LECTURE 10
THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
PROFESSOR SYED M HASHEMI
OUTLINE: LECTURE 10
The War of Independence
Learning Objectives:
Recognize that the war of independence was the
culmination of decades of struggle for social, economic,
cultural, political emancipation of the people of Bangladesh
Trace the events from the 1969 mass uprising to the start of
the genocide by Pakistan on March 26th 1971
Identify the critical leaders in Bangladesh and their
contributions during the war of independence
Identify the war criminals and their role in the genocide and
the killing of Bengalee intellectuals
Describe the role of superpowers and the global support for
Bangladesh in the war of independence
FROM OPPRESSION TO EMANCIPATION
Movement against the denial
of Bengali language and
culture
Movement against economic
exploitation, regional disparity,
income inequality &
impoverishment of rural
peasantry
Movement against
discrimination in
administration, justice &
national security
Movement against oppression
of the military bureaucratic
state
MASS UPSURGE, 1969 AND FALL OF AYUB KHAN
1968 Agartala
Conspiracy Case and
the arrest of Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman
fuelled a mass
movement in the East
All parties of Pakistan
came under one
demand for the fall of
Ayub Khan
Protest rallies,
student agitation and
labor strikes
increased in intensity
March 25, 1969 Ayub
relinquished his
presidency
RISE OF ANOTHER MILITARY DICTATOR: GENERAL YAHYA
Ayub Khan handed over power to
Army Commander Gen Yahya Khan
Martial law was declared
Chief Martial Law Administrator Gen
Yahya Khan on March 31, 1969
declared himself President
Election through universal adult
franchise was promised
National Assembly of 300 seats to
include 162 from EP and 138 from WP
NOVEMBER 1970: CYCLONE AND ITS IMPACT
On the night between 12 & 13 November, 1970, East
Pakistan’s coastline was struck by a major cyclone
accompanied by high tidal waves
Over half a million people were killed
The Pakistan state wasn’t even aware; later in denial;
and then sent very little relief and way too late
Massive civilian mobilization and foreign relief efforts
helped in the recovery
East Pakistan realized through this experience, the
insensitivity of the Pakistanis towards them
1970 ELECTION AND LANDSLIDE VICTORY
Bangbandhu led Awami League won a landslide victory on the
basis of the six point demand
- 160 out of 162 seats in EP ; total seats in Pakistan - 300
Bhutto’s PPP won 81 seats; all in WP
Absolute victory of Awami League energized EP demand for
freedom and regional autonomy
POST-ELECTION EVENTS
Bhutto refuses to allow Mujib to form government
January 17, 1971: Yahya visits Bhutto in Larkana with military
generals and draws up plan for military action in EP
Pak military in EP strengthened and prepared for Operation Blitz
March 1: Yahya postpones convening of Parliament
Bengalis realize Pakistan cannot be trusted to hand over power
Non Cooperation Movement starts
March 2: Students hoist flag of BD at Dhaka University
March 3: Students read out Manifesto of BD Independence
March 7: Mujib calls on people to resist conspiracies and prepare
for struggle for freedom and independence
March: Yahya and Bhutto hold meetings with Mujib and AL but
secretly prepare for genocide
March 25: Operation Searchlight and mass killings start under
General Khadim Hussain Raja
March 26: Bangabandhu declares independence of Bangladesh
MARCH 2 AND MARCH 7, 1971
OPERATION SEARCHLIGHT: MILITARY CRACKDOWN
In Dhaka targeted attacks with tanks and artillery on
student halls
university teachers
HQ of Police and East Pakistan Rifles
Hindu residential areas
urban slums
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
March 26, 1971: Before his arrest, Bangabandhu declared
independence of Bangladesh transmitted through EPR wireless
“This may be my last message. From today Bangla Desh is independent. I call upon the people of
Bangla Desh, wherever you are and with whatever you have, to resist the army of occupation to the
last. Your fight must go on until the last soldier of the Pakistan occupation army is expelled from the
soil of Bangla Desh and final victory is achieved.”
