini
a4ter three *eeks& Pakistan #rmy on 21 ?une 1971 droed Pakistani
commandos by helicoter sorties behind Mukti 2ahini osition8
)imultaneously Pak #rmy launched attacks 4rom the south suorted
by tanks and artillery8 Mukti 2ahini under intense ressure 4ell back
to 1ndian 3erritory8 /eneral #bdul :amid @han& Chie4 o4 )ta44 o4
Pakistan #rmy& ersonally suervised the oeration8
Dhen E@G "orce *as 4ully oerational a4ter re$organi;ation and
e5tensive training& E@G "orce Commander Ct Colonel @halid
Musarra4 lanned to sei;e territory o4 2elonia 2ulge8 3he troos
earmarked 4or this oeration *as 1- A 2engal commanded by MaBor
?a4ar 1mam& E#G Comany o4 2 A 2engal o4 E)G "orce commanded by
Catain :elal Morshed and troos o4 1 )ector commanded by
Catain Mah4u;8 2elonia 2ulge *as occuied by 1. 2aluch
!egiment and battalion strength o4 APC#P8 3he enemy *as
suorted by artillery8 3he main task assigned to 1- 2engal *as to
in4iltrate through the enemy gas 4rom the *estern border along the
line Chandana J )alia J /utuma and dig do*n overnight 4acing the
enemy 4rom both 4ront and rear8 Catain Ma4u; *ith the troos o4 1
)ector *as to in4iltrate 4rom the eastern border through /utuma and
link u *ith the troos o4 1- A 2engal8 %orthern art o4 2elonia
2ulge covering an area o4 .- sKuare miles *as to be sealed so that
enemy could not escae8
On the night o4 2 %ovember 1971& Mukti 2ahini in4iltrated
during heavy rain& dug do*n and took the de4ense osition as
lanned8 Mukti 2ahini carried su44icient ammunition& rations&
digging tools and communication eKuiment8 3he osition o4 Mukti
2ahini could not be discovered until a Pak trolley *as interceted
*hen all si5 Pak soldiers including an o44icer& assengers o4 the
trolley *ere killed8 During -3 %ovember J -' %ovember 1971& Pak
"orces 4rom the south tried to link u *ith the north but 4ailed8 On -'
%ovember and -. %ovember 1971& 4our Pakistani "$8+ )abre ?ets
stra4ed Mukti 2ahini osition8 1t *as e5ected that Pakistan #rmy
*ould surrender to Mukti 2ahini sei;e& but they *ere resisting *ith
all their energy8 #t 12-- hours on -7 %ovember 1971& 3 Dogra
!egiment o4 83 Mountain 2rigade o4 1ndian #rmy a4ter heavy
bombardment by 1ndian Divisional artillery launched attack on
enemy in liaison *ith Mukti 2ahini8 #4ter heavy 4ighting& the entire
area *as comletely catured by 4irst light o4 -7 %ovember 19718
)eventy$4ive Pakistani soldiers *ere taken as risoners o4 *ar8 Mukti
2ahini catured huge number o4 *eaons& ammunition and
eKuiment8 3he :eadKuarters o4 E@G "orce *as moved into liberated
area8 3he 2angladesh %ational "lag *as hoisted at Parashuram
olice station8 3he success o4 the second battle o4 2elonia 2ulge
raised the morale o4 Mukti 2ahini 4or subseKuent oerations8
+ ;orce
E)G "orce *as raised at "atikchhari in the 1ndian state o4 3riura *ith
the troos o4 3 )ector and 2 A 2engal on -1 October 19718 MaBor @
M )a4iullah& sc *as aointed as 2rigade commander8 %e*
battalion 11 A 2engal *as raised *ith the troos o4 3 )ector and 2 A
2engal under command o4 MaBor #)M %asim8 MaBor Moinul
:ossian Chaudhury *as aointed the ne* Commanding O44icer o4
2 A 2engal8 2 A 2engal *as deloyed in general area oosite
)ingerbil in the north and oosite to #khaura in the south 4acing
to*ards *est8 11 A 2engal *as deloyed in general area oosite to
Mukundaur and :arasur 4acing to*ards north to sto enemy
advance 4rom )ylhet8 )ector troos o4 3 )ector consisting o4 ten
comanies *as le4t at their locations *ith Catain %uru;;aman as its
commander8
2 A 2engal and 11 A 2engal *ere re$organi;ed and given
e5tensive training to make them as regular strong combat 4orce8 E)G
"orce got little time 4or training 4or launching in the *ar8
3here *as unsuccess4ul attack on Dharmanagar by 2 A 2engal
on -3 )etember 19718 Catain )ubed #li 2huiyan launched the
main attack 4rom the south*est o4 the obBective8 3*o blocking
ositions *ere established& one on the north at Mir;aur by Catain
#bdul Matin and Catain #)M %asim by t*o comanies o4 2 A
2engal and other on the *est at #hmedur by Cieutenant :elal
Morshed8 #rtillery suort *as rovided by 1ndian artillery8 3he
attack 4ailed due to various reasons namely $ attack launched by ne*
recruits& attack did not rogress as lanned& oor leadershi&
inadeKuate artillery suort and the Kuantum o4 4orce needed *as
insu44icient8 18 !aBut o4 1ndian #rmy on 28 )etember1971
launched second attack on the same enemy osition8 Mukti 2ahini
blocking the same blocking ositions also 4ailed8
Battle ?< MukundaAur
Mukundaur 2OP *as under @asba Police )tation in the district o4
Comilla& close to the border o4 1ndian state o4 3riura8 Mukundaur
2OP *as situated bet*een Mukundaur rail*ay station and
Mukundaur village very close to 1ndian border8 3he enemy had
established strong de4ense osition at Mukundaur 2OP dominating
the surrounding area8 #4ter the unsuccess4ul attack on Dharmaghar
Commander o4 E)G "orce decided to imart more training 4or the
troos8 3o imrove the combat e44iciency& esecially on enemy
strong oints& the entire month o4 October 1971 *as utili;ed 4or
training8 3he battle lans to cature Mukundaur *ere $ to carry
assault by one comany o4 2 A 2engal led by Cieutenant )ayeed
#hmed& t*o comanies to establish blocking osition south o4
Mukundaur at @ala Chara !iver and 18 !aBut o4 1ndian #rmy to
block the rail*ay line on the south o4 ?alilur8 3he D$day *as 4i5ed
on 18(19 night o4 %ovember 19718 3he direction o4 assault *as
lanned 4rom the *est and the time o4 attack *as at da*n8 :aving
secured the t*o blocking ositions on the north and on the south o4
the obBective by 18 !aBut and 2 A 2engal !egiment resectably&
Cieutenant )ayeed #hmed along *ith his comany decided to
in4iltrate into the enemy territory in small grous and to reach the
assembly area in a small orchard in the south o4 Mukundaur village8
3he eastern edge o4 the village& *hich *as about 8-- yards 4rom the
2OP& *as selected as "=P8 3he artillery *as ket on call8
3he da*n attack *as launched on 19 %ovember 19718 Pakistani
"orces reacted and ut u a hard 4ight8 Pakistani troos 4rom the
neighboring areas tried to re$ en4orce their osition& but e44orts *ere
4oiled by the blocking ositions8 3he battle continued till 12-- hours
and the comany o4 Cieutenant )ayeed #hmed catured
Mukundaur8 31 soldiers o4 Pakistan #rmy *ere taken as risoners
o4 *ar8 :uge Kuantities o4 arms and ammunition *ere catured8
"rom the various battles lessons learnt *ere that the silent attacks
*ere al*ays success4ul *ithout re$: hour bombardments8 )urrise
*as al*ays the key to success8 3his oeration once again raised the
moral and con4idence o4 Mukti 2ahini8
ChaAter 8
)2P1?MAT2C WA-;A-% A3) -?1% ?; 43?
The -ole o< )iAlomats in ;orei:n Mission
2engali dilomats and emloyees serving in Pakistan Missions all
over the globe layed a very imortant role in our *ar o4 liberation8
3hey de4ected 4rom Pakistan the most coveted "oreign )ervice on
rotest against genocide in 2angladesh and declared their allegiance
to the most risky and highly uncertain /overnment o4 2angladesh in
e5ile8 3hus they moved the conscience o4 *orld community and
generated *orld oinion in 4avor o4 the /overnment in e5ile8 3his
act o4 2engali dilomats created tremendous imact in *orld
community through ne*saers and electronic media8
Mr8 :ossain #li& Deuty :igh Commissioner o4 Pakistan
Mission at Calcutta declared his allegiance to the 1ndeendent
2angladesh /overnment on 18 #ril 19718:e created anic in
Pakistan Ambassies abroad and set heroic leading role in the 4ield o4
dilomacy in 4avour o4 2angladesh /overnment8 2engali dilomats
in other Pakistan 4oreign missions 4ollo*ed suit a4ter his action8 :e
established the 4irst 4oreign dilomatic mission abroad8
?ustice #bu )yed Chaudhury oened the second dilomatic
mission at 2' Cambridge /arden& Condon on 27 #ugust 19718 3he
oening o4 2angladesh dilomatic mission *as announced in a big
ublic meeting at 3ra4algar )Kuare that had shaken the morals o4
Pakistani dilomats8 Cord 2rook*ay& Cady Pre4ord& 2ritish MP Mr8
3om Dilliam and 2ob Ad*ard soke in 4avour o4 2angladesh
/overnment in the ublic meeting8 ?ustice #bu )yed Chaudhury *as
aointed roaming ambassador o4 2angladesh and he led the
2angladesh delegation to the =nited %ations at %e* 6ork8 Dr "a;lur
!ahman @han& 4amous #rchitect established 2angladesh De4ense
Ceague at Chicago8 :e traveled big cities o4 #merica and mobili;ed
*orld oinion against genocide by Pakistan and gained suort 4or
2angladesh /overnment in e5ile8 :e *as the rime mover to create
oinion and suort by investing his money and talent 4or
2angladesh in #merica8 :e ersuaded 2engali dilomats to Boin
2angladesh /overnment in e5ile8 Mr8 #bul Maal #bdul Muhith&
Aconomic Counselor oened 2angladesh Mission at 1223
Connecticut #venue in Dashington& caital o4 =)# on -9 #ugust
19718 Musta4i;ur !ahman )iddiKi& MP Boined 2angladesh mission
as its head at Dashington8 2angladesh mission *as oened at Delhi
on 3- #ugust 19718 Mr8 :umayun !ashid Chaudhury& 2engali
Counselor o4 Pakistan Ambassy at Delhi took the resonsibility o4
this mission on -8 October 19718 Pro4essor !ehmam )obhan& a
2engali economist escaed 4rom Aast Pakistan and reached
Dashington *here he success4ully ersuaded Dorld 2ank and 1M"
to sto 4inancial aid to Pakistan8 :e even took a tri to Paris and
could convince the members o4 aid consortium to Pakistan to sto
their 4inancial assistance 4or Pakistan8 :e *as success4ul in his
mission8 3he lists o4 2engali dilomats and emloyees *ho de4ected
4rom Pakistan Ambassy and declared allegiance to the e5ile
/overnment o4 2angladesh are given belo*,
Calcutta
M8 :ossain #li& Deuty :igh Commissioner& 18 #ril
!a4iKul 1slam Chaudhury& "irst )ecretary& 18 #ril
#na*arul @arim Chaudhury& 3hird )ecretary& 18 #ril
@a;i %a;rul 1slam& 3hird secretary& 18 #ril
M Maksud #li& #ssistant Press #ttachU& 18 #ril
)aidur !ahman& O44icer& 18 #ril
3e& )elhi
:umayun !ashid Chaudhury& Counselor& -' October
@M )habuddin& )econd )ecretary& -+ #ril
#mBadul :oKue& #ssistant Press #ttachU& -+ #ril
3e& Fork
#: Mammud #li& Deuty Counselor& 2+ #ril
) #na*arul @arim& #ssistant Permanent !eresentative& -'
#ugust
Washin:ton
Anayet @arim& Minister& -' #ugust
)#M) @ibria& Political Counselor& -' #ugust
#M# Muhith& Aconomic Counselor& 3- ?une
#bu !ushe Motinuddin& Aducation Counselor& -' #ugust
)yed Moa;;em #li& 3hird )ecretary& -' #ugust
#taur !ahman Chaudhury& 3hird )ecretary <#ccounts>& -'
#ugust
)heikh !ustum #li& #ssistance 1n4ormation O44icer& -' #ugust
#M )hari4ul #lam& #ssistance administrative O44icer& -' #ugust
#bdur !a;;ak @han& #ssistance Aducation #ttachU& 17 May
1ondon
Mohiuddin #hmed& )econd )ecretary& -1 #ugust
M Cut4ul Matin& Director <"inance>& -. #ugust
!e;aul @arim& Counselor& -7 October
#bdur !ou4& Deuty Director 1n4ormation& -8 #ugust
"a;lul :aKue Chaudhury& Cabour #ttachU& 11 #ugust
+&it@erland
Daliur !ahman& )econd )ecretary& -2 %ovember
2ra8
#"M #bul "attah& #mbassador& 29 #ugust
PhiliAAines
@harrum @han Panni& #mbassador& 13 )etember
BaAan
H#M# !ahim& 3hird )ecretary& -2 %ovember
# Masud& Press #ttachU& -2 %ovember
3eAal
Musta4i;ur !ahman& )econd )ecretary& -3 October
1aos
Mohiuddin #hmed Faigirdar& 3hird )ecretary& 13 )etember
7on: 5on:
Mohiuddin #hmed& 3rade Commissioner& 18 #ugust
%:yAt
"a;lul @arim& 2+ October
Ar:entina
#bdul Momen& #mbassador& 11 October
Tunisia
)yed #mirul 1slam& 3hird )ecretary& 11 %ovember
Out o4 92 2engali Dilomats serving in 4oreign mission& 38
o*ed their allegiance to 2angladesh /overnment in e5ile& 37
returned to 2angladesh a4ter liberation& 11 *ere olitical aointees
and 4rom other services and + remained in Pakistan8
4+ +enator on Ban:ladesh
1 met )enator Ad*ard @ennedy on my *ay to 2arrackur *hile 1
*as going to collect the ay 4or my comany8 :e *as traveling *ith
a big convoy accomanied by many oliticians and Bournalists o4
2angladesh8 )enator Ad*ard @ennedy lost three o4 his brothers
including ?ohn " @ennedy& the '-th President o4 the =nited )tates o4
#merica8 :is eldest brother *as a 4ighter ilot8 :e *as killed in an
air crash8 !obert @ennedy *as a Presidential candidate and during
the election camaign& he *as assassinated8 :e has seen remature
and untimely death o4 his brothers8 3he human su44erings o4
2angladesh re4ugees in di44erent re4ugee cams in 1ndia touched his
heart8
)enator @ennedy *arned the #mericans S1t is our military
hard*are& our guns& tanks and air cra4t *hich are contributing to the
su44erings& and that is being done in violation o4 negotiated
agreements on the use o4 =) military aidS8 !aising his voice in the
=) senate on #ril 1971 against the killings in Aast Pakistan&
esecially o4 dissident leaders and intellectuals& he asked the =)
/overnment to condemn them and use its services to sto them8
Dhen he heard the details on the genocide in 2angladesh by the
army o4 6ehya @han he rushed to re4ugee cams in 1ndia8 :is visa
*as denied by Pakistan *hen he *anted to see 4or himsel4 the
su44erings o4 the eole o4 2engal8 :e ut his all endeavour to create
*orld oinion against the Pakistan army atrocities8
)enator Ad*ard @ennedyGs address to )enate on 7 December
1971 is roduced belo*,
L#4ter 8 months o4 escalating violence and military reression J
a4ter hundreds o4 thousands o4 civilians have been killed in Aast
2engal and 1- million re4ugees have 4led into 1ndia J suddenly our
national leadershi recogni;es that *ar has s*et over )outh$#sia8
2ut the 4acts& Mr8 President& sho* that this *ar began not last *eek
*ith rene*ed military border crossings& nor last month *ith
escalating cross4ire o4 artillery bet*een 1ndia and PakistanI this *ar
began on the bloody night o4 March 2. *ith the brutal suression
by Pakistan army o4 the 4ree election it held in Aast 2engal8 %o* the
administration tells us J 8 months a4ter March 2. J that *e should
condemn& not the reression o4 Pakistan army& but the resonse o4
1ndia to*ards on increasingly deserate situation on its eastern
borders J a situation *hich our nation calculatedly ignored8 Over the
*eekend the administration has belatedly turned to the =nited
%ations& asking it to imlement its eace$ keeing machinery J an
initiative many o4 us suorted months ago8 3he roblem is that none
o4 the resolutions& *e have suorted recogni;e the root o4 the crisis&
the interests o4 2angladesh 4orces or the urgent need 4or olitical
settlement8 Our /overnment and the =% must come to understand
that the actions o4 Pakistan army on the night o4 March 2. unleashed
the 4orces in )outh #sia that have led to *ar8M
Ad*ard @ennedy is held by 2engalis in high lace 4or his
contribution to our liberation *ar and as a chamion o4 human
rights8
GeoAolitics P Polari@ation in the Conte>t o<
Ban:ladesh crisis
1ndian !eaction( 1ndian role *as neutral till 2. March 19718 Dhen
Pakistan #rmy cracked do*n on the innocent eole o4 Aast
Pakistan& 1ndian roaganda machineries *ere geared u8 #kash
2ani 1ndian radio started broadcasting giving the ne*s o4 Pakistan
#rmy7s killing& atrocities& massacre etc8 2engali military o44icers
aroached 1ndian security 4orces 4or military hel8 3here *as no
resonse8 2engali military units 4ought the Pakistan #rmy and
ultimately 4ell back to 1ndia by the middle o4 #ril 19718 Mr8
3aBuddin #hmed crossed over to 1ndia made contact *ith Mrs8 1ndira
/andhi Prime Minister o4 1ndia at Delhi during the 1st *eek o4 #ril
19718 "rom the month o4 May 1971 1ndia started giving Mukti
2ahini some Kuantities o4 small arms and ammunition8 !e4ugees
4rom Aast Pakistan started ouring in 1ndia8 #bout 1- million
2engali re4ugees most o4 them :indus *ent to 1ndia8 1t *as a great
burden on the oor economy o4 1ndia8 1ndia had no real 4riend *ho
*ould come in her danger8 1ndia 4aced olitical olari;ation8
President !ichard %i5on o4 =8)8#8 *as a*arded the highest civil
a*ard by 6ahya S:ilalee PakistanM *hen %i5on *as assing through
Cahore airort in 197-8 /eneral 6ahya also *as *orking as media
bet*een Dashington and Peking 4or normali;ation o4 dilomatic
relation8 President !ichard %i5on naturally became the blind
suorter o4 Pakistan8 1ndia 4ought *ar *ith China in 19+2 and
became the archenemy o4 China8 Pakistan *as receiving military
4ighting machines both 4rom the =8)8#8 and China8 1ndia dared not to
hysically inter4ere in Aast Pakistan because o4 the threat 4rom
=8)8#8and China8
)oviet$1ndian 4riendshi 3reaty ( )oviet$1ndian 3reaty *as the
long$standing )oviet Kuest undertaken to check China and erhas
the un4olding o4 #merican dialogue *ith Peking accelerated it8 1n the
beginning o4 19+9 a4ter the bloody con4rontation bet*een China and
)oviet along the river =sury& )oviet =nion undertook the initiative to
sign a 4riendshi treaty *ith 1ndia and other #sian countries8 2ut in
the mean time )oviet =nion agreed to suly military hard*are to
Pakistan in e5change o4 her not rene*ing treaty 4or #merican
military base at 2adber near Pesha*ar8 Partly because o4 this 1ndia
lost her interest in the roosed 4riendshi treaty and 4urther
negotiation *as stoed8
1n ?uly 1971 *hen contact <@issinger Peking Mission> *as
established bet*een China and #merica at the initiative o4 Pakistan&
1ndia 4elt threatened by this move and romtly agreed to sign the
4riendshi treaty *ith the )oviet =nion on the basis o4 old dra4t
reared in 19+98 Mr8 /romico& )oviet 4oreign minister and Mr8
)ar*an )ingh his counter art on -9 #ugust 1971 rovided 4or
mutual de4ense agreements& signed the treaty o4 4riendshi& eace
and co$oeration8 #ccording to the treaty i4 1ndia *ere attacked&
there *ould be immediate consultation *ith the !ussians to
undertake aroriate e44ective measures to encounter it8 3he signing
o4 the treaty coincided *ith a huge Congress arty rally attended by
some 4i4ty thousand eole8 3he mile$long !aBath Ceremonial
#venue in the city centre *as chocked *ith ro$2angladesh
demonstrators in an eight$mile long rocession8 3he cost o4 the rally
*as ut at about eight million ruees8 Mrs8 1ndira /andhi told the
rally that no country could subdue 1ndia by threats8
3he ne* )oviet$1ndian treaty surely *as sun 4rom long$term
geoolitical consideration on both sides8 @remlin *as assured itsel4
o4 a measure o4 control over 1ndian olicy in the Smutual
consultationsS article8 3he ne*s o4 the signing o4 the treaty *as a
bombshell to Mr8 @issinger8 3he Dashington Post& 12 #ugust 1971
issue described that #merican suort 4or Pakistan *as e5anding to
an e5tent that *as much more than the aarent reKuirement o4
geoolitics8 1n the 1st *eek o4 #ugust 1971 President %i5on *ent as
4ar as to de4ine the issue as a roblem o4 hunger ignoring the root
olitical issue o4 2engali secession movement8 3he Dashington Post
also critici;ed Mr8 = 3hant& )ecretary /eneral o4 =nited %ations 4or
not telling the simle truth that the deliberate olicies o4 Pakistan
/overnment& *hich constituted a violation o4 human rights& *ere
creating threats to international eace8 3he Dashington Post 4urther
mentioned that Mr8 = 3hant should have understood that the issue
*as beyond the olitical calculus o4 the )oviet move in the
subcontinent8 2esides this treaty acting as a deterrent against
aggression by Pakistan and China& 1ndian decision makers had t*o
imortant considerations in their minds8 "irstly& 1ndia must get the
regular suly 4rom )oviet =nion *hen direct military con4rontation
*ith Pakistan *ould start at the time o4 assisting the 2angladesh
liberation 4orces8 )econdly& )oviet must ut veto o*er against =8%
cease$4ire till the comlete liberation o4 2angladesh8 #4ter the
signing o4 the 4riendshi treaty 1ndian olicy makers lanned 4or the
military o44ensive8 1ndia decided to e5loit the situation *hich *ould
close the northern asses by sno* 4all in *inter thus reventing
Chinese threat and *hich *ould make *ay 4or easy victory in
eastern 4ront by lightening military o44ensive8
)iAlomatic Mo.es in 4( 3(
6ahya coterie had 4irm con4idence and conviction that at the start o4
total *ar =nited )tates *ith all her military might *ould come
4or*ard to sto the emergence o4 2angladesh and *ould undertake
all ossible measures to create stalemate8 On this strategy Pakistan
launched 4ull$scale *ar on 1ndia on -3 December 19718 3he Pakistan
#ir "orce struck 1ndian air4ields o4 #mritsar& Pathankot& )rinagar&
#*antiur& =ttarlai& ?odhur& #mbala and #gra8 PakistanGs move *as
romtly suorted by =nited )tates8 3hus at the end o4 liberation
*ar global geo$olitical con4lict created by #merican administration
*as a great obstacle 4or the e5ected victory o4 combined 4orces o4
1ndia and 2angladesh8
On -' December 1971 acting President and Prime Minister o4
2angladesh reKuested the 1ndian Prime Minister 4or 4ormal
recognition o4 2angladesh so as to create congenial atmoshere 4or
*orld oinion in 4avour o4 1ndia and sell out the intention o4 the
/overnment o4 1ndia on 2angladesh issue& not to merge Aast
Pakistan *ith 1ndia but to liberate sovereign 2angladesh8
Dhile on the other side on -' December 1971& Dr :enry
@issinger brie4ed Dashington )ecial #ction /rou <D)#/> about
the March 19.9 bilateral agreement and )A#3O treaty obligations8
Dilomats in the )tate Deartment s*eated over interretations o4
the )A#3O treaty and the secret agreement *ith Pakistan8 3he treaty
guaranteed =8) intervention only in the event o4 communist
aggression8 @issinger set out to orchestrate the =8)8 er4ormance at
the =8%8 3he dra4t statement *as reared 4or Mr8 /eorge 2ush to be
delivered at the =8% )ecurity Council8 Pro4essor @issinger *as harsh
to the high level dilomats and military brass 4or rearing even
handed dra4t statement and ossible course o4 action to revent
1ndia$2angladesh military action8 #t times& o44icials art4ully
sabotaged @issinger7s desire to hel Pakistan8 !ichard %i5on lacked
the moral suort o4 #merican eole because o4 the Pakistan
#rmy7s killing& rae& atrocities and lundering o4 the eole o4
2engal8
Mr8 /eorge 2ush the ambassador o4 =nited )tates at =8%8 on the
night o4 -' December 1971 in an emergency session 4or )ecurity
Council called 4or an immediate cease$4ire and *ithdra*al o4 troos
by both sides8 #s the =nited )tates roosal 4ailed to identi4y the
root cause o4 the issue& that is& atrocities by the Pakistan #rmy on
innocent eole o4 Aast Pakistan and roblem o4 re4ugees in 1ndia&
Mr8 ?acob Malik the !ussian delegate termed the #merican
resolution as one sided and vetoed the #merican roosal8 Poland
Boined in voting againstI 2ritain and "rance abstained& and 4ollo*ing
11 members voted 4or, China& #rgentina& %icaragua& 2elgium& 1taly&
2urundi& )omalia& )ierra Ceone& )yria& ?aan and the =nited )tates8
3*o other resolutions called 4or an immediate end to the
4ighting& *hile one 4rom the )oviet =nion sought olitical solution o4
the con4lict leading to a cessation o4 hostilities8 3he 4irst emergency
meeting deteriorated into a o*er struggle bet*een !ussia and China
as they took diametrically oosed ositions on all asects o4 the
crisis& !ussia siding *ith 1ndia and 2angladeshI and China *ith
Pakistan8 #n early clash came *hen !ussia roosed to the council
4or inviting the reresentative o4 the 2angladesh /overnment to take
art in the debate8 3his roosal *as vehemently resisted by both
China and the =nited )tates8 China observed that to let the
reresentative o4 the rebellious elements articiate in its discussion
*ould be tantamount to asking the )ecurity Council to inter4ere in
the internal a44airs o4 a state8
China resented her 4irst dra4t resolution condemning 1ndia 4or
subverting& dismembering and committing aggression against
Pakistan8 1t attacked 1ndia 4or creating a so$called 2angladesh and
called both sides to *ithdra* their armed 4orces8 On -. December
1971& the eight$o*er resolution called uon 1ndia and Pakistan to
reach an immediate cease$4ire and *ithdra* their armed 4orces to
their o*n sides o4 the borders8 3he resolution recogni;ed in its
reamble the need to deal *ith issues that gave rise to hostilities and
the need 4or an early olitical solution to enable the re4ugees to
return8 3his *as meant to make the resolution more accetable to
1ndia and )oviet =nion8 3he sonsors o4 the !esolution *ere
#rgentina& 2elgium& 2urundi& 1taly& ?aan& %icaragua& )ierra Ceone
and )omalia8 3he vote *as the same as it *as on the =8)8 resolution&
11 4or& t*o abstentions <2ritain and "rance> and t*o against <the
)oviet =nion and Poland>8 2e4ore this vote& China *ithdre* its dra4t
resolution as it came to a vote8 )oviet dra4t resolution 4ailed since
the resolution did not get the nine votes 4or assage8 Chinese veto
*as gratuitous8
On -+ December 1971 1ndia accorded its 4ull recognition 4or the
Peole7s !eublic o4 2angladesh8
3he /eneral #ssembly adoted a resolution on the night o4 -8
December 1971 calling uon 1ndia and Pakistan to cease hostilities
and *ithdra* their armed 4orces to their o*n sides o4 the borders8
3he vote *as 1-' to 11 *ith 11 abstentions8 3he council voted on the
night o4 -7 December 1971 to send the Kuestion to the assembly 4or
eace resolution in the manner originally used to deal *ith the
@orean Dar in 19.- a4ter t*o )oviet vetoes and the threat o4 the
third8 3he assembly has neither a veto nor the o*er to make its
resolutions obligatory8
Dhile .7 seakers had been e5ressing their countries vie*s in
= % /eneral #ssembly 1ndian and 2angladesh "orces moved to*ard
making the Peole7s !eublic o4 2angladesh a reality on the ground
rather than a 4iction o4 dilomacy8
Gunboat )iAlomacy
President %i5on *as indecisive 4or an inordinately long time8 :e
4inally made u his mind to 4le5 #merican great military muscle8 :is
action brought #merica to the edge o4 a *ar that *ould involve
=))! and China8 On December -9& President %i5on authori;ed
#dmiral Moorer commander o4 )eventh "leet to desatch a task
4orce o4 eight shis including nuclear aircra4t carrier Anterrise 4rom
)outh China )ea o44 the coast o4 Pietnam to the 2ay o4 2engal on the
rete5t that Pak #ir "orce and armoured 4orces *ould be destroyed
and 1ndian 4orces *ould occuy #;ad @ashmir8 3his move *ould not
be Busti4ied to the *orld community& as the #rabian )ea near @arachi
*as three thousand kilometers a*ay 4rom the 2ay o4 2engal8
3he oerational resonsibility o4 the seventh 4leet *as e5tended
to 2ay o4 2engal 4rom the Paci4ic Ocean on 23 %ovember 19718 2ut
in reality the aim o4 the task 4orce 7'& comrised out o4 seventh 4leet
*as to sto the de4eat o4 Pakistan #rmy by conducting naval& air and
land oerations *hen 2angladesh *as almost liberated by the
combined unch o4 Mukti 2ahini and the 1ndian 4orces8 3he
comosition o4 the strong naval 3ask "orce 7' *as to 4oil the
blockade by the 1ndian navy& to assist Pakistan land 4orces and to
combat the 1ndian air 4orce to make the landing o4 #merican marines
4avourable8 DorldGs most o*er4ul shi& the =)) Anterrise& a
nuclear o*ered aircra4t carrier *ith a cre* o4 more than 4ive
thousand lus seventy$4ive lanes and 4ive helicoters searheaded
3ask "orce 7'8 #lso in the task 4orces *ere three guided missile
destroyers the @ing& Decatur and PersonsI 4our gun destroyer& the
2ausell& Orleck& Mckeen and #ndersonI and 3rioli& a helicoter
carrier *ith t*enty 4ive marine assault helicoters and t*o
comanies o4 marinesI suly shis *ere also added to it latter8 3hey
*ere ordered to assemble in the )trait o4 Malacca $ a .--$mile long
channel connecting the 1ndian Ocean and the China seas8 !ear
#dmiral D8D8 Cooer commanded the task 4orce 7'8 3he 4irst shi
*as e5ected to arrive there at 7,'. P8M8 Dashington time December
128 3hree days later& at 8,'. P8M8& they *ere to enter the 2ay o4
2engal8 3he 4leet elements including the 2nter-rise and 4our
destroyers *ere moved 4rom 6ankee station o44 Pietnam& the 3ri-oli
*ith three destroyers 4rom )ubic 2ay o4 the Philiines and the
Paci4ic command in :a*aii and the to command remained in
Dashington8
1n the mean time dilomatic moves *ere taken u by !ichard
%i5on to convince 2re;hnev in ending the crisis be4ore the
suero*ers *ere dragged in the *ar8 1n the evening o4 1-
December 1971& a4ter discussion *ith Dr @issinger about the
subcontinent and the disintegration o4 Pakistan& Mr8 :uang :ua&
Chinese #mbassador at =% came to the real concern that a recedent
*as being set u by *hich other countries secially 3ibet and
)inkiang might be dismembered by 1ndian$)oviet collusion8 Mr8
:uang :ua told Dr @issinger that China *ould never sto 4ighting as
long as it had a ri4le in its armoury8 Dr @issinger *as encouraged and
took that as an indication that China might intervene militarily even
at that stage8
%i5on$@issinger *as hoe4ul *ith assurance 4rom Mr8 :uang
:ua that China& no doubt& *ould start military camaign against
1ndia to assist Pakistan8 %i5on$@issinger 4i5ed u their mind to
retaliate *ith nuclear strike against !ussia in case !ussia dared to
launch attack against China and *ould not remain as silent sectator8
%i5on disclosed this to 3imes a4ter 4ourteen years8 %i5on ordered =)
)eventh "leet to roceed to*ards 2ay o4 2engal and asked China to
move 4rom the north to*ards 1ndia and 2angladesh8 China had no
records that they had invaded and conKuered 4oreign country8 3hey
had al*ays been in de4ensive role& as they constructed /reat Dall to
rotect its territory 4rom 4oreign aggression8 China *as so threatened
by !ussiaGs deloyment along her borderI she *anted olitical
solution in =% )ecurity Council8
On the other side& )oviet =nion *as silently moving its o*er4ul
4leet to 1ndian Ocean and 2ay o4 2engal8 On -3 December 1971&
three )oviet *arshis $$ a destroyer armed *ith sur4ace to air
missiles& a seagoing mines*eeer and a naval oiler J assed 4rom the
)trait o4 Malacca into the 1ndian Ocean and 2ay o4 2engal8 )oviets
had ut si5teen *ar shis and 4ive submarines reasonably near the
combat area in 1ndian Ocean& 2ay o4 2engal& China )ea and #rabian
)ea8 3he movement o4 the )oviet *arshis started as early as on -3
December 19718 !ussia also laced number o4 *arshis in #rabian
)ea& /ul4 o4 #den& and Persian /ul48 %ot content *ith this naval
o*er alone& the !ussians desatched more *arshis to*ards the
)trait o4 Malacca assing through )ea o4 ?aan into Aast China )ea8
3he intelligence reorts 4rom Mosco* *arned that the Chinese
*ould move against 1ndia8 3his Chinese manoeuver created an
oortunity 4or =))! to activate a contingency lan 4or a re$
emtive strike against Co %or long advocated by some to !ussian
military strategists but held in abeyance by @remlin leaders Ceonid
2re;hnev and #le5ei @osygin8 Cake Co %or& in ChinaGs )inkiang
rovince& is as strange as the land surrounds it8 On the bank o4 lake
Co %or& there *as a Chinese military installation& *here China had
detonated nuclear e5losion8 =))! took Co %or as Chinese nuclear
threat& bringing Mosco* *ithin the striking range o4 Chinese nuclear
missiles8 1nside the @remlin& marshals talked about *iing out this
ne* threats to )oviet security be4ore it become a reality8 Dithout
committing their 4orces to a re$emtive strike& !ussian leaders
moved ground and air 4orces into osition along the )inking border8
)oviet moved 4orty divisions along the =sury !iver and seven
divisions along )inkiang border8 !ussian missile men also received
*ord to rogram their traBectories 4or Chinese targets8 3he !ussians
*ould mount a diversionary action in )inkiang against any Chinese
attack on 1ndia or Aast Pakistan8 3he Chinese intention *as to come
through Chumbi valley near )ikkim$2hutan and link u *ith Aast
Pakistan right through the end o4 December8
1t *as also a good luck 4or 2angladesh that there *as a olitical
chaos in China in the month o4 )etember $ October 1971 *hen
attemt on the li4e o4 Chairman Mao 3se 3ung by Pice$Chairman
and De4ense Minister Cin Piao 4ailed8
%i5on understood that i4 !ussians succeed in humiliating China&
all rosects 4or *orld eKuilibrium *ould disaear8 #le5ander :aiK
instructed to tell the Chinese that =8)8 *ould not ignore )oviet
intervention8
On 12 December %i5on ordered the carrier task 4orce to roceed
through the )trait o4 Malacca and into the 2ay o4 2engal8 1n vain
Pakistan authority in 1slamabad and Pakistan ambassador in Peking
tried to convince China to come to their rescue8 3he Chinese layed
a very cautious role because o4 !ussian threat8 %i5on and Dr
@issinger *ere *aiting 4or ositive suort 4rom Mr8 :uang :ua&
but the rely *as un4avourable8 China *anted =% rocedure to be
4ollo*ed and restoration o4 the olitical solution8 Dhen Mr8 %i5on
received the Chinese message the 4leet7s movement *as stoed8
Aarlier on 1- December 1971 MaBor /eneral !ao "orman
#li&Military #dviser to the /overnor o4 Aast Pakistan& *ith the
ermission o4 6ahya sent message to =% 4or trooGs *ithdra*al and
trans4er o4 o*er to 2angladesh /overnment *hich *as 4oiled due
to #merican intervention through desatch o4 )eventh "leet and thus
e5tension o4 *ar 4or another 4ive days8 3his e5tension o4 *ar caused
the massacre o4 2engali intellectuals at Dhaka8 On )unday
December 12& as the 1ndian and Mukti 2ahini columns *ere closing
in on Dhaka& a grou o4 senior Pak army o44icers and their civilian
counterarts headed by MaBor /eneral !ao "orman #li met in the
Presidential residence8 3hey ut together the names o4 2.- eole to
be arrested and killed& including the cream o4 DhakaGs ro4essional
circles not already liKuidated during the civil *ar8 3heir arrests *ere
made on Monday and 3uesday by marked bands o4 e5treme right$
*ing ?amat$e$ 1slamGs armed gangs called the #l$ 2adar& #l$)hams
and !a;akar only hours be4ore the o44icial surrender *as singed <on
1+
th
>8 3he victims *ere taken in grous to the outskirts o4 the city$
!ayerba;aar *here they *ere summarily e5ecuted8 On 1'$1.
