Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16

1. The Language Movement:

The Language Movement is a unique event in the history of the political Movement of Bangladesh. Bengali was the mother tongue of about 54 percent of the people of Pakistan. On the other hand, Urdu was the mother tongue of only 6 percent people of the whole of Pakistan. Thus Bengali, in spite of being the language of the majority of the people of Pakistan, was ignored by the Pakistani ruling clique as a state language. The percentage of mother tongue among various communities are given below-

Name of Language
Bangla Pustu Panjabi Urdu Hindi English

Percentage (%)
54.6 27.1 6.1 06 4.8 1.4

[Source: Census-1951]
The question of Bengali as a state language came up immediately after the creation of Pakistan. On 6 and 7 September 1947 the youth workers of East Pakistan held a Conference in Dhaka which was presided over by Tasadduk Hossain. This Conference, for the first time took a resolution demanding Bengali as the language of the offices and the courts and also as the medium of instruction in East Pakistan. The Tamuddun Majlis came next with the demand of making Bengali one of the state languages of Pakistan. On 15 September 1947 the Tamuddun Majlis published the first booklet on the Language Movement entitled 'Pakistaner Rastrabhasha Bangla Na Urdu'. Professor Abul Kashem, Dr. Qazi Motahar Hossain and Abul Mansur Ahmed were the authors of this booklet. They argued in favour of making Bengali one of the state languages of Pakistan along with Urdu and also gave an outline of the Language Movement. In this booklet Professor Abul Kashem made a call to everybody in East Pakistan to join the Language Movement.

Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16

I. First Stage of the Language Movement:

In October 1947, Tamuddun Majlis formed a Rastrabhasha Sangram Parishad to give the Language Movement an organisational structure. Nurul Huq Bhuyan was appointed convener of this Sangram Parishad. At this time several discussion meetings were held on behalf of the Tamaddun Majlis to explain the rationale of Bengali as a state language. One such meeting, held at the Fazlul Huq Hall was addressed by poet Jasimuddin, Mr. Habibullah Bahar, Dr. Qazi Motahar Hossain and Professor Abul Kashem, etc. In December 1947 an Educational Conference was held in Karachi sponsored by the Government of Pakistan. In this Conference the decision was taken to make Urdu the state language of Pakistan. On 6 December, to protest against this decision, the students held a meeting at the Dhaka University campus under the president ship of Professor Abul Kashem. The meeting was followed by a procession. The processionists met some of the ministers including Syed Afzal and obtained their support in favor of Bengali as a state language. In January 1948 the 'Rastrabhasha Sangram Parishad' was

reconstituted with a view to making Bengali a state language. The Sangram Parishad raised the following demands regarding the question of language: 1. 2. Bengali shall be the medium of instruction and the language of There will be two state languages of Pakistan Bengali and Urdu. the offices and law Courts of East Bengal (East Pakistan);

II. Second stage of the Language Movement:

In February 1948 when the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan started to record its proceedings in Urdu side by side with English, Dhirendra Nath Dutta of Comilla, a member of the Constituent Assembly from East Bengal, protested against it and demanded that Bengali be accorded official recognition as one of the languages of the Constituent Assembly. When this demand was rejected by the Constituent Assembly, a discontent was created

Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 among the students, teachers and civil societies of East Bengal. As a mark of protest, a strike was observed on 26 February in Dhaka. On 2 March 1948 the various organizations of East Bengal held a meeting at the Fazlul Huq Hall of Dhaka University to realize the demand for the state language. The meeting chaired by Kamruddin Ahmad resolved to form an All-Party Rashtrabhasha Sangram Parishad. The Samgram Parishad called a general strike on 11 March 1948 to resist the conspiracy of the Government in the language issue. On that day, many students were injured and many leaders including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Shamsul Huq and Oli Ahad were arrested. In protest against this incident and to make Bengali a state language, another strike was observed at Dhaka University and other educational institutions on 13 March. This strike was extended up to 15 March. A general strike was also observed in all the districts of the province. In such a situation, the Chief Minister Khwaja Nazimuddin met the Sangram Parishad on 15 March and signed an agreement with them. By this agreement, he agreed to release the arrested students, to investigate police excesses, to move a Bill in the Assembly for making Bengali a state language and to lift section 144 and the restrictions imposed on the news papers. In March 1948, Muhammad Ali Jinnah visited Dhaka and on 21 March, addressed a public meeting at the then Race Course Maidan. In that meeting he declared, "Urdu and only Urdu shall be the state language of Pakistan". When he repeated these words at the Dhaka University Convocation Ceremony held on 24 March at the Curzon Hall, the students present protested vehemently by shouting 'No, No'. On that very day, Rastrabhasha Parishad submitted a memorandum to Muhammad Ali Jinnah demanding for Bengali the status of a state language of Pakistan. The Move to write Bengali in Arabic letters: The Pakistani ruling clique never stopped its attempt to spread its network of conspiracy in regard to the language issue. In 1948, the All Pakistan

Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 Education Conference held in Karachi, proposed the introduction of Arabic script, or in other words, Urdu letters for writing Bengali in the name of honoring the Islamic ideal. Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah was proposed to be appointed for the purpose of introducing Arabic script for writing Bengali. But he rejected the proposal. In April 1949 the students of the Bengali Department of the University of Dhaka submitted a memorandum to the Pakistan Education Advisory Board and the Alphabet Expert Committee strongly protesting against this objectionable move to introduce Arabic script to write Bengali. In the memorandum the demand was also made not to change the Bengali alphabets.

