Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 17:47, 21 April 2016

Mukti Bahini (Freedom Fighters)
Flag of Bangladesh in 1971, used during Bangladesh Liberation War.
Leaders	M. A. G. Osmani, Commander-in-Chief M. A. Rab, Chief of Staff A K Khandker, Deputy Chief of Staff
Dates of operation	March – December 1971
Group(s)	Bangladesh Army  ∟ K Force  ∟ S Force  ∟ Z Force Bangladesh Navy Bangladesh Air Force Bangladesh Rifles Bangladesh Ansar Bangladesh Police Special Guerrilla Forces  ∟ Gono-Bahini  ∟ Mujib Bahini  ∟ Kader Bahini  ∟ Hemayet Bahini  ∟ Afsar Bahini Crack Platoon
Active regions	East Pakistan / Provisional Bangladesh
Ideology	Bengali nationalism
Allies	India
Opponents	Pakistan
Battles and wars	Battle of Gazipur, Battle of Goalhati, Battle of Garibpur, Battle of Dhalai, Battle of Rangamati, Battle of Kushtia, Battle of Daruin, Operation Barisal, Operation Jackpot

The Mukti Bahini (Template:Lang-bn translates as Freedom Fighters, or Liberation Forces; also known as the Bangladesh Forces) is a popular Bengali term which refers to the guerrilla resistance movement formed by the Bangladeshi military, paramilitary and civilians during the country's War of Liberation in 1971, many of whom trained in India. Following the start of Operation Searchlight and the 1971 Bangladesh genocide committed by the Pakistan Army and pro-Pakistani paramilitary groups in East Pakistan, Bengali military and paramilitary units revolted across the territory. They were joined by thousands of Bengali civilians from various layers of the Bengali society. The Bangladeshi Declaration of Independence was proclaimed from Chittagong by members of the Mukti Bahini on behalf of Prime Minister-elect Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - who was detained by the military junta in West Pakistan.

A formal military leadership was created in April 1971 under the Provisional Government of Bangladesh. The military council was headed by General M. A. G. Osmani and eleven sector commanders. The Bangladesh Armed Forces were established on 4 April 1971. In addition to regular units, such as the East Bengal Regiment and the East Pakistan Rifles, the Mukti Bahini also consisted of the civilian Gonobahini (People's Force). The most prominent divisions of the Mukti Bahini were the Z Force led by Major Ziaur Rahman, the K Force led by Major Khaled Mosharraf and the S Force led by Major K M Shafiullah. Awami League student leaders formed militia units, including the Mujib Bahini, the Kader Bahini and Hemayet Bahini. The Communist Party of Bangladesh, led by Comrade Moni Singh, and activists from the National Awami Party also operated several guerrilla battalions.

The Mukti Bahini has been compared with the French Resistance, the Yugoslav Partisans and the Viet Cong because of its tactics and military effectiveness. Using guerrilla warfare tactics, it secured control over large parts of the Bengali countryside. It conducted successful "ambush and sabotage" campaigns, and included the nascent Bangladesh Air Force and the Bangladesh Navy. The Mukti Bahini received support from India, where people in the eastern and northeastern states share a common Bengali ethnic and linguistic heritage with East Pakistan.

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Mukti Bahini became part of the Bangladesh-India Allied Forces. It was instrumental in securing the Surrender of Pakistan and the liberation of Dacca and other cities in December 1971.

Name

Freedom fighters were broadly construed as being part of the Mukti Bahini movement. However, the term "Mukti Bahini" was divided into two groups; the "Niomito Bahini" – or "regular forces" – who came from the paramilitary, military and police forces of East Pakistan, and the Gonnobahini – or "people's forces" – who were civilians. These names were given and defined by the Government of Bangladesh. The Indians referred to the Niomito Bahini as "Mukti Fauj", and the Gonnobahini were called "freedom fighters".

Background

East Pakistan campaigned against the usage of Urdu as the sole official language of Pakistan. The Awami League had won the majority in the 1970 Pakistan election. Sheikh Mujib, as the leader of the Awami League, was prevented from forming a government. Bengali was the only language in Pakistan not written in the Persian-Arabic script. The administrative change that merged the administrative provinces of West Pakistan into one "unit" caused great suspicion in East Pakistan. Pakistan's unwillingness to give autonomy to East Bengal and Bengali nationalism are both cited as reasons for the separation. The 1970 Bhola Cyclone had caused the death of 500,000 people while the infrastructure, transport and other services were severely damaged.The central government of Pakistan was blamed for the slow response and misuse of funds. It created resentment in the population of East Pakistan. The resentment allowed Awami League to win 160 of the 162 parliamentary seats allocated to East Pakistan which made Awami League the majority party in the 300 seat parliament of Pakistan. After 1971 elections, Yahya Khan hoped for a power sharing agreement between Mujib and Bhutto, though talks between them did not result in a solution. Mujib wanted full autonomy, Bhutto advised Yahya to break off talks. In March, General Yahya Khan suspended the National Assembly of Pakistan.

