This page is dedicated to the memories of the unknown heroes who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is the world's 139th independent nation. Before her emerging as a sovereign, and independent state on 16 December 1971.
Bangladesh had towitness a gruesome genocide and a gory war perpetrated by a blood-thirsty Pakistani occupation force.
This document the gradual worsening of relations between the East and the West Pakistan starting from 1947, immediately after the 'Great Divide' of British India, to its culmination in 1971 with the final breakup of the united Pakistan.
WHAT IS ELEVEN POINTS
The mass upheaval in East Bengal entered a militant phase on December 26, 1968, when Dhaka University reopened fromits October 22 closure.
With Tofael Ahmed, Vice-President, Dhaka University Central Students Union, as Chairman, East Pakistan Students League, East Pakistan Students Unions (pro-Moscow and pro-Peking), and NSF (anti-government faction) formed an All-party Students Committee of Action. Under Tofael Ahmed's leadership, the Students Committee of Action drew up the 11-point programme and launched a movement against the Ayub government.
The 11 points were:
1. demands relating to education including rejection of the National Education Commission Report and the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report and repeal of the University Ordinances;
2. restoration of democracy and universal adult franchise;
3. autonomy for East Bengal along the lines of the six-points;
4. establishment of a subfederation in west Pakistan, giving full autonomy to Baluchistan, the North-West Frontier Province and Sind;
5. nationalisation of banks, insurance companies, and big industrial units;
6. reduction of taxes on agriculturists;
7. payment of proper wages to labourers;
8. introduction of a flood control plan in East bengal;
9. lifting of the state of emergency, public safety acts and other repressive measures;
10. formation of an independent foreign policy, including withdrawal from CENTO and SEATO pacts;
11. release of all political prisoners and students and dropping of all political cases including the Agartala Conspiracy case.
WHAT IS SIX POINTS
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announced the Six Points Formula as a demand for provincial autonomy at Lahore, West Pakistan before a convention of the opposition parties on February 6, 1966. Following is the text of the Six Points Formula as originally published and subsequently amended in the Awami League’s Manifesto:
Point 1 Original: The constitution should provide for a Federation of Pakistan in its true sense on the basis of the Lahore Resolution, and Parliamentary form of Government with supremacy of Legislature directly elected on the basis of universal adult franchise. Amended: The character of the government shall be federal and parliamentary, in which the election to the federal legislature and to the legislatures of the federating units shall be direct and on the basis of universal adult franchise. the representation in the federal legislature shall be on the basis of population.
Point 2 Original: Federal government shall deal with only two subjects, viz. Defence and Foreign Affairs, and all other residuary subjects shall vest in the federating states. Amended: The federal government shall be responsible only for defence and foreign affairs and, subject to the conditions provided in (3) below, currency.
Point 3 Original: 1. Two separate but freely convertible currencies for two wings may be introduced, or 2. One currency for the whole country may be maintained. In this case effective constitutional provisions are to be made to stop flight of capital from East to West Pakistan. Separate Banking Reserve is to be made and separate fiscal and monetary policy to be adopted for East Pakistan. Amended: There shall be two separate currencies mutually or freely convertible in each wing for each region, or in the alternative a single currency, subject to the establishment of a federal reserves system in which there will be regional federal banks which shall devise measures to prevent the transfer of resources and flight of capital from one region to another.
Point 4 Original: The power of taxation and revenue collection shall vest in the federating units and that the Federal centre will have no such power. The Federation will have a share in the state taxes for meeting their required expenditure. The Consolidated Federal Fund shall come out of a levy of certain percentage of all state taxes. Amended: Fiscal policy shall be the responsibility of the federating units. The federal government shall be provided with requisite revenue resources for meeting the requirements of defence and foreign affairs, which revenue resources would be automatically appropriable by the federal government in the manner provided and on the basis of the ratio to be determined by the procedure laid down in the Constitution. Such constitutional provisions would ensure that the federal government’s revenue requirements are met consistently with the objective of ensuring control over the fiscal policy by the governments of the federating units.
Point 5 Original: 1. There shall be two separate accounts for foreign exchange earnings of the two wings. 2. Earnings of East Pakistan shall be under the control of East Pakistan Government and that of West Pakistan under the control of West Pakistan Government. 3. Foreign exchange requirement of the Federal government shall be met by the two wings either equally or in a ratio to be fixed. 4. Indigenous products shall move free of duty between two wings. 5. The Constitution shall empower the unit Governments to establish trade and commercial relations with, set up trade missions in and enter into agreements with, foreign countries. Amended: Constitutional provisions shall be made to enable separate accounts t be maintained of the foreign exchange earnings of each of the federating units, under the control of the respective governments of the federating units. The foreign exchange requirements of the federal governments shall be met by the governments of the federating units on the basis of a ration to be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in the constitution. The Regional Governments shall have power under the Constitution to negotiate foreign trade and aid within the framework of the foreign policy of the country, which shall be the responsibility of the federal government.