III. Last Stage of the Language Movement:

On 9 March 1949 the Government of East Bengal formed the Purbo Bangla Bhasha Committee for reforming Bengali language. Maulana Akram Khan was the President of this Committee. The Prime Minister of Pakiatan Liaquat Ali Khan visited Dhaka towards the end of 1949 . In a memorandum submitted to him, the students of Dhaka University reiterated the demand for Bengali language. But Liaquat Ali Khan did not make any comment on this subject. In 1949, at the Purbo Pakistan Shahitya Sammelan, Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah also raised the question of language. In September 1950 The Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan declared in the Constituent Assembly that only Urdu would be the state language of Pakistan. But in the face of strong protest from the people of East Bengal, the Constituent Assembly postponed the discussion on the question of the state language. In 1951, Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated and Khwaja Nazimuddin' succeeded him as the Prime Minister of Pakistan . On 26 January 1952 at a public meeting in Dhaka he declared that Urdu would be the only state language of Pakistan. This declaration of Khwaja Nazimuddin created a strong resentment among the people of East Bengal and as a mark of protest a call for hartal throughout the province was given. On that very day, an All Party Rashtrabhasha Sangram Committee was formed under the presidency of Ataur Rahman Khan, and Qazi Gholam Mahboob was

Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 made its Convener. This Sangram Committee resolved to carry on the Movement until the demand for the state language was met. This All Party Rashtrabhasha Sangram Committee decided to call a student's strike on 4 February and observe 21 February as the State Language Day and to observe hartal throughout the country. On 16 February 1952 Sheikh Mujib and student leader Mohiuddin Ahmed , while detained in the Dhaka Central Jail as political prisoners, started the fast unto death Movement on the question of 'Bengali as a state language and the release of the political prisoners'.

Imposed section 144:

On 20 February the Government of Nurul Amin, being scared of the student Movement imposed section 144 at 3 p.m., and banned the processions and the meetings. But on 21 February, the students of Dhaka University in an organised way defied section 144 and leading a procession from the Dhaka University campus proceeded towards the Provincial Assembly which was in session, chanting the slogan " Rashtrabhasha.Bangla Chai". In a very tense situation the students assembled in the campus of the present day Dhaka Medical College. When the police used tear gas to disperse the students and the people that had assembled there, clashes occurred between the police and the students and the people. At one stage, the police opened fire. A number of people and students including Jabbar, Rafiq, Barkat and Salam were martyred and many students and people were injured by this police firing. This news of killing spread over Dhaka City like wildfire and on 22 February, a big rally, came out on the streets as a mark of protest. Police opened fire on this rally too. As a result, Safiur Rahman was killed. On the same day, in a meeting of the students held at the Dhaka Medical College hostel, it was decided to build a Shaheed Minar to preserve the memory of the martyrs. Accordingly, the Students erected a 12-feet high Shaheed Minar in front of Dhaka Medical College. On 23 February, the father of Shaheed Safiur Rahman formally inaugurated the Shaheed Minar. But in the evening of 24 February, police demolished this Shaheed Minar. In memory

Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 of that, another Shaheed Minar was built later on the same site and that is the present Central Shaheed Minar.

Bangla as State Language:

At last, the Government of Nurul Amin adopted a resolution in the Provincial Assembly to the effect that a proposal would be raised at the Constituent Assembly containing the demand to accord Bengali the status of one of the state language of Pakistan. In the face of continuous student's and people's Movements the Pakistan Government was compelled to give Bengali the status of one of the state languages. Finally, Bengali was given the status of one of the state languages in the Constitution of Pakistan of 1956.

Achievements of Language Movement:

The Language Movement of 1952 was the first organized expression of the consciousness of the exploited and deprived masses of Bangladesh. This consciousness born out of the Language Movement inspired all the subsequent Movements and helped achieving the political, the cultural and the economic freedom leading to independence. Landslide victory in the provincial election (1954) Reorganization of the Bangla Language (1956) Reflection in educational conference (1962) Six-points (1966) Mass-uprising (1969) Landslide victory in the general election (1970) and Great victory in 1971 Observed 21st February as an International Mother Language day Observed 2008 as Year of Language by UN International Status of Bangla Language (Sierra Leone)

2. The Provincial Election of 1954 and the United Front:

Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 The Muslim League Government again and again deferred the date of the general election of East Bengal. At last, it was declared that the general election in East Bengal would be held in March 1954 on the basis of adult franchise. To confront the ruling Muslim League in the general election of 1954 the opposition parties in East Bengal formed a United Front. On 4 December, 1953 the Awami League, the Krishak Sramik Party, the Nejam-iIslam and the Ganatantri Dal combined together formed this United Front under the leadership of Mauiana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq and Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy.