On March 7, 1971, Sheikh Mujib made his now famous speech in Ramna Race course (Suhrawardy Udyan) where he declared “The struggle this time is for our freedom. The struggle this time is for our independence”. East Pakistan television broadcasters started broadcasting Rabindranath songs, a taboo in Pakistan, while reducing the air-time of shows from West Pakistan. Civilian interaction decreased with the Pakistan Army and they were increasingly seen as an occupying force, while local contractors stopped providing supplies to the Pakistan Army. The Pakistan Army also tried to disarm and dismiss personnel of Bengali origin in the East Pakistan Rifles, the police and the regular army. The Bengali officers mutinied against the Pakistan Army, and attacked officers from West Pakistan. The Pakistan Army's crackdown on the civilian population had contributed to the revolt of East Pakistani soldiers. The East Pakistani soldiers moved to India and formed the main body of Mukti Bahini. Sheikh Mujib on 26 March 1971 declared the independence of Bangladesh, while Pakistan's president Yahya Khan declared Mujib a traitor during a national broadcast on the same day. The Pakistan Army moved infantry and armored units to East Pakistan in preparation for the coming conflicts.

Early resistance

On March 25, martial law was declared, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested and Operation Searchlight started in East Pakistan. Foreign journalists were expelled and the Awami League was banned. Members of the Awami league, the East Pakistan Rifles, the East Bengal Regiment and others thought to be disloyal to Pakistan where attacked by the Pakistan army. The survivors of the attack would form the backbone of the Mukti Bahini. When the Pakistan Army started the military crackdown on the Bengali population, they did not expect prolonged resistance. Five battalions of the East Bengal Regiment mutinied and initiated the war for liberation of Bangladesh.

On March 27, Major Ziaur Rahman declared Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan and fought his way out of Chittagong City with his unit of Bengali soldiers. The East Pakistan Rifles and the East Pakistan Police suffered heavy casualties while challenging the Pakistan Army in Dhaka, where West Pakistani forces began the 1971 Bangladesh genocide with the massacre at Dhaka University. Civilians took control of arms depots in various cities and began resisting Pakistani forces with the acquired weapons supply. Chittagong experienced heavy fighting between rebel Bengali military units and Pakistani forces. The Bangladeshi Declaration of Independence was broadcast from Kalurghat Radio Station in Chittagong by Major Rahman on behalf of Sheikh Rahman.

Bengali forces took control of numerous districts in the initial months of the war, including Brahmanbaria, Faridpur, Barisal, Mymensingh, Comilla and Kushtia among others. With the support of the local population, many towns remained under the control of Bengali forces until April and May 1971. Notable engagements during this period included the Battle of Kamalpur, the Battle of Daruin and the Battle of Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

On April 18, Deputy High Commission of Pakistan in Kolkata defected and hoisted the flag of Bangladesh. On April 17, the Mujibnagar Government was formed.

During May, Foreign Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto asked General Yahya Khan to hand over power in West Pakistan to his party. Khan refused on the grounds that doing so would support the view of Mukti Bahini and the Provisional Government of Bangladesh that East Pakistan was a colony of West Pakistan. Tensions were raised when Bhutto told his followers that "by November would either be in power or in jail".

On June 9, Mukti Bahini members hijacked a car and launched a grenade attack on Dhaka Intercontinental Hotel, office of Pro-Junta Morning Post and the house of Golam Azam.

July–November

July

The Mukti Bahini divided the war zone into eleven sectors. The war strategy included a huge guerrilla force operating inside Bangladesh that targeted Pakistani installations through raids, ambushes and sabotaging West Pakistani-controlled shipping ports, power plants, industries, railways and warehouses. The wide dispersion of West Pakistani forces allowed Bengali guerrillas to target smaller groups of enemy soldiers. Groups ranging in size from five to ten guerrillas were assigned specific missions. Bridges, culverts, fuel depots and ships were destroyed to decrease the mobility of the Pakistan Army. However, the Mukti Bahini failed in its Monsoon Offensive after Pakistani reinforcements successfully countered Bengali engagements. Attacks on border outposts in Sylhet, Comilla and Mymensingh had limited success. The training period slowed the momentum of the Bangladesh Forces, which began to pick up after August. After the monsoon, the Mukti Bahini became more effective while the Indian army created a number of bases inside East Pakistan for the Mukti Bahini. The railways in East Pakistan were almost completely shut down due to the Mukti Bahini's sabotage. The provincial capital, Dhaka, had become a ghost town with gun-fire and explosions heard throughout the day.

August

After a visit to India in August 1971, Ted Kennedy believed that Pakistan was committing a genocide and Golam Azam called for the annexation of Assam in retaliation for India providing help to the Mukti Bahini. Azam accused India of shelling East Pakistani border areas on a daily basis. Oxfam predicted the deaths of over one hundred thousand children in refugee camps and that more could die from food shortages in East Pakistan because of the conflict.