December 4or 21 hours %i5on administration endeavoured 4or all
e44orts and analysis& came to the conclusion that the 1ndian sub$
continent *as not the roer lace to use their set rincile o4
/unboat Dilomacy because o4 changing *orld balance o4 o*er
and geoolitical situation8 3he actions o4 the =nited )tates *ere
rerehensible throughout the death agony o4 Aast Pakistan and the
birth angs o4 2angladesh8 !ussian intervention came as heavenly
assistance 4or oressed eole o4 2engal& *hich saved 4ar bigger
catastrohe in )outh #sia8 3he @remlin threat in the 4orm o4 the
deloyment o4 *arshis o4 )oviet =nion& then the )uer Po*er& in
1ndian Ocean and #rabia )eaI and the Cand "orces along Chinese
border de4used& revented and reverted the ossibility o4 3hird Dorld
Dar on the issue o4 2angladesh8
Preface 1'-3871'-388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
ChaAter #
;A214-% ?; PA52+TA3 A3) B2-T7 ?;
BA3G1A)%+7
;inal ?<<ensi.e
General
2y late %ovember 2angladesh "orces and the 1ndian #rmed "orces
under the allied command made their lan 4or 4inal o44ensive8 2e4ore
*e go into the conduct o4 the 4inal o44ensive let us look at the lan
and rearation o4 both sides8
Pakistan
Disosition8 2y this time& the Pakistanis had almost 4ive divisions
oerating in di44erent arts o4 2angladesh8 9 1n4antry Division under
MaBor /eneral M : #nsari *as oerating in )outh Destern sector
*ith its :H at ?essore8 1n %orth 2engal MaBor /eneral %a;ar
:ussein )hah7s 1+ Div oerated *ith its :H at %atore8 1n the Aastern
sector 1' Division under MaBor /eneral #bdul MaBid Hua;i oerated
in 2rahmanbaria and )ylhet *ith its headKuarters at #shuganB8 3*o
ne*ly raised 1n4antry Division& the 3+ 1n4antry Division under MaBor
/eneral ?amshed *as looking a4ter Dhaka in addition it had 93
1n4antry 2rigade oerating in the areas o4 ?amalur$Mymensingh and
the 39 1n4antry Division under MaBor /eneral !ahim oerated in
Caksham$Chandur area o4 Comilla8 2esides Pakistan had ..&---
!a;akars& #l$2adr& #l$)hams& 1.--- Dest Pakistani !angers& )couts
and MuBahids8 2esides the land 4orces& the Pakistanis had 18 sabers
4ighter ground attack aircra4t and 8 helicoters based at Dhaka and
some gun boats at Chittagong and @hulna8
Pakistan Plan
3he main asects o4 the lan *ere to build u communication
centres as strong oints and man the border out osts *ith mi5ed
4orces o4 regulars& !a;akars and Dest Pakistani aramilitary 4orces8
3he Pakistan army *as con4ined to these strong oints due to intense
activity o4 Mukti 2ahini and hostile 2engali oulation8 Pakistan
*as 4ully deendent on e5ternal assistance mainly 4rom #merica and
China against 4inal onslaught by the combined 4orces o4 Mukti
2ahini and 1ndian #rmy& or to create standstill condition or cease4ire
by the international 4orum like the =nited %ation )ecurity Council8
Pak +trate:y
"or the Pakistani lanners it aeared logical that in the event o4 *ar&
the Pakistan #rmy *ould try and sei;e the initiative in Aast Pakistan
aimed at grabbing vital chunk o4 1ndian 3erritory and in the *est
they *ould launch a massive o44ensive to cature re4erably in the
?ammu and @ashmir sector& and then be in a stronger bargaining
osition to cater 4or any loss in the Aast8 3his *as to be achieved by
an o44ensive action in the Dest *hile /eneral %ia;i *as to adot a
osture o4 de4ense in the Aast8
?Ations
"aced *ith the task o4 de4ending a long vast line o4 border
Cieutenant /eneral %ia;i& had t*o otions oen to him 4or the
de4ense o4 Aast Pakistan i> 3o resist the allied 4orces *ith all his
strength and sto them at the border8 ii> 3o 4ight a 4le5ible battle on
the border and i4 success4ul& lan to conduct an organi;ed *ithdra*al
back to ground o4 o*n choosing *here he could o44er rotracted
resistance8 3he 4ormer has the advantage& i4 it succeeds& o4 not giving
u any great e5tent o4 territory to the allied 4orces but carries the risk
o4 being de4eated in detail at the border8 3he latter& is likely to result
in early loss o4 territory& gives the de4ender an oortunity o4
4ighting a mobile battle and making the best use o4 ground8
)ecision
#lthough the 4inal decision regarding *hich course to adot o4ten
deended on the olitical and sychological 4actors or the ersonality
o4 the commander& the most imortant tactical consideration is the
nature o4 the terrain8 :o*ever& /eneral # # @ %ia;i adoted the
4ormer one8
Allied ;orces
Allied ;orces +trate:y
<a> 3o cature Dhaka *ithin three *eeks be4ore any e5ternal
intervention and international ressure8 3o accomlish this obBective
1ndian army byassed Pakistani strong oints and dashed 4or Dhaka8
 3he cature or e44ective blocking o4 t*o maBor orts o4 entry
to sto 4urther build u in the region a4ter the outbreak o4 *ar8 3he
blockade *as to revent intervention by the third arty8
<c> Mukti 2ahini detachments commanded by hardcore o44icers
*ith communication eKuiment etc to concentrate behind the
Pakistan army de4ense in the last *eek o4 %ovember to carry out
ambush& raids and send battle intelligence and to divide the e44orts o4
Pakistan "orces8
)esAosition(
#llied "orces built u strength o4 three cors *ith 2 Medium
#rtillery !egiment& one !egiment o4 3$.. tanks and t*o regiments
o4 P3$7+ amhibious tanks8 1n addition& there *ere enough #PCs to
carry t*o battalions and they had the caability o4 laying 1-&--- 4eet
o4 bridging at any given moment8 1n the reserve *as the Parachute
2rigade8 "or this oeration& the 1ndian #ir "orce had ten sKuadrons
o4 M1/21s <intercetors>& Canberras <bombers>& /nats <ground
suort aircra4t> and )=7s <4ighter bombers> together *ith a large
number o4 transort aircra4t7s and helicoters and caability o4 air
droing the reserve brigade8 3he navy had the aircra4t carrier
Pikrant *ith + #li;e <reconnaissance aircra4t>& 1' )ea :a*ks
<4ighter> and 2 )ea @ings <anti$submarine helicoters> embarked&
lus an escort o4 three destroyers and 4rigates8 3he 3ask "orce also
included 4our *arshis& t*o submarines& one mines*eeer& 4ive
gunboats and three landing cra4ts8 3he Aastern headKuarters *as at
Calcutta and the Aastern #ir Command *as at )hillong& Colonel
#taul /hani Osmany *as the Commander$in$Chie4 o4 2angladesh
#rmed "orces having 2-- battle seasoned army o44icers to command
more than hundred thousand Mukti 2ahini8 3he 2angladesh 4orces
comrised o4 @& ) and F 4orces 4ormed u in 2rigades8 2-&---
regulars in eleven sectors including one %aval Commando grou
trained at Plassey and 1--&--- guerillas8 1ndia develoed the 1nter
)ervices ?oint Command system at the Aastern command :Hs8 #n
allied command *as set u bet*een the 1ndian "orces and the Mukti
2ahini& and necessary coordination bet*een the t*o 4orces *as made
at every level8 Cieutenant /eneral ?agBit )ingh #urora& /OC$in$C
Aastern Command& *as aointed the overall commander 4or the
oerations in 2angladesh8
Allied Plan
3he oeration to be conducted *as code named 7 ?ackot 1P78 3he
three army cors *as to mount three maBor thrusts 4rom the Aast&
Dest and the %orth& *hile a lesser thrust *as lanned on to the
Mymensingh $?amalur area8 11 Cros under Cieutenant /eneral 3 %
!aina *ith ' and 9 Mountain Divisions *as to advance into the
)outh*estern sector 4rom @rishnanagar& Dest 2engal suorted by 8
and 9 )ector Mukti 2ahini8 TTT111 Cros under Cieutenant /eneral
3haan *ith 2- Mountain Division and an additional 2rigade *as to
advance into %orth 2engal 4rom )illiguri and 2alurghat suorted by
+ and 7 )ector Mukti 2ahini8 3he 1P Cros under Cieutenant /eneral
)agat )ingh *hich had its three comlete Divisions& namely 8& 23
and .7 Mountain Divisions *ere to advance 4rom 3riura and
cature the Aastern art o4 the country including Dhaka suorted by
@& ) and F "orceI and 1& 2& 3& ' and . )ector Mukti 2ahini8 3he 1-1
Communication Fone )ub #rea& *hich *as a Cogistic "ormation
*as to advance 4rom Meghalaya *ith a 2rigade lus and cature
Mymensingh& 3angail and 4inally Dhaka suorted by 11 )ector
Mukti 2ahini8 3he cru5 o4 the lan *as to contain the enemy strong
oints at the border& *hile o*er4ul mobile thrust by a series o4
byassing moves *ould cut the enemy7s lines o4 communication and
make 4or the strategic targets8 Dith the cooeration and suort o4
the air and naval arms& the #llied #rmy *ould isolate the Dhaka
2o*l 4rom the bulk o4 the de4ending #rmy8
+outhWestern +ector
3he combined oeration by the Mukti 2ahini o4 8 )ector led by
Catain <later Colonel> @hankaker %a;mul :uda and suorted by
the 9 1ndian 1n4antry Division liberated Chaugacha on 2' %ovember8
Preface 1''3871''388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
:ere 4ierce air and tank battles *ere 4ought8 Pakistan #rmy lost all
their aircra4ts and tanks encountered in this sector8
3he tactics and techniKues *hich *ere adoted by #llied "orces
to isolate& byass& attack and to establish blocking osition at the rear
o4 the enemy 4inally 4orced the *ell trained Pakistan 1n4antry
Division deloyed in ?essore$ ?henidah area to vacate8 3his *as an
outstanding 4eat o4 achievement that ultimately contributed to de4eat
o4 the enemies in other sectors o4 oerations in 2angladesh8 3he
main routes available to the #llied "orces *ere 2angaon J
?hingergacha J ?essore& @rishnanagar J ?ibannagar J @aliganB J
?henidah and Meherur J Chuadanga J ?henidah J Magura8 Calcutta
*as linked *ith most o4 the cities and to*ns o4 Aast Pakistan by rails
and roads since re$artition time& but these *ere disruted by
artition8
3he Pakistan 9 1n4antry Division& commanded by MaBor /eneral
M : #nsari *as oerating in the south*estern sector *ith its
headKurters at ?essore8 :e divided the *hole south*estern sector
into t*o sub$sectors8 .7 1n4antry 2rigade *as tasked to de4end uto
Padma in the north and ?ibannagar J @aliganB a5is to the south8 1-7
1n4antry 2rigade *as to de4end south o4 ?ibannagar $ @aliganB a5is
uto )atkhira8 3he battalions *ere to hold the de4ended areas *ell
4or*ard as long as ossible& then gain time by trading sace8 )ome
troos *ere earmarked to guard ?essore and ?henidah 4ortress8
3he resonsibility o4 liberating south*estern sector *as given to
1ndian 11 Cors under Ct /en 3 % !aina along*ith the Mukti 2ahini
o4 %o 8 and 9 )ectors8 11 Cors divided its area o4 resonsibility into
three sub$sectors *ith the maBor thrust against ?essore8 1ndian 9
1n4antry Division under MaBor /eneral Dalbir )ingh *as given the
task to cature ?essore& @hulna8 ' Mountain Division under MaBor
/eneral Mohinder )ingh 2arar *as emloyed to cature north o4
Chaudanga uto @ushtia8 3his division *as also tasked to cature
Magura and 4erry sites across Madhumati !iver and :arding 2ridge
area8 )atkhira and its southern area *ere allotted to 2engal #rea& a
Cogistic "ormation *ith coule o4 regular battalions under MaBor
/eneral P Cho*dhury8 11 Cors comosed o4 9 1n4antry Division& '
Mountain Division& .- Parachute 2rigade less a battalion& '. Cavalry
<P3$7+>& one sKuadron o4 +3 Cavalry <3$..>& 2engal #rea& 8 )ector
under MaBor #bul Man;ur and 9 )ector under MaBor #bdul ?alil *ith
the continuous suort o4 1ndian #ir "orce& *as oised 4or o44ensive
to*ards ?essore J ?ehnidah and beyond8 1t may be mentioned here
that& by the end o4 %ovember 1971& the Mukti 2ahini troos o4 %o 8
and 9 )ectors had liberated a number o4 areas in south*estern sector
and established guerilla bases dee in the interior8 1 *as ositioned in
?henidah& Magura and !aBbari areas8
Battle o< Chau:acha
3he success4ul battle o4 Chaugacha by allied 4orce *as the gate*ay
to liberation o4 2angladesh8 3he 4irst conventional battle *as 4ought
bet*een allied 4orces and Pakistani 4orces in Chaugacha in 19718
3he success o4 this battle by allied 4orces o44 balanced the Pakistani
4orces in this theatre o4 oeration8
Chaugacha is a small to*nshi covering an area o4 7. sKuare
km8 1t is about 2- km *est o4 ?essore and adBacent to 1ndian 2ayra
and 2agdanga border8 !iver @obadak *as on the *est o4 Chaugacha
run north to south almost arallel to international border8 3here are
4e* bills around Chaugacha like @ushtia bill& Pitambarur bill& and
Ceharincha bill8 3here are 4e* imortant roads and tracks running
to*ards the borderline namely ?essore J Chaugacha J 2ayra&
=;irur$ Muktarur$/aribur$@abilur& and ChaugachaJ
Mohmmadur$ 2ayra and Chaugacha $ ?higergacha8 1mortant
villages like /aribur& ?ahangirur& ?aganathur& )inghaBuli& 2uraili&
2arinda& =llashirnagar& 2hadra& =;irur& Muktarara& #4ra&
Mukundaur and @abilur etc surround Chaugacha8
3he 1ndian lan *as to go behind Pakistani de4ence and make it
o44 balance by establishing a strong hold8 #s er the lan '2 1n4antry
2rigade *as to advance 4rom 2ayra to #4ra through /aribur J
?aganathur track8 #ccording to the oerational lan 1' PunBab
!egiment o4 '2 1n4antry 2rigade *as emloyed 4or this task8
Cieutenant Colonel ! @ )ingh *as the commanding o44icer and
2rigadier ?) /haraya *as the 2rigade Commander8 One sKuadron o4
tank o4 +3 Cavalry and 8 )ector Mukti 2ahini under Catain @ %
:uda crossed international boundary8 3he allied troos initially tried
to cross the @obadak !iver under 2ayra8 2ut the crossing site *as
destroyed by Pakistani air 4orce8 #llied 4orce brought anti aircra4t
gun near the crossing site8 On 13 %ovember 1971 allied 4orce *ith
their eKuiment crossed !iver @obadak near 2ayra by assault boats
Preface 1'.3871'.388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
and ra4ts8 #llied 4orce concentrated near =;irur and Muktarara8 #s
a reliminary oeration 1ndia 1' PunBab suorted by P3$7+ tank and
Mukti 2ahini o4 8 )ector *ere tasked to advance and secure the area
in and around /aribur by 2- %ovember 19718
3he #llied 4orce remained undetected till 19 %ovember 1971
a4ter crossing international boundary on 13 %ovember 19718 #4ter
learning about the resence o4 allied 4orce 1-7 2rigade under
2rigadier :ayat *as ordered to dislodge the allied 4orce8 3he
Pakistani 9 Division ut a serious e44ort to eBect the allied 4orce and
made available the divisional troos 21 PunBab <! 0 )> and + PunBab
4or the attack8
3o clear /aribur& t*o task 4orces *ere organi;ed by 2-
%ovember 19718 3he 3ask "orce <3"> #lha <#> *as comosed o4
21 PunBab and a sKuadron o4 tank8 3" 2ravo <2> *as comrised o4
t*o comanies o4 + PunBab8 3"s *ere laced under Cieutenant
Colonel 1mtia; Daraich and Cieutenant Colonel )hari4 resectably8
3hey *ere also given 4ire suort o4 artillery battery8
3" # *as to move 4rom ?essore area *hile 3" 2 *as to move
4rom Chaugacha area8 #rtillery battery *as to be deloyed at )alua8
Pakistani command 4elt the resence o4 allied 4orce on 19
%ovember 19718 3"$# *hich *as coming 4rom ?essore *ith a
sKuadron o4 tank& concentrated in ?aganathur village through
Mushirnagar village8 3"$2 *as coming 4rom Chaugacha took u
osition in village )inghaBuli8 Pillage /aribur and ?aganathur *ere
thickly vegetated8 3here *ere addy 4ields bet*een the villages8 1t
*as a 4oggy day8 Pisibility *as restricted8 On the same day Pak .7
1n4antry 2rigade under 2rigadier Man;ur *ent to village Mingram
and @amanna in )ailkua P) to cature me that diverted the e44ort o4
Pakistani #rmy8
3he : hour *as selected at -.3- hours on 21 %ovember 19718
"=P 4or 3"$# *as selected the ?aganathur 1--- yards east o4
/aribur and "=P 4or 3"$2 *as selected at )inghaBuli8 3aking the
advantage o4 4oggy *eather& standing cros& and e5isting
embankment Pakistani 4orces could come closely near the 4or*ard
edge o4 the village /aribur& *here allied 4orces *ere in the rocess
o4 occuation8 3hey *ere not in the 4orm o4 a de4ence8 1n the
morning they *ere taking tea and re4itting themselves8 Pakistan
4orces run over the Charlie comany osition o4 the 1' PunBab8 #t
that oint allied 4orce launched counter o44ensive 4rom ?ahangirur
and encircled Pakistani troos inside /aribur village8 :and to hand
4ighting started inside the village bet*een the t*o 4orces8 3he
counter attack *as suorted by M1/ s and tank8 3ank came out
4rom tank hide near village 2hadra8
"ierce tank battle started in the oen 4ield8 #llied 4orce could
success4ully bring 4ire on Pakistani tank and troos8 #s a result
Pakistani 4orces *ere disorgani;ed and started *ithdra*ing8 #llied
4orce tried to byass Pakistani osition in ?aganathur village but
they *ere encountered by Pakistani troos in ?aganathur village8
Pakistani troos su44ered heavy casualties in and around the village8
3hey sought 4or an air suort8 3he Pakistani )abres <"$8+> soon
aeared over the battle4ield8 1ndian M1/s met them8 Pakistanis lost
all aircra4ts and eleven tanks out o4 1'8 One Pakistani ilot *as
catured in 1ndian territory and taken as POD and other t*o ilotGs
heads *ere choed o44 by shar *eaons by the 2engali villagers in
2angladesh territory8
Pakistani 4orces )her Dil ?a*ans o4 6ahya ran 4or their li4e
leaving behind dead bodies& eKuiment& destroyed tanks& ammunition
inside village ?aganathur8 #llied "orces su44ered 19 killed and ''
*ounded and lost t*o tanks8 Chaugacha remained in the hands o4
allied 4orce till the 4ormal declaration o4 *ar at -3 December 19718
CaAture o< Bessore
?essore *as an old military garrison& 3- km 4rom international border
and 1-- km 4rom Calcutta8 1t is connected by air& rails& and road
net*orks *ith rest o4 the countries8 1ts main road goes to Dhaka via
?henidah& Magura& "aridur and other one to @hulna& an industrial
city& then to Chalna a sea ort to 2ay o4 2engal8 Pakistani 1-7
2rigade *as tasked to de4end ?essore sector8 Pakistanis decided to
de4end ?essore$?henidah road as E%o enetration CineG8 #ccordingly
2rigadier :ayat& Commander 1-7 2rigade deloyed + PunBab to
guard #4ra de4ile along a5is Chaugacha$ ?essore& 22 "" !egiment on
the ?hingergacha$?essora a5is& 1. "" !egiment )atkhira J ?essore
a5is& 38 "" !egiment to guard area bet*een Chaugacha to
?ibannagar *hile 21 PunBab *as ket as reserve in ?essore8 2rigadier
Preface 1'+3871'+388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
:ayat laced himsel4 along *ith his headKuarters at ?essore
Cantonment8
#t the outbreak o4 hostilities on 3 December 1971& MaBor
/eneral Dalbir )ingh decided to advance to*ards ?essore *ith t*o
brigades u8 '2 2rigade under 2rigadier ? ) /horaya *as in contact
*ith the re$organi;ed ?essore de4ences along the marshes *est o4 the
to*n8 3his has closed other otions o4 outmanoeuvring the ?essore
de4ences8 Dalbir )ingh there4ore started& rather bullheadedly& a series
o4 hammering attacks to achieve a breakthrough8 )tarting at 4irst
light on ' December& the ounding continued till late + December&
but there *as no sign o4 dent in the de4ences8 Dhen the Chie4 *as
beginning to lose his atience at the sluggish rogress Dalbir )inghGs
ersistence aid8
#4ter utting u a stubborn and determined stand 4or t*o days&
MaBor /eneral #nsari decided to vacate ?essore8 Dhy he took this
decision& *hen his troos *ere *ell entrenched& holding out stoutly
and in4licting heavy casualties& and no encroachment on his de4ence
line had yet been e44ected& is not understood8 May be 4or 4ollo*ing
reasons& ?essore *as vacated8 3he morale o4 the troos *as shattered
and there *as an arehension that .--- Para$trooers seen at Dum
Dum airort *ould land behind the Pakistani osition8 3he
leadershi o4 MaBor /eneral #nsari *as *eak as he le4t ?henidah and
Magura *ithout utting any resistence to allied "orce8 Moreover he
4ollo*ed sa4er route o4 *ithdra*l& that is& Magura$"aridur across
maBor obstacle Madhumoti !iver leaving other t*o brigades at their
o*n to accomlish more di44icult tasks8 2rigadier ? ) /horaya
distinguished himsel4 in this battle by ersonally leading the attack
4rom the north*est& *hich eventually achieved the breakthrough8 :e
*as *ounded in the action8 3.- 2rigade under 2rigadier : ) )andhu
advanced along 3rack 2urinda$ @aemkola$?essore8 1ndian 32 brigade
under 2rigadier Minto 3e*ari less one battalion moved 4rom
2angaon and oised behind '2 2rigade along a5is Chaugacha$
?essore8 %o 8 )ector o4 Mukti 2ahini also moved *ith the advancing
brigades8 2y the evening o4 7 December 1971 allied 32 2rigade 4rom
the north and 3.- 2rigade 4rom the south reached the out skirts o4
?essore to*n8
?essore 4ell on -7 December and Catain @handaker %a;mul
:uda reached ?essore8 Cater on MaBor <later MaBor /eneral> #bul
Man;ur 8 )ector commander Boined him at ?essore8 11 Cros divided
its area o4 oerations into three a5es8 3he resonsibility o4 the area
%orth o4 Chaugacha u to @ushtia *as given to ' Mountain
DivisionI and ?essore and %orthern art o4 @hulna to 9 Mountain
DivisionI and )atkhira and the southern areas u to 2ay o4 2engal to
2engal #rea *hich *as again a Cogistic "ormation but had a coule
o4 regular battalions8
1n the north the ' Mountain Division along *ith the Mukti
2ahini under MaBor Musta4i;ur !ahman advanced 4rom ?ibannagar
that had already been catured on 27th %ovember8 MaBor Musta4i;ur
!ahman received bullet inBury in his stomach at ?ibannagore attack
and *as evacuated to 2arrackur :osital and oerated uon8 Prime
Minister Mr8 3aBuddin #hmed visited MaBor Musta4i;ur !ahman at
2arrackur :osital8 Darsana *as taken on 'th December and
?henidah& *here the Pakistanis had a 4ortress de4ense 4ell on +th as
the Mukti 2ahini under my command$intensi4ied attack on enemy
there8 "rom ?henidah one column ushed to*ards @ushtia and the
other to*ards Magura8 # bloody battle *as *aged at @ushtia 4rom
9th to 11th December *here the leading tanks *ere shot u Bust
outside the to*n8 Mean*hile MaBor # ! #;am Cho*dhury entered
Meherur *ith t*o comanies and marched on to Chuadanga8
Catain 3a*4iK$e$Alahi Cho*dhury *ith Cieutenant %ur Jun$ %abi
reached @ushtia8 #4ter the battle o4 @ushtia& the advance resumed
to*ards 2heramara& but the retreating Pakistani 4orce had blo*n u
the :ardinge 2ridge over the Padma !iver and 4led to 1shurdi8
1 called 4or 1ndian #ir strike at Magura enemy osition over
*ireless and enemy osition *as bombed on -7 December and as a
result enemy hold *as untenable and they vacated Magura8 3he
columns heading 4or the Madhumati !iver reached Magura on 8th
December8 Cieutenant /eneral 3 % !aina& Cors Commander 11
Cors& accomanied by MaBor #bul Man;ur& Commander 8 )ector&
in a helicoter landed at Magura on -8 December and a4ter a brie4
stoover there he dearted8 3he leading column +2 Mountain
2rigade led by 2rigadier !aBendranath *as halted on the banks o4
the Madhumati at @amarkhali by a strong Pakistani oosition8 :ere
a delay *as caused due to the lack o4 river crossing eKuiment8
Mukti 2ahini under my command led by Cieutenant Musta4a and
guerrilla leader %a;rul 1slam established bridgehead on the eastern
side o4 river Madhumati by 13 December8 3hen t*o sKuadrons o4
tanks P3$ 7+ s*am across the river8 3*o battalions along *ith the
Mukti 2ahini managed a success4ul crossing over the river *ith local
country boats managed by me and chased Pak #rmy8 %o helicoter
*as used to 4erry troos across the river8 @amarkhali de4ense o4 the
Pakistan #rmy *as routed by 1.