The Twenty One Point Programme of the United Front:

The United Front drafted an election menifesto containing 21 points which reflected the hopes and aspirations of the people of East Bengal and participated in the election on the basis of this programme. The points were as follows: 1. To make Bengali one of the state languages, 2. Abolition of the Zamindari system without compensation, 3. Nationalisation of jute trade, 4. Introduction of co-operative farming, 5. Establishment of salt industry in East Pakistan, 6. Employment for skilled Mohajirs, 7. Digging of canals and provision for irrigation to cope with flood and famine, 8. To establish industries in East Pakistan, 9. Introduction of compulsory free primary education, 10.To introduce radical changes in the education system, 11.To make Dhaka and Rajshahi Universities autonomous, 12.To reduce administrative cost and to fix the salary for the ministers at one thousand rupees, 13.To take effective measures to stop corruption and nepotism, 14.To repeal the Public Safety Act and the Ordinance, etc. 15.Separation of the Judiciary from the Executive,

Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 16.Establishment of the Bangla Academy at the 'Burdwan House' for conducting research in Bengali, 17.Erection of a monument in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement, 18.To declare 21 February as the Martyrs' Day, 19.To establish autonomy for East Pakistan on the basis of the Lahore Resolution, 20.No extension of the tenure of the Legislative Assembly on any pretext, 21.To hold by-election within three months to a vacant seat in the Legislature from the day it falls vacant.

The Result and Significance of the Election:

The 21 points of the United Front was basically a demand for the autonomy of the people of East Bengal and hence they extended their full support to the 21-point demand of the United Front. As a result, in the election held in March 1954 the Muslim League suffered a humiliating defeat and the United Front won a landslide victory. In this election out of 309 seats of the East Bengal Legislative Assembly the United Front got 236, the Muslim League 9, the Congress 24, Tafsili Federation 27, the Khilafat-i-Rabbani Party 1, the Christians 1, the Buddhists 2, the Communist Party 4 and the Independent candidates 5 seats respectively. The people of East Bengal were disillusioned with the Muslim League because of its conspiratorial politics and the policies of disparity and repression. All the provincial ministers including the Chief Minister Nurul Amin suffered a crushing defeat in the election. This election proved that the people of East Bengal were united in their demand for the autonomy and the right of self-determination.

3. Discrimination against Bangladesh

Form the very beginning, Pakistan had been following a policy of partition against East Bengal. Political, military, administrative and economic

Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 discrimination had been increasing gradually. As a result, a wide gap was in the relation between East and West Pakistan.

I. Socio-Cultural Disparity
Bengali was the mother tongue of about 54 percent of the people of Pakistan. On the other hand, Urdu was the mother tongue of only 6 percent people of the whole of Pakistan (Census-1951). Thus Bengali, in spite of being the language of the majority of the people of Pakistan, was ignored by the Pakistani ruling clique as a state language which was a substantial discrimination against the people of East Pakistan. On the other hand, East Pakistan also deprived from getting reasonable facilities in various social sectors.

SL. No
1 2 3 4

Areas
Total Population Number of Doctor Rural Health Complex Urban Social Development Centre

West Pakistan
5.50 Crore 12,400 325 81

East Pakistan
7.50 Crore 7,600 88 52

[Source: M.A. Rahim et. al., Bangladesher Itihas, P. 480]

II. Political Disparity

East Bengal became subjected to political discrimination immediately after the birth of the state of Pakistan. Both of the two important posts of Pakistan were occupied by West Pakistan. Out of four presidents from 1947 to 1958, one was from East Pakistan who spoke in Urdu and among four Governors within 1955; one was from East Pakistan who spoke in Urdu. Moreover, attempts were made to keep politically inactive all the popular leaders of this region including East Bengal's popular leader Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq. Although East Pakistan had the majority of the population, yet a policy of discrimination was followed against this province. Even, East Pakistan was compelled to accept parity in the Legislature. In reality, East Pakistan was politically neglected by Pakistan from the very beginning.

Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 In protest against these discriminatory policies of West Pakistan, the people of East Pakistan raised the demands for their rights of self-determination and autonomy. At this, the West Pakistani ruling clique forgot the principles of democracy and perused a policy of suppressing the just demands of the people of East Pakistan. They did not even hesitate to term Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other patriotic leaders of this region as traitors.

III. Employment/Military Disparity

While the security of East Pakistan was uncertain, the province was also subjected to serious discrimination in military matters. The headquarters of the three Defense Services were established in West Pakistan. Ordinance Factories were also established in West Pakistan. No Bengali could be found in the high posts in the Defense Services as those posts were monopolized by the West Pakistanis.

SL. No
1 2 3 4 5 6

Areas
Central Civil Jobs Foreign Jobs Army Navy (Technical) Navy (Non-Technical) Air Force (Pilot)

West Pakistan
84% 85% 95% 81% 91% 91%

East Pakistan
16% 15% 5% 19% 9% 9%

[Source: M.A. Rahim et. al., Bangladesher Itihas, P. 479] In the army, 95 percent posts were held by the West Pakistanis and East Pakistan had a share of only 5 percent. There was discrimination in other branches as well. Highest expenditure in Pakistan was in the Defense Sector. Initially, the allocation in this sector was 25 percent; subsequently it was raised to 60 percent. East Pakistan never enjoyed any such benefit from it. Militarily, East Pakistan was much neglected and remained unprotected. During the Indo-Pak War of 1965 everyone clearly realized this truth. In administrative arena, within 1966, 77% 1st class jobs belonged to the west Pakistani whereas only 23% filled up by the East Pakistani, On the other hand, 74% for 2nd Class, 73% for 3rd Class and 70% for 4th Class jobs went to west Pakistan while remaining were for East Pakistan.

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16

IV. Economic/ Financial Disparity

During the Pakistani rule, East Pakistan was subjected to severe economic disparity. As a result, East Pakistan could never be self- sufficient economically. The provincial government did not have any control over its currency and economy. As everything was controlled by the Centre, all the income of East Pakistan flew away to West Pakistan. Head offices of the State Bank and other banks, insurance companies, trading concerns and foreign missions were established in West Pakistan. This facilitated the unabated transfer of money to West Pakistan. Resource allocation necessary for this region was at the mercy of West Pakistan. On the other hand, there could not be any capital formation in East Pakistan as surplus earnings were kept in West Pakistan.