September

Regular Mukti Bahini battalions were formed in September 1971, increasing the effectiveness of the Mukti Bahini. Sabotage and ambush missions continued to be carried out, demoralising the Pakistan army.

October

In October, conventional Bangladesh Forces mounted various successful offensives, capturing 90 of the 300 border outposts. The Mukti Bahini intensified guerrilla attacks inside Bangladesh while Pakistan increased reprisals on Bengali civilians, though the movement of Mukti Bahini into, out of, and inside East Pakistan became easier and more common.

November

In November, Indian involvement increased, with the Indian artillery and Indian Air force providing direct cover for the Mukti Bahini in some offensives. Attacks on infrastructure and the increase in the reach of the provisional government weakened the control of the Pakistan government.

Air operations

The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) was established on 28 September 1971 under the command of Air Commodore A. K. Khandker. It initially operated from a jungle airstrip near Dimapur in Nagaland. When taking over liberated territories, the Bangladesh Forces gained control of World War II airstrips in Lalmonirhat, Shalutikar, Sylhet and Comilla in November and December. The BAF launched "Kilo Flights" under the command of Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud on December 3, 1971. Sorties by Otter DHC-3 aircraft destroyed Pakistani fuel supplies in Narayanganj and Chittagong where targets included the Burmah Oil Refinery, numerous ships and oil depots.

Naval Operations

The Bangladesh naval forces took shape in July. Operation Jackpot was launched by the Bangladesh Forces on August 15, 1971. Bangladesh Navy commandos sunk vessels of the Pakistan Navy in Mongla, Chittagong, Chandpur and Narayanganj. The operation was a major propaganda success for Bangladeshi forces, as it exposed to the international community the fragile hold of the West Pakistani occupation. The Bangladesh Navy commandos targeted patrol craft and ships carrying ammunition and commodities. With Indian aid, the Mukti Bahini acquired two vessels, the Padma and Palash, which were retrofitted into gunboats with mine-laying capabilities. The boat crews extensively mined the Passur River in the Sundarbans, reducing the ability of Pakistani forces to operate from the Port of Mongla but were mistakenly bombed by Indian Air Force troops that resulted in the loss of both vessels and some of the lives of the Mukti Bahini and Indian personnel on board. The developing Bangladesh Navy carried out attacks on ships and used sea mines to prevent supply ships from docking in East Pakistani ports. Frogmen were deployed to damage and sabotage ships.

Organization

M. A. G. Osmani, a Bengali veteran of British Raj forces in World War II and Pakistan army, established the Bangladesh Armed Forces on April 4, 1971. The Provisional Government of Bangladesh placed all Bangladeshi forces under the command of Osmani, who was appointed as the defense minister with the rank of Commander-in-Chief as a four star general. Osmani designated the composition of the Mukti Bahini into several divisions. It included the regular armed forces which covered the Army, Navy and Air Forces; as well as special brigades including the Z Force. Paramilitary forces, including the East Pakistan Rifles and police, were designated as the Niyomito Bahini (Regular Forces). They were divided between forward battalions and sector troops. Another civilian force was raised and known as the Gonobahini (People's Forces) consisting of lightly trained civilian brigades under military command; the Gonobahini also consisted of battalions created by political activists from the pro-Western Awami League, the pro-Chinese and socialist National Awami Party, led by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, and the pro-Soviet Communist Party of East Pakistan.

The guerrilla movement was composed of three wings: well-armed Action Groups which took part in frontal attacks; military intelligence units; and guerrilla bases. The first conference of sector commanders was held during July 1971, starting on July 11 and ending July 17. Prominent sector commanders included defector officers from the Pakistan Armed Forces, including Major Ziaur Rahman, Major Khaled Mosharraf, Major K M Shafiullah, Captain A. N. M. Nuruzzaman, Major Chitta Ranjan Dutta, Wing Commander M Khademul Bashar, Major Nazmul Huq, Major Quazi Nuruzzaman, Major Abu Osman Chowdhury, Major Abul Manzoor, Major M. A. Jalil, Major Abu Taher and Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan. The Mujib Bahini was led by Awami League youth leaders Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, Tofael Ahmed and Abdur Razzak. An Australian war veteran, William A. S. Ouderland, organized guerrilla warfare in Dacca and provided vital intelligence to the Bangladesh Forces. He was awarded the Bir Protik for his actions by the government of Bangladesh. Left-wing politicians Kader Siddique, Hemayet Uddin and Moni Singh created several guerrilla units. Kader Siddique operated in the Tangail District. Hemayet was a former soldier in East Pakistan and his Bahini was raised almost entirely on local supplies. Moni Singh was a communist leader in East Pakistan.