th
December8 3he leading elements
o4 the column reached "aridur on 1+th *here the Pakistanis
surrendered8
1n the ?essore area ?hikergacha *as taken on .th December and a
three$ronged attacks *ere launched on ?essore8 3he Pakistanis
abandoned ?essore Cantonment on +th evening in a hurry and
*ithdre* to*ards @hulna8 ?essore 4ell to the allied 4orces on the
morning o4 7th December *ithout a shot being 4ired8 1n their run 4or
li4e& the Pakistanis le4t behind huge Kuantities o4 arms and
ammunition8 1t *as di44icult to understand *hy the Pakistanis
abandoned ?essore *ithout giving any resistance8 Cater on it *as
revealed 4rom Cieutenant /eneral ?acob7s book& S)urrender at
DaccaS signal message *as interceted and misinterreted by
/eneral %ia;i that 1ndian Para 2rigade might be droed behind
Pakistan 9 Division in my area o4 oeration8 C2) radio reorted that
.--- aratroos had been seen at Dum Dum airort8 Moreover
1-&--- guerrillas *ere oerating behind Pak 9 Division under my
command8 1 had been sending chier coded battle intelligenence
reorts by *ireless to MaBor )hankar !ay Chaudhury& 2rigade MaBor
o4 Charlie )ector o4 1ndian army at 2arrackur everyday8 1n his
subseKuent career he *as romoted to the rank o4 /eneral and
aointed as Chie4 o4 #rmy )ta44& 1ndian #rmy8
3he #llied "orces continued their advance to*ards @hulna and
a4ter clearing t*o delaying ositions at !udia and %aoara
contacted the Pakistani main de4ense at )iramani8 3he )iromoni
de4ences occuied by + PunBab !egiment *ere ideal *ith marshes on
the *est and 2hairab !iver in the east8 #s er the o44ensive lan 32
2rigade *as to contain the enemy 4rom the 4ront& '2 2rigade to
advance along the east bank o4 2hairab river 4or cature o4 @hulna
and 3.- 2rigade *as to launch an assault 4rom the north on
)iromoni8 3he 1ndian #ir "orce *as very active throughout the
oerations and gave a good account o4 it by roviding timely and
close suort8 3he 2attle o4 )iramani *as a hard 4ought battle that
lasted 4or about . days until the surrender on 18th December8 1 lost
my 4riend MaBor 2hola o4 13 !aBut !egiment on 1+ December at
)iromoni8 MaBor 2hola *as ne*ly married and *e 4ought together at
)atkhira in the month o4 #ugust8 :e received direct machine gun
burst on his 4ace8 :e *as a very brave 4ighter8 Aarlier in my
command ost at 2homra& 1 *arned him to be cautious as his 4ate
line *as 4ading8 1n the south& 9 )ector Mukti 2ahini under Catain
%urul :uda catured @aliganB and the 2angladesh "lag *as 4ormally
hoisted there8 )atkhira *as taken on 7th December by t*o
aroaching columns the 9 )ector Mukti 2ahini and a battalion o4
2engal #rea 4rom the south& and 8 )ector Mukti 2ahini 4rom the
*est led by )P Catain Mahbub8 3he 9 )ector Mukti 2ahini and
2engal #rea troos reached the southern outskirts o4 @hulna to*n on
11th December and had to *ait until the 2attle o4 )iramani *as *on8
3orth&estern +ector
1n TTT111 Cros area& the lan *as to send the containing columns
4rom the north *hile the main thrust *ent on 4rom :illi8 1n the north&
the 71 Mountain 2rigade under TTT111 Cors :H *ith the suort
o4 %o + )ector Mukti 2ahini by the end o4 %ovember contacted and
catured the 3hakurgaon de4enses on 2nd December8 Ding
Commander #bul 2asher *as + )ector Commander o4 Mukti 2ahini8
2y 1-th December this column reached three miles short o4
DinaBur8 Mean*hile 9 Mountain 2rigade o4 + Mountain Division
took @urigarm and Calmonirhat on +th December8 + )ector Mukti
2ahini under Catain %a*a;esh =ddin catured %ages*ari8 During
this battle Cieutenant #sh4aKue )amad *as killed8 3he 71 Mountain
2rigade met stubborn resistance at DinaBur and )aidur8 3he 2-
Mountain Division under MaBor /eneral Cachhman )ingh Cehl
launched the maBor thrust through the :illi salient8 On 2'th
%ovember 2-2 Mountain 2rigade o4 2- Mountain Division catured
three villages near :illi8 #t the 4ormal declaration o4 *ar on 3rd
December& the 2-2 Mountain 2rigade attacked :illi& not being able
to make much head*ay at :illi 3'- Mountain 2rigade o4 2-
Mountain Division ushed north*ards to Charkai and the ++
Mountain 2rigade o4 2- Mountain Divisioin byassing the :illi
strong oint headed on 4or Polashbari8 "rom Charkai the 3'-
Mountain 2rigade advanced to Phulbari and then *heeled east*ards
to hit PirgonB on !angur$2ogra road8 Mean*hile& the 2-2 Mountain
2rigades attacked on the :illi strong oint and met sti44est resistance
4rom ' "" !egiment8
3he biggest tank battle o4 north 2engal *as 4ought in this area
and the Pakistani anti tank guns knocked out a number o4 1ndian
tanks8 3he Pakistanis 4ought to the last and the strong oint had to be
virtually crushed be4ore the ost could be taken on -9 December8
#4ter taking :illi 2-2 Mountain 2rigade advanced to*ards
/horaghat and linked u *ith the ++ Mountain 2rigade *hich *as
earlier by assing :illi and reached /horaghat on 12th December8
2-2 Mountain 2rigade *as ordered to roceed to*ards 2ogra via
@hetlal& *hile 3'- Mountain 2rigade 4rom PirganB moved to*ards
south and catured /obindagonB *ith the suort o4 a strong
contingent o4 Mukti 2ahini8 Mean*hile ++ Mountain 2rigade *as
diverted 4rom Palashbari to*ards !angur and 3'- Mountain
2rigade moved 4urther south to*ards 2ogra8
1n !aBshahi area& a 2)" 2attalion advanced along *ith the Mukti
2ahini o4 %o8 7 )ector led by MaBor Hua;i %uru;;aman8 MaBor
/iasuddin #hmed Chaudhury and Cat Mohiuddin ?ahangir attacked
Chaai %a*abganB to*n 4rom t*o sides on an enemy battalion8 On
the banks o4 the Mahananda !iver at Chaai %a*abgonB& the 7
)ector Mukti 2ahini under Catain Mohiuddin ?ahangir 4aced a
strong Pakistani resistance8 =nable to break through the Pakistani
de4enses& Catain Mohiuddin ?ahangir cra*led 4or*ard to lob a
grenade in the enemyGs bunker8 :e managed to reach the bunker and
lobed the grenade *hen he *as 4ired uon 4rom another ost8 Due to
this gallant action& Mohiuddin ?ahangir *as osthumously a*arded
the highest gallantry a*ard E2ir )hresthoG8 Chaai %a*abgonB 4ell
on 1' December8 2rave and smart 3areK a student 4reedom 4ighter
kno*n as Cieutenant 3areK catured MaBor /eneral %a;ar :ossain
)hah& /OC 1+ Division on 8 December at Palashbari8 Mean*hile the
3'- Mountain 2rigade reached 2ogra and the Pakistan 2rigade there
surrendered to them on the morning o4 17th December8 1n !angur
2rigadier %aeem surrendered to ++th Mountain 2rigade on 17th
December8 3he Pakistani .7 2rigade that had retreated 4rom @ushita
over the :ardinge 2ridge surrendered to the allied 4orces at 1shurdi8
Mukti 2ahini brought the Pakistani 1+ Division /OC MaBor /eneral
%a;ar :ussain )hah *ho had been catured by 3areK on -8
December to 2ogra on 18th December 4or o44icial surrender8
%astern +ector
1n the Aastern )ector the 1P Cros had three comlete divisions
besides the three regular brigades o4 the Mukti 2ahini and the sector
troos o4 Mukti 2ahini8 3he 8 Mountain Division along *ith EFG
"orces and the Mukti 2ahini o4 %o ' and . )ectors *ere tasked to
cature )ylhet& the .7 Mountain Division along *ith E)G "orce and
the Mukti 2ahini o4 %o 3 )ector to advance to Dhaka via #khaura $
#shuganB$ 2hairab and the 23 Mountain Division along *ith E@G
"orce and the Mukti 2ahini o4 %o8 1 and 2 )ectors to roceed to
Comilla& Chandur and Chittagong8
Dith the outbreak o4 the *ar on 3rd December the 8 Mountain
Division struck )ylhet 4rom t*o directions8 One o4 its columns along
*ith 1 A 2engal o4 EFG "orce crossed the border 4rom the east at
FakiganB and advanced to Charkhai& 4rom Charkhai *hile the main
column advanced to*ards )ylhet& 1 A 2engal crossed the river
)urma and moved cross country to @anairghat8 3he Pakistanis
attacked the osition o4 1 A 2engal at @anairghat& but in a Kuick and
timely counter attack 1 A 2engal in4licted heavy causalty on the
enemy taking 22 o4 them as risoners8 1 A 2engal then advanced
north $ *est and hit the )ylhet $ 3amabil road8 1 A 2engal reached
the outskirts o4 the city on 12th December8 #nother column o4 8
Mountain Division along *ith 8 A 2engal entered through the tea
gardens o4 2hanugach and )hamshernagar and advanced to
)reemangal8 3his column catured Maulaviba;ar on 8th December8
"rom Maulaviba;ar 8 A 2engal 4ollo*ed the rail*ay line and
roceeded to*ards "enchuganB *hile the 1ndian 2rigade *as
helili4ted across the Manu !iver at )herur and it headed north o4
)ylhet8 1n the north o4 )ylhet& 3 A 2engal along *ith . )ector Mukti
2ahini took /oyainghat and subseKuently catured Chatak8 "rom
Chatak 3 A 2engal roceeded to*ards )ylhet but it *as held u at
the river at Cama /ha;i8 Mean*hile a /urkha battalion along *ith a
grou o4 4reedom 4ighters *as helidroed Bust on the outskirts o4
)ylhet to*n on 1-th December8 2y this time the 1ndian and
2angladesh 4orces *ere knocking at the gates o4 )ylhet 4rom the
north& east and the south8 Dith the heli$landing o4 the /urkha
battalion the Pakistani 212 2rigade gave u and surrendered to the
#llied 4orces8
1n 2rahman 2aria the .7 Mountain Division along *ith E)G "orce
and the Mukti 2ahini o4 %o 3 )ector catured #khaura on .th
December a4ter 4ighting one o4 the toughest battles o4 the camaign8
3he Division then moved *est and catured 2rahmanbaria8 On 8th
December 4ollo*ing the rail*ay line the column advanced to
#shuganB *here the 2hairab rail*ay bridge over the Meghna had
been demolished by the retreating Pakistani 4orces8 Alements o4 the
leading 2rigade o4 .7 Mountain Division and the 2 and 11 A 2engal
battalions o4 the E)G "orce crossed the Meghna *ith the hel o4 local
country boats and established air bridge over Meghna at 2hairab
2a;ar8 On 1-th December a 4leet o4 1' M1$' helicoters air$bridged
the remaining elements o4 the Division including its heavy
eKuiment to !aiura8 1n 3+ hours oeration helicoters made 11-
sorties8 3he P3$7+ tanks crossed the river *ith great di44iculty due to
the roblem o4 engine over$heating8 :o*ever& those tanks *ere
to*ed across the river *ith country boats8 3he advance resumed on
11th December a4ter the Pakistani osition at 2hairab *as contained8
3he division then advanced to %arshingdi and 4rom there directed
into t*o columns reached Dhaka& via 3ongi and the other via Demra8
3he Pakistan Division Commander at Dhaka MaBor /eneral ?amshed
surrendered to allied 4orces on 1+th December8
1n the south& the 23 Mountain Division sent out three o4 its
brigades in three di44erent directions8 One o4 its 2rigades along *ith
8 A 2engal crossed the border south o4 Comilla city and then
roceeded to contain the strong Pakistani /arrison at Mainamati
Cantonment8 #nother column along *ith Mukti 2ahini o4 %o 2
)ector entered through Chouddagram and subseKuently took
Caksham8 3he 2rigade along *ith its suorting sKuadron o4 tanks
dashed 4or the Pakistani 39 Division :H at Chandur8 2ut be4ore the
column could reach Chandur& the Pakistani Division Command
MaBor /eneral !ahim @han *ho *as *ounded by air attack *hile in
a gun boat reached Dhaka and later on 4le* o44 4or 2urma in a
helicoter8 3hese elements subseKuently moved 4or Daudkandi
"erryghat8
3he third 2rigade o4 23 Mountain Division along *ith ' and 1-
A 2engal o4 E@G "orce catured "eni on 3rd December and *heeled
south to*ards Chittagong8 #4ter crossing the river obstacles at
)ubhaur the main column advanced to*ards ForaloganB& *hile ' A
2engal *as diverted along @arerhat$:yaku$%a;irhat a5is8 3he main
column advanced unoosed u to @umira *hen on 1-th December
a strong Pakistani oosition at @umira !ail*ay :osital held u the
advance8 3he 2rigade could not advance 4urther and 1- A 2engal
*as ordered to move through the hills and reached :atha;ari *ith a
vie* to encircle the enemy at Chittagong8 2ut on 1'th December the
1ndian 2rigade managed to break through the enemy de4enses at
@umira and roceeded to*ards "auBdarhat8 Mean*hile& an
amhibious 4orce& code named as E!omeo "orceG *hich *as
comosed o4 a /urkha 2attalion and some 4reedom 4ighters landed
on the beaches o4 Co5Gs 2a;aar8 3his 4orce advanced straight to
Chittagong *ithout encountering any oosition enroute8 3hus
Chittagong *as encircled 4rom both north and the south8 2rigadier
#taullah& Command 93 1ndeendent 2rigade at Chittagong
surrendered to the 1ndian "orces at "auBdarhat on 1+th December8
3he #llied "orces entered Chittagong city on the evening o4 1+th
December *ith Bubilant cro*ds *elcoming them8
Central +ector
1-1 Communication Fone )ub$#rea *as a Cogistic "ormation based
at )hillong *as given the task to advance to*ards Mymenshingh$
?amalur sector8 MaBor /eneral /urbu5 )ingh /ill /OC 1-1
Communication Fone *as allotted 9. Mountain 2rigade *hich
consisted o4 1 Maratha Cight !egiment& + )ikh Cight 1n4antry and 2
Para 2attalion a4ter a dro in general area 3angail8 MaBor /eneral
/ill lanned to advance *ith 9. Mountain 2rigade under command
2rigadier : ) @ler to*ards ?amalur *hile he ordered 2rigadier
Preface 1.-3871.-388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
)ant )ingh to advance to*ards Mymenshingh *ith + 2ihar
!egiment& 11 )ector Mukti 2ahini and 83 2)" 2attalion8
3he Pakistanis de4ended the Mymenshingh$?amalur sector *ith
93<#> 1n4antry 2rigade *ith t*o regular 2attalions and 31'<#>
A)C#P 2rigade8 2rigadier #bdul Huader @han& commander 93
1n4antry 2rigade held the home bank o4 !iver 2rahmautra at
?amalur and Mymenshigh *ith a battalion each *hile he sent
advance osition and other rotective detachments 4urther u across
the river8 31 2aluch *as given the task to hold ?amalur sending
advance osition to @amalur& 33 PunBab held Mymenshingh
sending delaying osition at :aluaghat8 3he /OC o4 1-1
Communication Fone MaBor /eneral / ) /ill *as *ounded in a
mine blast during the initial assault near the borderI and MaBor
/eneral / C %agra relaced him8 3he 1ndian 9. Mountain 2rigade
*as 4aced *ith strong oosition at ?amalur to*n *here the
Pakistanis had brought rein4orcements 4rom Mymensingh8 9.
Mountain 2rigade sent a battalion to block the enemy7s *ithdra*al
route behind ?amalur8 2y doing so& 9. Mountain 2rigade managed
to cature ?amalur and it advanced to*ards 3angail8
Mymenshingh$3angail$Dhaka a5es *ere visuali;ed by the high
command as the brightest& easiest and shortest route to reach Dhaka8
Aastern Command :eadKuarters allotted 1+7 Mountain 2rigade to
MaBor /eneral / C %agra to augment and e5edite the oeration in
this a5is to reach Dhaka as earliest as ossible8 2rigadier 1rani *as
the 2rigade Commander& 1+7 Mountain 2rigade8 Other t*o brigades&
that is& 3'- Mountain 2rigade /rou& engaged in 2ogra under
Cieutenant /eneral 3haan& and . Mountain 2rigade *ere also
allotted to MaBor /eneral %agra& but could not Boin this theatre o4
oeration 4or various limitations like river crossing& time constraint
and engagement in other theatre o4 oeration8 1+7 Mountain 2rigade
*as hurriedly brought 4or*ard that struck at Mymensingh 4or
transort resource constraint and crossing o4 !iver 2rahmautra8 3he
alternative lan o4 Pakistani 93 2rigade at Mymensingh *as to move
back to the main de4enses along the CohaBong !iver north o4 3angail
and gave the main battle 4rom there8 )o it *as decided to cut o44 the
Pakistanis *ithdra*ing 4rom ?amalur and Mymensingh to*ards
3angail8 1n order to achieve this& it *as decided to cature 3angail by
a arachute battalion by then8 3he Mukti 2ahini under Huader
)iddiKue had liberated the entire countryside o4 3angail8
On the 11th o4 December at 1+-- hours& the 2 Parachute
2attalion o4 the 1ndian #rmy *as droed at @alihati near 3angail8
#4ter reorgani;ing itsel4 the 2 Para battalion established several
roadblocks on Mymensingh$3angail road8 3he Para 2attalion
destroyed a number o4 Pakistani vehicles& ambushed Pakistani
Mortar 2attery convoy and catured Poongli 2ridge over CohaBang
!iver& interruting and destroying the Pakistani troos retreating
4rom ?amalur and Mymenshingh& and in the rocess 4acilitating the
advance o4 the main 1ndian "orce to*ards Dhaka8 2ut it transired
later that the main Pakistani column o4 Mymenshingh and ?amalur
garrison had assed through be4ore the Para roadblock became
e44ective8 # ortion o4 the Pakistani 2rigade *as cut o44& but some o4
the o44icers and troos managed to sli into the countryside and
escaed to*ards Dhaka8 #llied "orces catured brigadier Huader& the
Pakistani 2rigade Commander o4 93 2rigade8 2y then& the 2 Para
battalion linked u *ith the advancing 2rigades 4rom ?amalur and
Mynensingh8 MaBor /eneral %agra advanced south *ith his 4orces& +
)ikh Cight 1n4antry& 13 /uards& 13 !aButina !i4les& 1- ? and @
!i4les and 7 2ihar along road 3angail$Mir;aur$@alikor$Mouchach$
@odda$/ha;iur$3ongi$Dhaka to reach Dhaka( 2y then& the
@aliakair$)avar link road& *hich *as unmarked on the ma& *as
discovered by MaBor /eneral %agra /OC 1-1 Communication Fone
*ho ordered 2 Parachute 2attalion to advance along that a5is8 3
/uards reached )avar along Mouchak$)avar Cink road and
established roadblock at %ayarhat to sto the enemy advance 4rom
#richa8 3 /uards *ith 2 Para 2attalion also cleared enemy ockets
in )avar8 2rigade Commanders 2rigadier : ) @ler& 2rigadier )ant
)ingh and 2rigadier 1rani *ere assisting MaBor /enera / C %agra in
the oeration8
3he redoubtable Cieutenant Colonel )ultan Mahmmud&
Commanding O44icer o4 31 2aluch !egiment 4ighting through the
roadblocks and overcoming all ha;ards *ith '-- to .-- troos
including aramilitary took de4ense across river 3urag at @odda8 3he
leading elements o4 1+7 Mountain 2rigade contacted the enemy at
@odda 2ridge and encountered heavy 4ighting8 :ere enemy used
tanks8 1t *as di44icult to byass the @odda 2ridge& as the ground
around the bridge *as marshy8 3he units o4 1+7 Mountain 2rigade
by over 4lanking move crossed 3urag !iver reached ?oydeur on
13th December8 2eing con4irmed that 1ndian troos crossed the
@odda !iver& enemy retreated to*ards ?oydebur8 "rom there #llied
troos roceeded 4urther south and on the *ay encountered enemy at
Chaidana& 3 km south o4 /a;iur circle to*ards Dhaka8 3he enemy
lost three tanks including a number o4 vehicles on 1'th December8
2y 4irst light o4 1+th December the leading elements o4 the Parachute
battalion had reached the Mirur 2rigade& Bust on the outskirts o4
Dhaka city8 #t this oint MaBor /eneral / C %agra Boined the Para
trooers and at -83- #M he sent his #DC in a Bee under a truce 4lag
to /eneral # # @ %ia;i *ith the 4ollo*ing message addressed to
Cieutenant /eneral # # @ %ia;i& SMy dear #bdullah& 1 am here& the
game is u8 1 suggest you give yoursel4 u to me and 1 *ill look a4ter
you8M8
#s the #llied "orces *ere about to enter Dhaka& /eneral )am
Maneksha*& Chie4 o4 )ta44 o4 the 1ndian #rmy& urged %ia;i to
surrender8 1#" aircra4ts *ere continuously bombing over the Military
targets in Dhaka8 2ut a halt o4 the bombing *as ordered on the
evening o4 1.th December8 Dhen %ia;i agreed to surrender& MaBor
/eneral ?ack ?acob& Chie4 o4 )ta44& Aastern Command 4le* to Dhaka
at 123- m8 on the1+th December *ith a dra4t instrument o4
surrender8 %ia;i initially obBected to the *ord E2angladeshG but he
ultimately acceted and initialed the dra4t instruments o4 surrender8 1t
is irony o4 4ate that )her Dil ?a*ans o4 PunBab surrendered to 2engal
3igers8 :indus *hom they consider as in4erior race rotected lives o4
PunBabis 4rom being slaughtered by 2engalis 4or the revenge o4
genocide8 2y that time thousands o4 4reedom 4ighters entered Dhaka
City8 MaBor /eneral / C %agra entered Dhaka *ith his 4orces at 9
a8m8 and met %ia;i -93- a8m8 at his o44ice8 3he 2 and 11 A 2engal
and the leading elements o4 .7 Mountain Division o4 1P Cors 4rom
Aastern )ector entered Dhaka the same a4ternoon8 /eneral ?agBit
)ingh #urora along *ith his #ir and %aval counterarts and /rou
Catain # @ @handakar& Deuty Chie4 o4 )ta44 o4 2angladesh "orces
4le* into Dhaka to attend the surrender ceremony8 Pakistan army
surrendered to the Boint command o4 1ndia and 2angladesh8 3he
instruments o4 surrender *ere signed by Pictor Ct /en ?agBit )ingh
#urora /eneral O44icer Commanding in Chie4 1ndian and
2angladesh "orces in Aastern 3heatre and other by de4eated Ct /en
#mir #bdullah @han %ia;i& Martial Ca* #dministrator Fone 2 and
Commander Aastern Command o4 Pakistan army at '8-1 m8 <2)3>
on 1+th December at the !amna !ace Course ground that is no*
)uhra*ardy =ddayan and )hishu Park8
Gallantry A&ards
#nd say not o4 those
Dho are slain in the *ay
O4 /od, E3hey are dead8G
%ay& they are living&
3hough you erceive it not8
$$$:oly @oran& )ura 2akara& #yat$1.'
#bove is the revelation in :oly @oran about the martyrs *ho
sacri4iced their lives in :oly *ar8 Prohet Muhammad <P2=:>
reached that love 4or the motherland is the art o4 4aith or 4man8
Prohet Muhammad <P2=:> a*arded gallantry title to @halid 2in
Daleed as E+&ord o< AllahC( #lso similar gallantry title *as
a*arded to Calih :a;rat #li <!> as EVictorious Ti:er o< AllahC(
Muslim 4ighters are called "hai 5%arrior6 or +hahee! 5martyr6.
1 *as encouraged to *rite this chater on gallantry a*ards on the
advice o4 #mbassador Muhammad Famir a regular columnist in
Daily )tar8
Pictoria Cross <PC>& highest gallantry decoration 4or valour in
2ritish armed 4orces& a*arded 4or e5treme bravery in *ar in the 4ace
o4 the enemy8 Hueen Pictoria instituted it in 18.+ at the reKuest o4
her consort& Prince #lbert8 "ollo*ing this tradition the system o4
a*arding gallantry started in armies o4 other countries as *ell8 Other
2ritish gallantry a*ards are Distinguished )ervice Order <D)O>&
Military Cross <MC>& 1ndian Order o4 Merit <1OM>& and 1ndian
Distinguished )ervice Medal <1D)M>8 Pakistan also 4ollo*ed the
same tradition8 Pakistani gallantry a*ards are Nishan0e0$ai!er,
$ilal0e07urat, +itar0e07urat an! 3agma0e07urat8 Colonel Osmany
brought the same tradition into the 2angladesh army8
3he /overnment in e5ile in May 1971 under noti4ication
announced that gallantry a*ards *ould also be given to valiant
4reedom 4ighters in recognition o4 their brilliant and brave
er4ormances in the *ar o4 liberation8 :o*ever imortant a*ards
other than that o4 gallantry& generally in vogue in other armies o4 the
*orld& 4or er4ormances in the discharge o4 duties in the shere o4
lanning& administration& ublicity& training& disaster management&
election duty& coronation o4 kings and Kueens& assent o4 constitution
and internal insurgency duty not directly involved in battle actions
*ere not conceived o4 during the liberation *ar eriod8
3he gallantry a*ards 4or engagement in battle actions *ere Bir
Shereshto, Bir Uttam, Bir Bikram and Bir ratik!