SL. No
1 2 3 4 5 6

Areas
Foreign Currency for Development Foreign Aid without USA USA Aid Pakistan Industrial Corporation House Building Industrial Bank

West Pakistan
80% 96% 56% 53% 88% 76%

East Pakistan
20% 04% 34% 42% 12% 24%

[Source: M.A. Rahim et. al., Bangladesher Itihas, P. 480] About two thirds of the foreign exchange of Pakistan was earned by selling the jute of East Pakistan. But the jute farmers could never get the fair price for their products. On various pretexts the foreign exchange was also spent in West Pakistan. Most of the foreign loans and economic assistance were spent for the Development of West Pakistan, Even in industry, East Pakistan was backward. The small number of industrial units, including the jute mills located in East Pakistan, was mostly owned by the West Pakistani capitalists. In the field of textile industry also, East Pakistan was dependent on West Pakistan.

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16

4. The Six-Point Movement

The Six Point Programme was a bold protest against the endless discrimination in economic, political and military sectors pursued against the people of Bengal by the Pakistani rulers. Under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Awami League played a historic role for redressing this discrimination and establishing the rights of the people of East Pakistan. On 5 February 1966 opposition political parties met in a Conference in Lahore, in this Conference, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman placed a Charter of Demands relating to political, economic and military rights of East Pakistan. This is known in history as the Six-Point Programme. These Six Points were formally presented by him at a press conference in Lahore. 1. A true federal type of constitution shall have to be framed for Pakistan on the basis of the historic Lahore Resolution and the form of this Government will be Parliamentary. All elections should be held on the basis of universal adult franchise and direct voting and the sovereignty of the Legislatures shall be recognized. 2. The Central Government shall have only two things, defense and foreign affairs; all other residuary powers shall rest with the provinces. 3. There shall be two separate but freely convertible currencies in the two regions of the country; or, one single currency for the whole country with the provision of two reserve banks in two provinces under a federal reserve bank. 4. The regional governments shall have the authority to levy all taxes and, to collect them. There shall be a provision for paying the Central Government a portion of the revenues collected. 5. There should be separate accounts for the foreign exchange of the two regions. If necessary, the requirement of the Centre will be met by the two regions on the basis of equal rate or a rate as specified in the Constitution.

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 6. The federal states should have the authority to form regional armed forces or militia or Para-militia forces to protect the territories.

Outcomes of Six-Point:
The oppressed and exploited people of East Pakistan welcomed this Six-Point Programme as their Magna Carta or the Charter of Freedom. As a result, the popularity of the Six-Point Programme increased day by day. The government became frightened at the popularity of the Six-Point demand and falsely termed the Six-Point demand as an anti-state Movement. After this, the Government took recourse to repressive policy to check the Six-Point movement and arrested Sheikh Mujib along with many other leaders and workers of the Awami League on 8 May 1966. There was widespread resentment in Dhaka and throughout the province against these arrests. The Awami League, at first observed a day of protest. Thereafter, on 7 June 1966 a general hartal was called throughout the province for the release of the political prisoners. The government imposed section 144 to prevent this hartal. But the people observed the hartal spontaneously, ignoring the government ban and brought out a procession. The police fired upon the processionists. Eleven people including young Manu Miah were killed and hundreds of people were injured as a result of this firing. This act of atrocity was strongly condemned in the Provincial Assembly.

5. Liberation war of Bangladesh:

The Liberation war began on 26 March 1971 and ended with the liberation of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971. The armed struggle was the culmination of a series of events, situations and issues contributing to the progressively deteriorating relations between East and West Pakistan. The questions of land reforms, state language, inter-wing economic and administrative disparities, provincial autonomy, the defense of East Pakistan and many other consequential questions had been straining the relations between the two wings of Pakistan ever since independence of the country from Britain in 1947.

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16

Historical Background of Liberation War:

The general elections of 1970 had made SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN, the leader of the AWAMI LEAGUE which bagged 167 seats out of 169 allotted for East Pakistan, the sole spokesman of the people of East Pakistan and majority leader in the Pakistan National Assembly. On 11th January71, it was decided that session of the Assembly would be held on 3rd March71. It was also declared by the President of Pakistan on 14 th January71 who took the power of Pakistan. But the Pakistan civil and military ruling clique had refused to transfer power to the majority leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his party. Moreover, the leader of Pakistan Peoples Party, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto refused to accept an Awami League government and famously promised to " break the legs" of any elected PPP member who dared to attend the inaugural session of the National Assembly. Capitalizing on West Pakistani fears of East Pakistani separatism, Bhutto demanded that Sheikh Mujib form a coalition with the PPP. According to terrorism expert Hamid Mir, Bhutto sent his most trusted companion to East Pakistan to meet with Mujib and his inner circle, played a major role convincing Mujib to meet Bhutto. After Dr. Hassan achieved this task, Bhutto and Mujib agreed upon a coalition government for the sake of keeping Pakistan united. Under the terms of the deal, Mujib would have become prime minister and Bhutto would have succeeded Yahya as president. Yahya was unaware of these talks, and both Bhutto and Mujib kept substantial pressure on Yahya Khan. After his own talks with Sheikh Mujib failed, Yahya postponed the opening session of the National Assembly on 2nd March71 and ordered an army action against Mujib. Amidst popular outrage in East Pakistan, Sheikh Mujib was determined to make Bangladesh", despite Bhutto's urged. During this time, on 7 March Mujib made a historic address at a mammoth gathering at the Race Course which marked a turning point in the history of the Bengali nation. In his address Mujib made specific charges against the Martial Law authorities which failed to transfer power to the elected representatives. At the end of his speech, he made a clarion call, saying: "Build forts in each homestead. You must resist the Pakistani enemy