The Independent Bangladesh Radio Station was one of the cultural wings of the Mukti Bahini. The Bangladesh liberation movement released five prominent propaganda posters which promoted the independence struggle – irrespective of religious affiliations and gender. One of the posters famously portrayed Pakistan's military ruler, Yahya Khan, as a demon. The Mukti Bahini operated field hospitals, wireless stations, training camps and prisons.

Equipment

The Mukti Bahini benefited from the early control of Pakistani arms depots, which were overtaken by Bengali forces during March and April 1971. The Mukti Bahini purchased large quantities of military-grade equipment through the arms market in Calcutta, including Italian howitzers, Alouette III helicopters, "Dakota" DC-3 aircraft and "Otter" DHC-3 fighter planes. The Mukti Bahini also received a limited supply of equipment from the Indian military, as New Delhi allowed the Bangladeshi forces to operate an independent weapons supply through Calcutta Port. The Mukti Bahini used Sten Guns, Lee–Enfield rifles and Indian-made hand grenades.

Bangladesh-India Allied Forces

The launch of Operation Chengiz Khan by West Pakistan on North India finally drew India into the Bangladesh conflict and a joint command structure was established between the Bangladeshi and Indian forces. Three corps of the Indian Armed Forces were supported by three brigades of the Mukti Bahini and the Bengali guerrilla army. The Mukti Bahini and its supporters guided the Indian army and provided them with information about Pakistani troop movements. The Indian and Mukti Bahini greatly outnumbered the three Pakistani army divisions of East Pakistan. The Battle of Sylhet, the Battle of Garibpur, the Battle of Boyra, the Battle of Hilli and the Battle of Kushtia were major joint engagements for the Bangladeshi and Indian forces, who swiftly captured surrounding land by selectively engaging or bypassing heavily defended strongholds. For example, the Meghna Heli Bridge airlifted Bangladeshi and Indian forces from Brahmanbaria to Narsingdi over Pakistani defenses in Ashuganj. The cities of Jessore, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Kushtia, Noakhali and Maulvi Bazar quickly fell to the Mukti Bahini-Indian joint forces. In Dhaka, the Pakistan Army and its supporting militias began the mass murder of Bengali intellectuals and professionals in a final attempt to eliminate the Bengali intelligentsia. Both the Mukti-Bahini-Indian forces, the Pakistani Army and its allies were accused of looting, rape and violence on the civilian population belonging to their respective opponents. The Mukti Bahini liberated most of the Dhaka District by mid-December. In Western Pakistan, Indian forces advanced deep into Pakistani territory as the Port of Karachi was subjected to a naval blockade by the Indian Navy. Pakistani generals surrendered to the Mukti Bahini-Indian forces in Dhaka on December 16, 1971.

Relations with India

Ten million Bengali refugees fled into neighbouring India because of famine and ravages of Pakistan army, where the regions of West Bengal, Tripura and the Barak Valley shared strong ethnic, linguistic and cultural links with East Pakistan. The war sparked an unprecedented level of unity in the Bengali-speaking world. There was strong support for Bengalis and Mukti Bahini from the Indian media and public. India feared that if the movement for Bangladesh came to be dominated by communists then it would adversely affect its own fight with the left-wing Naxalites. It also did not want the millions of refugees to be permanently stranded in India.

Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, authorized diplomatic, economic and military support to the Bangladesh Forces in April 1971. The Provisional Government of Bangladesh established its secretariat in exile in Calcutta. The Indian Armed Forces provided substantial training and the use of its bases for the Bangladesh Forces. The Bangladesh liberation guerrillas operated training camps in the Indian states of Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and West Bengal. Mukti Bahini were allowed by India to cross the border at will.

Some Mukti Bahini, especially those who served in the security services of Pakistan, were suspicious of Indian involvement and wished to minimise its role. They also resented the formation of the Mujib Bahini by India which was composed of Sheikh Mujib-loyalists but was not under the command of Mukti Bahini or the provisional government of Bangladesh.

On December 6, 1971, India officially recognized Bangladesh as an independent country only hours after Bhutan did the same.

International reactions

The genocide by Pakistani forces caused widespread international outrage against West Pakistan. In the United States, Democratic senator Ted Kennedy led a chorus of strong domestic criticism against the Nixon administration for ignoring the genocide of Bengalis in East Pakistan.

The Mukti Bahini enjoyed significant international public support. The Bangladeshi provisional government considered setting up an "International Brigade" with European and North American students. French Minister of Cultural Affairs André Malraux vowed to fight on the battlefield alongside the Bangladesh Forces.

The Soviet Union threw its weight behind the Bangladesh Forces and India after being convinced of Pakistan's unwillingness for a political solution. Separately, US efforts to woo China through Pakistan led to India signing friendship treaty with Moscow in August 1971. India increased support to Mukti Bahini after the signing of the treaty. For India, the treaty was an important insurance policy against a possible Chinese intervention on the side of Pakistan. China had fought a brief war with India in 1962. Both the US and China, however, ultimately failed to mobilize adequate support for Pakistan.