Point 6 Original: The setting up of a militia or a paramilitary force for East Pakistan. Amended: The governments of the federating units shall be empowered to maintain a militia or paramilitary force in order to contribute effectively towards national security.
"OPERATION SEARCHLIGHT" "OPERATIONAL PLAN AGAINST BANGALI"
On Mar 18 1971, Maj. Gen. Khadim Raja and Maj. Gen. Rao Farman Ali met in the G.O.C.’s office to draft the basic operational plan `Operation Searchlight’ aiming at overthrowing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s de facto rule and re-establishing government authority.
On March 23 the Army command took and informed President Yahya Khan of its final decision to adopt military action to suppress the rebellion unless the Awami League could be made ‘to see sense’.
Following is the plan: Basis for Planning
1. A.L. [Awami League] action and reactions to be treated as rebellion and those who support or defy M.L. [Martial Law] action be dealt with as hostile elements.
2. As A.L. has widespread support even amongst the E.P. [East Pakistani] elements in the Army the operation has to be launched with great cunningness, surprise, deception and speed combined with shock action. Basic Requirements for Success
3. The operation to be launched all over the Province simultaneously.
4. Maximum number of political and student leaders and extremists amongst teaching staffs, cultural organisations to be arrested. In the initial phase top political leaders and top student leaders must be arrested.
5. Operation must achieve a hundred percent success in dacca. For that Dacca University will have to be occupied and searched.
6. Security of cantonments must be ensured. Greater and freer use of fire against those who dare attck the cantonment.
7. All means of internal and international communications to be cut off. Telephone exchanges, radio, TV, Teleprinter services, transmitters with foreign consulates to be closed down.
8. EP tps [troops] to be neutralized by controlling and guarding kotes and ammunition by WP [West Pakistani] tps. Same for P.A.F. and E.P.R. Surprise and Deception 10.
At higher plane, it is requested that the President may consider the desirability of continuing the dialogue - even of deceiving Mujib that even though MMr. Bhutto may not agree he will make an announcement on 25 March conceding to the demands of A.L. etc.
11. At Tactical Level (a) As secrecy is of paramount importance, preliminary operations given below should be carried out by tps already located in the city: i. Breaking into Mujib’s house and arresting all present. The house is well-guarded and well-defended.
ii. Surrounding the important halls of the Universities - Iqbal Hall DU [Dacca University], Liaqat Hall Engineering University.
iii. Switching off telephone exchange.
iv. Isolating known houses where weapons etc. have been collected.
(b) No activity by tps in the cantonment area till telephone exchange has been switched off.
(c) Nobody should be allowed to go out of the cantonment after 2200 hrs on the night of operation.
(d) On one excuse or the other tps in the city should be reinforced in the area of the President’s House, Governor’s House, MNA Hostel, Radio, TV and Telephone exchange premises. (e) Civilian cars may have to be used for operation against Mujib’s house.
Sequence of Actions 11.
(a) H Hr - 0100 hrs.
(b) Timings for Move Out i. Commando [one Platoon] - Mujib’s house - 0100 hrs.
ii. Telephone exchange switched off - 2455 hrs.
iii. Tps. earmarked for cordon University - 0105 hrs.
iv. Tps. from the city to Rajarbagh Police HQ and other PS [Police Station] nearby - 0105 hrs.
v. Following places surrounded - 0105 hrs: Mrs. Anwara Begum’s House, Rd No. 29 & House No. 148, Rd No. 29.
vi. Curfew imposed - 0110 hrs by Siren (arrange) by loudspeakers. Duration 30 hrs initially. No passes for initial phase. Due consideration to be given only to cases oF delivery and serious heart attack etc. Evac by Army on request. Also announce that there will be no newspapers brought out till further orders.
vii. Tps. move out to respective sectors with specific missions - 0110 hrs. (For tp alert a drill to be evolved). Halls occupied and searched.
viii. Tps move to University area - 0500 hrs.
ix. Rd blocks and riverine block estb - 0200 hrs.