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 with whatever you have in handRemember, we have given a lot of blood, a lot more blood we shall give if need be, but we shall liberate the people of this country, Insha Allah [i.e., if Allah blessed]..The struggle this time is the struggle for our emancipation; the struggle this time is the struggle for independence." Meanwhile, President Yahya Khan and other leaders from West Pakistan came to Dhaka on 15 March to start a dialogue with Sheikh Mujib and his party. The dialogue began on the following day and continued intermittently down to 25 March morning. During the period, non-cooperation and hartals continued relentlessly. Students and leaders of various political parties had been declaring independence from March 2 and the spree continued down to 25 March. While holding talks, the Pakistani military junta was bringing more troops to Bangladesh and at the same time killing innocent civilians all over the country. This clearly showed that they were totally insincere about handing over power to the elected representatives of Bangladesh. No sooner the talks failed, the genocide began at mid-night of 25 March 1971, and the Pakistan army launched its brutal crackdown in Dhaka with operation Search Light. Sheikh Mujib was arrested and kept confined at Dhaka Cantonment until he was lifted to West Pakistan for facing trial for sedition and inciting insurrection and before that time; with a written document he declared the independence of Bangladesh. That was the historical background of the liberation war of Bangladesh.

First Phase of the War (26th March up to 4th April)

According to the plan for operation Search Light two headquarters were established. Major General Rao Farman Ali with 57 Brigade under Brigedier Arbab was responsible for operation in Dhaka city and its suburbs while Major General Khadim Raja was given the responsibility of the rest of the province. Lieutenant General Tikka Khan assumed the overall charge of the operation. The students and the nationalist political activists put up resistance outside the cantonment. Road blocks were raised to obstruct the march of the Pakistani column to the city areas. The wireless set

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 fitted jeeps and trucks loaded with troops groaned on the streets of Dhaka City at midnight of 25 March. Several hundred people chanted the slogan Joi Bangla which lasted for about 15 minutes. But soon guns silenced them. The army moved into the city before scheduled time and started the GENOCIDE. The military forces killed everybody in sight on the footpath and destroyed everything on their way. The tanks roared through the streets of Dhaka blasting indiscriminately at the people and official and residential buildings. They gunned down clusters of settlements and set fire on them. Scores of artillery bursts were pounded, while the tanks rumbled into the city roaring the main streets. The student halls of residence at Dhaka University were raided and numerous students residing there were brutally killed and maimed. They also killed many teachers of Dhaka University. The Hindu concentrated areas of old Dhaka were particularly targeted. They started killing the people, burnt their houses, looted their valuables and raped their women. The genocide that was perpetrated on the unarmed people was flashed in the world press. On 26 March Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was taken prisoner by the Pakistan army. At about the same time, Major
ZIAUR RAHMAN

announced

Bangladesh's independence on behalf of Sheikh Mujib from Kalurghat radio station at Chittagong on 27th March1971. There were spontaneous uprisings throughout Bangladesh following the call of independence. These uprisings were participated by government officials, political activists, students, workers, peasants, professionals and members of the public. After initial resistance, many freedom fighters crossed over into Indian Territory to have safe sanctuary, due mainly to the enemy's overwhelming superiority of trained soldiers and modern weapons. The scattered and temporarily retreating rudimentary liberation forces were soon brought under a unified command.

Second Phase of the War (4th April up to 3rd November)

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 On 4 April, the senior officers of the liberation army assembled at the headquarters of 2nd East Bengal at Teliapara , a semi hilly area covered by tea gardens where Colonel MAG Osmany, Lieutenant Colonel Abdur Rob, Lieutenant Colonel Salahuddin Mohammad Reja, Major Kazi Nuruzzaman, Major KHALED MOSHARRAF, Major Nurul Islam, Major Shafat Jamil, Major Mainul Hossain Chowdhury and others were present. In this meeting four senior commanders were entrusted with the responsibility of operational areas. Sylhet-Brahmanbaria area was placed under the command of Major Shafiullah. Major Comilla-Noakhali Rahman. area was given area to was Major placed Khaled under Mosharraf while Chittagong-Chittagong Hill Tracts was given to Ziaur Kushtia-Jessore command of Major Abu Osman Chowdhury. In the meeting the organizational concept of the freedom fighter forces and the command structure were chalked out. Colonel MAG Osmany was to command the liberation forces, later named as MUKTI BAHINI. An exile government called the People's Republic of Bangladesh alias
MUJIBNAGAR GOVERNMENT

headed by TAJUDDIN AHMED was formed on 10

April. On the next day Tajuddin Ahmed announced the names of three more regional commanders. Captain Newazish for Rangpur region, Major Najmul Haque for Dinajpur-Rajshahi-Pabna and Major Jalil for Barisal-Patuakhali region. All these regions were later named as sectors. All of Bangladesh was divided into eleven such sectors and different sub-sectors for operational purposes during the Sector Commander's conference held from 10 to 17 July 1971.