Honours

Bir Sreshtho (The Most Valiant Hero) is the highest military honor in Bangladesh and was awarded to seven Mukti Bahini fighters. They were Ruhul Amin, Mohiuddin Jahangir, Mostafa Kamal, Hamidur Rahman, Munshi Abdur Rouf, Nur Mohammad Sheikh and Matiur Rahman.

The other three gallantry awards in decreasing order of importance are Bir Uttom, Bir Bikrom and Bir Protik.

Women

Women had served in the Mukti Bahini during Bangladesh liberation war. The Mukti Bahini trained several female battalions for guerrilla warfare. Taramon Bibi is one of the two female wars heroes of the Bangladesh Liberation War. Captain Sitara Begum is noted for setting up field hospitals for injured Mukti Bahini fighters. Professor Nazma Shaheen, University of Dhaka, and her sister were female freedom fighters in Mujib Bahini.

Post-war

The Mukti Bahini was succeeded by the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the Bangladesh Rifles and the Bangladesh Police. Civilian fighters were provided with numerous privileges, including reservations in government jobs and universities. The Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Assembly was formed to represent former guerrillas. Bangladesh Liberation War ministry is responsible for looking after the welfare of freedom fighters. The widespread availability of arms created serious law and order concerns for the Bangladesh government after the war. A few militia units are alleged to have taken part in reprisal attacks against the Urdu-speaking population following the Pakistani surrender. All units of the Mukti Bahini were ordered by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to surrender their arms by March 1972.

Criticism

The Mukti Bahini has been accused of killing and raping Bihari citizens of East Pakistan who supported the Pakistan army. After the Liberation War of Bangladesh ended, Bihari people were forcefully relocated to refugee camps, were referred to as Stranded Pakistanis and denied citizenship of Bangladesh.

Cultural legacy

The Mukti Bahini has been the subject of numerous artwork, literature, films and television productions.