March 26, 2:30 PM: AL Leader M A Hannan broadcasts message
from Chittagong Radio
March 26 and 27: broadcasts from Kalurghat radio station by
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra
March 27, 7:30 PM: Major Zia announces independence and
military revolt from Kalurghat radio station
Zia’s announcement (on Bangabandhu’s behalf) was heard by many
more than earlier announcements and had a strong impact
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Kalurghat radio
transmitter through
which Major Zia
announced declaration
of independence on
27 March and was
wiped out by the
Pakistan Air Force on
March 30.
M A Hannan in Chittagong played a crucial
role in the declaration of independence by
Sheikh Mujib on 26 March
GOVERNMENT-IN-EXILE
Formed on April 10, 1971
Took oath on April 17, 1971 at
Mujibnagar, Meherpur, Kushtia
Mujib declared president of BD
Acting President - Syed Nazrul Islam
Prime Minister - Tajuddin Ahmed
Commander of BD Mukti Bahini –
Colonel M A G Osmani
A small cabinet was also formed
MUKTI BAHINI AND ARMED STRUGGLE
Mukti Bahini also known as freedom fighters
Mujibnagar Government formed Mukti Bahini under the
command of Colonel M A G Osmani
War strategy mainly was guerilla warfare
Regular and irregular forces were formed
The country was divided into eleven sectors
MUKTI BAHINI AND ARMED STRUGGLE
Eleven Sector Commanders
OTHER FORCES
Z force K force S force
Ziaur Rahman Khaled Mosharraf K.M. Saffiullah
OTHER FORCES
Other forces:
Mujib Bahini
Kader Bahini
Some other leftist forces
Brigade forces:
Z force- Ziaur Rahman
K force- Khaled Mosharraf
S force- K.M. Saffiullah
Naval and air wings
Crack platoon of Mukti Bahini was very active in occupied Dhaka
and kept people’s morale high
MUKTI BAHINI
MUKTI BAHINI
REFUGEES
10 million Bangladeshis fled to India as refugees
WAR ON CULTURAL FRONT
Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendro inspired the people through news
and commentary on the war and the heroism of the Mukti
Bahini and cultural programs to keep morale high
WAR CRIMES IN 1971
Genocide
KILLING OF INTELLECTUALS
14th December Intellectuals Martyrs Day
GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR BANGLADESH
Local media couldn’t cover the
liberation war stories and Pakistani
atrocities
International media wholeheartedly
stood beside the oppressed people of
Bangladesh
Concert for Bangladesh was organized
and drew huge global attention
ROLE OF SUPERPOWERS
Cold War impacted on
the liberation war and
its outcomes
Role of USA
Role of Soviet Russia
Role of China
Indo-Soviet Friendship
Treaty
United Nations Security
Council events
THE 14 DAY INDO-PAK WAR: DECEMBER 3-16
Yahya Khan instructed the army to attack on western
part of India. But it failed to distract India from East
Pakistan.
As a result, India-Pakistan war broke out.
In December, Pakistani soldiers were already in total
disaster caused by the Mukti Bahini attacks.
Mukti Bahini gave all information about the ground
and the strategic enemy lines.
India launched cross border
operation on December 4, 1971 to
expel Pakistani army from East
Pakistan
Thousands of Indian troops with
support of navy and air force set
their foots on Bangladeshi soil
THE SURRENDER OF THE PAKISTANI FORCES
Lieutenant General Niazi being escorted by
Lieutenant General Aurora and Major ATM Lieutenant General Niaz signing the
Haider for the signing of the Instrument of Instrument of Surrender
Surrender on 16 December 1971.
THE LIBERATION DAY
December 16, 1971 is the victory
day of Bangladesh
A new country was born based on
Bengalee nationalism
Jubilant crowds
celebrate the great
victory against the
powerful Pakistan
military forces
SEVEN BIRSRESHTHO
WE ARE BANGLADESH!
