An Assignment On
War and Freedom of Bangladesh
Course Title: Emergence of Bangladesh
Course Code: 102
Submitted to: Submitted By:
Lipon Mondal,PhD Dwin Mohammad Sharif Moyshan
Assistant Professor, Department of Department of Sociology
Sociology
Roll:136, Reg: 2019-514-558
University of Dhaka
E-mail: lipon@[Link]
Date of Submission: 23/02/2021
Title:- 1971 war: PAK's surrender, rise of new nationality as Bangladeshi
Introduction: The armed liberation war of 1971 is the greatest event in the history of
Bangladesh, trend thousands of years history. The pakistani ruling groups exploited in
different ways of East Bengal by creating wide discrimination during their 23-years rule. In
view of this, the mass movement of fifty times was formed. Language movement in 1952,
United front election in 1954, anti-education movement in 1962, six points movement in
1966, mass upsurge in 1969 and after all the great liberation war of 1971. The pakistani army
wanted to hang these movements in arms language. The movement of 1971 was not only the
release of the people, was the struggle of democracy and human values, struggle of cultural,
political and economic emancipation, which were divided under the feet of military
dictatorship. The bengali liberation and nationalist movement reached the final stage through
the armed war of 1971. Struggle for long release of our national self-determination,
sanguinary armed battle, 30 lakhs martyrdom, loss of awe about 2 lakhs mother and sister and
leave the country as a refugee of 1 million people not just this region rather a unique example
for the whole world, people who want freedom.
On March 26, 1971 our liberation war started by the speech. of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and
completed when the final victory achieved on 16 December, 1971 within 9 months bloody
war.
Methodology: To collect data for completing this task i use interviews (face to face) method.
My interviews held in the interviewees (freedom fighter) small homeopathy shop locate in his
house. To speak this placed he felt free and i also to ask him any questions. I didn't obtain
permission to record the interviews.
Findings: Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, was a member of East Pakistan Rifles (EPR) soldier no-
13654, a heroic freedom fighter (No-13053) of bengal mother, i found him as a freedom
fighter in my locality Sarail, Brahmanbaria. He was born in 1944, then Cumilla district under
Brahmanbaria, Sarail. He fought in linked with Major K.M Shafiullah, under sector no 3,
Cumilla and some part of Dhaka district. He lost his mother in childhood and grew up in step
mother family. His study stuck in class 6 and left school, after various obstacles he joined the
EPR in 1964, at the age of 20.
"We were connected with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman since the election of 1970 and gave vote
to Sheikh Mujib. My duty was in the peelkhana to find out the secret information and tell it to
my senior officer. On March 24, at 10pm, i went over the peelkhana, i saw 80-82 jeep in the
field with chinese machine gun. On the other side, firing vugs so deep was occupy by Baluch
Regiment ready by ammunition scuttle. Seeing that i told it to my senior officer Subedar
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Rahat Ali from Manikganj. He didn't pay heed to my information cause he engaged with that
conspiracy and left the peelkhana with his family member. I also sent a wireless message
from Hajaribagh Awami League Club about that news to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his
house Dhanmondi 32, no response come to me." freedom fighter Ashraf Uddin said.
"From March 19, pakistani started to disarmament us. On March 20, the government ordered
the people to deposit weapons. We had only 10 bullets with normal rifles, on 25 March
pakistani soldier attacked on us like a cyclone. They use artellery machine gun and heavey
weapons. By this normal weapon we couldn't survive anymore, as i had a family with a new
born child about 40 days name Abbas Uddin i left the shooting place. I along with my five
friends with family members went to the Buriganga river to go to Kamrangichar at Chairman
house militarily called hidden place. In the chairman house i met with General Osmani. I
scandalize my wife and sister-in-law by towel with my waist so that if they die by bullet i
could plod along with me. In the chairman house at night we ate hotchpotch made by
tomatoes."
He shared with me a different experience, "after eating, a conferrence held at, decision made
have to see the condition of pak army. Mafij from Nabinagore, Abdul Latif from Cumilla
and I were selected by General Osmani for that task and tell it as we saw ( called-rekipetrol),
it helped to make the plan of re-attack. We disguise as a coolie so that they can't imagine who
are we. After staying a week at chairman house, On 2 April, General Osmani ordered us who
have family to keep them at home in your own village, for this purpose i had to come in my
local area."