(c) Operations during the Day Time
i. House to house search of Dhanmondi suspected houses, also Hindu houses in old city (int to collect data).
ii. All printing presses to be closed down. All cyclostyling machines in the University, Colleges (T&T) and Physical Training Institute and Technical Institute to be confiscated.
iii. Curfew imposed with severity. iv. Other leaders arrested. 12. Allotment of Tps to Tasks, Details to be worked out by B[riga]de Com[man]d[er] (see 231-4) but following must be done:
(a) Kotes of EP units taken over, including Sig[nal]s and other administrative units. Arms to be given only to WP personnel. Explanation: We did not wish to embarrass the EP tps and did not want them to be used in tasks which may not be pleasant to them.
(b) Police stations to be disarmed.
(c) DG [Director General] EPR [East Pakistan Rifles] to ensure security of his kotes.
(d) All Ansar rifles to be got hold of.
13. Info Required (a) Whereabouts of the following:
i) Mujib ix) Oli Ahad
ii) Nazarul Islam
x) Mrs Motia Chaudhry
iii) Tajuddin xi) Barrister Maudud
iv) Osmani xii) Faizul Haq
v) Sirajul Alam
xiii) Tofail
vi) Mannan
xiv) N.A. Siddiqi
vii) Ataur Rahman
xv) A,S,M,Rauf
viii) Professor Muzaffar
xvi) Makhan and other student leaders.
(b) Location of all police stations and of Rifles.
(c) Location of strong points and arsenal houses in the city.
(d) Location of tr[ainin]g camps and areas etc.
(e) Location of Cultural Centres which are being used for imparting military trg.
(f) Names of ex-service officers who are actively helping insurrectional movement. 1
4. Comd and Control -
Two Commands be established:
(a) Dacca Area Comd - Major-General Farman Staff - Eastern Comd Staff/or HQ ML Tps - Loc[ated] in Dacca.
(b) The Rest of the Province Comd - Major-General K H Raja Staff - HQ 14 Div Tps - Less those in Dacca 15. Security of the Cantonment Phase I De-escalate. All arms including PAF deposited. 16. Communication (a) Security. (b) Layout.
MUJIB DECLARES ...
The declaration of independence by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was first broadcasted on a wavelength close to that of the official Pakistan Radio, from a TNT wireless, during the early hours on March 26, 1971. It was a pre-recorded message.
[1] The declaration had been recorded earlier before Pakistan Army arrested Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from his house at Dhanmondi.
Declaration of Independence (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s first message)
"This may be my last message. From today Bangla Desh is independent. I call upon the people of Bangla Desh wherever you might be and with whatever you have to resist the army of occupation to the last. Your fight must go on until the last soldier of the Pakistan occupation army is expelled from the soil of Bangla Desh and final victory is achieved."
[3] Former Director-General of Bangla Academy and former Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University Dr. Mazharul Islam mentioned about Sheikh Mujib's second declaration in his essay titled 'Sthapati o Ghosak' (Architect and Proclaimer). This second message was also broadcasted through the TNT wireless. Before his arrest Mujib personally called Chittagong Awami League leader Zahur Ahmed Choudhury, his confidante, and explained him about the declaration and the future scheme. Zahur Ahmed later received the copy of the declaration from the office of Chittagong Wireless and forwarded the copy to another Awami League leader M. A. Hannan who then announced the Declaration of Independence over the Chittagong Radio on the evening of March 26, 1971. Declaration of War of Independence
(Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s second message) "
Pak army suddenly attacked EPR base at Peelkhana, Rajarbabag Police Line and killing citizens. Street battles are going on in every street of Dhaka and Chittagong. I appeal to the nations of the world for help. Our freedon fighters are gallantly fighting the enemy to free the motherlan. I appeal and order you all in the name of Almighty Allah to fight to the last drop of blood to liberate the country. Ask the police, EPR, Bengal Regiment and Ansars to stand by you and fight. No compromise. Victory is ours. Drive out the last enemy from the holy soil of motherland. Convey this message to all Awami League leaders, workers and other patriots. May Allah bless you. Joi Bangla.
"[4] BD PROCLAIMS
... On April 10, 1971, the elected representatives of the people of Bangladesh constitued a Constituent Assembly and formally proclaimed Bangladesh a sovereign People's Republic. They also officially confirmed the March 26, 1971 broadcast of the Declaration of Independence .
Following is the text of the Proclamation.