See also

• Timeline of Bangladesh Liberation War

References

1. Smith, Whitney. "Flag of Bangladesh". britannica.com. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
2. • Oakley, Don. "East pakistan's unheeded agony". The Daily Star. The Nevada Daily Mail. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
   • "Mujibnagar: History's first Bengali government". The Opinion Pages. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
3. Jahan, Rounaq (1 February 1973). "Bangladesh in 1972: Nation Building in a New State". Asian Survey. 13 (2): 31. doi:10.2307/2642736.
4. Benvenisti, Eyal (23 February 2012). The International Law of Occupation. Oxford University Press. pp. 189–. ISBN 978-0-19-163957-9.
5. Alagappa, ed. by Muthiah (2001). Coercion and governance : the declining political role of the military in Asia. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford Univ. Press. p. 212. ISBN 0804742278. {{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
6. ^ "Bangladesh and Pakistan: The Forgotten War - Photo Essays". TIME.com. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
7. Jamal, Ahmed Abdullah (October–December 2008). "Mukti Bahini and the Liberation War of Bangladesh: A Review of Conflicting Views" (PDF). Asian Affairs. 30 (4). Centre for Development Research, Bangladesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 January 2015.
8. Islam, M. Rafiqul (1981). A Tale of Millions: Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971. Bangladesh Books International. p. 82.
9. Jamal, Ahmed. "MuktiI BahiniI and the Liberation war of Bangladesh : A Review of Conflicting Views" (PDF). CDRB. Asian affairs. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
10. Singh, Jasbir (2010). Combat diary. New Delhi: Lancer. p. 225. ISBN 9781935501183.
11. DeRouen, Karl (2007). Civil wars of the world major conflicts since World War II (. ed.). Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 594. ISBN 9781851099191.
12. DeRouen, Karl (2007). Civil wars of the world major conflicts since World War II (. ed.). Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 597. ISBN 9781851099191.
13. Ghosh, Palash. "Hurricane Sandy: The Bhola Cyclone in Bangladesh Killed Half-Million In 1970". ibtimes.com. IBT Media Inc. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
14. Najam, Adil. "The cyclone that broke Pakistan's back". tribune.com.pk. The Express Tribune. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
15. Zakaria, Rafia. The Upstairs Wife: An Intimate History of Pakistan. Beacon Press. ASIN B00MKZ0PXA. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
16. Datta, Antara (2012). Refugees and borders in South Asia : the great exodus of 1971. New York: Routledge. p. 6. ISBN 9780415524728. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
17. Oborne, Peter. Wounded Tiger: A History of Cricket in Pakistan. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780857200754. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
18. Qasmi, Ali Usman (16 December 2015). "1971 war: Witness to history". herald.dawn.com. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
19. ^ Roy, Scott Gates, Kaushik (2014). Unconventional warfare in South Asia : shadow warriors and counterinsurgency. Farnham: Ashgate. p. 116. ISBN 9781409437062.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
20. KrishnaRao, K.V. (1991). Prepare or perish : a study of national security. New Delhi: Lancer Publ. p. 168. ISBN 9788172120016.
21. Singh, Brig K. Kuldip (October 27, 2013). Indian Military Thought KURUKSHETRA to KARGIL and Future Perspectives. Lancer Publishers LLC. ISBN 9781935501930. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
22. "East Pakistan Secedes, Civil war breaks out". The Daily Star. Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
23. "Civil war flares in East-Pakistan". The Daily Star. The Deseret News. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
24. Sharaf, Samson Simon. "1971: The plight of the viceroys". The Nation. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
25. ^ McDermott, Rachel Fell; Gordon, Leonard A.; T. Embree, Ainslie; Pritchett, Frances W.; Dalton, Dennis (2013). Sources of Indian Tradition Modern India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh (Third edition. ed.). New York: Columbia University Press. p. 851. ISBN 9780231510929.
26. Pakistan Defence Journal, 1977, Vol 2, p2-3
27. ^ "Notable battles in the 11 Sectors". Dhaka Tribune. 17 December 2013.
28. Badrul Ahsan, Syed. "Diplomats carrying the torch in 1971". archive.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
29. "Govt formed in Mujibnagar was not temporary". thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
30. "Military Junta Dogs Pakistan". The Daily Star. Sarasota Journal. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
31. ^ Alam, Habibul. "Operation Hotel Intercontinental: "HIT & RUN"". The Daily Star. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
32. ^ Rahman, Hasan Hafizur (1984). বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ, দলিলপত্রঃ দশম খণ্ড [History of Bangladesh War of Independence Documents, Vol-10] (in Bengali). Hakkani Publishers. pp. 1–3. ISBN 984-433-091-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |script-title=: missing prefix (help)
33. Roy, Mihir K. (1995). War in the Indian Ocean. New Delhi: Lancer Publishers. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-897829-11-0.
34. Weisburd, A. Mark (1997). Use of force : the practice of states since World War II. University Park, Pa.: Pennsylvania State Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-271-01679-5.
35. Hossain, Mokerrom (2010). From Protest to Freedom : The Birth of Bangladesh A Book for the New Generation. Shahitya Prakash. p. 246. ISBN 9780615486956.
36. "Pakistan Guilty of Genocide". The Daily Star. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