/uidelines 4or *riting citation 4or gallant deeds *ere 4ormulated
and Colonel Osmany announced the same in con4erences *hile
visiting di44erent base cam8 /allantry a*ards are generally given 4or
gallant actions above and beyond the call o4 duties8 3hey are
reroduced 4or readersG understanding& Busti4ication and
trust*orthiness o4 the gallant a*ards and its un*orthy and
indiscriminate a*arding8
2ir )hereshto, /allantry o4 highest order 4or 4ighting in the 4ace
o4 enormous odds entailing the eril o4 certain death& in *hich but
4or the individualGs gallant deed the enemy *ould have succeeded in
in4licting grave loss on our 4orces8 #lternately& the individualGs
gallant deed had caused the destruction to the enemy o4 a magnitude&
having vital in4luence on the course o4 oerations8 Assential$ three
*itnesses& #*ard$ 3k 1-&---8--8
Bir /ttam, /allantry o4 high order8 #s above but o4 lesser
degree8 Assential t*o *itnesses8 #*ard$3k .&---8--
Bir Bikram8/allantry o4 commendable order. #s above but o4 a
still lesser degree8 Assential$ one *itness8 #*ard$ 3k 2---8--
Bir Pratik, /allantry certi4icate8 O4 a degree not coming u to
any o4 the above standard but o4 ositive nature *arranting
recognition8
3here *as one instance& *here gallantry a*ard *as announced
Bust a4ter the succee4ul attack and cature o4 )aldanadi rail*ay
station8 Colonel Osmany *as in the nearby area *ho congratulated
Catain /ha44er 4or his grand victory8 3he /overnment o4
2angladesh 4or the 4irst time during the liberation *ar announced
gallantry a*ard 4or Catain /ha44er and %aib )ubedar 2elayet
<osthumously> *ho *ere a*arded EBir /ttam. and )ubedar #bdul
Dahab *as a*arded EBir Bikram.8 #ll other gallantry a*ards o4
2angladesh liberation *ar *ere a*arded a4ter the liberation *ar8
#4ter the *ar& in the month o4 March 1972 2rigade commanders and
)ector commanders *ere asked to submit citation o4 o44icers&
soldiers and civilian 4reedom 4ighters 4or their gallant actions8 #s
asked by my )ector commander& 1 also submitted a 4e* citation but
*ithout any tangible result8
?ust a4ter the liberation& Colonel Osmany established his o44ice at
27 Mintoo !oad& Dhaka8 :e reared a list o4 the names 4or
gallantry a*ards8 1n making the list& he took the assistance o4 some
)ector commanders namely the then Ct Colonel Fiaur !ahman& Ct
Colonel )a4iullah and Ct Colonel #bul Man;ur and Deuty Chie4 o4
)ta44 /rou Catain #@ @handakar8 3he main aim o4 Colonel
Osmany *as to glori4y the Aast 2engal !egiment8 3he list o4 names
o4 the gallantry a*ards *ere allegedly made at random *ithout
taking into cogni;ance the set criteria mentioned above8 1t *ould
aear ho*ever that most o4 the gallantry a*arderGs er4ormances
4ailed to meet the criteria8 /enerally citation o4 any valour deeds is
initiated Bust a4ter the actual battle action8 3his *as never done8 1t
*as more o4 a atch*ork& haha;ardly made to roduce a list8 )ome
have Kuestioned this rocess o4 selection by o44icers *ho *ere not
directly involved in battle themselves8
1n most o4 the cases *ritten citation *ere not initiated8 3he list so
reared *as signed by Colonel Osmany and aroved by the Prime
Minister and De4ence Minister 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur
!ahman8 3he same *as ublished in the ne*saers8 6oung o44icers
and soldiers e5ressed adverse reaction on observing the list
ublished in ne*saers8 2ir =ttam& the second highest gallantry
a*ards *ere a*arded to almost all )ector commanders including
o44icers *orking in 8& 3heatre !oad& Calcutta8 3his created serious
dissatis4action8 3here *as *hisering and resentment among troos
*here and ho* )ector commanders and Colonel OsmanyGs ersonal
sta44 dislayed gallant deeds8 )ector commanders and their sta44s
*ere engaged in administrative and logistic activities 4or Mukti
2ahini 4ighting in the battle4ields8 3he sector :eadKuarters *ere *ell
inside 1ndian territory8 One *anders the Kuestion o4 individual
gallantry a*ard o4 sector commanders8 1 leave it to the readers and
the nation 4or 4inding Busti4ication o4 such indiscriminate a*arding o4
gallantry a*ards8
#s 4ar as 1 kno* my )ector commander never visited
2angladesh territory& never visited the oerational areas be4ore and
a4ter the end o4 the battle8 Once 1 occuied an enemy strong hold and
subseKuently sent the situation reort <sitre>8 2ut he believed
)a4iKullah& an o44icer *ho told him that he catured the same enemy
osition8 1n such a mess *e *ere 4ighting the *ar8 3he commander
could not even 4ind or kee the correct reort8 3he )ector
:eadKuarters *as established at @allayni 27 miles a*ay 4rom
2angladesh border and tactical :eadKuarters *as established at
!anaghat 2. miles 4rom 2angladesh border8 :e only visited Mukti
2ahini cam in 1ndian territory8 3he same scenario *as common 4or
other )ector commanders8 My )ector commander *ith helicoter set
4oot in Magura on -7 December 1971 along *ith Ct /en 3 % !ana
o4 11 cors o4 1ndian army a4ter the cature o4 Magura by Mukti
2ahini under my command8
3he resonsibility o4 )ector commanders *as to look a4ter
training& reare oerational lans& issue instruction& administration&
aointment& recruitment etc8 #s a result the *ritten roo4 or reorts
about the battle engagement o4 )ector commanders *ere out o4
Kuestion8 3hey had not engaged in battle themselves& then ho* come
they hoed to have *ritten citation8 Aven the sta44 o44icers o4 2rigade
commanders as #dButant& 2M& medical o44icers& induction o44icers
*ere a*arded gallantry a*ards8 2oth regular 4orces and civilian
4ighters *ho *ere actually engaged in battle and dislayed courage
and gallant actions *ere denied recognition8 3o Kuote an e5amle 1
like to mention here that a retired air 4orce )ergeant Huamru;;aman
under my command in action in #l4aur killed .. soldiers o4 2.
2aluch !egiment and on another action at 2arishat killed 23
!a;akars and !angers8 :is contribution *as not recogni;ed8 :e also
catured )ailkua olice station and collected huge arms and
ammunition8 1nstead o4 recogni;ing his contribution based on *rong
in4ormation )ector commander *anted to arrest him8 1 alerted
Huamru;;aman to leave the area8 :e settled in Dhaka8
MaBor %a;mul :aKue a valiant 4reedom 4ighter gave leadershi
o4 the Mukti 2ahini in the initial resistance *ar against Pakistan
occuation "orces in greater !aBshahi& Pabna and 2ogra districts8
Aventually under his leadershi *hole area u to %agarbari /hat
became liberated by -' #ril 19718 =nder his leadershi at least 3--
Pakistani troos *ere killed in di44erent oerations in !aBshahi&
2ogra and Pabna8 Cater on he *as the 4irst )ector Commander o4
%o8 7 )ector8 1ronically he *as killed in a road accident at !aigonB in
Dest DinaBur a4ter attending a military con4erence in )hiliguri
Cantonment8 3here is a saying that Eout o4 sight out o4 mindG8 MaBor
%aBmul :aKue *as not a*arded any gallantry a*ard as he *as out o4
scene a4ter the liberation *ar8 1n any roer Budgment he should have
a*arded 2ir =ttam8
1n my case& 1 catured enemy strong holds at Darsana and
2aikhari 2OP8 3' enemies *ere killed in Darsana and 9 enemies
*ere killed in 2aikhari8 1t *as recorded in sitre8 1 also oerated
behind enemy lines in the month o4 October& %ovember& and
December 1971& *hich hastened the *ithdra*al o4 Pakistan #rmyGs
9 Division 4rom ?essore area8 My contribution in the *ar *as not
recogni;ed8 2ut #llah looked into it and a*arded 4or my
accomlishment8
Dhen there *as adverse reaction among the troos& 2rigadier
Moinul :ossain Cho*dury& 2rigade commander o4 '+ 2rigade
consulted the matter *ith MaBor /eneral )a4iullah& Chie4 o4 #rmy
)ta44 *ho took him to Prime Minister and De4ence Minister
2angabandhu )hiekh MuBibur !ahman8 2rigadier Moinul :ossain
Cho*dhury brie4ed Prime Minister in detail8 1mmediately Prime
Minister ordered 4or the cancellation o4 the list o4 gallantry a*ards8
2ut a4ter 4e* days under ressure 4rom some vested interest Kuarters
annulled order *as cancelled and restored the original list o4
gallantry a*ards8 1t is un4ortunate that many gallantry a*ards *ere
a*arded to those *ho never set 4oot in 2angladesh territory and
never 4ired a single round& even sustained sel4$in4licted inBury8 1n
*riting this chater 1 have consulted the E)ilent *itness o4 a /eneralG
by MaBor /eneral Moinul :ossain Cho*dhury& 2ir 2ikram8 <Page$
.-$.1>8
Politicians& dilomats *ho de4ected& civilians *ho took u arms
had no less contribution than the )ector commanders8 1t is
articularly disaointing there4ore that there is no recognition o4 a
Preface 1.'3871.'388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
civilian 4or the a*ard o4 Bir +hereshto8 1t is kno*n that 4irst
resistance came 4rom the civilian *ho bore the bulk o4 the onslaught8
1n the same vein someone 4rom the Police and #nsar should also be
regarded 4or this highest honour o4 bravery8 1ndian #rmy dislayed
highest degree o4 courage in the battle *here 1 *as imbedded in that
4orce *as not given any recognition by 2angladesh /overnment8
#bout 2--- 1ndian o44icers and troos laid do*n their lives 4or our
liberation8 #s gesture o4 good *ill& 4riendshi and sureme
sacri4ices& some o4 1ndian troos should have been given gallantry
a*ards8
MuBib 2ahini leaders$ 3o4ael #hmed& #bdur !a;;ak& )heikh
"a;lul :uK Moni and )iraBul #lam @han like regular Mukti 2ahini
commanders should have been a*arded gratis gallantry a*ards8
3heir role as sector commanders o4 MuBib 2ahini *as that o4
Mukti 2ahini sector commanders8 Political leaders *ithout
engagement in battle cannot accet immoral gratis honour& gain and
rivileges8 Colonel Osmany hood*inked 2angabandhu about
distinguishing bet*een morality and immorality& truth and 4alsehood&
right and *rong8 2angabandhu had to ay through his blood 4or
*rong advice8 /ratis 2ir =ttam 4reedom 4ighters lanned to kill
2angabandhu and his 4amily8 /eneral #yub @hanGs assessment *as
correct to 4ind out the leadershi Kualities o4 a man o4 biased
arochial outlook8
One o*ns land& house& car& aircra4t and shi etc suorted by
registered deed document8 Angineers& doctors& scientists and other
degree holders ass e5amination and suorted by recogni;ed
university certi4icate8 Dhat about gallantry a*ards& it must be
suorted by citation reort initiated by 4ield commanders8 #s
roerty o*ner cannot be the o*ner *ithout valid registered
document& university graduate degree *ill not be valid *ithout
university certi4icate8 )imilarly gallantry a*ard cannot be Busti4ied
*ithout citation reort8 3ime has come to dig out the citation reort
and 4ind out the real gallant 4ighters and discard the 4alse valours8
3his can be recorded through the government /a;ette noti4ication8 #
biartisan national committee may be constituted to 4ind out the real
gallant 4ighters and discard 4ake gallant 4ighters8
War Casualty
#s er the 4igures released by Pakistan /overnment& Pakistan lost
237 o44icers& 13+ ?unior Commissioned o44icers and 3&..9 other
ranks in 2angladesh Ciberation Dar be4ore the 4ormal start o4 1ndo$
Pak *ar on 3 December 19718 1n all 1+-+ Pakistan O44icers& 2&3'.
?COs& +'1-9 other ranks& 1-22 non$combatants enrolled in the
!egular #rmyI 79 O44icers& ''8 ?COs and 11++. Other !anks o4 the
Paramilitary "orcesI 91 O44icers& 3- Petty O44icers and 1&292 !atings
o4 the Pakistan %avyI +1 O44icers& 31 Darrant O44icers and 1-'9
#irmen o4 Pakistan #ir4orceI 1++ all ranks o4 the Dest Pakistani
Police and 7... civilians surrendered in various garrisons all over
2angladesh8
3he 1ndian losses *ere 1'21 killed& comrising +8 O44icers& +-
?COs and 1293 Other !anks and '-+1 *ounded& comrising 211
O44icers& 1+- ?COs and 3+9- other ranks and .+ missing8
3he losses o4 Mukti 2ahini that *ere enrolled in Pakistan
De4ense "orces *ere '9 o44icers& 78 ?COs and 1'81 other ranks
totaling 1+-88 Most o4 them *ere arrested on 2. March 1971 and
Pak #rmy carried out cold$blooded murder8 3o cite an e5amle eight
2engali Cieutenant Colonels$ Cieutenant Colonel #bdul :ai&
Cieutenant Colonel #" Fiaur !ahman& Cieutenant Colonel #na*arul
1slam& Cieutenant Colonel %#M ?ahangir& Cieutenant Colonel 2adiul
#lam Cho*dhury& Cieutenant Colonel M # @ader& Cieutenant
Colonel M M !ahman and Cieutenant Colonel M ! !ahman *ere
arrested and murdered8 3his list does not include citi;en "reedom
"ighters8
AAilo:ue
!evolutionary olitical ingredients and total articiation o4 masses
4or liberation *ar *ere not 4ound in the te5tbook o4 the sta44 colleges
o4 1ndia or Pakistan8 1t *as the olitical acumen o4 2angabandhu
)heikh MuBibur !ahman *ho utili;ed these olitical ingredients8 3o
create nuclear e5losion it is reKuired to 4orm critical mass 4rom sub$
critical mass& 2angabandhu *ith his charismatic leadershi in4used
necessary ingredients among the masses to 4orm critical mass to
e5lode olitical revolution8 Political e5losion 4urther triggered by
military crackdo*n crystalli;ed into resistance movement and
Preface 1..3871..388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
4ormation o4 Mukti 2ahini8 3he same Mukti 2ahini de4eated
Pakistan army *ith the suort o4 masses& 1ndian army and !ussian
threat and veto8 Pakistan started *ar by attacking 1ndian bases in the
hoe& =) and China *ould come in their rescue or =% intervention
*ould come to create standstill or cease 4ire in Aast Pakistan8 2ut
Pakistan 4ailed to bring =) and China in the con4lict& though 2hutto
*as blu44ing 6ahya and his countrymen 4or such suort8 6ahya *as
deendent too much on =) and ChinaGs suort8
1n the 4inal analysis& aart 4rom so many 4actors like e5loitation
o4 resources o4 Aast Pakistan and reression o4 olitical leaders& main
4actors contributing to the disintegration or break u o4 Pakistan
*ere the arrogant attitude& sel4ish conduct and marshal behaviour o4
the heads o4 the state and lastly 2huttoGs arrogance and greedy
obstinates move and consiracy in connivance *ith /eneral
Peer;ada& /eneral =mer& /eneral :amid and /eneral /ul :asan8
3he main layers 4or break u o4 Pakistan *ere /hulam Muhammad&
1skander Mir;a& #yub @han during re$seventy years and 4inally
6ahya @han and Ful4ikar #li 2hutto in the ost seventy months8 3he
4irst blo* *as the unconstitutional action o4 third /overnor /eneral
o4 Pakistan /hulam Muhammad *ho dismissed @ha*Ba %a;imuddin
in 19.3 and dissolved the 4irst Constituent #ssembly suorted by
Chie4 ?ustice Muhammad Munir in 19.'8 1skander Mir;a *ho *as
ledged to de4end& reserve and rotect the Constitution had hit the
second hammer8 Dhen he visuali;ed that he *ould not be remain the
President a4ter the 19.9 arliamentary election& hatched u
consiracy *ith the suort o4 the #rmy Chie4 /eneral #yub @han
*ho abrogated the Constitution& imosed martial la*I dissolved
central and rovincial arliaments and the cabinet8 3he third iercing
hammer stroke *as driven by military dictator sel4 styled "ield
Marshal #yub @han %isan$i$Pakistan& :ilal$i$?urat etc etc *ho
banned all constitutional means& methods and rocedures&
imrisoned all olitical leaders& introduced autocratic rule under the
cover o4 2asic Democracy and 4abricated #gartala Consiracy Case8
6ahya served the 4inal blo* by not allo*ing the %ational #ssembly
<1971> to 4unction in connivance o4 2hutto and by directing ruthless
military action in Aast Pakistan8
3he economic e5loitation o4 Aast Pakistan by Dest Pakistan
*as ramant8 3o cite an e5amleI it reKuires to mention that 4irst
nine years o4 united Pakistan& the central /overnment sent '2 crores
and ++ lakhs in Aast Pakistan as comared to 79- crores and +7 lakhs
sent in Dest Pakistan8 <#bul Mansur #hmed& Constituent #ssembly
o4 Pakistan& *e)ates, Pol8 1& 8 1818$19& ?anuary 1+& 19.+>8 3he
movement 4or the creation o4 Pakistan gathered strength and
momentum a4ter the declaration o4 Cahore !esolution& later kno*n
as Pakistan !esolution *hich envisaged the establishment o4 t*o
Muslim units or states one in the %orth$Dest 1ndian region and the
other in the Aastern 1ndia comrising 2engal and #ssam8 "or united
stand in 19'+& all 1ndia Muslim Ceague Con4erence held in 2ombay&
an understanding *as reached at 4or the creation o4 united Pakistan&
although the 4easibility o4 one Pakistan *as unrealistic 4or the
reasons o4 geograhical searation and cultural con4licts8 Muslim
leaders initially understood that Muslim maBority in the PunBab and
2engal could not make one country and one nation 4or hysical&
geograhical searation and di44erent languages and culture8 3he
PunBabis *ho had hardly any contribution 4or the creation o4
Pakistan and *ere loyal to 2ritish Raj never listened to reasons8
3hey al*ays soke in the languages o4 *eaons to solve the issues
bet*een the Aast and the Dest8 =ltimately the PunBabis resorted to
*eaons and violence& but they *ere crushed by the brave 2engalis
aided by 1ndian army under the leadershi o4 great leader
2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman8
# tree under another tree cannot gro* and similarly 2engaliGs
hoes and asirations could not 4lourish under PunBabi dominated
Pakistan8 2angladesh& a4ter its liberation& obtained tremendous gains
and bene4its in every shere o4 national li4e articularly in olitical&
economic& social& cultural and 4oreign a44airs8 3he socio$ economic
condition o4 2angladesh is 1-- times better than those during
Pakistan days8 Out o4 22 industrialist 4amilies& there *as not a single
4amily 4rom Aast Pakistan8 %o* there are thousands o4 industrialist
4amilies in 2angladesh8 3here *as hardly any 2engali /eneral or
2engali secretary or ambassador in Pakistan /overnment8 %o* there
are more than hundred generals& secretaries and ambassadors in
2angladesh /overnment8 During Pakistan time& 2engaliGs share o4
/overnment service *as only ten ercent8 )hare in business *as one
ercent only8 2angabandhuGs leadershi has given 4ull share to
2engalis& but enemies o4 2angladesh had killed him to get the golden
eggs all at a time8
Preface 1.+3871.+388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
Huiad$i$#;am Muhammad #li ?innah committed blunder in his
4irst ste by announcing E =rduG as the only national language o4
Pakistan& instead he should have made Anglish as the o44icial
languages& all other regional languages as national languages 4or
keeing the country integrated8 #s a matter o4 4act Anglish *as the
o44icial languages o4 Pakistan till its disintegration8 Pakistan *ould
rogress economically and culturally like all other Anglish$seaking
countrieso4 the *orld8 Muhammad #li ?innah himsel4 through out his
li4e soke in Anglish& he *ould never seak in =rdu8 =rdu *as not
the language o4 the PunBabis& 2engalis& )indis& PathansI it *as the
language o4 re4ugees8 Anglish language and P1# *ere the t*o links
bet*een Aast and Dest Pakistan8
Pakistan #rmy& no doubt& committed genocide in Aast Pakistan
on their 2engali brethren by the *rong orders o4 the leaders in o*er
at that time8 1t is un4ortunate that Pakistanis *ho committed crime
could not be brought under la* 4or trial8 3he conscience o4 the *orld
community could not be arisen like 2osnia and Crosia or as *as
done in the case o4 %uremberg trial8 Pakistan leadershi must reent
and beg national aology& other*ise ?innahGs soul *ill not be in
eace& as the rocess o4 disintegration *as started by the PunBabis
and not the 2engalis *ho 4ired the 4irst shot8 Crackdo*n on innocent
2engalis on 2. March *as not Busti4ied8 %either the 2engalis
declared *ar nor did they declare unilateral indeendence8 :indu
domination& their hunger 4or o*er& high handedness and
uncomromising attitude had given birth to Pakistan and similar
attitudes o4 the PunBabis 4orced the 2engalis to give birth to
2angladesh8 3he *rong decision o4 /andhi and %ehru 4acilitated the
creation o4 Pakistan& rather than the e44ort o4 ?innahI and again *rong
decision and attitude o4 #yub and 6ahya destroyed Pakistan and
created 2angladesh8 3he 1ndian Congress and Muslim Ceague
acceted Cabinet Mission Plan but %ehru sabotaged the roBect& as
he *anted to amend the lan8 2ritish Cabinet aroved t*o otions
4or artition or indeendence o4 1ndia$ Cabinet Mission Plan or
Pakistan8 Mountbatten the Piceroy o4 1ndia receiving 2ritish
roosals in the resence o4 the 1ndian Congress and the Muslim
Ceague leaders asked ?innah *hich otion he *anted8 ?innah *anted
Pakistan8 MuBib *anted si5 oints *ithin the 4rame*ork o4 Pakistan&
but 6ahya imosed undeclared *ar on unarmed 2engalis8
1t *as the 1ndian :indu brothers *ho came 4or*ard to rescue
2engali Muslims 4rom the cruel ersecution& killing and rae by their
PunBabi Muslim brethren8 3hey have created dark sot on the eternal
meaning o4 1slamic brotherhood and ut shame on the universal
teaching o4 the @oran and sent bad message about 1slam to the non$
Muslim *orld8 2ird and 4ish made love but could not build nest 4or
their honeymoon& as *as *ith the 2engalis and the PunBabis8
2angladesh *as achieved through the sacri4ices o4 one sea o4
blood o4 martyrs8 Do the 2engali nation ever think o4 reaying the
4lo* o4 rivers o4 blood debt o4 million martyrs and tears o4 million
mothersN De the atriotic citi;en o4 2angladesh *ill not 4orget the
sacri4ice o4 millions o4 martyrs *ho brought indeendence shedding
a sea o4 blood8
Do*n *ith Oligarchy o4 Pakistan& ?ammat$e$1slami& Chatro
)hibir& !a;akars& #l$2adr& #l$)hams& )hanti Committee and all the
collaborators o4 anti$liberation "orcesR Cong live the conscience o4
*orld community& *ord ress and electronic media *ho suorted
the cause o4 2angladesh and condemned Pakistani reression8 Cong
live the 4riendshi bet*een Mukti 2ahini and Mitra 2ahini8 Cong
live 2angladesh& memories o4 2angabandhu& memories o4 Mukti
2ahini& memories o4 million martyrs and memories o4 1ndian "orces
*ho embraced martyrdom 4or our osterity8
APP%3)2KA
?Aeration +earchli:ht
Basis <or Plannin:
18 #8C8 Y#*ami CeagueZ action and reactions to be treated as
rebellion and those *ho suort or de4y M8C8 Ymartial Ca*Z action
be dealt *ith as hostile elements8
28 #s #8C8 has *idesread suort even amongst the A8P8 YAast
PakistanZ elements in the #rmy the oeration has to be launched
*ith great cunningness& surrise& decetion and combined *ith
shock action8
Basic -e8uirements <or +uccess
38 3he oeration to be launched all over the Province
simultaneously8
'8 Ma5imum number o4 olitical and student leaders and
e5tremists 4rom amongst teaching sta44s& cultural organi;ations to be
arrested8 1n the initial hase to olitical leaders and to student
leaders must be arrested8
.8 Oeration must achieve a hundred er cent success in Dhaka
and 4or that Dhaka =niversity *ill have to be occuied and
searched8
+8 )ecurity o4 cantonments must be ensured8 /reater and 4reer
use o4 4ire against those *ho dare attack the cantonment8
78 #ll means o4 internal and international communications to
be cut o448 3elehone e5changes& radio& 3P& 3elerinter services&
transmitters *ith 4oreign consulates to be closed do*n8
88 AP troos to be disarmed and neutrali;ed by controlling and
guarding the kotes and ammunition by DP YDest PakistaniZ troos8
)ame arrangement shall have to be made 4or the P8#8"8 and the A8P8!
+urArise and )eceAtion
98 (rom the army hierarchy it %as a!9ise! that the President
may retend to continue the dialogue *ith the intention o4 deceiving
MuBib that even i4 Mr8 2hutto does not agree he *ill make an
announcement on 2.
th
march conceding to the demands o4 #8C8 etc8
1-8 At 3actical Le9el
<a> #s secrecy is o4 aramount imortance& reliminary
oerations given belo* should be carried out by troos already
located in the city,
i8 2reaking into MuBibGs house and arresting all resent8
3he house is *ell guarded and *ell de4ended8
ii8 )urrounding the imortant halls o4 the =niversities
$$$ 1Kbal :all D= YDhaka =niversityZ& CiaKat :all&
Angineering =niversity8
iii8 )*itching o44 telehone e5change8
iv8 1solating kno*n houses *here *eaons etc8 have
been collected8
 %o activity by troos in the cantonment area till
telehone e5change has been s*itched o448
<c> %obody should be allo*ed to go out o4 the
cantonment a4ter 22-- hrs on the night o4 oeration8
<d> On the e5cuse or the other troos in the city should
be rein4orced in the Presidents :ouse& /overnor :ouse& M%#
:ostel& !adio& 3P and 3elehone e5change remises8
<e> Civilian cars may have to be used 4or oeration
against MuBibGs house8
+e8uence o< Actions
118 <a> : $r : ;';; hrs.
