East West University

GEN 226 / Lecture 23

Formation of Joint Indo-Bangladesh Forces and the Final Victory

The Mukti Bahini fought many successful battles in putting up initial resistance. But within a short time,
they were temporarily contained by the Pakistan army and were compelled to withdraw to the safe
sanctuary in the Indian territory. The Mukti Bahini was, however, re-equipped, reorganised and
retrained. As a result, it got into fighting with fresh zeal after April-May 1971.

At the international level, the United States of America 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.

Having realised 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,
Sreenagar 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 army became a matter of
time. International efforts for a cease-fire failed due to Soviet veto in the United Nations Security
Council.

The Indian troops and the freedom fighters of Sector 11 reached Tongi on 14 December, and Savar in
the morning of 16 December. Major General Jamshed, commander 36 Division of the Pakistan Army
received Major General Nagra at Mirpur Bridge near Dhaka City. The Mukti Bahini and the Indian forces
entered Dhaka city at 10.10 a. m. Major General Jacob, the chief of staff of the Indian Eastern Command
landed at Dhaka airport at 1 p.m with the draft instrument of surrender.

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 Khandker, 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 Udyan) at one minute past 5 pm on 16 December 1971. [Rafiqul Islam]
[Abridged and Edited]
[http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=War_of_Liberation,_The]

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Instrument of Surrender of the Pakistani Forces in 1971
The Pakistani Instrument of Surrender was a written agreement that enabled the surrender of the
Pakistani Armed Forces on 16 December 1971 at the Ramna Race Course, at present Surhawardi Uddyan
in Dhaka, thereby achieving for Bangladesh victory in the Liberation War.

Lieutenant-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, Martial Law Administrator of East Pakistan and also the
Commander of Eastern Command of Pakistan surrendered to Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora,
General Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Command, India and Bangladesh Forces in the Eastern
Theatre. Air Commodore A K Khandker, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Forces, represented the
Provisional Government of Bangladesh and acted as witness to the surrender.

Among others also present were Vice-Admiral Mohammad Shariff, Commander of the Pakistani Naval
Eastern Command and Air Vice-Marshal Patrick D. Callaghan of the Pakistan Air Force's Eastern Air Force
Command, who signed the agreement. On behalf of Bangladesh, Group Captain A K Khandker acted as
witness to the surrender. to Lieutenant-General Sagat Singh, Commander of the Indian IV Corps, Air
Marshal Hari Chand Dewan, Commander of Indian Eastern Air Command, Major General J F R Jacob,
Chief of Staff of the Indian Eastern Command, acted as witnesses on behalf of India. The signing of the
document marked the end of the Bangladesh Liberation War and the creation of Bangladesh.

The instrument of surrender was as follows:

The Pakistan Eastern Command agree to surrender all Pakistan Armed Forces in Bangladesh to
Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora, General Officer Commanding-in-chief of the Indian and
Bangladesh forces in the eastern theatre. This surrender includes all Pakistan land, air and naval
forces as also all Para-military forces and civil armed forces. These forces will lay down their arms and
surrender at the places where they are currently located to the nearest regular troops under the
command of Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora.

The Pakistan eastern command shall come under the order of Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora
as soon as this instrument has been signed. Disobedience of orders will be regarded as a breach of
the surrender terms and will be dealt with in accordance with the accepted laws and usages of war.
The decision of Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora will be final should any doubt arise as to the
meaning or interpretation of the surrender terms. Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora gives a
solemn assurance that personnel who surrender shall be treated with dignity and respect that
soldiers are entitled to in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention and guarantees
the safety and well being of all Pakistan military and Para-military forces who surrender. Protection
will be provided to foreign nationals, ethnic minorities and personnel of West Pakistan origin by the
forces under the command of Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora.