He stopped, breathed hard and continued, "On 8 April i reached at my village, history of
reaching at home like a little war. When i came to my village i couldn't pass my time in the
house. Razakars always kept me in their eyes. I couldn't sleep in my room rather in cows
house. I started to follow K.M Shafiullah's order. I collected boys and girls who were eagerly
agreed to do liberation war. Taher, Nannu, Shafi and Sabiul Haque are some of them. In the
mean time, the Awami League had begun to take preparations for the war. From 11th to 15 th
April till midnight a raging battle took place between Mukti Bahini and Pak Army.
Afterwards, I established camps for training the freedom fighters with advice from K.M
Shafiullah and captain Hemangshu, On 20 April 1971."
"Fighting the army with the aid of civilians armed with knives, sticks and homemade guns.
West Pakistani troops—opened fire with artillery, rockets and machine guns. A village called
Nasirnagore near to our village, inhabited by more than 10,000 people, were surrounded by
the army. Houses were set on fire and people were being butchered. Even residents fleeing
the area have not been spared. Pakistani army didn't allow any freedom fighter dead body to
bury. We have to bear a huge oppression and discrimination. If any village helped us to
protect from pak army, they would burn that village. I went to Terokanda village to escape
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myself and wife they didn't help me, if they help they would burn. Pakistani army rape our
sister and mother. In our vaillage Akhoter Ma 20 years old was raped. They thought it is
struggle for saving the pakistan so if we rape the women it wouldn't be considered as offence.
Even the baby girl could not escape their lust. They used to beat people to death. Throwing
bricks and stones. They would raise eyes and break teeth. They used to keep head down and
legs tied. Razakars forcibly picked up girls from their homes, took goats, took cows, showed
the freedom fighters their dormitory and helped the Pakistanis." he told cryingly.
Sight at long distance he told me a different experience about razakars group, i wondered
"later, I went to different operation camps and performed operations like demolishing the
Shahbajpur bridge. For this they couldn’t reach at Noagaon village. Our captain was
Hemangshu, in our village made a razakars group that worked for us. Monto Mia and Harun
Mia was the chief razakars and they were very close to the pakistani army. Montu (razakar)
worked for us. When the Pakistanis went to the operation, he would say us. He helped us by
giving bullet, machine gun and secret informations. The freedom fighter told also about the
contribution of womens. They helped us by cooking to eat, helped by giving medical
treatment to wounded soldier and also fought for country. Tarabanu a women of 25 years old
killed her father, was a razakar. When her father went to tell pakistani army about our
location she killed him. Montu Mia (razakar) took proved from us that he helped freedom
fighter showing that prove he found job after the independence of Bangladesh, in Bangladesh
Krishi Bank (retired now)."
"We have fought for our just rights. We have dealt with the enemy leaving behind weakness
and [Link] before the liberation of Brahmanbari(6 December, 1971) freedom fighters
Akbar Hossain and his younger brother Afzal Hossain were brutally killed by the Pakistanis."
On 8 December, 1971 Brahmanbaria and Sarail got free from Pakistan army finaly 16
December 1971 Bangladesh got freedom at last by surrender 93 thousands Pakistan army at
the Suhrawardy Uddan (the then Rescourse Moidan). After talking with him i remembered a
famous quote; "Freedom cannot be bestowed — it must be achieved.”Elbert Hubbard.
Discussion with theory: In fact, our national movement started right after 1947. Pakistan was
created with two areas of 1200 miles distance on the basis of religion alone. At first, Bengali
Muslims voluntarily joined Pakistan. Muhammad Ali Jinnah's two nation theory was based
solely on religion. Only religion is seen as a key component of nationalism. The Lahore
resolution also rejected the idea of separate states. The notion to make a state only for
religious belief is also related with Smith's primordial theory. In his theory he explained,
group solidarity as derived from ‘primordial’ ties which bind people together, through
perceived cultural similarities based on such features as language, religion, territory and
kinship, (Smith, 1998). According to this theory, only religion was similar between the two
territory, by this we can imagine how much pakistani ruler dominated us.
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West Pakistanis began to exploit the Bengalis culturally, linguistically, economically and
politically. Lastly, in the wake of the crisis over political power, the Pakistani ruling class has
resorted to genocide and pushed the Bengalis to war. On 7th March Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
declared his historical speech, said; "This time the struggle is for freedom, this time Page |the
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struggle is for our liberation".He called upon the Bengali people for the war of liberation.