Mujibnagar Government
On 10 April 1971, the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was formed through a
PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE

issued

from

Mujibnagar. It confirmed the declaration of independence made earlier. Bangabandhu SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN, who was then interned in Pakistan, was elected President, SYED NAZRUL ISLAM Vice President and TAJUDDIN AHMED Prime Minister. In the absence of the President, the Vice President was empowered to exercise the powers, duties and responsibilities of the President. The

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 Bangladesh Government held a formal inauguration ceremony at the mango grove of village Baidyanathtala (renamed Mujibnagar) under the present Meherpur district on 17 April 1971. A few platoons of the then EPR and freedom fighters were deployed for presenting the Guard of Honour. The ceremony started at 11 am. When Syed Nazrul Islam hoisted the flag, a small group sang the NATIONAL ANTHEM Amar Sonar Bangla (My Golden Bangla) in a chorus. Syed Nazrul Islam announced the formation of a sovereign government of Bangladesh and introduced the ministers to the audience. The Acting President then delivered his speech. After that, Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed spoke at a press conference. Facts of the Mujibnagar Government President Vice President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (interned in Pakistani jail) Syed Nazrul Islam (Served as the Acting President in the absence of Prime Minister Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law Finance Minister Minister for Home Affairs, Relief and Rehabilitation Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Chief of Staff Departmental Chiefs General Mohammad Ataul Ghani Osmany Major General Abdur Rab Abdul Mannan (Press, Information, Radio and Film); Professor Yusuf Ali (Relief and Rehabilitation); Matiur Rahman (Commerce); Barrister Amirul Islam (Volunteer Corps) On 27 March, Prime Minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi expressed full support of her government to the freedom struggle of the Bengalis. Indian M Mansur Ali AHM Qamaruzzaman the President). Tajuddin Ahmed. Khondakar Mostaq Ahmad

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 Border Security Force (BSF) opened Bangladesh-India border to allow the tortured and panic stricken Bengalis to have safe shelter in India. The governments of West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura established refugee camps along the border. These camps became ready ground for recruitment of the freedom fighters. The students, peasants, workers and political activists joined the Mukti Bahini with high spirit to liberate Bangladesh from the Pakistan army. They were given training on tactics and the use of arms and explosives. Besides Mukti Bahini, many other bahinis were organized inside

Bangladesh at different places to fight Pakistan Army. These Bahinis included Kader Bahini of Tangail, Latif Mirza Bahini of Sirajganj, Akbar Hossain Bahini of Jhinaidah, Hemayet Bahini of Faridpur, Quddus Molla and Gafur Bahini of Barisal, Afsar Bahini of Mymensingh and Aftab Bahini of Mymensingh. Another Bahini named as Mujib Bahini was organised in India with the active assistance of Major General Oban of the Indian army an expert on guerilla warfare. Mujib Bahini was trained at Dehradun. Student League leaders SHEIKH FAZLUL HAQ MANI, Tofael Ahmed, Abdur Razzak and Sirajul Alam Khan were organisers of this Bahini. Mukti Bahini consisted of the regular and the irregular forces. The regulars were later called 'Niomita Bahini' (regular force) and the irregulars were called 'Gono Bahini' (people's Force). The regulars included East Bengal Regiment and EPR troops. The irregular forces, which after initial training joined different sectors, consisted of the students, peasants, workers and political activists.Irregular forces were inducted inside Bangladesh territory to adopt guerilla warfare against the enemy. The regular forces were engaged in fighting in conventional way. The first conventional brigade named as 'Z' Force was created in July. Major Ziaur Rahman was appointed commander of this brigade and the brigade was named as 'Z' Force after the first letter of his name. This brigade consisted of 1, 3 and 8 East Bengal. Bangladesh Air Force, which was organized by Air Commodore A K Khondaker, was created in Dimapur of Nagaland on 28 September.

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud, Flight Lieutenant Badrul Alam, Captain Khaleq, Sattar, Shahabuddin, Mukit, Akram and Sharfuddin and 67 airmen initially joined the Bangladesh Air Force, which had only few Dakota, Auter type air plane and Aluvet helicopters. Similarly, Bangladesh Navy was also established with the naval troops deserted from the Pakistan Navy. On 9 November 1971, the first naval fleet 'Bangabandhu Naubohar' consisting of six small ships was inaugurated. The command structure of the Bangladesh Forces was fully organized with the regular brigades, sector troops and guerilla forces, the Bangladesh Air force and the Navy. The Mukti Bahini had fought many successful battles in putting up initial resistance. At the international level, the United States and the People's Republic of China considered the crisis as an internal affair of Pakistan. On the other hand, India, Soviet Union and her allies and general masses in Japan, and Western countries stood solidly behind Bangladesh. In order to gain strategic advantage vis-a-vis Sino-US-Pakistan axis, Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty was signed on 9 August 1971. It provided a new dimension to the War of Liberation.