 3iming for Mo9e <ut
i8 Commando Yone PlatoonZ J MuBibGs house J -1--
hrs8
ii8 3elehone e5change s*itched o44 J 2'.. hrs8
iii8 3s earmarked 4or cordon =niversity J -1-. hrs8
iv8 3s 4rom the city to !aBarbagh olice :H and other
P) YPolice )tationZ nearby $$ -1-. hrs8
v8 "ollo*ing laces surrounded J -1-. hrs8
Mrs8 #n*ara 2egumGs :ouse& !d %o8 29 0
:ouse %o8 1'8 !d %o829
vi8 Cur4e* imosed $$$ -11- hrs by )iren <arrange> by
Coudseakers8 Duration 3- hrs initially8 %o asses
4or the initial hase8 Due considerations *ere given
only to the cases o4 delivery and serious heart attack
etc8 Avac by #rmy on reKuest8 #lso announce that
there *ill be no ne*saers brought out till 4urther
orders8
vii8 3s move out to resective sectors *ith seci4ic
missions $$$ -11- hrs8 <"or t alert a drill to be
evolved>8 :alls occuied and searched8
viii8 3s move to the =niversity area $$$ -.-- hrs8
i58 !d blocks and riverine block estb $$$ -2-- hrs8
c. <-eration *uring the *ay 3ime
i8 :ouse to house search o4 all susected houses o4
Dhanmondi& also :indu houses in old city
<intelligent organs to collect data>8
ii8 #ll rinting resses to be closed do*n8 #ll
cyclostyling machines in the =niversity& Colleges
<303> and Physical 3raining 1nstitute and 3echnical
1nstitute to be con4iscated8
iii8Cur4e* imosed *ith severity8
iv8 Other leaders to be arrested8
128 Allotment of t-s to 3asks8 Details to be *orked out by
2rigade Commander but the 4ollo*ing must be done,
a> @otes o4 AP units taken over& including )ignals and other
administrative units8 #rms to be given only to the DP ersonnel8
b> A5lanation, De did not embarrass the AP ts and did not
*ant to be used in tasks that may not be leasant to them8
b> Police station to be disarmed8
c> D/ YDirector /eneralZ AP! YAast Pakistan !i4lesZ to
ensure security o4 his kotes8
138 4nfo re,uire!
a> Dhereabouts o4 the 4ollo*ing,
i> MuBib ii> %a;rul 1slam
iii> 3aBuddin vi> Osmany
v> )iraBul #lam vi> Mannan
vii> #taur !ahman viii> Pro4essor Mu;a44ar
i5> Oli #had 5> Mrs Motia Chaudhry
5i> 2arrister Maudud 5ii> "ai;ul :aK
5iii> 3o4ail 5iv> %8#8 )iddiKi
5v> !au4 5vi> Makhan
#nd other student leaders8
b> Cocation o4 all olice stations and o4 !i4les8
c> Cocation o4 strong oints and arsenal houses in the city8
d> Cocation o4 Cultural Centers that are being used 4or imarting
military trg8
e> Cocation o4 training areas and camus8
4> %ames o4 e5$service o44icers *ho are actively heling
insurrectional movement8
1'8 Com! an! Control $$$$ t*o commands be established,
a> Dhaka area
Comd $$$ MaBor /eneral "arman
)ta44 $$$ Aastern Comd sta44(or :H MC
3s $$$ Cocated in Dhaka
b> 3he rest o4 the rovince
Comd $$$ MaBor /eneral @ : !aBa
)ta44 $$$ :H 1' Div
3s $$$ Cess those in Dhaka8
1.8 +ecurity of the Cantonment
Phase 1 De$escalate8 #ll arms including P#" deosited8
1+8 Communication
a> )ecurity8
b> Cayout8
Allotment o< TrooAs to Tasks
)haka
Command and Control, MaB8 /en8 "arman *ith :H MC# <Fone$2>
3roo-s8
:H .7 2rigade *ith troos in Dhaka8 i8e8 18 PunBab& 32 PunBab
<C8O8 to be relaced by YCt8 Col8Z 3aB& /)O 1 <int>& 22 2aluch& 13
"rontier 4orce& 31 "ield !egt& 13 Cight #ck$#ck !egt8& comany o4 3
Commando <4rom Comilla>8
3asks8
18 %eutrali;e by disarming 2 and 1- Aast 2engal& :8H8 Aast
Pakistan !i4les <2.-->& !eserve Police at !aBarbagh
<2--->
28 A5change and 3ransmitters& !adio& 3P& )tate 2ank8
38 #rrest #*ami Ceague leaders $$$ detailed lists and
addresses
'8 =niversity halls& 1Kbal& ?agan %ath& CiaKat <Angeering
=niversity>
.8 )eal o44 to*n including road& rail and river8 Patrol !iver8
+8 Protect 4actories at /a;iur and ammo Deot at
!aBandraur8
Remin!er8 under MaB8 /en8 @ : !aBa and :H 1' Div8
Bessore
3roos,
:8H8 1-7 2rigade& 2. 2aluch& 27 2aluch& elements o4 2' "ield
!egt8& .. "ield !egt8
3ask8
18 Disarm 1 Aast 2engal and )ector :8H8 Aast Pakistan
ri4les and reserve Police incl8 #nsar *eaons8
28 )ecure ?essore to*n and arrest #*ami Ceague and
student leaders8
38 A5change and telehone communication8
'8 Fone o4 security round cantonment& ?essore to*n and
?essore J @hulna road& air4ield8
.8 A5change at @ushtia to be made inoerative8
+8 !ein4orce @hulna i4 reKuired8
5hulna
3roo-s 8
22 ""
3ask8
18 )ecurity in to*n8
28 A5change and !adio )tation8
38 Ding :8H8 Aast Pakistan !i4les& !eserve Comanies and
!eserve Police to be disarmed
'8 #rrest #*ami Ceague students and communist leaders8
-an:Aur P +aidAur
3roo-s8
:8H8 23 2rigade& 29 Cavalry& 2+ "rontier "orce& 23 "ield !egt8
3ask8
18 )ecurity o4 !angur J )aidur8
28 Disarm 3 Aast 2engal at )aidur8
38 14 ossible disarm )ector :8H8 and !eserve Comany at
DinaBur or neutrali;e by disersal !eserve Comany by
rein4orcing border outosts8
'8 !adio )tation and telehone e5change at !angur8
.8 #*ami Ceague and student leaders at !angur8
+8 #mmo dums at 2ogra8
Preface 1+-3871+-388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
-ajshahi
3roo-s8
2. PunBab
3asks8
18 Disatch C8O8 J )ha4Kat 2aluch8
28 A5change and !adio )tation !aBshahi8
38 Disarm !eserve Police and )ector :8H8 Aast Pakistan
!i4les8
'8 !aBshahi =niversity and in articular Medical College8
.8 #*ami Ceague and student leaders8
Comilla
3roo-s8
.3 "ield !egiments& 1[ Mortar 2atteries& )tation troos& 3
Commando 2attalion <less Comany>
3asks8
18 Disarm ' Aast 2engal& Ding :8H8 Aast Pakistan !i4les&
!eserve District Police8
28 )ecure to*n and arrest #*ami Ceague leaders and
students8
38 A5change8
+ylhet
3roo-s8
31 PunBab less comany
3asks8
18 !adio )tation& A5change8
28 @oeno 2ridge over )urma8
38 #ir4ield8
'8 #*ami Ceague and student leaders8
.8 Disarm )ector :8H8 Aast Pakistan !i4les and !eserve
Police8
Ciaise *ith )ikandar8
Chitta:on:
3roo-s8
2- 2aluch& less advanced artyI comany 31 PunBab resent e5
)ylhetI 1Kbal )ha4i to lead a mobile column 4rom Comilla by road
and rein4orce )838 -1-- hrs <: hrs> on D$Day8
Mobile Column, 2rig8 1Kbal )ha4i *ith 3ac :8H8 and
CommunicationsI 2' "rontier "orceI 3roos :eavy MotorsI "ield
Comany AngineersI Comany in advance to "eni on evening D$
Day8
3asks8
18 Disarm A828!8C8& 8 Aast 2engal& )ector :8H8 Aast
Pakistan !i4les& !eserve Police8
28 )ei;e Central Police #rmoury <3*enty thousand>
38 !adio )tation and A5change8
'8 Ciaise *ith Pakistan navy <Commodore Mumta;>
.8 Ciaise *ith )haigri and ?anBua <C8O8 8 Aast 2engal> *ho
have been instructed to take orders 4rom you till arrival
o4 1Kbal )ha4i8
+8 14 )higri and ?anBua 4eel sure about their out4its then do
not disarm8 1n that case merely ut in a roadblock to
to*n 4rom Cantonment by lacing a comany in
de4ensive osition so that later A828!8C8 and 8 Aast
2engal is blocked should they change their loyaltiesN
78 1 am taking 2rig8 Mo;umdar *ith me8 #rrest Chaudhury
<C818A828!8C8> on D$Day night8
#rrest o4 #*ami Ceague and student leaders a4ter above
accomlished8 APP%3)2K P B
2angladesh "orces
:eadKuarters o4 2angladesh "orces <2D">
/eneral M8#8/ Osmany& <A5ired> Commander J in J Chie4
MaBor /eneral #bdur !ab& 2ir =ttam8 & <A5ired> Chie4 o4 )ta448
#ir Pice$ Marshal #8 @ @handkar& 2ir =ttam8 & <!etired> Deuty
Chie4 o4 )ta44 and Chie4 o4 #ir sta448
MaBor /eneral )hamsul :aKue& #MC <!etired> Director /eneral&
Medical )ervice8
#ir Pice$Marshal )ultan Mahumud& 2ir =ttam& sc <!etired>
MaBor /eneral %urul 1slam <!etired>
2rigadier @hurshisd =ddin #hmed& #MC& <!etired>
2rigadier M Anamul :aKue& <!etired> )ta44 O44icer and later #DC to
the President8
Colonel #3M )alahuddin& 2ir Pratik& <Pre$mature retirement>
Comany Commander and later Military 1ntelligent O44icer8
Cieutenant Colonel #bu Osman Chaudhury& <Pre$ mature retirement>
8 )ector Commander and later CO) Cogistics8
/rou Commander )hamsul #lam& 2ir =ttam8 <Dismissed>
Colonel )hamsul #lam& #MC <Pre$mature retirement>
Cieutenant Colonel :abibullah 2ahar& )ignal <!etired>
)Kuadron Ceader 2adrul #lam& 2ir =ttam8 <!etired>
MaBor "attah Chaudhury& /C o44icer8 <A5ired>
Catain Muhammad #li& <!etired>
"light Cieutenant Matiur !ahmam& 2ir )hresto8 <)haheed>
"light Cieutenant #hmed !e;a& <!etired>
Cieutenant )heikh @amal& <@illed in 197.(1. #ugust cou>
3o = +ector
Cieutenant /eneral Fiaur !ahman& 2ir =ttam& <@illed in 1981
Cou>8
MaBor /eneral :arun #hmed Chaudhury& 2ir =ttam& <!etired>
Colonel !aKuibul 1slam& !etired8
Cieutenant Colonel #6M Mah4u;ur !ahman& 2ir 2ikram& sc&
<:anged in198- Cou>8
Ding Commander )akha*at :ussain& <!etired>
MaBor !a4iKul 1slam& 2ir =ttam& <Pre$ mature retirement at his o*n>
)ector Commander since 12 ?uly 19718
MaBor Anamul :aKue Cho*dhury& <!etired>
MaBor )hamsher Mobin Cho*dhury& 2ir 2ikram& <#bsorbed in
"oreign )ervice in 1973>
MaBor Huamrul 1slam& <!etired>
MaBor Cati4ul #lam Cho*dhury& <Dismissed>
MaBor )haukat #liey& 2ir Pratik& <Dismissed>
MaBor "a;lur !ahman "arruK& <Dismissed>
MaBor )M )hahidu;;aman& <!etired>
MaBor !e;aul :aK& <!etired>
Catain #4tab @ader& 2ir =ttam& <)haheed>
Catain )hamsul :uda& <A5ired>
Catain Mansurul #min& < Dismissed>
3o " +ector
MaBor /eneral @haled Musarra4& 2ir =ttam& <@illed in 197.%ov8
Cou> )ector Commander
Cieutenant /eneral :arunur !ashid& 2ir Pratik& rcds& sc <!etired>
MaBor /eneral 1mamu; Faman& 2ir 2ikram& sc& <Pre$mature
retirement>
MaBor /eneral #bu @aiser "a;lur @abir& ndc& sc&<!etired >
MaBor /eneral #inuddin& 2ir Pratik& sc& <!etired in 2- May 199+>
MaBor /eneral M #shra4 :ussain& sc& <!etired>
MaBor /eneral ?amil =ddin #hsan& 2ir Pratik& sc
2rigadier #bdul Matin& 2ir Pratik& <Pre$mature retirement>
2rigadier )hahidul 1slam& 2ir Pratik& <!etired>
2rigadier Fillur !ahman& sc <Pre$mature retirement>
2rigadier "a;lur !ahman& sc& <Pre$mature retirement>
2rigadier Miran :amidur !ahman& <re$mature retirement>
2rigadier #bdur !ab& sc <!etired>
2rigadier #kbar 6ousa4& <!etired>
Colonel )ha*kat #li& MP& <!etired>
Colonel #n*arul #lam& <!etired>
Cieutenant Colonel #3M :yder& 2ir =ttam& <@illed in 197. %ov8
Cou>
Cieutenant Colonel Mehbubur !ahman& 2ir =ttam& sc& <@illed in
1981 Cou>
Cieutenant Colonel Fa4ar 1mam& 2ir 2ikram& <!etired in 197. Cou>
Cieutenant Colonel M# /a44ar :alder& 2ir =ttam& <!etired in 197.
%ov8 Cou>
Cieutenant Colonel Didarul #lam& 2ir Pratik& <Dismissed>
Cieutenant Colonel #;i; Pasha& <1nvolved in 197. #ugust cou 0
retired>
Cieutenant Colonel Fainul #bedin& sc& <!etired>
Cieutenant Colonel Muklesur !ahman& < !etired>
Cieutenant Colonel #bdul @ader
MaBor )alek Cho*dhury& 2ir =ttam& <=nnatural death>
MaBor 2a;lul :uda& <1nvolved in 197. #ugust cou 0 retired>
MaBor Didar #ta*ar :ussain& <!etired>
MaBor )yed Mi;anur !ahman& sc& <Dismissed>
MaBor :ashmi Musta4a @amal& <!etired>
MaBor #khtar #hmed& 2ir Pratik& <!etired>
MaBor Mohammad )olaiman& <!etired>
MaBor Akramul :oKue khandkar& <!etired>
MaBor @a;i Mominul haKue <A5ired>
Catain #bdul :alim Cho*dhury& <!etired>
Catain humayun @abir& 2ir Pratik& <!etired>
Catain )itara 2egum& 2ir Pratik& <!etired>
CatainMumta; :assan& 2ir Pratik& <retired>
Catain #n*arul :aKue 2huiyan& <A5ired>
Catain ?ahangir Osman& <!etired>
Catain )ar*ar ?ahan& <!etired>
Catain M :a4i;ullah& <!etired>
Cieutenant )hahrier :uda& <!etired>
2( Cieutenant khondkar #;i;ul 1slam& 2ir 2ikram& <)haheed>
3o H +ector
MaBor /eneral @ M )ha4iullah& 2ir =ttam& sc& <!etired>& )ector
Commander
Cieutenant /eneral # ) M %asim& 2ir 2ikram& sc& <!emoved in
May 9+>
MaBor /eneral Moinul :ussain Cho*dhury& 2ir 2ikram& <!etired>
MaBor /eneral #bdul Matin& 2ir Pratik& sc& <!etired>
MaBor /eneral )ubed #li 2huiyan& sc8 <!etired>
MaBor /eneral Matiur !ahman& 2ir Pratik& <e5ired>
MaBor /eneral #;i;ur !ahman& 2ir =ttam& sc& <!etired>
MaBor /eneral ) M :elal Morshed @han& 2ir 2ikram& sc& <!etired>
MaBor /eneral ABa; #hmed Cho*dhury& <!etired in May 199+>
MaBor /eneral ) M 1brahim& 2ir Pratik& ndc& sc& <!etired in May
199+>
MaBor /eneral )ayeed #hmed& 2ir Pratik& ndc& sc
2rigadier %uru;;aman& 2ir =ttam& <A5ired>
2rigadier ?alaluddin )iddiK& <!etired>
2rigadier #hmed #li& #MC& <!etired>
Colonel @amal Cho*dhury& #MC& <!etired>
Colonel )yed Moinuddin #hmed& 2ir Pratik& #MC& <!etired>
Cieutenant Colonel #bdul Mannan& 2ir Pratik& <!etired>
Cieutenant Colonel %a;rul 1slam 2huiyan& 2ir Pratik& sc& <!etired>
MaBor Monsoorul 1slam MaBumder& <!etired>
MaBor #bul :ussain& sc& <!etired>
MaBor )hamsul :uda 2achu& <!etired>
MaBor %asiruddin& <!etired>
MaBor )ayed #bu )adek& <!etired>
MaBor Mahmood Masud& <!etired>
Cieutenant 1 " 2adiu;;aman& 2ir Pratik& <)haheed>
Cieutenant #nis :asan& <!etired>
Cieutenant @abiruddin& <Dismissed>
Cieutenant )alim :assan& <)haheed>
3o * +ector
MaBor /eneral Chitra !anBan Dutta& 2ir =ttam& <!eleased> )ector
Commander
MaBor /eneral #bdur !ab& sc& <!etired>
MaBor /eneral ?iban @anai Das& ndu& sc
#ir Commodore #3M #taur !ahman& <!etired>
Colonel M M @ F ?alalabadi& <!etired>
Cieutenant Colonel )hari4ul :uK Dalim& 2ir =ttam& <Condemned to
death in 2angabandhu murder case>
Cieutenant Colonel @hairul #nam& <!etired>
Cieutenant Colonel# M !ashed Cho*dhury& 2ir Pratik& <Condemned
to death in 2angabandhu murder case>
Cieutenant Colonel )aBBad Fahir& 2ir Pratik& <!etired>
Cieutenant Colonel %iranBan 2hattacharBee& <!etired>
Cieutenant Colonel Cho*dhury Mohammad #li& <!etired>
Cieutenant Colonel Chandra @anta Das& < !etired>
)Kuadron Ceader %urul @ader Cho*dhury& <!etired>
MaBor #bdul ?ail& <!etired>
MaBor Fahirul :aKue& 2ir Pratik& <!etired>
MaBor Dakiu;;aman& <!etired>
MaBor Dost Muhammad )ikder& <!etired>
MaBor Muktadir #li& <!etired>
3o 0 +ector
Cieutenant /eneral Mir )ha*kat #li& 2ir =ttam& sc8 <!etired>&
)ector Commander
Cieutenant Colonel #8) :elaluddin& sc8 <Pre$matured retirement>
Cieutenant Colonel #bdur !ou4& 2ir 2ikram& <Pre$ mature
retirement>
MaBor Moslemuddin <e5ired>
MaBor 3aheruddin #kunBee <!etired>
MaBor ) M @haled <e5ired>
MaBor Mahbubur !ahman <A5ired>
"light Cieutenant #@M "a;lur !ahman <!etired>
Catain #bdul Mutalib <!etired>
"light Cieutenant Mah4u;ur !ahman 2huiyan
3o( I +ector
#ir Pice$Marshal M @ 2ashar& 2ir=ttam <@illed in air crash>& )ector
Commander
#ir Pice$Marshal )adruddin& 2ir Patrik <"orced retirement>
MaBor /eneral Mosahebuddin& #MC& <!etired>
MaBor /eneral Masudur !ahman& 2ir Patrik <!etired>
Preface 1+'3871+'388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
2rigadier @hurshid #lam 2asunia& <!etired>
Colonel %a*a;eshuddin& sc <:anged in 1981 cou>
Cieutenant Colonel Matiur !ahman& 2ir Patrik& sc& <@illed in 1981
cou>
Cieutenant Colonel Del*ar :ussain& 2ir Patrik& sc& <:anged in
1981 cou>
Cieutenant Colonel )ultan )hahrier !ashid @han& <Condemned to
death in 2angabandhu murder case>
Cieutenant Colonel %a;rul :aKue& 2ir Patrik& <!etired>
Cieutenant Colonel Mohammed #mirul 1slam& <!etired>
MaBor Mohammed #bdullah& <!etired>
MaBor Mesbahuddin #hmed&2ir Patrik& <!etired>
MaBor Mo4i;ur !ahman& <!etired>
MaBor #shra4uddo*la <!etired>
"light Cieutenant 1Kbal !ashid <!etired>
2(Cieutenant #MM )amad&2ir=ttam&<)haheed>
3o( $ +ector
Cieutenant Colonel Ha;i %uru;;aman& 2ir =ttam& <!etired>& )ector
Commander since #ugust 1971
MaBor %a;mul :aKue& <@illed in road accident>
)ector Commander u to #ugust 1971
MaBor /eneral #CM "a;lur !ahman& <!etired>
2rigadier MaKsul :ossain Cho*dhury&#MC&<!etired>
2rigadier /yasuddin Cho*dhury& 2ir 2ikram& sc <Pre$ matured rtd
in 198- cou& but not associated *ith the cou>
Colonel M #bdur !ashid& 2ir Patrik& sc& <:anged in 1981 cou>
MaBor 2a;lur !ashid <!etired>
MaBor #bdul Huyum @han <Dismissed in 198- cou 4rom ?essore 4or
no 4ault>
MaBor # Matin Cho*dhury <!etired>
MaBor #minul 1slam& sc <!etired>
MaBor #bdul #*al Cho*dhury <!etired>
Catain Mohiuddin ?ahangir& 2ir )hresto& <)haheed>
Catain @aiser :aKue <!etired>
3o( 8 +ector
Cieutenant Colonel #bu Osman Cho*dhury <!etired>& )ector
Commander u to #ugust 1971
MaBor /eneral Muhammmad #bul Man;ur& 2ir 2ikram& sc& )ector
Commander since #ugust 1971 <@illed in 1981 cou in Chittagong>
/eneral Mu;ta4i;ur !ahman&2ir 2ikram&ndc&sc&C<retd>
MaBor /eneral #3M #bdul Dahab <!etired>
MaBor /eneral #bdul :alim& sc& <!etired>
MaBor /eneral %urunnabi <!etired>
2rigadier )hamsuddin #hmed <!etired>
Colonel @handakar %a;mul :uda& 2ir 2ikram <@illed in 3$7
%ovember 197. cou>
Colonel #3M )alahuddin& 2ir Patrik <!etired>
Catain 3a*4iK$e$Cho*dhury&
2ir 2ikram& cs& Ph8D&)ecretary<retd>
Cieutenant Colonel #! #;am Cho*dhury& 2ir 2ikram <A5ired>
Catain Mahbubuddin #hmed& 2ir 2ikram& s& )P <3aken into
custody in 197. and released>
"light Cieutenant ?amaluddin Cho*dhury <A5ired>
Cieutenant Colonel M )ha4iKullah& 2ir Patrik <!etired>
MaBor Mohammad Musta4a <!etired in 1981 cou>
MaBor #lik @umar /uta& 2ir Patrik <!etired>
MaBor !o*shan 6a;dani& 2ir Patrik& <:anged in 1981 cou>
Preface 1+.3871+.388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
"light Cieutenant #bul @alam& <returned to =)#>
3o( # +ector
MaBor M# ?alil <A5ired> )ector Commander
MaBor Fainul #bedin <!etired>
MaBor # : Fiauddin <Dismissed>
MaBor )hahBahan Omar& 2ir =ttam <!etired>
MaBor Mehdi #li 1mam& 2ir 2ikram <e5ired>
MaBor Mohmmad #li <!etired>
MaBor )heikh ?amshed :ussain <!etired>
MaBor #)M )hamsul #re4in <!etired>
MaBor Md #sadul :aKue <!etired>
MaBor )hah #lam 3alukdar <!etired>
Catain%urul :uda <!etired>
Catain )achin @armaker <!etired>
Catain )hamsul #lam& 2ir Patrik <!etired>
3o( == +ector
Colonel M #bu 3aher& 2ir =ttam& )ector Commander 4rom ?uly 1971
u to %ovember 1971 <1nitiated counter cou against /eneral
@haleed in %ovembe #nd 4reed /eneral Fia and subseKuently tried
and e5ecuted>
Colonel #bdul #;i;& sc <A5ired>
Ding Commander :amidullah @han& 2ir Patrik <!etired>
MaBor 3aher #hmed& 2ir Patrik <!etired>
MaBor Mi;anur !ahman& 2ir Patrik <!etired>
MaBor Md #sadu;;aman <!etired>
MaBor #F /iasuddin #hmed <A5ired>
MaBor Moinul 1slam <Dismissed>
MaBor Mohmmad "a;lul :aKue <Dismissed>
MaBor )yed @amaluddin <!etired>
MaBor Mohammad @hairul #lam <!etired>
MaBor Md #khteru;;aman <!etired>
6 ;orce
2rigade :H , 3eldhala
Date o4 !aising , -7?uly1971
Cieutenant /eneral Fiaur !ahman& 2ir =ttam& <@illed in 1981 cou>
2rigade Commander
Colonel Oli #hmed& 2ir 2ikram& retd 2rigade MaBor
2rigadier )adeK :ussain& retd& D##0HM/
MaBor /eneral #bdul :alim&retd& )ignal O44icer
= %ast Ben:al -e:iment ,7Q : Ambashia/
MaBor :a4i;uddin #hmed& 2ir 2ikram& <retd in 197. %ov cou>
Commanding O44icer <March$?uly 1971>
Cieutenant #n*ar :ussain& 2ir =ttam& )haheed on 3- March1971
MaBor /eneral Moinul :ussain Cho*dhury&2ir 2ikram& retd
Commanding O44icer <?uly$#ugust1971>
Cieutenant Colonel Fiauddin& 2ir =ttam& retd& Commanding O44icer
<#ugust$December1971>
)Kuadron Ceader Ciakot #li @han& 2ir =ttam&retd& #dButant
Catain Mahbubur !ahman&2ir =ttam& )haheed& Comany
Commander& #$ Comany
MaBor :a4i;uddin #hmed& 2ir 2ikram&retd& Comany Commander&
2$Comany
MaBor #bdul Huayum Cho*dhury& retd& Comany Commander& C$
Comany <1>
Preface 1++3871++388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory
MaBor ):M2 %ur Cho*dhury& 2ir 2ikram <Condemned to Death in
2angabandhu murder case8> Comany Commander& C$Comany <2>
Catain )alahuddin Mumta;& 2ir =ttam& )haheed on 31?ulyG71
Comany Commander& D$Comany
Colonel 2a;lul /hani Pat*ari& 2ir Patrik& sc& retd a4terG8-cou
Comany Commander& D$ Comany
MaBor Dakar :assan& 2ir Patrik&retd& Comany O44icer
MaBor #nisur !ahman& retd& Comany O44icer
H %ast Ben:al -e:iment ,Chattak Area/
MaBor /eneral #n*ar :ussain& 2ir Patrik& retd& O44icer$in$charge
<March$?une1971>
Colonel )ha4at ?amil& 2ir 2ikram& !etired in 3$7 %ovember 197.