37. Mazumder, Shahzaman. "Songs of Freedom". The Daily Star. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
38. Hiranandani, G.M. (2000). Transition to triumph : history of the Indian Navy, 1965-1975. New Delhi: Lancer Publishers. p. 129. ISBN 9781897829721.
39. "The World: Bangladesh: Out of War, a Nation Is Born". TIME. 20 December 1971. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
40. Zeitlin, Arnold. "East Pakistan Rebels Unafraid Of Being Caught Or Identified". The Daily Star. Observer Reporter. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
41. Sission, Richard; Rose, Leo E. (1991). War and secession : Pakistan, India, and the creation of Bangladesh. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 212. ISBN 9780520076655.
42. Islam, Asif. "'God was with me. But so were a lot of people'". www.dhakatribune.com. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
43. Administrator. "Muktijuddho (Bangladesh Liberation War 1971) part 37 - Bangladesh Biman Bahini (Bangladesh Air Force or BAF) - History of Bangladesh". Londoni.
44. Hossain, Abu Md. Delwar (2012). "Operation Jackpot". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
45. "Naval Commandos in Operation Jackpot". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
46. Zaman, Imamuz. Bangladesh war of liberation. Columbia Prokashani. p. 102. ASIN B002G9R2YU.
47. Jacob, Lt Gen J. F. R. An Odyssey in War and Peace. Roli Books Private Limited. ISBN 9788174369338.
48. Yusuf, Mostafa. "Operation Jackpot, a glorious chapter of the 1971 Liberation War". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
49. Khan, Tamanna. "Indian war veterans relive '71 glory days". The Daily Star. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
50. Roy, Mihir K. (1995). War in the Indian Ocean. New Delhi: Lancer Publishers. p. 169. ISBN 9781897829110.
51. Afreen Mallick, Sadya. "'Potua' and freedom's colours". thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
52. List of Liberation War Sectors and Sector Commanders of Bangladesh (Gazette Notification No.8/25/D-1/72-1378), Ministry of Defence, Government of Bangladesh, 15 December 1973
53. "William AS Ouderland Bir Protik remembered". archive.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
54. "Ouderland and other international warriors of 1971". The Opinion Pages. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
55. Nair, P. Sukumaran. Indo-Bangladesh Relations. APH Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 9788131304082.
56. Zaman, Imamuz. Bangladesh war of liberation. Columbia Prokashani. p. 90. ASIN B002G9R2YU.
57. Nabi, Dr Nuran. Bullets of '71: A Freedom Fighter's Story. AuthorHouse. p. 135. ISBN 9781452043838.
58. Nabi, Nuran Nabi with Mush (2010). Bullets of '71 : a freedom fighter's story. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. pp. 220–223. ISBN 9781452043838.
59. ^ Raghavan, Srinath (2013). 1971: A Global History of the Creation of Bangladesh. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-73127-1.
60. Sachar, Rajindar. "Letting Bygones Be Bygones". www.outlookindia.com. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
61. Saikia, Yasmin (2011). Women, war, and the making of Bangladesh : remembering 1971. Durham, N.C: Duke University Press. p. 3. ISBN 0822350386.
62. Jacob, JFR (2000). Surrender at Dacca: Birth of a Nation. Dhaka: University Press Ltd. ISBN 984-05-1395-8.
63. Datta, Antara (2012). Refugees and borders in South Asia : the great exodus of 1971. New York: Routledge. p. 28. ISBN 9780415524728.
64. Datta, Antara (2012). Refugees and borders in South Asia : the great exodus of 1971. New York: Routledge. p. 28. ISBN 9780415524728.
65. ^ Shelley, Mizanur Rahman (16 December 2012). "Victory Day Special 2012". The Daily Star.
66. ^ Feroze, Shahriar (15 December 2014). "1971 — A Global History of the Creation of Bangladesh". The Daily Star.
67. Sagar, Krishna Chandra (1997). The war of the twins. New Delhi: Northern Book Centre. p. 244. ISBN 9788172110826.
68. Alagappa, ed. by Muthiah (2001). Coercion and governance : the declining political role of the military in Asia. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford Univ. Press. p. 212. ISBN 9780804742276. {{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
69. "Bhutan, not India, was first to recognize Bangladesh". The Times of India. PTI. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
70. Dummett, Mark. "Bangladesh war: The article that changed history - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
71. Ahmed, Saeed. "In Bangladesh, Ted Kennedy revered - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
72. J. Bass, Gary. "What a senator can do". BostonGlobe.com. The Boston Globe. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
73. "Bernard-Henri Levy: Andre Malraux's Bangladesh, Before the Radicals". The Daily Beast.
74. Jillani, Shahzeb. "Scars of Bangladesh independence war 40 years on". bbc.com. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
75. "War heroes honoured". archive.thedailystar.net. UNB. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
76. The Bangladesh Gazette, 15 December 1973.
77. Amin, Aasha Mehreen; Ahmed, Lavina Ambreen; Ahsan, Shamim (16 December 2006). "The women in our liberation war: Tales of Endurance and Courage". mukto-mona.com.
78. Gupta, Jayanta. "Women Mukti Joddhas recall guerrilla days - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
79. "Freedom Fighter's quota: A son explains his burden". The Opinion Pages. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
80. "Bangladesh reducing age limit for freedom fighters to below 13". AsiaOne. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
81. "No extension on freedom fighters' retirement age". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
82. Mohiuddin, Yasmeen Niaz (2007). Pakistan : a global studies handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-Clio. p. 174. ISBN 9781851098019.