Final Phase of the War: (From-03Nov up to 16th Dec)

Having realized that the Pakistan army could not be defeated by conventional warfare method, it was decided to create large guerilla forces all over the country. All Sector commanders were accordingly ordered to recruit, train and induct guerillas inside the country. The joint command of the Mukti Bahini and the Indian army was underway from November 1971. Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, Commander, Eastern Command of Indian Army, became the commander of the joint forces. The joint command of the Mukti Bahini and the Indian Army, however, started operation from the evening of 3 December, when the Pakistan Air Force bombed Amritsar, Sree Nagar and the Kashmir valley. Immediately, the Indian armed forces were ordered to hit back the Pakistan army and thus the Indo-Pak war broke out. The Mukti Bahini and the Indian army continued advancing inside Bangladesh and the defeat and surrender of the Pakistan

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 army became a matter of time. International efforts for a cease-fire before Bangladesh is fully liberated failed due to Soviet veto in the United Nations Security Council. A fleet of helicopters landed on the tarmac of Dhaka airport at about 4 p.m. with Lieutenant General Aurora and his staff. Group Captain AK Khandaker, Deputy Chief of Staff, Bangladesh Forces represented the Mukti Bahini. Lieutenant General AAK Niazi received Lieutenant General Aurora. The instrument of surrender was signed by Lieutenant Jagit Sing Aurora and Lieutenant General Niazi at the RAMNA RACECOURSE (now Suhrawardy Uddyan) at one minute past 5 p.m. on 16 December 1971.

Sectors of the War of Liberation:

In the War of Liberation in 1971 the whole geographical area of the then East Pakistan was strategically divided into eleven sectors with a sector commander for each of them. For better efficiency in military operations each of the sectors were divided into a number of sub-sectors under a commander.

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16

Sector 1: comprised the districts of Chittagong and Chittagong Hill

Tracts, and the entire eastern area of the Noakhali district on the banks of the river Muhuri. The headquarters of the sector was at Harina. The sector commander was Major Ziaur Rahman, later replaced by Major Rafiqul Islam. The five sub-sectors of this sector and their commanders were: Rishimukh (Captain Shamsul Islam); Sreenagar (Captain Matiur Rahman, later replaced by Captain Mahfuzur Rahman); Manughat (Captain Mahfuzur Rahman); Tabalchhari (Subedar Ali Hossain); and Dimagiri (a Subedar, whose name is not known).

Sector 2: comprised the districts of Dhaka, Comilla, and Faridpur, and

part of Noakhali district. The sector commander was Major Khaled Mosharraf, later replaced by Major ATM Haider . About thirty five thousand guerilla fighters fought in this sector. Nearly six thousand of them were members of regular armed forces. The six sub-sectors of this sector (and their commanders) were: Gaugasagar, Akhaura and Kasba (Mahbub, later replaced by Lieutenant Farooq, and Lieutenant Humayun Kabir); Mandabhav (Captain Gaffar); Shalda-nadi (Abdus Saleq Chowdhury); Matinagar (Lieutenant Didarul Alam); Nirbhoypur (Captain Akbar, later replaced by Lieutant Mahbub); and Rajnagar (Captain Jafar Imam, later replaced by Captain Shahid, and Lieutenant Imamuzzaman).

Sector 3: comprised the area between Churaman Kathi (near Sreemangal)

and Sylhet in the north and Singerbil of Brahmanbaria in the south. The sector commander was Major KM Shafiullah, later replaced by Major ANM Nuruzzaman. Nineteen guerilla bases operated in this sector. By November 1971, the number of the guerilla fighters in the sector stood at nearly thirty thousand. The ten sub-sectors of this sector (and their commanders) were: Asrambari (Captain Aziz, later replaced by Captain Ejaz); Baghaibari (Captain Aziz, later replaced by Captain Ejaz); Hatkata (Captain Matiur Rahman); Simla (Captain Matin); Panchabati (Captain Nasim); Mantala (Captain MSA Bhuyan); Vijoynagar (Captain MSA Bhuyan); Kalachhora (Lieutenant Majumdar); Kalkalia (Lieutenant Golam Helal Morshed); and Bamutia (Lieutenant Sayeed).

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16

Sector 4: comprised the area from Habiganj sub-division of Sylhet

district on the north to Kanaighat Police Station on the south along the 100 mile long border with India. The sector commander was Major Chittarajan Datta, later replaced by Captain A Rab. The headquarters of the sector was initially at Karimganj and later at Masimpur. The freedom fighters in this sector included about nine thousand guerilla fighters and about four thousand regular members of the armed forces. The six sub-sectors of this sector (and their commanders) were: Jalalpur (Masudur Rab Sadi); Barapunji (Captain A Rab); Amlasid (Lieutenant Zahir); Kukital (Flight Lieutenant Kader, later replaced by Captain Shariful Haq); Kailas Shahar (Lieutenant Wakiuzzaman); and Kamalpur (Captain Enam).

Sector 5: comprised the area from Durgapur to Danki (Tamabil) of

Sylhet district and the entire area up to the eastern borders of the district. Sector commander was Major Mir Shawkat Ali. The headquarters of the sector was at Banshtala. The six sub-sectors of this sector and their commanders were: Muktapur (Subedar Nazir Hossain, freedom fighter Faruq was second in command); Dauki (Subedar Major BR Chowdhury); Shela (Captain Helal, who had two assistant commanders, Lieutenant Mahbubar Rahman and Lieutenant Abdur Rauf); Bholajanj (Lieutenant Taheruddin Akhunji who had Lieutenant SM Khaled as assistant commander); Balat (Subedar Ghani, later replaced by Captain Salahuddin and freedom fighter Enanmul Haq Chowdhury); and Barachhara (Captain Muslim Uddin).

Sector 6: comprised Rangpur district and part of Dinajpur district.