[References: www.wikipedia.org, "Instrument of Surrender of Pakistani forces in Dacca", Hosted by

Ministry of External Affairs, India]

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Gallantry Awards of the Liberation War of Bangladesh

The win in the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 is the best ever remarkable achievement of the
Bengali nation. Thousands of Bengalis participated in this war including women, elderly people, juvenile
and the youth. The Bangladesh Armed Force was also established during the war under the command
of the Mujibnagar Government. So, there were the brave participations of the members of the
Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force and the then Bangladesh Rifles in the war. They all together with the
help of friendly Indian Army defeated the Pakistani occupation force and for the heroic contributions of
the freedom fighters the Bengali nation has achieved an independent Bangladesh. The grateful nation
has so awarded gallantry awards to some of its best and bravest sons of the soil. Gallantry titles have
been awarded to distinguished freedom fighters in recognition of their exceptional heroism and self-
sacrifices during the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
A total of 676 participants of the Liberation War received gallantry awards for their contribution. Four
categories of gallantry awards were created after the war in Bangladesh. These are: a. Bir Sreshtho (The
Most Valiant Hero), b. Bir Uttom (The Great Valiant Hero), c. Bir Bikrom (Valiant Hero) and d. Bir Protik
(Idol of Courage).

The Bir Sreshtho (The Most Valiant Hero) is the highest military award of Bangladesh. It was awarded to
seven freedom fighters who showed utmost bravery and died in action for their nation. They are
considered martyrs.
All the recipients of this award were killed in action during the Liberation War of 1971. The award was
published by a Bangladesh Gazette on 15 December 1973. It is the highest military award of Bangladesh,
similar to the American Medal of Honor or the British Victoria Cross. It has only been given in 1973 to
seven persons. Listed below are the people who have received the Bir Srestho. They are all considered
'Shaheed' (Martyrs).

1. Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir of Bangladesh Army

2. Sepoy Hamidur Rahman of Bangladesh Army
3. Sepoy Mostafa Kamal of Bangladesh Army
4. Engineroom Artificer Ruhul Amin of Bangladesh Navy
5. Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman of Bangladesh Air Force
6. Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf of Bangladesh Rifles and
7. Lance Naik Nur Mohammad Sheikh of Bangladesh Rifles.

Bir Uttom (The Great Valiant Hero) is the second highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh
after the Bir Sreshtho. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, this award was declared on the 15
December 1973. Total 68 people have been awarded Bir Uttom for their bravery and dedication in the
Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

Bir Bikrom (Valiant Hero) is the third highest gallantry award in Bangladesh. Like the other gallantry
awards, this was introduced after the 1971 War of Liberation of Bangladesh. Total 175 fighters have

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been awarded Bir Bikrom on 15 December 1973 for their heroic actions in the Liberation War of
Bangladesh in 1971. The Government of Bangladesh declared the name of the awardees in a Bangladesh
Gazette on 15 December 1973.

Bir Protik (Idol of Courage) is the fourth highest gallantry award in Bangladesh. This award was also
declared on 15 December 1973. A total of 426 people have received the award so far, all for their
actions in the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

The awardees are invited to state functions and they occupy positions of honour in society. The gallantry
awardees are really the best sons of our soil. We salute them for their bravery.

[References: Sirajul Islam (Ed.), Banglapedia; en.wikipedia.org; the website of the Ministry of the
Liberation War Affairs of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh]

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The Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu
10th of January is the historic homecoming day of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On this day in
1972 the Father of the Nation, the best ever Bangalee in thousand years Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman returned to an independent country - the new born Bangladesh. After a nine and half months
confinement in the jail of the then West Pakistan during the Liberation War in 1971, he returned
heroically to his own country that he had so dearly dreamt of.

Pakistani occupation forces arrested him on 25 March 25 1971 from his Dhanmondi Road no 32
residence during the late night crackdown on the people of Bangladesh, then East Pakistan. Although
during the War of Liberation of 1971 Bangabandhu had been a prisoner in West Pakistan, he was made,
in absentia, the President of the provisional government, called the Mujibnagar Government, formed on
10 April 1971. Throughout the period of the War of Liberation, Bangabandhu’s charisma worked as the
source of inspiration for freedom fighters and for national unity and strength.