The Proclamation of Independence Mujibnagar, Bangladesh Dated 10th day of April 1971 Whereas free elections were held in Bangladesh from 7th December, 1970 to17th January, 1971, to elect representatives for the purpose of framing a Constitution, And Whereas at these elections the people of Bangladesh elected 167 out of169 representatives belonging to the Awami League, And Whereas General Yahya Khan summoned the elected representatives of the people to meet on the 3rd March, 1971, for the purpose of framing a Constitution, And Whereas the Assembly so summoned was arbitrarily and illegally postponed for an indefinite period, And Whereas instead of fulfilling their promise and while still conferring with the representatives of the people of Bangladesh, Pakistanauthorities declared an unjust and treacherous war, And Whereas in the facts and circumstances of such treacherous conduct Banga Bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader of 75 million people of Bangladesh, in due fulfillment of the legitimate right of self- determination of the people of Bangladesh, duly made a declaration of independence at Dacca on March 26, 1971, and urged the people of Bangladesh to defend the honour and integrity of Bangladesh, And Whereas in the conduct of a ruthless and savage war the Pakistani authorities committed and are still continuously committing numerous acts of genocide and unprecedented tortures, amongst others, on the civilian and unarmed people of Bangladesh, And Whereas the Pakistan Government by levying an unjust war and committing genocide and by other repressive measures made it impossible for the elected representatives of the people of Bangladesh to meet and frame a Constitution, and give to themselves a Government, And Whereas the people of Bangladesh, by their heroism, bravery and revolutionary fervour have established effective control over the territories of Bangladesh, We the elected representatives of the people of Bangladesh, as honour bound by the mandate given to us by the people of Bangladesh whose will is supreme duly constituted ourselves into a Constituent Assembly, and having held mutual consultations, and in order to ensure for the people of Bangladesh equality, human dignity and social justice, declare and constitute Bangladesh to be a sovereign People's Republic and thereby confirm the declaration of independence already made by Banga Bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and do hereby affirm and resolve that till such time as a constitution is framed,
BangaBandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman shall be the President of the Republic
and that Syed Nazrul Islam shall be the Vice-President of the Republic,
and that the President shall be the Supreme Commander of all the Armed Forces of the Republic,
shall exercise all the Executive and Legislative powers of the Republic including the power to grant pardon, shall have the power to appoint a Prime Minister and such other, Ministers as he considers necessary, shall have the power to levy taxes and expend monies, shall have the power to summon and adjourn the Constituent Assembly, and do all other things that may be necessary to give to the people of Bangladesh an orderly and just Government. We the elected representatives of the people of Bangladesh do further resolve that in the event of there being no President or the President being unable to enter upon his office or being unable to exercise his powers due to any reason whatsoever, the Vice-President shall have and exercise all the powers, duties and responsibilities herein conferred on the President. We further resolve that we undertake to observe and give effect to all duties and obligations that devolve upon us as a member of the family of nations and to abide by the Charter of the United Nations. We further resolve that this proclamation of independence shall be deemed to have come into effect from 26th day of March, 1971.
We further resolve that in order to give effect to this instrument we appoint Professor Yusuf Ali our duly constituted potentiary and to give to the President and the Vice-President oaths of office.
MUKTI BAHINI SECTORS
Sector 1: (a) Area: The entire districts of Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts and parts of Noakhali district (areas east of Muhuri river). (b) Number of Sub-sectors: Five (c) Sector Troops: 2,100 (d) Guerrillas: 20,000
Sector 2: (a) Area: Eastern part of Faridpur district, southern part of Dhaka district including Dacca city, Comilla district (excluding areas north of Akhaura-Ashuganj rail line) and Noakhali district (excluding areas east of Muhuri river) (b) Number of Sub-sectors: Six (c) Sector Troops and K-Force: 4,000 (d) Guerrillas: 30,000
Sector 3: (a) Area: Part of Comilla (areas north of Akhaura-Ashuganj rail line), part of Sylhet (areas south of Lakhai-Shaistaganj general line), northern part of Dhaka and Kishoreganj sub-division of Mymensingh district. (b) Number of Sub-sectors: Ten (c) Sector Troops and S Force: 2,500 (d) Guerrillas: 10,000
Sector 4: (a) Area: Parts of Sylhet district as follows: i) Western boundary: General line Tamabil-Ajmiriganj-Lakhai ii) Southern boundary: General line Lakhai-Shaistaganj (b) Number of Sub-sectors: Six (c) Sector Troops: 2,000 (d) Guerrillas: 8,000