cou& Commanding O44icer <?uly$December 1971>
MaBor /eneral #n*ar :ussain& 2ir Patrik&retd& Comany
Commander& #$Comany
Cieutenant Colonel #kbar :ussain& 2ir Patrik& retd& Comany
Commander& 2$ Comany
2rigadier Mohsinuddin #hmed& 2ir 2ikram& :anged in 1981 cou&
Comany Commander& C$ Comany
Cieutenant Colonel )1M %oor$=n$%abi @han& 2ir 2ikram& <"alsely
imlicated in a 4ailed cou in 1979& a*arded 1year 1mrisonment
and later retired> Comany Commander& D$ Comany
Cieutenant Colonel )M "a;le :ussain& <:anged in 1981 cou though
he *as medically un4it 4or trial> Comany o44icer
MaBor Man;ur #hmed& 2ir Patrik& retd& Comany o44icer
Cieutenant !a4iK #hmed )arker& )haheed
Cieutenant )ira;ul 1slam& )haheed
8 %ast Ben:al -e:iment ,+ylhet Area/
2rigadier #?M #minul :aKue& 2ir =ttam& <retd a4ter 1981 cou& not
associated *ith the cou> Commanding O44icer
2rigadier @haleKu;;aman Cho*dhury& retd& Comany Commander&
#$ Comany
MaBor /eneral #min #hmed Cho*dhury& 2ir 2ikram& sc& retd&
Comany Commander& 2$ Comany& 1nBured on -3 #ugust 1971
2rigadier )adeK :ussain& retd& Comany Commander& 2$ Comany&
"rom -. #ugust 1971
Cieutenant Colonel Moddassir :ussain @han& 2ir Patrik& retd
Cieutenant Colonel Mahbubul #lam& 2ir Patrik& Comany
Commander& D$ Comany
Cieutenant 1mdadul :aKue& 2ir =ttam& )haheed& Comany O44icer
MaBor )yed Munibur !ahman& retd& Comany O44icer& Comany
O44icer
" ;ield Battery Atillery
MaBor #bdur !ashid& Condemned to death in 2angabandu murder
case8 O44icer$in$ charge
MaBor !ashed Cho*dhury& Condemned to death in 2angabandhu
murder case8 2attery o44icer
Cieutenant Colonel )aBBad Fahir& retd a4ter 1981 cou8 2attery o44icer
6 ;orce +i:nal ComAany
MaBor /eneral #bdul :alim& sc& retd& O44icer$in$charge
5 ;orce
2rigade :H, #gartala
Date o4 !aising, 1' October 1971

MaBor /eneral @haleed Musarra4& 2ir =ttam& @illed in 3$7
%ovember 197. cou
MaBor /eneral #bdul Matin& retd& 2rigade MaBor
Cieutenant Colonel #bdul @haleK Molla& retd& D##0HM/
2rigadier )hahidul 1slam& 2ir Patrik& retd& )ignal O44icer
Catain #kter :ussain& retd& Medical o44icer
* %ast Ben:al -e:iment, 5onaban/
Cieutenant Colonel M# #bdul /a44ar :alder& 2ir =ttam& !etired
a4ter 3$7 %ov197. cou& Commanding O44icer& )econd$in$command
Catain Mumta; :assan& 2ir Patrik& retd& Comany Command& #$
Comany
2rigadier "a;lur !ahman& sc& retd in May 199+& Comany
Commander& 2$Comany
MaBor :ashmi Musta4a @amal& retd& Comany Commander& C$
Comany
MaBor /eneral ?amil D #hsan& 2ir Patrik& sc& Comany
Commander& D$ Comany
# %ast Ben:al -e:iment ,5asba/
MaBor /eneral M #inuddin& 2ir Patrik& sc& retd in May 199+>&
Commanding O44icer
Cieutenant /eneral :arun$ur$!ashid& 2ir Patrik& rcds& sc& !etd&
Comany Commander& #$ Comany
MaBor /eneral #shra4 :ussain& sc& Comany Commander& 2$
Comany
2(Cieutenant @hondkar #;i;ul 1slam& 2ir 2ikram& )haheed&
Cieutenant )hahria :uda& retd& Comany Commander& D$ Comany
=! %ast Ben:al -e:iment , -ajna:ar/
Cieutenant Colonel Fa4ar 1mam& 2ir 2ikram& retd& Commanding
O44icer
2rigadier )hahidul 1slam& 2ir Patrik& retd& )econd$in$ command
MaBor /eneral 1mamu;;aman& 2ir 2ikram& sc& retd& Commander& #$
Comany
MaBor )yed Mi;anur !ahman& sc& Dismissed& Comany
Commander& 2$ Comany
MaBor Didarul #ta*ar :ussain& retd& Comany Commander& C$
Comany
Cieutenant Colonel Moklesur !ahman& retd& Comany Commander&
D$ Comany
= Mujib Battery Artillery
Cieutenant Colonel #;i; Pasha& 1nvolved in 2angabandhu murder
case& condemned to death8 O44icer$in$ charge
Colonel #n*arul #lam& retd& 2attery o44icer
MaBor 2a;lul :uda& 1nvolved in 2angabandhu murder case&
condemned to death8 2attery o44icer
5 ;orce +i:nal ComAany
2rigadier )hahidul 1slam& 2ir Patrik& retd& O44icer$in$ charge
+ ;orce
2rigade :H , :a;amara
Date o4 !aising , )etember 1971
MaBor /eneral @ M )a4iullah& 2ir =ttam& sc& retd& 2rigade
Commander
MaBor /eneral #;i;ur !ahman& 2ir =ttam& ndc& sc& retd& 2rigade
MaBor
2rigadier #bul :ussain& sc& retd& D##0HM/
Colonel Muktar @amal Cho*dhury& #MC& retd& Medical o44icer
" %ast Ben:al -e:iment
MaBor /eneral Moinul :ussain Cho*dhury& 2ir 2ikram& retd&
Commanding O44icer
MaBor /eneral )ayeed #hmed& 2ir Patrik& sc& #dButant
MaBor /eneral #bul :ussain &#MC& retd in 2--'& Medical o44icer
MaBor /eneral Matiur !ahman& 2ir Patrik& A5ired& Comany
Commander& #$ Comany
Cieutenant 1 " 2adiu;;aman& 2ir Patrik& )haheed on -. %ovember
1971& Comany Commander& 2$ Comany
Cieutenant )alim Humrul :assan& )haheed on ?anuary E72&
Comany Commander& 2$ Comany
MaBor /eneral Muhammad 1brahim&2ir 2ikram& ndc& sc& retd
MaBor /eneral ) M :elal Morshed @han& 2ir 2ikram& sc&retd in
199+& Comany Commander& C$ Comany
Cieutenant #nisul :assan& retd& Comany o44icer
== %ast Ben:al -e:iment , MukundaAur/
Cieutenant /eneral # ) M %asim& 2ir 2ikram& sc& !etd in May
199+& 1nBured and evacuated8 Commanding O44icer
MaBor /eneral #bdul Matin& 2ir Patrik& sc& retd& Commanding
O44icer
Colonel Moinuddin #hmed& 2ir Patrik& #MC& Medical O44icer
MaBor )hamsul :uda 2achu& retd& Comany Commander& #$
Comany
MaBor /eneral )ubed #li 2huiyan& sc& retd& Comany Commander&
2$ Comany
Cieutenant Colonel %a;rul 1slam 2huiyan& 2ir Patrik& sc& retd&
MaBor %asiruddin& retd& Comany Commander& D$ Comany
MaBor #bul :ussain& sc& retd& Comany O44icer
+ ;orce +i:nal ComAany , 7a@amara/
"light Cieutenant #bdur !ou4& O44icer$ in$ charge
%ote , Cast ranks o4 o44icers are mentioned8
APP%3)2K P C
Pakistan "orces in Aast Pakistan
)eAloyment and 1ocations on Commencement o< 7ostilities
;ormationsRunits 1ocations
:H Aastern Command
<Ct /en # # @ %ia;i>
Dhaka
"rtiller#
;ormationsRunits 1ocations
'3 Como C## !egt Dhaka *ith elements at #nd
?essore and Comilla8
'+ C## 2ty Chittagong
36 $n% &i'
<MaB /en M ?amshed @han>
:H Dhaka
93 $n% Bde
<2rig #bdul Hadir @han>
:H Mymensingh
83 1nde Mor 2ty @amalur$Mymensingh
33 PunBab Mymensingh$Phulur$
:aluaghat
31 2aluch ?amalur$ 3angail
7- Ding !angers Mymensingh$@ishoreganB
71 Ding !angers )ibganB
39 $n% &i'
<MaB /en !ahim @han>
:H Chandur
.3 "d !egt Comilla$"eni
53 $n% Bde
<2rig M #slam %ia;i>
:H "eni
1. 2aluch "eni #rea
39 2aluch Cakshman$Chaudagram
23 PunBab Meani 2a;aar$ Parikot
21 #@ 2n Caksham$ "eni
117 $n% Bde
<2rig )heikh Man;ur :ussain>
:H Comilla
)Kn tanks <Cha44ees> Comilla #rea
3- PunBab )aldanadi $2ibirba;ar
2. "" Calmai$Mainamoti
12 #@ 2n <minus 25 coys> Comilla

91 $n% Bde
<2rig Mian 3askinuddin>
:H <under raising> Chittagong
2' "" !amgarh$Chittagong
97 $n% Bde
<2rig #ta M @han Malik>
:H Chittagong
'8 2aluch </arrison 2n> Chittagong
2 Cdo 2n !angamati$ @atai
+- Ding !angers Chittagong$ !amgarh
+1 Ding !angers @arerhat$Co5Gs 2a;ar
14 $n% &i'
<MaB /en Ha;i #bdul MaBid @han>
:H #shuganB
31 "d !egt )ylhet$2rahmam 2aria
88 1nde Mor 2ty )ylhet
171 1nde Mor 2ty Comilla
2(2 $n% Bde
<2rig #sghar :ussain>
:H )ylhet
31 PunBab Chattak$)ylhet
91 MuBahid 2n <minus 25 coys> )unamgonB$)heola #rea

Mi5ed *ith regular 2ns and deloyed in *hole area o4 )ylhet
@hyber !i4les
3hal )couts
3ochi )couts
2 Coys e5 12 #@ 2n
313 $n% Bde
<2rig 14tikar !ana>
:H Maulavi 2a;ar
22 2aluch @alaura$ ?uri areas
3- "" )rimangal$ )hamsher&
%agar$ @amalur area
3*o Coys 91 MuBahid 2n "enchuganB$ )herur areas
Alements 3ochi )couts 2arlekha areas
27 $n% Bde
<2rig )adullah @han>
:H 2rahman 2aria
3*o 3s 3anks <Cha44ees> #khaura
33 2aluch @asba$)aidabad$@utt
12 "" /angasagar$#khaura$ Paharur$
"akiruma areas
16 $n% &i'
<MaB /en %a;i hussain )hah>
:H %atore
29 C#P less sKn 3hakurgaon$DinaBur$horaghat$
:illi
'8 "d !egt 3hakurgaon$ :athibanda$
%ages*ari areas
8- "d !egt @hetlal$:illi
117 1nde Mor 2ty %agesh*ari$ @urigram
23 $n% Bde
<2rig 1Kbal M )ha4i>
:H )aidur
2. PunBab :atibanda$Calmanrhat$
%agesh*ari$ @urigram
2+ "" DinaBur$Phulsari
'8 PunBab 3hakurgaon$Pachagarh
8 PunBab Calmanirhat$!angur
3' PunBab < !ecce and ) 2n> 3hakurgaon$2oda$ %ilhamari
8+ MuBahid 2n :atibanda$:illi$ /aibanda and
!angur
2(5 $n% Bde
<2rig 3aBmmal :ussain Malik>
:H @hetlal
32 2aluch /horaghat$ /obindaganB
' "" :illi
3 2aluch ?aiurhat$?aiur$ Muhabbatur
34 $n% Bde
<2rig Mir #bdul %ayeem>
:H %atore
32 PunBab %a*abganB$)ibganB$ !ahanur$
!aBshahi
Coy 12 PunBab 1shurdhi
13 "" Panitala$!asulbil$ )aahar$
/ondardanga
9 $n% &i'
<MaB /en M : #nsari>
:H ?essore
3 1nde #rmed sKn <Cha44ees> Chaugacha <sKn Comletely
destroyed On 21 %ovember E71
.. "d !egt )atkhira <One 2ty> and
?higergacha <252ty>
'9 "d !egt Meharur$Chuadanga$ @ushtia
211 1nde Mor 2ty Chaugacha
57 $n% Bde
<2rig Man;ur #hmed>
:H ?henidah
)Kn 29 C#P @ushtia$ 2eramara
18 PunBab Meherur$Chuadanga$Darsana
.- PunBab ?henidah$@otchandur
29 2aluch 2heramara$@ushtia
1(7 $n% Bde
<2rig Malik :ayat @han>
:H ?essore
22 "" ?hingeragacha$2enaole
38 "" #4ra$ )aBiali$#sanagar
+ PunBab ?essore
21 PunBab <!ecce and ) 2n> )atkhira$@olaroa$ ?essore
1. "" ?essore
12 PunBab Cess Coy ?essore
+ummary
1n4 Div :K , .
2de :K , 13
1n4 2ns , 3.
#rmd !egt , 1 <Cha44ees>
1nde #rmd )Kns , 2 < lus 2 ts P3$7+>
"d !egt #rty , +
1nde Mor 2ty #rty , .
C## !egt #rty , 1
C## 2ty #rty , 1
"rontier Cors Dings , 7
#nd !angers
MuBahid 2ns , .

)eAloyment : %ast Pakistan Ci.il Armed ;orces
APC#P <MaB /en M ?amshed @han& Director general>
Dhaka )ector
:H Dhaka
13 Ding Dhaka
1+ Ding Dhaka
?essore )ector
:H ?essore
' Ding Chuadanga areas
. Ding @huln$2agerhat$2arisal areas
1. Ding ?essore$Chaugacha areas
!aBshahi )ector
:H !aBshahi
+ Ding !aBshahi$%a*abganB$!ahanur
7 Ding %aogaon$Patnitola areas
17 Ding 2ogra$)iraBganB areas
!angur )ector
:H !angur
8 Ding DinaBur
9 Ding 3hakurgaon$Pachagarh areas
1- Ding !angur$ Calmanirhat areas
Comilla )ector
:H Comilla
1 Ding Comilla
3 Ding 2rahman 2aria
12 Ding Comilla
Chittagong )ector
:H Chittagong
2 Ding "eni areas
11 Ding Chittagong areas
1' Ding Chittagong areas 1ncluding Co5Gs 2a;ar

APP%3)2K)
2ndian ;orces in %astern Command <or
?Aerations in %ast Pakistan, =#$=
<Cieutenant /eneral ?agBit )ingh #urora& /OC$in$C>
$$ C)*S
<Ct /en 3 % !aina>
Corps +ps
:H 8 Mtn #rty 2de
2ty '8 #D !egt
3 1-7 #D !egt <3#>
' #ir O "lt less t*o )ecs
11 #ir O "lt
CA Cors :H
.8 Angr !egt
2+8 #rmy Angr !egt
One Pl e5 7-2 Angr Plant Coy
Det 23. 1D3 O Coy *ith
'5!PCs and 25'- man boats
#dv Angr Pk @ankinnara
One Pl 972 3t Coy #)C
<3rier>
+3 Angr !egt
4 ,tn &i'
<MaB /en M ) 2arar>
&i' +ps
# )Kn '. Cav
78 * Mtn Arty Bde
22 Mtn !egt <7+ mm>
19' Mtn !egt <7+mm>
7 "d !egt <2. Pr>
181 Ct !egt <12- 3emella>
2ty 78 Med !egt <13- mm>
-. 7 ,tn Bde
<2rig Fail )ingh>
22 !aBut
. ?at
%aga !egt
-. 41 ,tn Bde
<2rig 3ony Michigan>
. /uards
9 Dogra
.(1 /!
-. 62 ,tn Bde
<2rig !aBinder %ath>
. Maratha C1
' )ikh C1
2(9 /!
9 $n% &i'
<MaB /en Dalbir )ingh>
)i. TAs
'. Cav less an )Kn
)Kn +3 C#P
:K 9 #rty 2de
+ "d !egt <2. Pr>
1' "d !egt <2. Pr>
78 Med !egt <13- mm>
Cess one 2ty
88 Ct !egt <12- mm 2randt>
2-1 Div Coc 2ty
2+' )2!C 1ncrement </rad$P>
-. 32 $n% Bde
<2rig M 3e*ari>
7 PunBab
8 Madras
13 Dorga
-. 42 $n% Bde
<2rig ? M Foria>
1' PunBab
19 Maratha C1
2 )ikh C1
-. 35( $n% Bde
<2rig : ) )andhu>
2+ Madras
' )ikh
1 ?0@ !i4
,"$/ $0 C)*S
<Ct /en )agat )ingh>
Cors 3s
%o 1 1nde )Kn 7 Cav
%o . 1nde )Kn +3 Cav
%o . #d$hoc )Kn "erret Cars
:H 1P Cors #rty 2de
3 '+ #d !egt <C(+->
12' Div Coc 2ty
2' Med !egt
2ty '8 #d !egt
+ #ir O "lt
11#ir O "lt
CA 1P Cors
' Angr !egt
+2 Angr !egt
23' #rmy Angr !egt
9+7 Angr Dks and Pk Coy
Angr Park(#dvance Parks
Parks )ilchar(Dharmnagar(3eliamura
971 3s Coy #)C <3ier>
1-8 Angr !egt
8 ,tn &i'
<MaB /en @ P @rishna !ao>
7Q " Mtn Arty Bde
99 Mtn !egt <7.(2' mm>
93 Mtn !egt <7.(2' mm>
2ty 8. Ct !egt <12- 2randt>
2ty '- Med !egt <.8. in>
-. 59 ,tn Bde
<2rig C # Huinn>
9 /uards
+ !aBut
'(. /!
7. 81 ,tn Bde
<2rig ! C P #te>
3 PunBab
' @umaon
1- Mahar
23 ,tn &i'
< MaB /en ! D :ira>
Div 3s
3 Angr !egt
7Q "H Mtn Arty Bde
0$ Mtn -e:t ,$Imm/
197 Mtn !egt <7+mm>
198 Mtn /egt <7+mm>
183 Ct !egt <12- 2randt>
2+2 )2!C 1ncrement </rad$P>
$= >? Mtn B!e <2rig 2 ) )andhu>
2 !aBut
3 Dogra
8 2ihar
-. 181 ,tn Bde
<2rig 6 C 2akshi>
+ ?at
9 @umaon
18 @umaon
-. 3(1 ,tn Bde
<2rig : ) )odhi>
1' ?at
3 @umaon
1(11 /!
57 ,tn &i'
<MaB /en 2 " /onsalves>
Div 3s
1. Angr !egt
78 0$ Mtn Arty Bde
23 Mtn !egt <7.(2'mm>
.9 Mtn !egt <7.(2'mm>
+. Mtn !egt <7.(2'mm>
82 Ct regt <12- 2randt>
12' Div Coc 2ty
-. 61 ,tn Bde
<2rig 3om Pande>
7 !aB !i4
2 ?at
12 @umaon
-. 73 ,tn Bde
<2rig 3uli>
1' /uards
19 PunBab
19 !aB !i4
-. 311 ,tn Bde
<2rig Misra>
' /uards
18 !aBut
1- 2ihar
Mio $ills Range <#lloted to @illo "orce>
:H Mi;o :ills !ange
31 ?at <Mod 1>
32 Mahar <Mod 1-
%> " Mtn )i. "lloted to 1(1 Comn 1
:H . Mtn 2de 4or Dhaka thrust
3 !aBut
2 Dogra
2 /arh !i4
%> 0 Mtn )i. "lloted to Comn 1
:H 1+7 Mtn 2de 4or Dhaka thrust
+ )ikh C1
+ 2ihar
1- ?0@ !i4
222$$$ C)*S
<Ct /en M C 3haan>
CorAs TAs
+3 Cav less )Kn
+9 #rmd !egt
-. 222$$$ Cprps "rt# Bde
2ty '+ #D !egt
3*o )ecs ' #ir O "lt
1.#ir O "lt
C3 222$$$ Corps
:H'71 Angr 2de
11Angr !egt
.2 Angr !egt
111 Angr !egt
23. #rmy Angr !egt
+.1 Angr Plant Coy
3'2 Angr Dks and Pk
.8. Angr Park 2engdubi
2r Coy %ormal1133 #)C 2n
972 3t Coy #)C <3ier>
less one Pl
6 ,tn &i'
<MaB /en P C !eddy>
&i' +ps
.1 Angr !egt
$= @ Mtn Arty B!e
9' Mtn !egt <7. mm=)#>
98 Mtn !egt <7. mm=)#>
18' Ct !egt less
One 2ty <12- 2randt>
-. 9 ,tn Bde
. /renadiers
' !aBut
-. 99 ,tn Bde
18 )ikh
11 /arh !i4
1+ @umaon
2( ,tn &i'
<MaB /en Cachman )ingh>
&i' +ps
13 Angr !egt
7Q "! Mtn Atry Bde
+' Mtn !egt <7.(28 mm>
9. Mtn !egt <7.(2' mm>
1-- Mtn !egt <7.(2' mm>
33 Ct !egt <12- 2randt>
38 Med !egt <.8.in>
-. 66 ,tn Bde
<2rig / ) )harma>
1 /uard
+ /uards
17 @umaon
-. 165 ,tn Bde
<2rig ! ) Pannu>
2- Maratha C1
1+ !aBut
+ #ssam
-. 2(2 ,tn Bde
<2rig " P 2hatty>
8 /uards
22 Maratha C1
. /arh !i4
7Q =I* Mtn Bde
9 /renadies
1 #ssam
2(1 /!
34( ,tn Bde Gp
:H3'- Mtn 2de /<2rig ?oginder )ingh>
97 Mtn !egt <7.(2' mm>
' Madras
2(. /!
.(11 /!

71,tn Bde
<=nder Cors :H>
:H Mtn 2de <2rig P % @athalia>
7 Maratha C1
12 !aB !i4
21 !aBut
0! 2ndeA Para Bde
:H .- 1nde Para 2de <2rig M 3homas>
2 Para
7 Para
8 Para
17 Para "d !egt <7. mm =)#>
'11 Para "d Coy
Ben4al "rea
1(3/!
11 2ihar
12 /arh !i4
CA 2engal Fone
2+1 2omb disosals Pl
8 Angr A and M Coy
1(1 Comn 1 "rea
<MaB /en /urba5 )ingh&
inBured on . December 1971& #lloted 1+7 and
MaB /en / C %agra> . Mtn 2des
-. 95 Bde
<2rig : ) @ler>
13 /uards
1 Maratha
13 !aB !i4
.(. /!
.+ Mtn !egt <7+ mm>
2ty 8. Ct !egt <12- 2randt>
2ty 9- Mtn !egt <7.(2' mm>
2ty 8. Ct !egt
<12- 2randt>
CA 2engal Fone
9' "d Coy e5 .9 Angr !egt
2+2 2omb Disosal Pl
.83 Angr Pk %arangi
.8' Angr Pk ?orhat
AAAendi> %
3he 1ndo$ soviet 3reaty o4 Peace&
"riendshi and Co$oeration& 9 #ugust 1971
Desirous o4 e5anding and consolidating the e5isting relations o4
sincere 4riendshi bet*een them&
2elieving that the 4urther develoment o4 4riendshi and co$
oeration meets the basic national interests o4 lasting eace in #sia
and the *orld&
Determined to romote the consolidation o4 universal eace and
security and to make stead4ast e44orts 4or the rela5ation o4
international tensions and the 4inal eliminations o4 the remnants o4
colonialism&
=holding their 4irm 4aith in the rinciles o4 eace4ul co$
e5istence and co$oeration bet*een states *ith di44erent olitical and
social systems&
Convinced that in the *orld today international roblems can
only be solved by co$oeration and not by con4lict&
!ea44irming their determination to abide by the uroses and
rinciles o4 the =nited %ations Charter&
3he !eublic o4 1ndia on the one side& and the =nion o4 )oviet
)ocialist !eublics on the other side&
:ave decided to conclude the resent treaty& 4or *hich uroses
the 4ollo*ing leniotentiaries have been aointed,
On behal4 o4 the !eublic o4 1ndia, )ardar )*aran )ingh&
Minister o4 A5ternal #44airs8
On behal4 o4 the =nion o4 )oviet )ocialist !eublics, Mr8 #8#8
/romyko& Minister o4 "oreign #44airs8
Dho& having each resented their credentials& *hich are 4ound to
be in roer 4orm and due order& have agreed as 4ollo*s,
,A-T2C1% 2/
3he high contracting Parties solemnly declare that enduring eace
and 4riendshi shall revail bet*een the t*o countries and their
eoles8 Aach arty shall resect the indeendence& sovereignty and
territorial integrity o4 the other arty and re4rain 4rom inter4ering in
the otherGs internal a44airs8 3he high Contracting Parties shall
continue to develo and consolidate the relations o4 sincere
4riendshi& good neighborliness and comrehensive co$ oeration
e5isting bet*een them on the basis o4 the a4oresaid rinciles as *ell
as those o4 eKuality and mutual bene4it8
,A-T2C1% 22/
/uided by the desire to contribute in every ossible *ay to ensure
enduring eace and security o4 their eole& the high Contracting
Parties declare their determination to continue their e44orts to
reserve and to strengthen eace in #sia and throughout the *orld& to
halt the arms race and to achieve general and comlete disarmament&
including both nuclear and conventional& under e44ective
international control8
,A-T2C1% 222/
/uided by their loyalty to the lo4ty ideal o4 eKuality o4 all
Contracting Parties condemn colonialism and racialism in all 4orms
and mani4estations& and rea44irm their determination to strive 4or
their 4inal and comlete elimination8
3he :igh Contracting Parties shall cooerate *ith other )tates to
achieve these aims and to suort the Bust asirations o4 the eoles
in their struggle against colonialism and racial domination8
,A-T2C1% 2V/
3he !eublic o4 1ndia resects the eace$loving olicy o4 the =nion
o4 )oviet )ocialist !eublics aimed at strengthening 4riendshi and
co$oeration *ith all nations8
3he =nion o4 )oviet )ocialist !eublics resects 1ndiaGs olicy
o4 non$alignment and rea44irms that this olicy constitutes an
imortant 4actor in the maintenance o4 universal eace and
international security and in the lessening o4 tensions in the *orld8
,A-T2C1% V/
Deely interested in ensuring universal eace and security& attaching
great imortance to their mutual co$oeration in the international
4ield 4or achieving these aims& the :igh Contracting Parties *ill
maintain regular contacts *ith each other on maBor international
roblems a44ecting the interests o4 both the )tates by means o4
meetings& and e5changes o4 vie*s bet*een their leading statesmen&
visits by o44icials delegations and secial envoys o4 the t*o
/overnments& and through dilomatic channels8
,A-T2C1% V2/
#ttaching great imortance to economic& scienti4ic and technological
co$oeration bet*een them& the high Contracting Parties *ill
continue to consolidate and e5and mutually advantageous and
comrehensive co$oeration in these 4ields as *ell as e5and trade&
transort and communications bet*een them on the basis o4 the
rincilles o4 eKuality& mutual bene4it and most J 4avored nation
treatment& subBect to the e5isting agreements and the secial
arrangements *ith contiguous countries as seci4ied in the 1ndo$
)oviet trade agreement o4 2+ December 197-8
,A-T2C1% V22/
3he :igh Contracting Parties shall romote 4urther develoment o4
ties and contacts bet*een them in the 4ields o4 science& art& literature&
education& ublic health ress radio& television& cinema& tourism and
sorts8
,A-T2C1% V222/
1n accordance *ith the traditional 4riendshi established bet*een the
t*o countries& each o4 the high Contracting Parties solemnly declares
that it shall not enter into or articiate in any military alliance
directed against the other Party8
Aach :igh Contracting Party undertakes to abstain 4rom any
aggression against the other Party and to revent the use o4 its
territory 4or the commission o4 any act& *hich might in4lict military
damage on the other :igh Contracting Party8
,A-T2C1% 2K/
Aach :igh contracting Party undertakes to abstain 4rom roviding
any assistance to any third country that engages in armed con4lict
*ith the other Party8 1n the event o4 either being subBected to an
attack or a thereo4& the :igh Contracting Parties shall immediately
enter into mutual consultations in order to remove such threat and to
take aroriate e44ective measures to ensure eace and the security
o4 their countries8
,A-T2C1% K/
Aach :igh Contracting Party solemnly declares that it shall not enter
into any obligation& secret or ublic& *ith one or more )tates& *hich
is incomatible *ith this 3reaty8 Aach :igh Contracting Party 4urther
declares that no obligation be entered into& bet*een itsel4 and any
other )tate or )tates& *hich might cause military damage to the other
Party8
,A-T2C1% K2/
3his 3reaty is concluded 4or the duration o4 t*enty years and *ill be
automatically e5tended 4or each successive eriod o4 4ive years
unless either :igh Contracting Party declares its desire to terminate
it by giving notice to the other :igh contracting Party t*elve months
rior to the e5iration o4 the 3reaty8 3he treaty *ill be subBect to
rati4ication and *ill come into 4orce on the date o4 the e5change o4
1nstruments o4 !ati4ication& *hich *ill take lace in Mosco* *ithin
one month o4 the signing o4 this 3reaty8
,A-T2C1% K22/
#ny di44erence o4 interretation o4 any #rticle or #rticles o4 this
3reaty& *hich may arise bet*een the :igh Contracting arties& *ill
be settled bilaterally by eace4ul means in a srit o4 mutual resect
and understanding8
3he said leniotentiaries have signed the 3reaty in :indi&
!ussian and Anglish& all te5t being eKually authentic and have
a44i5ed thereto their seals8
Done in %e* Delhi on the %inth day o4 #ugust in the year One
thousand nine :undred and )eventy One8
On behal4 o4 the =nion o4 )oviet )ocialist !eublics
<)d8> #8 #8 /romyko&
Minister of 2Aternal Affairs,
On 2ehal4 o4 the !eublic o4 1ndia
<)d8> )*aran )ingh
Minister of 2Aternal Affairs.
)ource, )urvival& T111& October 1971& 8 3.1$38
AAAendi>;
1ntervie* /iven by /en )am Maneksha* to
Huarterdeck <199+>
*uring the time of the 'BC' %ar, there %ere -ersonalities in the %ar
room, such as A!miral Nan!a an! A!miral *a%san. Can you recall
anything a)out them in the -erio! lea!ing u- to the %ar, or !uring
the %ar, %hich you still remem)er, or %hich strikes you as something
interestingD
1 can tell you be4ore the *ar started8 1 canGt remember the date
no* J something in #ril or something like that8 3here *as a cabinet
meeting to *hich 1 *as summoned8 )mt /andhi *as terribly angry
and terribly uset because re4ugees *ere ouring into Dest 2engal&
into #ssam and into 3riura8
ECook at this J so many are coming in$ there is a telegram 4rom
the Chie4 Minister o4 #ssam& a telegram 4rom\ *hat are you doing
about itN )he said to me8
1 said&G %othing8 Dhat has it go to do *ith meNG
)he said& EcanGt you do somethingN Dhy donGt you do
somethingNG
EDhat do you *ant me to doNG
E1 *ant you to march in8G
1 said& E3hat means *arG and she said& E1 donGt mind i4 it is *arG8
)o 1 sat do*n and 1 said& E:ave you read the 2ibleNG
)ardar )*aran )ingh said& EDhat has the 2ible got to do *ith
itNG
E1n the 4irst book& the 4irst chater& the 4irst aragrah o4 the
2ible& /od said& LCet there be light and there *as lightM J so you 4eel
that LCet there be *ar and there is *arM8 #re you readyN 1 certainly
am not ready8G
3hen 1 said& E1 *ill tell you *hat is haening8 1t is no* end o4
#ril8 1n a 4e* days time& 1.$2- days time& the monsoon *ill break&
and in Aast Pakistan *hen it rains the rivers become like oceans8 14
you stand on one side you canGt see the other8 1 *ould be con4ined to
the roads8 3he air4orce *ould not be able to suort me& and
Pakistanis *ould thrash me J thatGs one8G
E)econdly& my armoured division in the 2abina areaI another
division& 1 canGt remember *hich& is in the )ecunderabad area8 De
are no* harvesting8 1 *ill reKuire every vehicle& every truck& all the
road sace& all the rail*ay sace to move my soldiers and you *ill
not be able to move your crosG8 #nd turned to )ri "akruddin #li
#hmed& the #griculture Minister& and said& Ei4 there is 4amine in
1ndia they *ill blame you8 1 *onGt be there to take the blameG8
3hen 1 turned around and said& My armoured division *hich is
suosed to be my strike 4orce has got t*elve tanks *hich are
oerational out o4 the *hole lot8G
6 2 Chavan asked& E)am& *hy only t*elveN 1 said& E)ir& because
you are the "inance Minister8 1 have been asking& leading 4or
months8 6ou said you have got no money& thatGs *hyG8
3hen 1 said& EPrime Minister& i4 in 19+2& your 4ather had asked
me as the #rmy Chie4 and not /en 3haar and your 4ather had said
L3hro* the Chinese outM8 1 *ould have turned around and told him
LCook& these are the roblemsM8 %o* 1 am telling you *hat the
roblems are8 14 you still *ant me to go ahead& Prime Minister& 1
guarantee you 1-- er cent de4eat8 %o*& you give me your orders8G
3hen ?agBeeban !am said& +am, maan jao na.8
1 said& E1 have given my ro4essional vie*& no* the /overnment
must take a decision8G
3he Prime Minister didnGt say anything8 )he *as red in the 4ace
and said& EAchccha ca)inet char )aje milenge..