The trial of Bangabandhu by the Pakistani junta giving death sentence to him moved the world leaders
to save his life. After the liberation of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971 from Pakistani occupation,
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was released from Pakistan jail and via London he made a
triumphant homecoming, arriving in Dhaka on 10 January 1972 in the midst of joy and jubilations
throughout the country. Hundreds of thousands of people of all walks of life received him at the Tejgaon
Old Airport by according him a heroic welcome. With his homecoming, all uncertainties loomed large
around the leadership of the new republic, for that matter, the future of Bangladesh were removed, as
the daily The Guardian (published from London) in an editorial on 10 January 1972 wrote: “Once Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman steps out at Dacca Airport the new republic becomes a solid fact.”

January 10, 1972 is a milestone in the history of independent Bangladesh for two reasons. Firstly,
Bangabandhu returned to his homeland on this day after being freed from a Pakistani prison. It was not
the return of an ordinary prisoner on being set free; it was the arrival of the architect of Bangladesh, and
therefore the importance and significance of his homecoming was enormous. Secondly, the architect
presented the future outline of an independent country before the people through his 10 January
speech immediately after setting foot on the soil of his motherland. Through this direction-giving
address, a leader like Bangabandhu did what had been required at that juncture of time. He had earlier
provided directions to the Bengalis on 7 March 1971 from Racecourse and from that very ground on 10
January 1972 Bangabandhu gave another complete plan for building a new nation state. Gratitude for
achieving independence at the cost of millions of lives was spelt out at the very beginning of his speech.
He boldly stated the principles or the ideals on which the newly born country would be founded. He
stated thus, “Bangladesh will be an ideal country. And its basis shall not be any religion. The pillars of the
state shall be democracy, socialism and secularism.” Bangabandhu expressed his gratitude to the
friendly international community, especially to India, its people and her Prime Minister Mrs Indira
Gandhi. He expressed gratefulness to other countries also. He requested all free countries of the world
to recognise Bangladesh as recognition for an independent Bangladesh was extremely important. About
the anti liberation forces Bangabandhu had a word of caution: “Necessary actions will be taken at

5
appropriate times against those who had actively collaborated with the Yahya regime. They shall be
tried.”

So January 10 was not only the day of Bangabandhu’s homecoming; it was also the day when
Bangladesh received directives on how to move forward.

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Bangabandhu and the Emergence of Bangladesh
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh. Bangabandhu was
undoubtedly the charismatic personality of the Bengalis who gave this nation an independent and
sovereign country named Bangladesh.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman showed the potential of leadership since his school life. He was an activist of
the Bengal Provincial Muslim League and a member of the All India Muslim League Council from 1943
onwards.
In 1953, Sheikh Mujib was elected general secretary of the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League, a post
that he held until 1966 when he became president of the party. In 1966, he announced his famous Six-
Point Programme what he called 'Our' [Bangalis'] Charter of Survival'. In short, the programme
envisioned a new approach to political life. In letters and spirit, the Six-Point Programme meant virtual
independence for East Pakistan.
Following the presentation of the challenging Six-point programme by Mujib, the Ayub regime put him
behind the bars and he was imprisoned. The mass movement reached such a momentum in early 1969
that Ayub was compelled to withdraw the case and Sheikh Mujib was released on 22 February 1969
unconditionally.
On the following day of his release, the Sarbadaliya Chhatra Sangram Parishad organised a mass
reception to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Ramna Racecourse (now, Suhrawardy Udyan). On behalf of the
Sangram Parishad Tofael Ahmed, the president of the Sangram Parishad, bestowed on Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman the title of 'Bangabandhu' (Friend of the Bangalis).
The first ever general elections of Pakistan in December 1970 made Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman the sole spokesman of East Pakistan. Under his leadership, the Awami League won 167 out of
169 seats allotted to East Pakistan in the Pakistan National Assembly. But General Yahya's military junta
and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the elected leader of PPP, conspired not to allow Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman to form the government in the centre. On 1 March 1971, President Yahya Khan postponed
unilaterally the Dhaka National Assembly meet scheduled to be held on 3 March. In response,
Bangabandhu called for an all-out Non-cooperation Movement in East Pakistan. During the course of
non-cooperation the entire civil administration in East Pakistan came under his control and moved
according to his directives. He became, in fact, the de facto head of government for the province.
During this time, on 7 March 1971 Mujib made a historic address at a mammoth gathering of a million of
people at the Race Course which marked a turning point in the history of the Bangali 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 declared:
“... The struggle this time is the struggle for our emancipation; the struggle this time is the struggle for
independence.”
But at mid-night of 25 March 1971, the Pakistan army launched its brutal crackdown in different areas of
Dhaka city including the University of Dhaka killing students, teachers and innocent people. Thus a nine-