Sector 5: (a) Area: Rest of Sylhet district west of the general line Tamabil-Ajmiriganj. (b) Number of Sub-sectors: Six (c) Sector Troops: 800 (d) Guerrillas: 7,000 Sector 6: (a) Area: Parts of districts of Rangpur and Dinajpur (areas west of the river Jamuna and north of general line Ranisankail-Pirganj-Birganj of Dinajpur and north and east of general line Pirganj-Palashbari in Rangpur). (b) Number of Sub-sectors: Five (c) Sector Troops: 1,200 (d) Guerrillas: 6,000
Sector 7: (a) Area: The entire districts of Rajshahi, Pabna and Bogra and parts of Dinajpur and Rangpur districts (areas south of general line Ranisankail-Pirganj-Birganj of Dinajpur and south and west of general line Pirganj-Palashbari in Rangpur). (b) Number of Sub-sectors: Eight (c) Sector Troops: 2,000 (d) Guerrillas: 10,000
Sector 8: (a) Area: The entire districts of Kushtia and Jessore and parts of districts of Faridpur (excluding Madaripur sub-division) and Khulna (only Satkhira sub-dividion). (b) Number of Sub-sectors: Seven (c) Sector Troops: 2,000 (d) Guerrillas: 7,000
Sector 9: (a) Area: The entire districts of Barisal and Patuakhali and parts of districts of Khulna (excluding Satkhira) and Faridpur (only Madaripur). (b) Number of Sub-sectors: Eight (c) Sector Troops: 700 (d) Guerrillas: 10,000 Sector 10: (a) Area: Entire Bangla Desh (b) Number of Sub-sectors: - (c) Sector Troops: Naval Commandos (d) Guerrillas: -
Note: The 10 Sector did not exist on ground. This sector comprised only the naval commandos. These naval commandos were sent in groups of different sizes to different sectors for commando actions targetting ships, watercrafts and navigational aids in the sea and river ports of Bangladesh. During operations, these groups would come under control of the sector commanders in whose areas the naval operations were to be conducted. On return from naval operations, these commandos would again belong to their original sector, i.e. No. 10 Sector.
Sector 11: (a) Area: The entire district of Tangail and parts of Mymensingh district (excluding Kishoreganj sub-division). (b) Number of Sub-sectors: Eight (c) Sector Troops: One battalion (d) Guerrillas: 20,000 Note: Z Force under Maj. Ziaur Rahman was located in No. 11 Sector area and operated in this sector. Later, during the final campaign, Z Force operated in Sylhet district.
In this area a large number of freedom fighters operated independently under guerrilla leader Kader Siddiqui, carried out a series of actions against the Pakistanis.
India declar War
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s broadcast to her nation from New Delhi in the early hours of December 4, 1971:
I speak to you at a moment of grave peril to our country and to our people. Some hours ago, soon after 5.30 p.m. on December 3, Pakistan launched a full-scale war against us. The Pakistani Air Force suddenly struck at our airfields in Amritsar, Pathankot, Srinagar, Avantipur, Uttarlai, Jodhpur, Ambala and Agra. Their ground forces are shelling our defence positions in Sulaimanki, Khemkaran, Poonch and other sectors.Since last March, we have borne the heaviest burden and withstood the greatest pressure, in a tremendous effort to urge the world to help bringing about a peaceful solution and preventing the annihilation of an entire people, whose crime only was to vote fr democracy. But the world ignored the basic causes and concerned itself only with certain repurcussions. the situation was bound to deteriorate and the courageous band of freedom fighters have been staking their all in defence of the values for which we also have struggled, and which are basic to our way of life. Today the war in Bangla Desh has become a war on India; this has imposed upon me, my Government and the people of India a great responsibility. We have no other option but to put our country on a war footing. Our brave officers and jawans are at their post mobilised for the defence of the country. An emergency has been declared for the whole of India. Every necessary step is being taken, and we are prepared for all eventualities. I have no doubt that it is the united will of our people that this wanton and unprovoked aggression should be decisively and finally repelled. In this resolve, the Government is assured of the full and unflinching support of all political parties and every Indian citizen. We must be prepared for a long period of hardship and sacrifice.We are a peace-loving people. But we know that peace cannot last if we do not guard our democracy and our way of life. So today we fight not merely for territorial integrity but for the basic ideals which have given strength to this country and on which alone we can progress to a better future. Aggression must be met, and the people of India will meet it with fortitude and determination and with discipline and utmost unity.
Surrender
The PAKISTAN Eastern Command agree to surrender all PAKISTAN Armed Forces in BANGLA DESH to Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA, General Officer Commanding in Chief of the Indian and BANGLA DESH forces .