Averyone *alked out8 1 being the Bunior most *as the last to
leave and 1 smiled at her8
EChie4& sit do*n8G
)o 1 said& EPrime Minister& be4ore you oen your mouth& do you
*ant me to send in my resignation on the grounds o4 mental health&
or hysicalN
)he said& Oh& sit do*n )am8 Averything you told me& is trueN
E6es8 Cook& itGs my Bob to 4ight8 1t is my Bob to 4ight to *in8 #re
you readyN 1 certainly am not ready8 :ave you internally got
everything readyN 1 donGt think so8 1 kno* *hat you *ant& but 1 must
do it in my o*n time and 1 guarantee you 1-- er cent success8 2ut& 1
*ant to make it Kuite clear8 3here must be one commander8 1 donGt
mind& 1 *ill *ork under the 2)"& under C!P"& under anybody you
like8 2ut 1 *ill not have a )oviet telling me *hat to do and 1 must
have one olitical master *ho *ill give me instructions8 1 donGt *ant
the re4ugee ministry& home ministry& de4ence ministry all telling me8
%o*& make u your mind8
)he said& E#ll right )am& nobody *ill inter4ere& you *ill be in
command8G
E3hank you& 1 guarantee you accomlishment8G
)o there is very thin line bet*een becoming a "ield Marshal and
being dismissedR 1t could have haenedR )o that *as one incident 1
can tell you about and you can ut it in your o*n *ords8
What a)out the other t%o Chiefs. When !i! they come inD
3hey *ere not on the initial meeting& then 1 had to brie4 them& 1
had to tell them about it8
)ource , =uater!eck& Directorate o4 A5$ )ervicemenGs #44airs&
%aval :eadKuarters& %e* Delhi& 199+8
#endi5 $/
#rticle by Mr8 ?ack #nderson& 1- ?anuary 1972 in
the Conte5t o4 )oviet$#merican %aval
Deloyment in the 2ay o4 2engal
3he secret Dhite :ouse aers reveal some ominous similarities
bet*een the 2ay o4 2engal and the /ul4 o4 3onkin8 3he /ul4 o4
3onkin incident on ' #ugust 19+'& led to #mericaGs dee
involvement in the Pietnam Dar8
3he #merican ublic *as told that %orth Pietnamese toredo
boats had staged an unrovoked attack uon a =nited )tates
destroyer& although later indicated that the attack *as actually
rovoked8
3he risk o4 similar %aval accident in the 2ay o4 2engal cause
grave arehensions inside the )tate deartment as a =nited )tates
task 4orce steamed to*ard a )oviet task 4orce at the height o4 the
1ndian$Pakistan 4ighting8
On 7 December a to$secret *arning *as 4lashed to Dashington
that three )oviet naval shis& a seagoing mines*eeer and a tanker
have begun to move northeast*ard into the 2ay o4 2engal8
3he units entered the 1ndian Ocean 4rom Malacca )trait on .
December and *ere located aro5imately .-- nautical miles east o4
Ceylon on 7 December8
=rgent huddles in the Dhite :ouse led to a decision on 1-
December to assemble in Malacca )trait a =nited )tates task 4orce&
searheaded by the aircra4t carrier 2nter-rise& the %avyGs most
o*er4ul shi8
3he rimary urose *as to make a Esho* o4 4orceG and to divert
1ndian lanes and shis 4rom Pakistan8
#s the task 4orce moved into osition& #dml ?ohn McCain& our
Paci4ic commander& inKuired on 11 December about Ethe 4easibility
o4\ aerial surveillance o4 )oviet task grou located aro5imately
18- % M <nautical miles> south$*est o4 CeylonG8
#uthori;ation *as 4lashed back the same day Ein the event task
4orce 7' is directed to transmit <to go through> the )trait o4 Malacca8
#t that time aroriate \ screening$surveillance 4lights are
authori;edG8
#s the #merican *arshis moved through the )trait and headed
into the 2ay o4 2engal& even more ominous reorts reached
Dashington 4rom the de4ense intelligence agency8
E!ecent indicators have been received *hich suggest the
PeoleGs !eublic o4 China may be lanning actions& regarding the
1ndo$Pakistan con4lictG8
# to$secret message reorted tersely, E#ccording to a reliable
clandestine source& <PakistanGs> President 6ahya @han claimed\
today that the Chinese ambassador in 1slamabad has assured him that
*ithin 72 hours the Chinese army *ill move to*ards the border8
EPresident 6ahyaGs claim cannot be con4irmed8 :o*ever& recent
Peking roaganda statements have become more critical o4 1ndiaGs
involvement in Aast Pakistan8G
"rom @atmandu in the :imalayas& mean*hile& came *ord that
both the )oviet and 1ndian military attachUGs had asked Col8 Melvin
:olst& the #merican attachU& *hat he kne* about Chinese troo
movements and =nited )tates 4leet movements8
E=))! attachU CoginovG& said the secret disatch& called uon
the Chinese military attachU Chao @uang Chih in @atmandu advising
Chao that China Eshould not get too serious about intervention&
because =))! react& had many missiles& etcG8
:olst concluded& the disatch added that Eboth the =))! and
1ndia embassies have a gro*ing concern that China might intervene8G
)imultaneously& the Central 1ntelligence #gency rushed out a to
secret reort that Ethe Chinese have been assing *eather data 4or
locations in 3ibet and along the )ino$1ndian border since 8
December8 3he continued assing o4 *eather data 4or these locations
is considered unusual and may indicate some 4orm o4 alert osture8G
#nd 4rom %e* Delhi& the C1# reorted, E#ccording to a reliable
clandestine source& Prime Minster /andhi told a leader o4 her
Congress arty that she had some indications that the Chinese intend
to intervene along 1ndiaGs northern border\ Mrs8 /andhi said that
the Chinese action might be in the Cadakh area8G
!ussiaGs #mbassador to 1ndia& %icolai M8 Pegov& ho*ever&
romised on 13 December that the )oviets E*ould oen a
diversionary actionG against the Chinese and E*ill not allo* the
)eventh "leet to interveneG8
:ere are the highlights o4 this ominous )oviet ledge& *hich the
C1# claimed to have icked u 4rom a Ereliable sourceG8
EPegov stated that Pakistan is trying to dra* both the =nited
)tates and China into the resent con4lict8 3he )oviet =nion&
ho*ever does not believe that either country *ill intervene8
E#ccording to Pegov& the movement o4 the )eventh "leet is an
e44ort by the =) to bully 1ndia& to discourage it 4rom striking against
Dest Pakistan& and at the same time to boost the morale o4 the
Pakistani 4orces8
EPegov noted that a )oviet 4leet is no* in the 1ndian Ocean and
that the )oviet =nion *ill not allo* the )eventh 4leet to intervene8G
E14 China should decide to intervene in Cadakh& said Pegov& the
)oviet =nion *ould oen a diversionary action in )inkiang8
EPegov also commented that a4ter Dacca is liberated and the
2angladesh /overnment is installed both the =nited )tates and
China *ill be unable to act and *ill change their current attitude
to*ard the crisisG8
3his is ho* the big o*ers danced recariously on the edge o4
the brink Bust be4ore Christmas as eole sang about eace on earth
and good *ill to*ard them8
)ource , *aily 3elegra-h <Condon>& 1- ?anuary 19728
APP%3)2K7
#eal to 1ndia 4or !ecognition o4 2angladesh
Cetter 4rom the /overnment o4 2angladesh to Prime Minister o4
1ndia December '& 1971
<)eal o4 the /overnment o4 the
PeoleGs !eublic o4 2angladesh>
"rom
)6AD %#F!=C 1)C#M
#cting President o4 the PeoleGs !eublic o4 2angladesh
#nd
3#?=DD1% #:MAD
Prime Minister o4 the PeoleGs o4 2angladesh
3o
:A! ATCACCA%C6 M#D#MA 1%D1!# /#%/:1&
Prime Minister o4 1ndia& %e* Delhi
6our A5cellency&
De have Bust learnt *ith dee shock o4 the dastardly attack
launched against your country by the military ?unta o4 Pakistan on
the a4ternoon o4 the 3
rd
o4 December8 3his latest mani4estation o4
6ahya @hanGs reckless violation o4 international covenants is the
4inal roo4 o4 his determination to subBect the countries o4 this sub$
continent to tensions& destructionGs and socio$economic 4erment8 3he
eole o4 2angladesh *ere conscious o4 the above inclinations o4 the
/overnment o4 Dest Pakistan and they launched their struggle 4or
4reedom nine months ago8 De had sent communication to your
A5cellency on the .
th
o4 October and 23
rd
o4 %ovember e5laining
the realities o4 the situation and our determination to 4ight the
military ?unta o4 Pakistan till the comlete de4eat o4 the occuation
4orces is accomlished8 3he aggression committed by 6ahya and his
generals on your country makes it all the more necessary that the
eole o4 1ndia and the eole o4 2angladesh stand shoulder to
shoulder to reel the aggressors and 4ight 4or democracy and
4reedom and the values *e cherish in common8
Madame Prime Minister& *e have the honour to in4orm you that
in vie* o4 the direct aggression committed by Pakistan against your
country on the 3
rd
o4 December& the 4reedom 4orces o4 2angladesh
are ready to 4ight the aggressive 4orces o4 Pakistan in 2angladesh& in
any sector or in any 4ront8 Our Boint stand against military
machinations o4 Pakistan *ould be 4urther 4acilitated& i4 *e enter into
4ormal dilomatic relations *ith each other8 May *e& there4ore&
reeat our reKuest to your A5cellency that the /overnment o4 1ndia
accord immediate recognition to our country and our /overnment8
De *ould like to take this oortunity to assure your A5cellency that
the /overnment and the eole o4 2angladesh stand solidly *ith you
in this hour o4 eril and danger to both countries8 1t is our earnest
hoe that our Boint resistance to the ne4arious lans and intentions o4
President 6ahya @han *ill be brought to a success4ul conclusion8
De assure your A5cellency o4 your /overnmentGs 4ull suort in
your Bust struggle against the aggressor8
!ene*ing& your A5cellency& the assurances o4 our highest
esteem8
December '& 19718
APP%3)2K2
!ecognition o4 2angladesh by 1ndia on +
December&1971

Prime Minister 1ndira /andhiGs #ddress to the 1ndian Parliament on
December +& 1971
3he valiant struggle o4 the eole o4 2angladesh in the 4ace o4
tremendous odds has oened a ne* chater o4 heroism in the history
o4 4reedom movements8
Aarlier& they had recorded a great democratic victory in their
elections and even the President o4 Pakistan had conceded the right
o4 )heikh MuBibur !ahman to become Prime Minister o4 Pakistan8
De shall never kno* *hat intervened to trans4orm his benevolent
mood and realistic aroach& i4 it really *as that& to decetion and
the osture o4 oen hatred8
De are told that )heikh MuBibur !ahman and his arty& the
#*ami Ceague& had lanned a non$violent movement o4 resistance to
the /overnment o4 Dest Pakistan8 2ut they *ere caught una*are and
overtaken by a brutal military assault8 3hey had no alternative but to
declare 4or indeendence8 3he Aast Pakistan !i4les and Aast 2engal
!egiment became the Mukti "auB and later the Mukti 2ahini& *hich
*as Boined by thousands o4 young Aast 2engalis determined to
sacri4ice their lives 4or 4reedom and the right to 4ashion their 4uture8
3he unity& determination and courage *ith *hich the entire
oulation o4 2angladesh is 4ighting have been recorded by the
*orld ress8
3hese events on our doorste and the resulting 4lood o4 re4ugees
into our territory could not but have 4ar$reaching reercussion on our
country8 1t is natural that our symathy should be *ith the eole o4
2angladesh in their Bust struggle8 2ut *e did not act reciitately in
the matter o4 recognition8 Our decisions *ere not guided merely by
emotion but by an assessment o4 revailing and 4uture realities8
Dith the unanimous revolt o4 the entire eole o4 2angladesh
and the success o4 their struggle it has become increasingly aarent
that the so$called mother )tate o4 Pakistan is totally incaable o4
bringing the eole o4 2angladesh under its control8 #s 4or the
legitimacy o4 the /overnment o4 2angladesh the *hole *orld is no*
a*are that it re4lects the *ill o4 the over*helming maBority o4 the
eole& *hich& not many /overnment can claim to reresent8 1n
?e44ersonGs 4amous *ords to /overnor Morris& the /overnment o4
2angladesh is suorted by the L*ill o4 the nation& substantially
e5ressedM8 #lying this criterion& the military regime in Pakistan&
*hom some )tates are so an5ious to buttress& is hardly reresentative
o4 its eole even in Dest Pakistan8
%o* that Pakistan is *aging *ar against 1ndia& the normal
hesitation on our art not to do anything *hich could come in the
*ay o4 a eace4ul solution& or *hich might be construed as
intervention& has lost signi4icance8 3he eole o4 2angladesh battling
4or their very e5istence and the eole o4 1ndia 4ighting to de4eat
aggression no* 4ind themselves artisans in the same cause8
1 am glad to in4orm the :ouse that in the light o4 the e5isting
situation and in resonse to the reeated reKuests o4 the /overnment
o4 2angladesh& the /overnment o4 1ndia have a4ter the most care4ul
consideration& decided to grant recognition to the /ana PraBa 3antri
2angladesh8
1t is our hoe that *ith the assage o4 time more nations *ill
grant recognition and that the /ana PraBa 3antri 2angladesh *ill
soon 4orm art o4 the 4amily o4 nations8
Our thoughts at this moment are *ith the 4ather o4 this ne* )tate
J )heikh MuBibur !ahman8 1 am sure that this :ouse *ould *ish me
to convey to 3heir A5cellences the #cting President o4 2angladesh
and Prime Minister and to their Colleagues& our greeting and *arm
4elicitations8
1 am lacing on the 3able o4 the :ouse coies o4 the
communications& *hich *e have received 4rom the /overnment o4
2angladesh8 :onGble Members *ill be glad to kno* that the
government o4 2angladesh has roclaimed their basic rinciles o4
)tate olicy to be democracy& socialism& secularism and the
establishment o4 an egalitarian society in *hich there *ould be no
discrimination on the basis o4 race& religion& se5 or creed8 1n regard
to 4oreign relations& the 2angladesh /overnment has e5ressed their
determination to 4ollo* a olicy o4 non$alignment& eace4ul co$
e5istence and oosition to colonialism& racialism and imerialism in
all its mani4estations8 3hese are the ideals to *hich 1ndia also is
dedicated8
3he 2angladesh /overnment have reiterated their an5iety to
organi;e the e5editious return o4 their citi;ens *ho have 4ound
temorary re4uge in our country& and to restore their lands and
belongings to them8 De shall naturally hel in every *ay in these
arrangements8
1 am con4ident that in 4uture the /overnments and the eole o4
1ndia and 2angladesh& *ho share common ideals and sacri4ices& *ill
4orge a relationshi based on the rinciles o4 mutual resect 4or
each otherGs sovereignty and territorial integrity& non$inter4erence in
internal a44airs& eKuality and mutual bene4it8 3hus *orking together
4or 4reedom and democracy *e shall set an e5amle o4 good
neighbourliness& *hich alone can ensure eace& stability and rogress
in this region8 Our good *ishes to 2angladesh8
+ource8 Parliamentary *e)ates.
APP%3)2KB
)uhra*ardyGs )tatement o4 27 #ril 19'7 #nnouncing
the =nited 1ndeendent 2engal Plan8
1t must be a matter o4 the greatest regret to all those *ho *ere
eagerly looking 4or*ard to the *el4are and roserity o4 2engal to
4ind that an agitation 4or its artition is being vigorously ursued in
some Kuarters8 3his cry *ould never have been raised had it not been
due to a sense o4 4rustration and imatience on the art o4 some
:indus in as much as the members o4 their community have not an
adeKuate share in the 2engal Ministry in site o4 their numbers in the
rovince& their *ealth& in4luence& education& articiation in the
administration o4 the rovince& their roaganda and their inherent
strength8 3his 4rustration is largely o4 the result o4 a 4ailure to reali;e
this resent condition in 2engal& *hich is linked to 1ndia& are not
alicable to an indeendent sovereign )tate as 1 hoe 2engal *ill
be8 3oday *e are in the midst o4 a struggle in 1ndia8 2et*een
contending 4actions o4 all 1ndia imortance each intent on en4orcing
its vie*s on the other and neither *illing to give *ay e5cet at a
rice& *hich the other is not& reared to ay8 3heir disutes
ro4oundly a44ect the olitics o4 all the rovinces and the roblems
are being treated as a *hole8 #n entirely di44erent state o4
circumstances *ill arise *hen each rovince *ill have to look a4ter
itsel4 and *hen each rovince is sure to get ractical& i4 not total
indeendence& and the eole o4 2engal *ill have to rely uon each
other8 1t is unbelievable that under such a set o4 circumstances there
can e5ist a Ministry o4 2engal *hich *ill not be comosed o4 all$
imortant elements in its society or *hich can be communal arty
Ministry& or *here the various sections *ill be not better reresented
than they are no*8 1 do not think that the 4act that the Muslims *ill
have a slight reonderance in the Ministry by virtue o4 their slender
maBority *ill be grudged by the :indus as needed this has hitherto
been acceted by all as inherent in the nature o4 things o4 2engal8
Does any one seriously conceive that it is ossible under such a set
o4 circumstances to visuali;e that one section o4 the eole& say the
Muslims& can tyrannise over the minority& namely the :indus in
2engal8 3here are several 4actors& *hich make such a thing
imossible and unbelievable8 3here is the internal strength o4 the
:indus themselves& their internal strength *hich can araly;e any
un4air administration8 3hey are a maBority in the services8 3he
administration in the secretariat is in their o*n hands8 3he most
imortant and the e5erienced o44icers o4 government are :indus8 1t
is Bust ridiculous to think that their osition and in4luence can be
ignored8 Over and above this 2engal *ill have 2-- million :indus in
its 4rontiers *ho *ill certainly make it their cause to see that their co$
religionists have a 4air deal in the rovince8 1t *ill Bust be 4atuous and
suicidal 4atuous 4or any Muslim /overnment to give an un4air deal to
the :indus o4 2engal8
28 1 have read most 4ervid 4ulminations against the government
o4 2engal on its alleged treatment o4 :indu oulation8 3hese
denunciations have been built on the most slender and imaginary
4oundations8 1 by no means admit that the demand 4or the artition o4
2engal is the demand o4 the maBority o4 the :indus even o4 the Dest
2engal& let alone o4 the maBority o4 the :indus o4 2engal8 3he ties
and culture o4 :indus o4 every art o4 2engal are so much the same&
that it is not oen to the :indus o4 every art o4 2engal to dissever
those ties in the hoes o4 grasing o*er8 1ndeed by the same
analogy the *ishes o4 all the eoles o4 2engal& Muslims& :indus
and )cheduled Castes and others ought to be ascertained on the
Kuestion o4 artition o4 2engal& *hich can only be undertaken i4
there is a substantial maBority in its 4avor8 1n these 4undamental
4actors eculiar to 2engal *hich di44erentiate the Kuestion o4
artition o4 2engal 4rom the Muslim demand 4or the division o4
1ndia& aart 4rom such 4actors as economic integrity& mutual reliance
and the necessity o4 creating a strong *orkable )tate8 3he lead 4or
artition has been taken by the :indu Mahashabha *hich hoes that
by *hiing u agitation 4or the artition o4 2engal& 4or the
dismissal o4 the 2engal Ministry& imosition o4 section 93&
establishment o4 regional Ministries& by arousing 4anaticism against
the Muslims o4 2engal& by creating disturbances through hartals and
violence& they *ill be able to ingratiate themselves *ith the :indu
eole and destroy the in4luence o4 the Congress8 3his is but a vain
dream& as they *ill 4ind to their cost8 3he :indu Mahashabha *ishes
to stage a comeback8 )o do )undry oliticians *ho have not been
able to 4ind a riche 4or themselves8 2ut aart 4rom this 1 maintain that
this agitation started by a small section o4 the :indus& vocal it is true&
masters o4 roaganda as they certainly are& backed by an in4luential
Press& has not yet the suort o4 the common eole8 3he last
elections have demonstrated most convincingly that neither the
:indu Mahashabha nor the Congress reresents the voice o4 the
)cheduled Castes8 1n the Primary elections the candidates o4 the
scheduled Castes "ederation got an over*helmingly large number o4
votes against Congress )cheduled Caste candidates& although
ultimately the "ederation candidates *ere de4eated in the Boint
selection8 #gain amongst the Caste :indus themselves there are
certain grades o4 :indus *ho though classi4ied as Caste :indus do
not 4ollo* either the Congress or the :indu Mahashabha and *ill be
haier under a rule that *ill *ork 4or the common man than a rule
o4 the rivileged classes *hich *ill certainly ull 4or the rights o4 the
rivileged classes 4rom *hich the Congress and the :indu
Mahashabha drive their strength8 3he agitation& there4ore& 4or the
artition o4 2engal is not so universal amongst the :indus as it made
out to be& though roaganda may make it aear other*ise8 3here
*ill hardly be 4ound a thana *here the Caste :indus including
deressed section amongst them are in a maBority8 #n e5amination o4
the 19'1 census is most revealing8 3he Muslim have claimed that the
19'1 census *hich *as taken over a number o4 days has been un4air
to them and has been heavily loaded in 4avor o4 the :indus *ho
reacted 4ully to the roaganda conducted by the :indu Mahashabha
that numbers *ere o4 aramount imortance in the 4uture
constitution and interreted as an indication& *hich it *as meant to
be& that they should make every e44ort to increase their numbers in
the census8 1n site& there4ore o4 the emhatic assertions o4 their
economists and observers that the :indus o4 Dest 2engal *ere a
decaying race& *hile the Muslim *ere virile and roli4ic& the
roortions bet*een the t*o remained almost identical *ith the
roortions recorded in 19318 1n 19'1 census there is a large and
indeterminate grou o4 :indus *ho have re4used to record the castle
to *hich they belong8 1t *ill be recalled that at that time a vigorous
roaganda *as being carried on amongst the )cheduled Castes to
induce them not to record their castes but to declare themselves as
:indus onlyI and it can thus be sa4ely argued that those *ho have not
recorded their castes mostly& i4 not *holly belong to the )cheduled
Castes8 Aven in the district o4 2urd*an the Caste :indus are 3283+
and the non$returned :indus are 188+8 )imilar roortions are
re4lected in each o4 it subdivisions8 1n the district o4 2irbhum the
Caste :indus are 298-' and the non$returned :indus are 9871 and
this roortion is re4lected in its t*o subdivisions8 1n the district o4
2ankura the Caste :indus are '887' and the non$returned are 783'8
Aven here the Caste :indus are not in a maBority& and *ith the non$
returned :indus they make a very narro* margin indeed8 1n the
district o4 Midnaore& the Caste :indus are '28++& the non$returned
are 3-8878 1n the )adar subdivision they are '+8+' and 17823
resectively8 1n ?hargam .28'. and '87+& in /hatal +381' and 118.78
1n the last t*o subdivisions there4ore they are in an absolute
maBority8 1n 3amluk they are 39878 and '-8'. resectively and in
Contai 2+8'. and +-8918 1n the district o4 :ooghly the roortion is
'.8'9 and 1+8'88 1n )adar they are 3+82- and 1+83.& in )eramore
'+829 and 2289& in #rambagh .'878 and '888 1n the district o4 :o*rah
they are 378+9 and 298'.8 1n the )adar subdivision it is 2+889 and
'2871 and =lberia .1827 and 128778 1ndeed there are some thanas in
this district *here the Caste :indus& even i4 *e give them credit 4or
all non$returned :indus& are in a maBority and some in *hich the
Muslims and )cheduled Caste oulation even constitute a maBority8
1n the Presidency Division in the district o4 2' Parganas as a *hole
the roortion o4 Caste :indus and non$returned :indus is 2281- and
2282-8 3he Muslims and the declared )cheduled Castes here <*ithout
taking the non returned Caste :indus into consideration> constitute
the maBority8 1n the )adar )ubdivision the Muslim and the )cheduled
Castes together are .+ er cent& the Caste :indus are 1'898 and the
non$ returned :indus 2+8918 Dhere ever 1 have given the roortion
o4 )cheduled Castes 1 have counted only *ho have so declared
themselves& and not dra*n 4rom the category o4 no returned :indus
or 4rom the category o4 LothersM8 1n t*o thanas o4 Matiaburu; and
2hanga the Muslims are in an absolute maBority8 1n the 2arrackore
subdivision Caste :indus are 2+8'7& the non$returned 398+8 1n the
2arasat subdivision the Muslims are in an absolute maBority .78+.&
the )cheduled Castes are 138'8& the Caste :indus 1.891 and non$
returned 1281+8 1n all the thanas o4 this subdivision the Muslims are
in absolute maBority e5cet in !aBarhat& *here they are 3'888 and
scheduled castes are 318718 1n the 2ashirhat subdivision the Muslims
are '3833& )cheduled Castes 23832& Caste :indus 17883 and non$
returned 1-8738 1n 4our thanas out o4 the si5 the Muslims are in
absolute maBority and in the other t*o they constitute a maBority *ith
the )cheduled Castes& in the Diamond :arbour subdivision they are
the least& the Muslim are 228+2& )cheduled Castes 2+83 Caste :indus
3.818 and non$ returned 1.8-.8 3hese 4igures seak louder than
*ords ho* limited the demand 4or artition can be& even i4 *e *ere
to concede& *hich 1 certainly do not do& that all Caste :indus desire
artition8 1n the districts o4 %adia and Murshidabad and ?essore the
Muslims are in an absolute maBority8 @hulna may call 4or some
comments8 3he Muslims are '983+& )cheduled Castes 2'821& Caste
:indus 1+8.1 and the no$ returned 98.98 3his is more or less re4lected
in the )adar subdivision8 1n the 2agerhat and )atkhira subdivisions
ho*ever the Muslims are in a absolute maBority8 #nalysing the
thanas o4 2agerhat there are in an absolute maBority in three thanas&