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month long genocidal killing was unleashed by the Pakistan occupation army. Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujib was arrested on the night of 25. Before his arrest Bangabandhu sent a wireless message to
Chittagong over the ex-EPR transmitter for transmission declaring the Independence of Bangladesh. To
quote his declaration:
“This may be my last message, from today Bangladesh is independent. I call upon the people of
Bangladesh wherever you might be and whatever you have, to resist the army of occupation to the last.
Your fight must go on until the last soldier of the Pakistan occupation army is expelled from the soil of
Bangladesh and final victory is achieved.”
Although during the War of Liberation initiating in the wake of the 25 March army crackdown
Bangabandhu had been a prisoner in the hands of Pakistan throughout the period of the War of
Liberation, Sheikh Mujib's charisma worked as the source of inspiration for freedom fighters and for
national unity and strength. At last on 16 December, 1971 we achieved our independence.
[References: Sirajul Islam (Ed.), Banglapedia; Harun-or-Rashid, Bangladesh: Rajneeti, Sarkar o
Sashontantrik Unnayan, 1757-2000; Md. Mahbubor Rahman, Bangladesher Itihas, 1947-71]

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Flag as a Source of Inspiration during the Liberation War
The national flag of Bangladesh was officially adopted on 17th January 1972. It consists of a red disc on
top of a green field, offset slightly toward the hoist so that it appears centred when the flag is flying. The
red disc represents the sun rising over Bengal and also the blood of those who died for the
independence of Bangladesh. The green field stands for the lushness of the land of Bangladesh.

Initially the flag had the map of Bangladesh in the centre, which was withdrawn later. The Mujibnagar
Government adopted the pattern of the flag unfurled by the student leaders in the Dhaka University on
2 March 1971. It was later removed. The flag was first raised in Dhaka University on 2nd March 1971.

On 7 March 1971, when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his historic speech at the
Racecourse Maidan the flag of independent Bangladesh was behind him. Later on 23 March 1971, in the
republic day or Pakistan Day of Pakistan, the Bengalis hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh at the
top of every important government and private offices.

So, it can be easily comprehended that this flag was a source of inspiration especially to the freedom
fighters throughout the whole Liberation War of Bangladesh. When the Mujibnagar Government or the
Bangladesh Government in Exile took oath in Mujibnagar the freedom fighters gave a formal Guard of
Honour to the Acting President Syed Nazrul Islam with this flag of independent Bangladesh.

In each training camp of the freedom fighters or other liberation forces of Bangladesh the hoisted flag of
independent Bangladesh inspired the fighters to make their motherland free from enemy. When the
freedom fighters freed any region of the country they hoisted the flag with joyfulness.

Other than that the whole Bengali nation was united during our Liberation War. And the flag of
independent Bangladesh was like a dream flag to them.

[http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=National_Flag]
[https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-national-flag-of-Bangladesh]
[https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Bangladesh]

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