Victory Day (Bangladesh)

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Victory day (Bangla:বিজয় দিবস) is celebrated on December 16 in Bangladesh. On this day in 1971, the Pakistani Army surrendered to the Indo-Bangladeshi High Command in Dhaka, ending a 9 month war of independence. Pakistani General AAK Niazi surrendered officially to the Allied forces commander General Jagjit Singh Aurora. Bangladesh gained independence after 9 months of a long and bloody struggle.

India also commemorates victory over Pakistan on the same day in 1971 on Vijay Diwas.

1 Background
- 1.1 Journey towards the Victory
- 1.2 The day of Victory
2 See also

[edit] Background

A history of bloody war of this nation is closely related to its victory day. The victory day of Bangladesh is significant in the sense that is actually a result of a movement against the imposing rule of Pakistan. For this reason the relationship between the then East Pakistan and West Pakistan were progressively deteriorated. The general election of 1970 had made Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the unquestioned leader of the people. His historic address on 7 March 1971 made this point quite clear to the Pakistani military army. Meanwhile talks started between Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Yahya Khan to resolve the outstanding issues. The Pakistani military were bringing more troops to Bangladesh. No sooner the talks failed, the genocide began, with the Pakistan army's crackdown by the order of Yahya Khan on the midnight of 25 March 1971. The Pakistani Army started killing the people, burnt their houses, looted their valuables and raped their women. On 26 March Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was taken prisoner at 1:30 am by the Pakistan army. Before his arrest in early hours of 26th March he sent a wireless message declaring independence of Bangladesh. On 27th March from Chittagong Radio Station Major Ziaur Rahman declared independence and appealed for international support.

[edit] Journey towards the Victory

The arrest of their beloved leader could not dampen the spirit of Bangalees. They reaffirmed their promise to Bongobondhu to “free their motherland” and began to prepare themselves to free their country. The Mukti Bahini had fought many successful battles in putting up initial resistance.

The Liberation War of Bangladesh may consider in 4 phases:

[edit] Phase 1: March 27 to May

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. On completion of training, they were posted to different sectors to fight the enemy. Pakistan airlifted two primary divisions and reorganized their forces. The headquarters of the Bangladesh Forces was established at 8 Theatre Road, Calcutta which started functioning from 12 April 1971. The Bangladesh government was formed on April 17 at Mujib Nagar. The country was divided into four sectors to conduct the war. The temporary headquarter was estblished at Teliapara in Sylhet division.

[edit] Phase 2: June to September

Bangladesh forces command was set up in July, with Col. MAG Osmani as commander in chief. Three brigades (11 Battalions) were raised for conventional warfare; a large guerrilla force (estimated 100,000) was trained. Economic and Military targets in Dhaka were attacked. The major success story of guerrilla operation was Operation Jackpot in Chittagong on August 16, 1971. The Indian army took over supplying the Mukti Bahini from the BSF (Bordar Security Force of India). They organized 6 sectors for supplying the Bangladesh forces.

[edit] Phase 3: October to beginning of December

Bangladesh conventional forces attacked border outposts. Kamalpur, Belonia and Battle of Boyra are the few examples. The Bangladeshi freedom fighters even managed to temporarily capture airstrips at Lalmonirhat and Shalutikar. Both of these were used for flying in supplies and arms from India.

[edit] Phase 4: December 3 - December 14

Pakistani forces were gradually becoming disorganized due to the sudden and quick guerrilla attack by the Bengali freedom fighters in most of the areas. The Pakistani Army was in a dreadful condition and gradually lost the will to fight because most of their major fortresses had fallen to the allied Bengali-Indian forces. On December 14, 1971, only two days before surrendering to the Indian military and the Mukhti Bahini forces, the Pakistani army, with the assistance of local Islamist leaders and groups Al-Badr and Al-Shams systematically killed - over 200 of East Pakistan's intellectuals and scholars. Professors, journalists, doctors, artists, engineers, writers were rounded up in Dhaka, blindfolded, taken to torture cells in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Nakhalpara, Rajarbagh and other locations. In one such incident, notable film-maker Jahir Raihan was killed on January 30, 1972 in Mirpur allegedly by the armed Beharis.

[edit] The day of Victory

The strategy of the Mukti Bahini, aided by Indian forces, overwhelmed the Pakistani forces and within 10 days of India's joining the war, the Pakistani Army was compelled to surrender on December 16, 1971. The Indian troops and the freedom fighters of 11 Sectors 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 am. Major General Jacob, the Chief of Staff of the Indian Eastern command landed at Dhaka airport at 1 pm. with the draft Instrument of Surrender. A fleet of helicopters landed on the tarmac of Dhaka airport at about 4 pm. with Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh 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 pm. on 16 December, 1971.