Bangladesh War of Independence

The modern history of Bangladesh military began its inception on the night of 25 March 1971 when the Pakistan military launched a brutal attack named Operation Searchlight. On 26 March^[9] 1971, Major Ziaur Rahman, 2nd-in-Command of the 8th East Bengal Rgmt. and other Bengali officers organized a revolt and countered the Pakistan army units in Jessore, Chittagong, Comilla and other areas in East Pakistan. During the early morning hours of 26 March Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the Independence of Bangladesh as the interim head of the Provincial Bangladesh Government. On 27 March Major Ziaur Rahman broadcast the second declaration of Independence on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the captured Kalurghat radio station in Chittagong.^[10] Hence, the Independence day of Bangladesh is 26 March.^[11] On 4 April 1971 under the command and leadership of the commander-in-chiefColonel M. A. G. Osmani, the Bangladesh Forces began organization and creation with the title of Mukti Bahini. During the first Bangladesh Sector Commanders Conference^[12] (held during 11–17 July 1971) Mukti Bahini were organized and formed for the ongoing Bangladesh Liberation war from Pakistan. It was significant in the sense that during this historic conference the Mukti Bahini field command structure, sector reorganization, reinforcement, appointment of field commanders and tactics of warfare were decided upon and carried out. This conference was presided over jointly by the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tajuddin Ahmed,^[13] and Colonel Muhammad Ataul Gani OsmaniCommander in Chief of all Bangladesh Forces. During this conference M.A.G. Osmani was reinstated from retirement to active duty into the Armed Forces of Bangladesh as its senior most official, with the rank of colonel reactivated. Principal participants of this conference were Principal Military Representative of Bangladesh Government-in-Exile at Chakulia Guerilla Training Camp (Bihar) Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan, Mukti Bahini Commander Sector 1 Major Ziaur Rahman, Mukti Bahini Commander Sector 2 Major Khaled Mosharraf, Mukti Bahini Commander Sector 3 Major K M Shafiullah, Mukti Bahini Commander Sector 4 Major C R Datta, Major M. A. Jalil, Captain Rafiqul Islam, Lt. Col. Abdur Rab, Wing Commander Khademul Bashar, Major Najmul Haque, Major Mir Shawkat Ali. Lt. Col. Abdur Rab was appointed as Chief of Staff, Bangladesh Army.^[14] Colonel Osmani unwillingly appointed Group Captain A. K. Khandker as deputy chief of staff in place of Group Captain Muhammad Ghulam Tawab, whom Osmani wanted to appoint as his Deputy Commander-in-Chief. Bangladesh was divided into Eleven Sectors under Sector Commanders.^[12] For better management of military operations each sector was divided into a combination of sub-sectors, commanded by a Sub-Sector Commander. The 10th Sector was kept under the direct command of the commander in chief and included the Naval Commandos as C-in-C's special operations force. These commandos were later absorbed into the Bangladesh Navy.^[15][16]

The Mukti Bahini received assistance from the Indian Government soon after the start of Bangladesh Liberation war.^[17] The Soviet Union and the US were also drawn in the Cold War politics in the region. The US policy of the Nixon Administration, guided by then US National Security Advisor Henry Kissingerwas courting Pakistan to open ties with China, hence could not support the Bangladeshi struggle for independence. However, Nixon's policy did supply emergency relief assistance to India and diplomatic support to Pakistan.^[18][19]

On 21 November 1971, when the natural climate was dry and more adaptable and by which time the Bangladesh Forces had severely weakened the strength of the West Pakistan Forces through its guerilla operations, under a complicated politico-military scenario.^[20][21] India-Pakistan war of 1971 breaks out and Indian troops enter Bangladesh allied with Mukti Bahini.^[22] The Pakistani force were demoralized from constant attacks by the Mukti Bahini, on 16 December 1971 the Pakistani Military force in Bangladesh surrender to a joint force of Indian and Bangladesh forces.^[23][24] Group Captain A. K. Khandker represented the Bangladeshi side at the signing of the surrender treaty.^[25] K M Shafiullah, S Force commander, and a handful of others were also among the hundreds of local masses who surrounded the event from a distance. "No protocol was set on what they were supposed to do". A fact Shafiullah admitted himself. "We rushed to the Race Course from the airport. I was a member of Bangladesh delegation. But we were not sure what we were supposed to do. I was standing in front of the signing table. That's why I do not appear in any photographs. There was rejoicing all around. We put Niazi on a jeep and sent him away. That night I did not come across anyone." -Major General Shafiullah spoke to Kaushik Sankar Das.^[26]

The Bangladesh Forces was organized for the War of Independence in 1971 under 11 (eleven) sectors and subsequently into three brigade size commands with ultimately only one being fully operational and organized, Z Force.
BDF HQQ's 8 Theatre Road, Calcutta, India.
Prime Minister: Mr. Tajuddin Ahmad
BD Forces C-in-C: Colonel Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani (Appointed General 1972)
BD Forces Principal Military Representative: Chakulia Guerilla Training Camp (Bihar) – Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan(Until June)
BD Forces Deputy C-in-C Group Captain Muhammad Ghulam Tawab (17 Dec 1971 ~ 7 April 1972)

BD Government Non-Combatant Staff :
BD Forces Military Secretary to C-in-C Major Chowdhury
BD Forces ADC to C-in-C Captain Noor
BD Forces PSO I to C-in-C – Administration and Personnel
BD Forces PSO II to C-in-C – Operations and Training
BD Forces Chief of Army Staff Lt. Col. M. A. Rab (HQ Tripura)
BD Forces Deputy Chief of Staff(Liaison) Group Captain A.K. Khandker (Kalyani Bldg.)