Further reading

• Ahmed, Helal Uddin (2012). "Mukti Bahini". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
• Ayub, Muhammad (2005). An Army, its Role and Rule: A History of the Pakistan Army from Independence to Kargil, 1967-1999. Pittsburgh, PA: RoseDog Books. ISBN 0-8059-9594-3.

v t e Bangladesh Liberation War
Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Timeline
Origins of the Bangladeshi Revolution Philosophy Bengali Renaissance Muslim nationalism in South Asia Two-nation theory Bengali nationalism Bengal studies Bangamata Joy Bangla Pakistan Movement Partition of Bengal (1905) Eastern Bengal and Assam All-India Muslim League Indian independence movement Pakistan Movement Lahore Resolution United Bengal Muslim National Guard Direct Action Day Noakhali riots Partition of India Partition of Bengal (1947) East Pakistan Dominion of Pakistan East Bengal Pakistan Muslim League Objectives Resolution All Pakistan Awami Muslim League Awami League United Front Bengali language movement One Unit East Pakistan Constitution of Pakistan of 1956 1958 Pakistani coup d'état Constitution of Pakistan of 1962 Bengali self-determination Swadhin Bangla Biplobi Parishad Six point movement Agartala Conspiracy Case 1969 uprising in East Pakistan 1970 Bhola cyclone 1970 Pakistani general election Declaration of war Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's speech of 7 March Non-cooperation movement Rodionov message Admiral Ahsan Mission Operation Searchlight Proclamation of Bangladeshi Independence
Combatants Campaigns Theaters Battles Events Massacres Combatants Bangladesh Provisional Government of Bangladesh Mukti Bahini Bangladesh Army K Force S Force Z Force Bangladesh Navy Bangladesh Air Force Bangladesh Rifles Bangladesh Ansar Bangladesh Police Special Guerrilla Forces Gono Bahini Mujib Bahini Kader Bahini Baten Bahini Afsar Bahini Hemayet Bahini Crack Platoon Pakistan Pakistan Armed Forces Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Jamaat-e-Islami Central Peace Committee Razakars Al-Badr Al-Shams Indian allies Parliament of India Indian Armed Forces Army, Navy, Air Force Mitro Bahini (Indo-Bangali group) Campaigns and theaters Pakistan Eastern Command Operation Searchlight Order of Battle Operation Barisal Cable 1971 Sectors in the Bangladesh Liberation War Military plans of the Bangladesh Liberation War Eastern Command (India) Meghna Heli Bridge Operation Jackpot Mutiny on PNS Mangro in Toulon Operation Python Operation Trident Pakistan Army order of battle, December 1971 Mitro Bahini Order of Battle December 1971 Sinking of PNS Ghazi East Pakistan Air Operations, 1971 Operation Chengiz Khan Operation Cactus-Lilly Major battles Battle of Daruin Battle of Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway Battle of Goalhati Battle of Dhalai Outpost Battle of Dhalai Battle of Ajmiriganj Battle of Garibpur Battle of Hilli Battle of Longewala Battle of Basantar Battle of Kushtia Battle of Boyra Battle of Atgram Other events Blood Telegram Bangladesh genocide 1971 killing of Bengali intellectuals Rape during the Bangladesh Liberation War Refugees in India Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra Shadhin Bangla Football Team The Concert for Bangladesh Album Film List of massacres 1971 Dhaka University massacre Shankharibazar massacre Ramna massacre Sutrapur massacre Jinjira massacre Akhira massacre Jathibhanga massacre Demra massacre Chuknagar massacre Madhyapara massacre Bakhrabad massacre Burunga massacre Sohagpur massacre more Related conflicts Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971
Leaders Bangladesh Military M. A. G. Osmani Ziaur Rahman Khaled Mosharraf K M Shafiullah Shafaat Jamil A. K. Khandker Muhammad Hamidullah Khan Matiur Rahman Civilian Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Syed Nazrul Islam Tajuddin Ahmad AHM Qamaruzzaman Muhammad Hamidullah Khan Serajul Alam Khan Dhirendranath Datta Kazi Nuruzzaman Chitta Ranjan Dutta Muhammad Mansur Ali Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad M. A. Hannan Abu Sayeed Chowdhury Pakistan Military Yahya Khan Tikka Khan S.M. Ahsan A.K. Niazi Yaqub Ali Khan Mohammad Shariff Rao Farman Ali A.O. Mitha Khadim Hussain Mitty Masud Ahmad Zamir Inamul Haque Siddique Salik K.M. Arif Civilian Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Dr. Abdul Motaleb Malik Nurul Amin Shah Azizur Rahman Ghulam Azam Motiur Rahman Nizami J.A. Rahim Tridev Roy Indian allies Military Sam Manekshaw S. M. Nanda P. C. Lal Jagjit Singh Aurora K. P. Candeth Gopal Gurunath Bewoor Sourendra Nath Kohli Nilakanta Krishnan Minoo Merwan Engineer Hari Chand Dewan Sagat Singh T. N. Raina Khem Karan Singh Sartaj Singh Inderjit Singh Gill J. F. R. Jacob E. C. Kuruvila S. H. Sarma Civilian Indira Gandhi V. V. Giri Gopal Swarup Pathak Rameshwar Kao Swaran Singh Jagjivan Ram Dilip Mahalanabis
Aftermath Pakistani Instrument of Surrender International recognition of Bangladesh Simla Agreement Delhi Agreement Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh Hamoodur Rahman Commission War Report 1971 Prisoners of War Investigation Bangladeshi nationalism Bangladesh–India relations Indira-Mujib Treaty 2001 Indo-Bangla skirmishes Deaths along the Bangladesh–India border Bangladesh–Pakistan relations 2013 Pakistan Embassy siege 2015 Expulsion of Pakistani diplomats from Dhaka
Related topics Categories Commemoration Monuments and memorials National Martyrs' Memorial Martyred Intellectuals Memorial Swadhinata Stambha Liberation War Memorial Trust Liberation War Museum Bangladesh Police Liberation War Museum Aparajeyo Bangla Shabash Bangladesh Anniversaries Bengali Genocide Remembrance Day Independence Day (Bangladesh) Armed Forces Day (Bangladesh) Martyred Intellectuals Day Victory day of Bangladesh Vijay Diwas (India) Decorations and depictions Muktijuddho e-Archive Artistic depictions Awards and decorations Trials 2013 Shahbag protests Movement demanding trial of war criminals International Crimes Tribunal timeline War Crimes Fact Finding Committee Categories Liberation War Genocide Aftermath Films Causes and prelude Battles Peoples Military personnel

• National liberation armies
• National liberation movements
• Bangladesh Liberation War
• Military history of Bangladesh