Wing Commander M Khdemul Bashar was the sector commander. The headquarters of the sector was at Burimari near Patgram. The number of soldiers in this sector was 700, which rose to about eleven thousand in December. The five sub-sectors of the sector (and their commanders were: Bhajanpur (Captain Nazrul, later replaced by Squadron leader Sadruddin and Captain Shahriyar); Patgram (initially, some junior commissioned officers of the EPR and later, Captain Matiur Rahman); Sahebganj (Captain Nawazesh Uddin); Mogalhat (Captain Delwar); and Chilahati (Flight Lieutenant Iqbal).

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16

Sector 7: comprised the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra and part of

Dinajpur district. The sector commander was Major Nazrul Haq, later replaced by Subedar Major A Rab and Kazi Nuruzzaman. The headquarters of the sector was at Taranngapur. About fifteen thousand freedom fighters fought in this sector. The eight sub-sectors of the sector and their commanders were: Malan (initially some junior commanding officers and later, Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir); Tapan (Major Nazmul Haq, later replaced by some junior commanding officers of the EPR); Mehdipur (Subedar Iliyas, later replaced by Captain Mahiuddin Jahangir); Hamzapur (Captain Idris); Anginabad (a freedom fighter); Sheikhpara (Captain Rashid); Thokrabari (Subedar Muazzam); and Lalgola (Captain Gheyasuddin Chowdhury).

Sector 8: In April 1971, the operational area of the sector comprised the
districts of Kushtia, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal, Faridpur and Patuakhali . At the end of May the sector was reconstituted and comprised the districts of Kusthia, Jessore and Khulna districts, Satkhira sub-division, and the northern part of Faridpur district. The sector commander was Major Abu Osman Chowdhury, later replaced by Major MA Manzur. The headquarters of the sector was at Benapole. About ten thousand freedom fighters fought in this sector. The seven sub-sectors of the sector and their commanders were: Boyra (Captain Khondakar Nazmul Huda); Hakimpur (Captain Shafiq Ullah); Bhomra (Captain Salahuddin later replaced by Captain Shahabuddin); Lalbazar (Captain AR Azam Chowdhury); Banpur (Captain Mostafizur Rahman); Benapole (Captain Abdul Halim, later replaced by Captain Tawfiq-eElahi Chowdhury); and Shikarpur (Captain Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, later replaced by Lieutenant Jahangir).

Sector 9: comprised the districts of Barisal and Patuakhali, and parts of

the district of Khulna and Faridpur. The sector commander was Major MA
JALIL,

later replaced by Major MA Manzur and Major Joynal Abedin. The

three sub-sectors of the sector were: Taki, Hingalganj, and Shamshernagar.

Sector 10: This sector was constituted with the naval commandos. Eight
Bengali officers of Pakistan Navy trained in France were the pioneers in

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 forming this force. These officers were Ghazi Mohammad Rahmatullah (Chief Petty Officer), Syed Mosharraf Hossain (Petty Officer), Amin Ullah Sheikh (Petty Officer); Ahsan Ullah (M E-1), AW Chowdhury (RO-1), Badiul Alam (ME1), AR Miah (EN-1), Abedur Rahman (Steward-1). These eight officers were given special training on the river Jamuna near Delhi under the auspices of the Indian Navy. The force was later commanded by Indian commander MN Sumanta.

Sector 11: comprised the districts of Mymensingh and Tangail, Major

M Abu Taher were the sector commander. After Major Taher was seriously wounded in a battle, he was replaced by Squadron Leader Hamidullah. The headquarters of the sector was at Mahendraganj. About twenty five thousand freedom fighters fought in this sector. The eight subsectors of the sector (and their commanders) were: Mankarchar (Squadron Leader Hamidullah); Mahendraganj (Lieutenant Mannan); Purakhasia (Lieutenant Hashem); Dhalu (Lieutenant Taher, later replaced by Lieutenant Kamal); Rangra (Matiur Rahman); Shivabari (some junior commanding officers of the EPR); Bagmara (some junior commanding officers of the EPR); and Maheshkhola (a member of the EPR).

Victory Day: Bijoy Dibash commemorates the day in 1971 (16 December)
when ninety thousand troops of the Pakistan occupation army surrendered to the allied forces of Bangladesh and India at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. The day is observed with due solemnity and nationalistic fervour. The first ray of the morning is heralded with a 31 gun-salute. In capital Dhaka, there is usually a ceremonial military parade in which all uniformed services are represented. Hundreds of thousands of people gather at the National Parade Square to watch this parade. Floral wreaths are laid at the Jatiya Smriti Saudha (National Memorial Monument) at Savar near Dhaka in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the country.

Chapter Related Questions:

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Historical Background of Bangladesh Lecture: 14-16 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. What was the background of Language Movement? Discuss the various phases of Language Movement. What was the first phage of Language Movement? What was the second phage of Language Movement? What was the last phage of Language Movement? What were outcomes or achievements of Language Movement? Discuss the latest achievements of Language Movement? What was the Twenty One Point Programme? Write down all points of it. What was the Significance of the Twenty One Point Programme? Discuss various discriminations against East Pakistan. What was the historical background of Six Point Movement? What was Six Point Programme and what were they? Explain the outcomes/significance of Six Point Programme. Six point Programme was Charter of Freedom-explain this statement. What was the historical background of the liberation war of Bangladesh? Discuss the various phases of liberation war of Bangladesh. Discuss the role of various forces during the liberation war of Bangladesh. Write short note on followings: a) Operation Search Light b) Mujibnagar Government c) Victory Day

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