nearly eKual in 4our and in one thana they are 38872 *ith the
)cheduled Castes 17 er cent8 1n the )atkhira subdivision the Muslim
are in an absolute maBority8 O4 the thanas they are in an absolute
maBority in 4our& nearly eKual in t*o and o4 course have a
com4ortable maBority along *ith the scheduled Castes and in one
thana & namely Debhata their roortion is '28+1& scheduled castes
218328 )ome attemt has been made o4 late to stake a claim to some
areas in %orth 2engal8 1 *ill analy;e this8 1n !aBshahi district the
Muslims are 7'8++ er cent8 De can leave it out8 1n DinaBur district
they are .-82- ercent& the scheduled Castes 2-873& the Caste :indus
17821 and non$ returned 282+8 1n the districts o4 !aBshahi& DinaBur&
!angur& 2ogra& Pabna and Malda the Muslims are in a maBority8 1n
?alaiguri the Muslims are 238-8& the scheduled castes 29888& Caste
:indus are 1'823& non$ returned +8.3& and there is a large oulation
classed as others *ho are 2+8288 1n the )adar subdivision o4
?alaiguri the roortions are 28882&338.+&13821&+81. and others
1882+8 1n this area there are three thanas *here the Muslims are in an
absolute maBorityI in 4ive thanas they are in a huge maBority along
*ith the )cheduled Castes and in 4our thanas they are in a maBority i4
added to LothersM a tricky classi4ication in this district8 1n these
thanas the EothersG are 3'8-+&+387.&+-887&'.81' and include mostly
tribals& santals& undeclared !aBabansis *hom the :indus cannot add
to themselves 4or ractical uroses8 1n no thana do the caste :indus
along *ith the non$ returned :indus constitute a maBority8 1n the
#liur Dooars subdivision much the same osition e5ists8 3he
demand 4or artition o4 a ortion o4 ?alaiguru& as a art and arcel
o4 Dest 2engal is 4antastic and illustrate to *hat e5tent the agitators
have lost their sense o4 roortion8 3he district o4 DarBeeling has to
be considered on its o*n merits as it contains a considerable amount
o4 %ealis and :ill tribes *ho can hardly be dra*n into this
discussion8
1 have laced all the relevant 4acts and 4igures be4ore ublic and
it is no* 4or us to Budge to *hat e5tent the demand 4or artition o4
2engal actually e5ists& in the *hole o4 2engal or 4or the matter o4
that even in Dest 2engal8
2ut let us once more consider the validity o4 the demand itsel48
Dhy should the 2engalee :indus *ant a searate homelandN Cet me
roceed on the assumtion 4or the time being that the demand is not
limited to a 4e* but is ut 4or*ard by all Caste :indus& )cheduled
Castes and those *ho have not returned their castes8 %o* has their
culture& their religion& their language su44ered under the resent
regime and ho* do they think that in a 4uture set u they *ill su44er
so that they can only 4lourish and sa4eguard theirs culture and li4e i4
they have a small ortion o4 Dest 2engal8 3o my mind& 1 think& the
demand is suicidal 4rom the oint o4 vie* o4 :indus8 Aven i4 it did
haen an eventually *hich 1 cannot conceive that the rule assed
solely into the hands o4 Muslims& intent on crushing the :indus as a
*hole& an attitude *hich *ould combine the entire oulation o4
:indus in oosition to the Muslims& could such a olicy ossibly
succeed or be ut into e44ect& *here any /overnment o4 2engal
*ould have to carry its o*n servants along *ith it& and most o4 them
belong to the :indu community8 3hen again industry& business& the
ro4essions are in their hands8 3heir youth are *ell advanced and
kno* their rights and kno* ho* to achieve their claims8 %ot only is
the resent attitude due to a sense o4 imatient 4rustration& not only is
it short$sighted but is a con4ession o4 de4eatism *hich one hardly
e5ected 4rom the great :indu community o4 2engal8 %oakhali is
constantly cited as an indication o4 *hat might haen in 4uture set$
u o4 an indeendent )tateN 1 have already said that *ould be
ridiculous to dra* conclusions 4or the 4uture 4rom the resent set$u
but let us ause here 4or a moment8 Can %oakhalu and the incidents
o4 that area be considered tyical and an augury 4or the 4uture& and
are there not many other districts *here the Muslims are in a
convincing and over*helming maBority& and yet has not eace been
reserved in these districts& and have not the :indus carried on
e5actly as be4ore *ith all their o*ers and rivileges8 1t is said that
this /overnment is handing out atronage to Muslims in the *ay o4
osts& educational 4acilities and business8 1t is a ity that this is
considered to be a cause 4or grievance8 1t is indeed a ity because the
atronage <mostly born o4 the *ar and shortly to disaear> is o4
iti4ul dimensions& hardly *orth noticing and is merely an attemt to
do some Bustice to the Muslims a4ter their relegation to the osition
o4 he*ers o4 *ood and dra*ers o4 *ater8 2ut surely in the conte5t o4
the great unity o4 2engal that 1 dreamed o4& 1 do not think that
*hatever arguments may be advanced at this stage to arouse 4eelings
o4 hatred against the /overnment and give 4orce to a demand 4or
searation& the :indus themselves *ill obBect to raising the Muslims
and )cheduled Castes and the back*ard classes to such a level that
may be able to articiate adeKuately in the advancement o4 the
country8
#nd let us ause 4or a moment to consider *hat 2engal can be i4
it remains united8 1t *ill be great country indeed& the richest and the
most roserous in 1ndia& caable o4 giving its eole a high
standard o4 living& *here a great eole *ill be able to rise to the
4ullest height o4 their stature& a land that *ill truly be lenti4ul8 1t *ill
be rich in agricultureI rich in industry and commerce and in course o4
time it *ill be one o4 the most o*er4ul and rogressive states o4 the
*orld8 14 2engal remains united& this *ill be no dream& no 4antasy8
#ny one can see *hat its resources are and the resent state o4 its
develoment& *ill agree that this must come to ass i4 *e ourselves
do no commit suicide8 #nd suicide 4or *hatN %eed 1 reeat& i4 that
assurance is once more *anted& that o4ten enough has Mr8 ?innah
made it clear that there can be no government *hatsoever& such as he
visuali;es& *hich can 4unction in an indeendent conte5t *ithout the
closest co$oeration o4 the minorities and this dictum is more
alicable to 2engal than to any other rovince in 1ndia8
14 *e can have a secured 2engal& i4 all o4 us are united *ith a
urose o4 making this great& then surely our claims to the districts o4
Manbhum and )ingbhum& erhas the district o4 Purnea& certainly to
the )urma valley& i4 not to #ssam as a *hole <o4 course *ith their
consent *hich 1 think *ill be 4orthcoming *hen the tussle disaears
and gives a*ay to co$oeration and mutual reliance> are bound to
4ind 4avor on the rincile o4 sel4$determination and then *e can
have a ortion o4 the *orld that *ill certainly surass any other
country o4 like dimensions8
1 have visuali;ed all along there4ore 2engal as an indeendent
)tate and not art o4 any =nion o4 1ndia8 Once such )tates are
4ormed their 4uture rests *ith them8 1 shall never 4orget ho* long it
took 4or the government o4 1ndia to realise the 4amine conditions in
2engal in year 19'3& ho* in 2engalGs dire need it *as denied 4ood
grains by neighboring rovince o4 2engal ho* since then every
single rovince o4 1ndia has closed its doors and derived 2engal o4
its normal necessities& ho* in the councils o4 1ndia& 2engal is
relegated to an undigni4ied corner *hile other rovinces *ield undue
in4luence8 %o& i4 2engal is to be great& it can only be so i4 it stands on
its o*n legs and all combine to make it great8 1t must be a master o4
its o*n resources and riches and its o*n destiny8 1t must cease to be
emulated by others and shall not continue to su44er any longer 4or the
bene4it o4 the rest o4 1ndia8 )o in the end the tussle *ill rage round
Calcutta and its environments built u largely by the resources o4
4oreigners& inhabited largely by eole 4rom other rovinces *ho
have no roots in soil and *ho have come here to earn their
livelihood& designated in another conte5t as e5loitation8 #las& i4 this
is the main obBective& as my 4igures *ould demonstrate& then no
claim 4or the artition o4 2engal can remain static& and a cause 4or
enmity and 4uture stri4e *ould have been brought into being o4
*hich *e can see no end8 3o those& there4ore o4 the :indus *ho talk
so lightly o4 the artition o4 2engal& 1 make an aeal to dro this
movement so 4raught *ith unending mischie48 )urely& some method
o4 /overnment can be evolved by all o4 us sitting together& *hich
*ill satis4y all sections o4 the eole and *ill revivi4y the slendour
and glory that *as 2engal8
APP%3)2K5
+A3A)
)eal o4 2angladesh 3he /overnment o4 the PeoleGs
/overnment8 !eublic o4 2angladesh8
1 MaBor #bul Man;ur commander o4 )outh*estern areas <8 09
)ectors> 2angladesh #rmed "orces
:ereby
#oint Catain #3M #bdul Dahab as military commander o4
Magura& ?henidah and surrounding areas8
#ll the "orces engaged in Ciberation Dar in that areas *ill
articiate in battles under his oerational instructions8
2.$1-$71 )igned( M #bul Man;ur
Military Commander
2angladesh "orces
)outh*estern #reas
<809 )ectors>
APP%3)2K1
1nstrument o4 )urrender singed at Dhaka at 1+31
:ours <1)3> on 1+ Dec 1971
3he Pakistan Aastern Command agree to surrender all P#@1)3#%
#rmed "orces in 2angladesh to Cieutenant$/eneral ?#/?13 )1%/:
#=!O!#& /eneral O44icer Commander in Chie4 o4 the 1ndian and
2#%/C#DA): "orces in the Aastern 3heatre8 3his surrender
includes all P#@1)3#% land& air and naval 4orces as also all ara$
military 4orces and civil armed 4orces8 3he 4orces *ill lay do*n their
arms and surrender at the laces *here they are currently located to
the nearest regular troos under the command o4 Cieutenant$/eneral
?#/?13 )1%/: #=!O!#8
3he P#@1)3#% Aastern Command shall come under the orders
o4 Cieutenant$/eneral ?#/?13 )1%/: #=!O!# as soon as this
instrument has been singed8 Disobedience o4 orders *ill be regarded
as a breach o4 the surrender terms and *ill be dealt *ith in
accordance *ith the acceted la*s and usages o4 *ar8 3he decision
o4 Cieutenant$/eneral ?#/?13 )1%/: #=!O!# *ill be 4inal&
should any doubt arise as to the meaning or interretation o4 the
surrender terms8
Cieutenant$/eneral ?#/?13 )1%/: #=!O!# gives a solemn
assurance that ersonal *ho surrender shall be treated *ith dignity
and resect that soldiers are entitled to in accordance *ith the
rovisions o4 the /A%AP# Convention and guarantees the sa4ety
and *ell$being o4 all P#@1)3#% military and ara$military 4orces
*ho surrender8 Protection *ill be rovided to 4oreign nationals&
ethnic minorities and ersonnel o4 DA)3 P#@1)3#% origin by
4orces under the command o4 Cieutenant$/eneral ?#/?13 )1%/:
#=!O!#8
<?#/?13 )1%/: #=!O!#> <#M1! #2D=CC#: @:#% %1#F1>
Cieutenant$/eneral Cieutenant$/eneral
/eneral O44icer Commanding in Chie4 Martial Ca* #dministrator
1ndian and 2#%/C#DA): "orces in Fone 2 and Commander
3he Aastern 3heatre Aastern Command <P#@1)3#%>
1+ December 1971 1+ December 1971
APP%3)2KM
An aAAeal to 2ndian Brethren <or Arms
#n aleal to 1ndian 2rethren by Mr8 3o*4iK$e$Alahi Cho*dhury&
)DO& Meherur <)ub$)ector Commander 8 )ector& Ph8 D 4rom
:arvard =niversity and "ormer )ecretary o4 the government o4
2angladesh *ho received gallantry a*ard 4or his heroic actions in
the battle 4ield> in his o44icial ad *ith o44icial seal on 2+ March
19718 1t *as ublished in most o4 the 1ndian Dailies& *hich dre* the
attention o4 the eole o4 1ndia8 3his action established the contact
*ith 1ndian civil and military bureaucrats and through this
bureaucratic channel Mr8 3aBuddin #hmed& 4irst Prime Minister o4
2angladesh reached Delhi to meet )mt 1ndra gandhi& Prime Minister
o4 1ndia8 Deosit !eceit o4 !s8 '&'-&89&+78 <!uees "our crores
4ourty lac eighty nine thousand si5 hundred seventy eight> and gold
ornaments *eighing 2- kgs '1- grams including other security
bonds are e5hibited belo*8
Biblio:raAhy
18 !ahman :asan :a4i;ur <ed>& 2angladesh )hadhinata
?uddha& Dhaka& Ministry o4 1n4ormation& /ovt8 O4 2angladesh
28 Chaudhury / D& 3he last days o4 =nited Pakistan& @arachi&
O54ord =niversity Press& 197'
38 Chaudhury / D& Constitutional Develoment in Pakistan&
Condon& Congman& 197-
'8 @han Mohammad #sgar& /eneral in Politics& %e* delhi& Pikas
Publishing :ouse Pvt Ctd& 1983
.8 Moudud #hmed& 2angladesh Constitutional Huest 4or
#utonomy& Dhaka& 3he =niversity Press Cimited& 1979
+8 )alik )addiK& Ditness to )urrender& @arachi& O54ord =niversity
Press& 1977
78 /auhar #lta4& #yub @han& Dhaka& 3he =niversity Press
Cimited& 199+
88 2lood #rcher @& 3he Cruel birth o 4 2angladesh& Dhaka& 3he
=niversity Press Cimited& 2--2
98 )ha4iullah @ M& 2angladesh at Dar& Dhaka& #cademic
Publishers& 1989
1-8 :usain M D <ed>& 1nternational Press on 2angladesh Ciberation
Dar& 1OD#& COA College& 1989
118 :asan Mayeedul& Muldhara, 71& Dhaka& 3he =niversity Press
Cimited& 198+
128 :uK Masudul& 2anladesher )hadhinata ?udda& !#D and C1#&
Dhaka& Osmania Cibrary& 199-
138 !ahman @halilur M& MuktiBuddho O %au$ Commando Ovi;an
by Commando& Dhaka& )hirin !ahman& 2--1
1'8 1kramullah 2egum )haista )uhra*ardy& :useyn )haheed
)uhra*ardy& @arachi& O54ord =niversity Press& 1991
1.8 @han /ul :assan& Ct /eneral& MAMO1!)& @arachi& O54ord
=niversity Press& 1993
1+8 ?acob ?"!& Ct /eneral& )urrender at Dacca& Dhaka& 3he
=niversity Press Cimited& 1997
178 3he #nderson Paers& %e* 6ork& !andom :ouse& 1nc& 1972
188 )ingh )ukh*ant& MaBor /eneral& 3he Ciberation o4 2angladesh&
%e* Delhi& Pikash Publishing :ouse Pvt Ctd& 198-
198 Faheer :asan& 3he )earation o4 Aast Pakistan& Dhaka& 3he
=niversity Press Cimited& 2--1
2-8 #re4in #)M )hamsul& MuktiBuddher Prekkhaotey 2ektir
#ubasthan& Dhaka& 3he =niversity Press Cimited& 199.
218 Callard @eith& Pakistan a olitical study
228 :itchens Christoher& 3he 3rial o4 :enry @issinger& Condon&
PA!)O& 2--1
238 1namu; Faman& MaB /eneral& 2ir 2ikram& 2angladesh *ar o4
Ciberation&& Dhaka& Columbia Prokashini& 2--1
2'8 @han %oor$un$ %abi )1M& Ct Colonel& 2ir 2ikram& Oeration
!adhanagar& Dhaka& Columbia Prokashini& 1999
2.8 Mir;a :umayun& "rom Plassey to Pakistan& Cahore& "ero;sons
<Pvt> C3D& 2--->
2+8 #hmed :a4i;uddin& MaBor& 2ir 2ikram& !akteve;a Akattar&
Dhaka& )hahitya Prokash& 1997>
278 3alukdar : ! Mohammad and Dr @amal :ossain <ed>&
Memoirs o4 :useyn )haheed )uhra*ardy& Dhaka& 3he
=niversity Press Cimited& 1987
288 #hmed )iraBuddin& 2angabandhu )heikh MuBibur !ahman&
Dhaka& Pashkar Prokasoni& 2--1>
298 Dolert )tanley& ?innah o4 Pakistan& @arachi& O54ord =niversity
Press& 1993
3-8 @hurshid @ :& Memories o4 ?innah& @arachi(Dhaka& O54ord
=niversity Press(=PC& 199-
318 ?a*ed #Beet& )ecular and %ationalist ?innah& %e* Delhi
328 Moon Penderel <ed>& Davell$ 3he PiceroyGs ?ournal& Dhaka&
3he =niversity Press Cimited& 1998
338 Mody Piloo& Ful4i my 4riend & 1973
3'8 MukerBee Dili& Ful4iKar #li 2hutto& 1972
3.8 :odson :8 P8 3:A /!A#3 D1P1DA& Condon& :utchinson 0
Co <Publishers> C3D& 19+9
3+8 Collins Carry and DominiKue Caierre& "reedom at Midnight&
:arer Collins Publishers& 1997
378 "arruK Cho*dhury& Desh Deshantar& Dhaka& ?ai ?ai Din8
388 )iddiKui& #8!& Aast Pakistan$ 3he And /ame8
2nde>
Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, 57
Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, 269
Admiral Moorer, 279
Agartala, 7, 12, 67, 69, 71, 72, 73, 83, 211, 217, 218, 228,
233, 234, 261, 313, 344
Ahmed a!lur "ahman, 71
Air #hie$ Marshal %# &al, 217
Air Marshal 'oor Khan, 13, 68
A(bar Bahini, 8, 188, 19), 191
A(bar Hossain, 188, 189, 191
Al*Badr, 2)2, 287, 316
Ale+ei Kos,gin, 281
Al$a-ur, 19), 3)9
Aligarh Muslim .ni/ersit,, 46
Al*0hams, 2)2, 283, 287, 316
Aluette 111, 217
Ambassador 2ose-h arland, 81, 173
Ameri3an 0e/enth leet, 2)9
Amritsar, 113, 277
An4aru!!aman, 194
Ar3her K Blood, 118
Asadu!!aman M%A, 124
Assam "egiment, 46, 253
A4ami &eague, 13, 48, 56, 57, 69, 79, 85, 88, 89, 95, 99, 1)),
1)1, 1)4, 1)6, 111, 112, 114, 12), 121, 13), 133, 149, 168,
169, 17), 171, 172, 174, 188, 189, 211, 234, 323, 327, 328,
329, 33), 378
A!i!ur, 132, 335, 346
Bahadur 0hah %ar(, 8), 81
Baida,nathtala, 143
Balu3histan, 22, 33, 5), 57, 93, 112
Bangabandhu 0hei(h Mu5ibur "ahman, 13, 48, 72, 81, 82, 83,
93, 1)4, 122, 148, 149, 15), 151, 158, 159, 164, 171, 192,
198, 2)4, 3)8, 312, 314, 393
Bangladesh Arm, A3t 6BAA*167, 158
Bangladesh "i$le, 142, 196
Ban-ur, 8, 156, 18), 182, 184, 188, 191
Barra3(-ur, 8, 46, 8), 125, 163, 179, 18), 184, 2)), 225, 227,
228, 232, 273, 296, 297
Barrister Aminul 1slam, 171
Battle o$ %lasse,, 19, 21
Bedian*Kasur, 136
Belonia, 257, 261, 262, 263
Bengal Arm,, 11, 45
Bhomra, 193, 194, 196, 298
Bomba, Arm,, 11, 45
B8%, 1)6, 131, 142, 143, 195, 196, 197, 198, 2)), 237, 238,
239, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 253, 254, 255, 264, 31)
Brigadier "ahim 9urrani, 1)3, 1)8
Brigadier "a5endranath, 2)8, 296
Brigadier 0abeth 0ingh, 228
Brigadier 0hale:, 179, 18)
British #abinet, 41, 315
B0, 126, 142, 154, 161, 17), 261, 299, 3)2, 372
#*13)H, 211
#2%, 225
#abinet o$ ;alents, 55
#al3utta, 19, 2), 26, 27, 3), 39, 4), 45, 56, 98, 1)3, 113, 141,
152, 154, 16), 162, 164, 165, 168, 17), 172, 173, 174, 179,
181, 182, 192, 217, 229, 233, 234, 269, 27), 289, 291, 294,
3)8, 388
#amberl,, 61
#a-tain Abdul Halim, 16), 18), 334
#a-tain Ahsan Mali(, 238, 241
#a-tain A;M Haider, 257
#a-tain A!am #ho4dhur,, 124, 125
#a-tain Ha$i!uddin Ahmed, 238
#a-tain K' Huda, 143
#a-tain M Munsur Ali, 17)
#a-tain Musta$i!ur "ahman, 125, 126, 142, 143, 152, 153,
156, 18), 181, 184, 187, 188
#harlie 0e3tor, 163, 165, 179, 18), 2)1, 297
#haudanga, 124, 126, 127, 128, 291
#he <ue/ara, 2)1
#ho4( =adgar, 62
#hristo-her Hit3hens, 119, 12)
#1A, 119, 374, 375, 392
#ommander M>' 0umanth, 225
#onstituent Assembl,, 34, 47, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 15), 313
#onstituent #on/ention, 55, 56
9adabhai 'aora5i, 26
9arsana, 8, 156, 181, 182, 186, 187, 188, 296, 31), 352
9au(i, 248
9a/id ?ugene Booster, 119
9a/id rost, 179
9eradun, 167, 169
9halai, 9, 253, 254, 255
9ilshad Begum, 61
9ima-ur, 217
9ouglas <raham and #om-an,, 24
9% 9har, 167
9r> Kamal Hossain, 16
?agle #om-an,, 8, 2)), 2)2
?ast %a(istan "i$le, 117, 12), 121, 132, 137, 325, 327, 328,
329, 378
?l-hinstone #ollege, 61
?mibhai, 25
?m-eror A(bar, 81
?%#A%, 262, 353
M Khan, 59
ero! Khan 'oon, 58, 59
ield Marshal Muhammad A,ub Khan, 64, 211
<ede,, 186, 187
<eneral <onsale/e, 255
<eneral Muhammad Musa, 48
<eneral Muhammad =ah,a Khan, 95
<eneral "ees, 46
<eneral 0ham Mane(sha4, 167, 168
<eneral 0(een, 46
<eneral ;i((a Khan, 91, 92, 93, 95, 1)3
<eorge Bush, 277, 278
<o(ul 9as ;e5, 24
<olo( Ma!umder, 17)
<ono Bahini, 8, 184, 2)), 2)2
<o-al Krisna <o(hle, 26
<romi3o, 276
<rou- #a-tain AK Khanda(ar, 3)8
<u5rat, 23, 192
<ur(has, 45, 8), 25), 251, 253, 255
Henr, Kissinger, 119, 172, 277, 393
Herter A4ard, 118
Hossain Ali, 269, 27)
Huang Hua, 28), 281, 282
H,de %ar(, 25
1m-erial &egislati/e #oun3il, 27
1ndian Arm,, 13, 45, 46, 49, 6), 61, 163, 191, 2)1, 248, 249,
25), 252, 253, 254, 255, 261, 263, 264, 287, 297, 3)4, 3)5,
311
1ndian Mutin,, 45
1ndian 'ational #ongress, 11, 26, 28
1ssa Khan, 15, 81
2a3(-ot, 8, 227, 23), 29)
2ahirul @ui,um, 172, 173, 174
2alian4ala Bagh, 9)
2o, Bangla, 89, 124, 141, 163, 165, 244
2unagadh, 32, 49
2usti3e Abu 0a,eed #ho4dhur,, 174
2usti3e BA 0iddi:ue, 93
2usti3e Muhammad Munir, 313
Kalla,ni, 162, 165, 19), 3)9
Kamal-ur B8%, 238, 239, 241, 245
Kamanna, 2)6, 293
Kara3hi, 7, 23, 24, 26, 3), 45, 48, 5), 57, 62, 64, 69, 7), 72,
75, 79, 8), 86, 93, 96, 97, 1)2, 113, 115, 12), 137, 152, 188,
211, 212, 28), 392, 393
Karna$ull,, 228, 229, 23)
Kasba, 9, 257, 26), 264, 345, 351
Kashmir, 22, 23, 3), 32, 4), 41, 47, 28), 288
Kenning, 228, 23)
Khanda(ar Musta: Ahmed, 151, 171, 172, 173, 174
Kula4ara, 71
&ahore "esolution, 41, 43, 66, 314
&ar(ana, 49
&a4ren3e "oad, 24
&egal rame4or( 8rder 6&87, 12
&eonid Bre!hne/, 281
&ieutenant 'oor, 158, 248, 249, 25), 251, 252, 253, 254
&in %iao, 174, 282
&o- 'or, 281
&ord #li/e, 143
&ord Ma3naghten, 26
&oren 2en(ins, 141
&t <en 2ag5it 0ingh Aurora, 3)5
&t <en 0agat 0ingh, 357
&u3(no4 %a3t, 27, 28
M @uamru!!aman, 151, 17), 175
Madras Arm,, 45
Magura, 5), 97, 121, 123, 124, 125, 188, 189, 19), 191, 194,
2)2, 2)7, 2)8, 2)9, 291, 292, 294, 295, 296, 3)9, 389
Mahbub Alam #hasi, 172
Mahbubuddin Ahmed, 124, 125, 128, 143, 154, 156, 186, 191,
193, 195, 196, 339
Ma5 <en 9albir 0ingh, 356
Ma5 <en "ahim, 349
Ma5 <en "ahim Khan, 349
Ma5or Abu 8sman #ho4dhur,, 124, 126, 151, 154, 157
Ma5or Abu ;aher, 156, 194
Ma5or Abul Man!ur, 156, 165, 19), 191, 194, 195, 291, 296,
389
Ma5or Bhola, 193, 298
Ma5or a!al Ahmed, 79
Ma5or Khalid Musarra$, 165, 261
Ma5or KM 0a$iullah, 133
Ma5or Aiauddin, 194, 254
Ma5or Aiaur "ahman, 1)4, 135, 136, 155, 214, 237, 248
Malabar Hill, 27, 29
Man 0ingh, 81
Man!ur @uadir, 63, 64
Mao ;se ;ung, 1)2, 282
Marble Ar3h, 25
Marseille, 226, 227
Mauri-ur, 69, 7)
Mi3hael &aurent, 12)
Mingram, 19), 2)4, 2)6, 293
Miss atema 2innah, 65
Mitibai, 23, 24
Mo3hi <ate, 62
Mr> Bedi, 227
Muhammad Ali Bogra, 53, 56
Mu(ti Bahini, 1, 3, 5, 8, 13, 15, 1)3, 1)8, 128, 13), 131, 137,
152, 153, 154, 16), 161, 162, 163, 167, 17), 179, 18), 181,
182, 186, 187, 188, 189, 19), 192, 195, 197, 2)), 2)2, 2)3,
2)4, 2)6, 2)7, 2)8, 2)9, 225, 228, 229, 23), 231, 232, 237,
238, 239, 241, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 25), 251, 252, 253,
255, 257, 258, 259, 26), 261, 262, 263, 264, 266, 275, 28),
282, 287, 289, 29), 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299,
3)), 3)1, 3)2, 3)3, 3)8, 3)9, 311, 312, 316, 378
Murree, 57
Muslim &eague, 11, 12, 22, 27, 28, 29, 3), 32, 36, 37, 39, 42,
43, 5), 64, 314, 315
MB 04at, 79
Musta$a, 2C&t <olam, 2)3, 2)6, 2)9
'adir 0hah, 13
'ag-ur, 27, 28
'ahid A$(ham,, 62
'a(shi B8%, 238, 241, 242, 245
'ational Assembl,, 13, 48, 5), 57, 58, 59, 64, 65, 68, 69, 73,
81, 86, 99, 1)1, 114, 149, 211, 313
'a4ab Mir @asim, 11
'a4ab 0ira5*ud*9a4la, 59
',omita Bahini, 184
8ne .nit, 57
%a(istan Arm,, 11, 13, 45, 46, 47, 79, 8), 81, 95, 1)6, 117,
122, 124, 125, 126, 128, 129, 131, 132, 135, 136, 137, 148,
149, 152, 153, 154, 16), 163, 167, 169, 192, 195, 197, 2)6,
2)8, 211, 219, 251, 254, 255, 257, 26), 261, 262, 263, 266,
275, 278, 28), 288, 291, 297, 31), 315
%altan Maidan, 62
%arit,, 3)
%atenga, 218, 219
%9%, 228, 229
%e(ing, 119, 275, 276, 282, 374
%1A, 74, 79, 8), 96, 122, 212, 213, 217, 315
%il(hana, 9), 117
%oona Horse, 61
%ortbo, 227
%undit 2a4aharlal 'ehru, 72
%un5ab, 22, 27, 3), 32, 33, 37, 39, 43, 45, 46, 49, 56, 57, 94,
95, 113, 114, 117, 129, 131, 133, 18), 181, 185, 186, 187,
248, 255, 257, 258, 292, 293, 294, 295, 297, 3)3, 3)5, 314,
327, 328, 329, 349, 35), 351, 352, 353, 357, 358, 36)
@uetta, 5), 69, 73, 79, 92, 96, 158
"amna "a3e #ourse, 31, 82, 3)5
"ani o$ 2hansi, 11
"atanbhai, 27
"a4al-indi, 46, 67, 69, 95, 137, 194, 211, 212, 215
"a!a(ar, 2)7, 247, 253, 283
"ehana, 46
"ehman 0obhan, 17)
"i3hard 'i+on, 275, 278, 28)
"i$aat 0hira!, 61
"' Ka4, 167
"oger Morris, 118
"ousseau, 256
"uhul @uddus, 71
0ail(u-a, 189, 19), 2)6, 293, 3)9
0aldanadi, 3)7, 35)
0angsa-ta(, 114
0arat #handra Bose, 39
0ar4an 0ingh, 276
03ottish "i$le, 61
0?A;8, 277
0ele3ti/e <eno3ide, 117
0enator ?d4ard Kenned,, 75, 273
0e-o, Dar, 45, 8), 179
0habbir Ahmed 8smani, 34
0ha3hindra &al 0ingh, 71
0hah o$ 1ran, 34
0hei(h a!lul Hu: Moni, 166, 311
0horab Hossain, 151
0i(hs, 4), 45, 8), 113
0iliguri, 171
0imla, 27, 3)
0imon 9ring, 12)
0ind, 24, 37, 53, 55, 57
0ind High #ourt, 53, 55
0in(iang, 28), 281, 282, 375
0ir Allahma Muhammad 1:bal, 22
0ir Ambrose 9undas, 62
0ir #harles 8lli/ant, 26
0ir rederi3( &eigh #ro$t, 24
0ir <eorge #onstantine, 53
0ir 0hana4a! Bhutto, 49
0ir 0,ed Ahmed Khan, 11, 22
0ir Aa$rullah Khan, 47
0ira5ul Alam Khan, 166, 169, 311
0iromoni, 193, 297, 298
0ister 9unhum, 7)
0i+ %oints, 85
0o/iet .nion, 13, 75, 174, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 281, 283,
375
0o/iet*1ndian ;reat,, 275
0ree-ur, 188, 189
0trait o$ Mala33a, 28), 281, 282, 374
0ubash Bose, 11
0ue! #anal, 24
0uhra4ard,, 1), 29, 33, 36, 37, 39, 4), 42, 56, 57, 59, 69, 7),
113, 148, 3)5, 381, 392, 393
0ur5a 0en, 11, 21)
04ara5, 26, 28
0,ed Am5ad Khan, 48
0,ed Munsur Ali Khan, 61
;aheruddin ;a(ur, 172
;a5uddin Ahmed, 114, 151, 154, 167, 168, 17), 171, 172, 174,
175, 225, 275, 296, 391
;ami!uddin Khan, 53, 55
;eldhala, 242, 246, 341
;i-u 0ultan, 11
;itumir, 11
;o$ael Ahmed, 157, 166, 169, 171, 311
;olon, 226
;ra$algar 0:uare, 269
. ;hant, 276
.mesh &al 0ingh, 71
.' 0e3urit, #oun3il, 13, 281
.0 #onsulate, 75, 172, 173, 174
.00 ?nter-rise, 28)
.sur, "i/er, 282
Beers4ami, 34
Daliul 1slam, 123, 189
Dashington, 53, 75, 117, 118, 119, 172, 269, 27), 275, 276,
277, 28), 373, 374
Aul$i(ar Ali Bhutto, 48, 49, 8), 1)2, 313
Pre4ace
Political 2ackground
March 1971
2eginning o4 #rmed !esistance
2angladesh /overnment
/uerilla Dar4are o4 "reedom "ighters
Marine Dar4are and Oeration ?ackot
Conventional Dar4are and 2angladesh 2rigades
Dilomatic Dar4are and !ole o4 =%O
"ailure o4 Pakistan and 2irth o4 2angladesh
#endi5
1nde5

Mukti Bahini Wins Victory-1

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Preface 13871388 Mukti Bahini Wins Victory

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