Pakistani ruler didn't hand over the government power to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, postponed
3 March assembly for unlimited time. The genocide started 25 March. The twenty-fifth of
March 1971 was a fateful day for the delta. As Pakistan’s dictator furtively took his last plane
out of Dhaka, he left instructions for a full-blown army attack on East Pakistani
citizens(Willem Schendal,2009). The killings took place in Rajarbagh police camp,
Peelkhana and Dhaka University areas. 700 soldier were killed in Peelkhana and police camp,
10 teachers and 300 students of Dhaka University were killed, in the Dhaka city all about
8000 people were killed. 3 million people were martyred in Bangladesh. The issue of 3
million was first mentioned in the Pravda newspaper published from Moscow.
The Pakistanis exploited the Bengalis in the same way as Karl Marx said in his theory of
class discrimination. According to Marx's theory, there are two classes in society, the ruling
class and the exploiting class. The ruling class is conscious about position and the exploiting
class is unconscious. The struggle begins only when the exploiting class becomes aware of
their position in the evolution of time. When the Bengalis also became aware of their
position, so war became inevitable. In 1959-60, the per capital income of the people of West
Pakistan was 32% higher than that of East Pakistan. In 1969-70, the difference was 61%. The
average investment for West Pakistan was 6% whereas for East Pakistan it was 22% (Rounaq
Jahan). We can see that in the findings, Bengalis did not join as superior officers. The soldiers
were given less opportunity. There was huge discrimination between the Pakistani soldier and
Bangladeshi soldier. For example, we can see according to the freedom fighter speech. Light
weapons and only 10 bullets were allocated, educated people would be rejected, militarily no
superior officer and no rewards.
According to the findings, in the liberation war all bengal people don not come forward to
save the bengal mother. But why? Those who didn't come they would be benifited by
pakistanis. Razakars also kept anti movement activities though there were the son of bengal
mother. For example, Subedar Rahat Ali didn’t take action against the pakistani military, they
were the upholder of Pakistan ruler. Pakistani army gave them much opportunity, wealth and
power. But it was a great loss for Bengal nation. Razakars looted people's homes and the
Pakistanis gave them a lot of power. There can be adjusted a theory called zero sum game.
According to this, theory, a situation in which one person or group can occupy something that
causing another person or group unable to acquire it. If grp A occupy or gain something
resources or power then group B will be unable to acquire this. If we consider group A as
Pakistan and group B as Bangaldesh it is clear to understand. By the birth of pakistan
Bangladesh then East Bengal didn't claim their legal power only because of pakistani ruler.
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Although we found an exception about the concept of razakars, was given by freedom fighter
Ashraf Uddin. It was a tactic of their struggle to lose pakistani army.
Females contribution on the liberation war is speechless. Though 2 lakhs women lost their
awe by cruel Pakistan army, but some of the females took an outstanding contribution on
liberation war. For example, according to freedom fighter Ashraf Uddin women help them by
cooking, gave medical treatment to wounded fighters, gave shelter, preservation of arms,
formation of public opinion and also fought for country. There feminist theory can be
adjusted. Feminist theory is a set of ideas originating with the belief that women are not
subordinate to men or only valuable in relationship to men (servant, caretaker, mother, or
prostitute), and that the disciplines, systems, and structures in place in our world today may
be changed for the better. As long as men, women also can contribute to society and world
development like as men. Females contribution to liberation war is the clear paradigm to
prove this theory.
International exposure reached its peak with the ‘Concert for Bangladesh’, a mass benefit
performance for the children of Bangladesh, which was held in New York in August 1971
and featured celebrities opinion strongly condemned Pakistan’s ruling elite such as, George
Harrison, Bob Dylan and Ravi Shankar (Willem Schendal,2009) By then, world in the
liberation war of Bangladesh, the world powers took different positions due to cold war.
China, the United States and Muslim countries side with Pakistan. Other hand, Russia, India
and European countries side with Bangladesh. India has sheltered 10 million refugees.
Moreover, financial assistance and help with two transport planes. When the United States
sent the 7th Fleet to Pakistan, Russia also threatened to send warships to fight for Bangladesh.
Without the help of Russia independent would be far as possible.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the one who dreamed of a state called Bangladesh
and made it a reality. The establishment of Chhatra League in 1948, the language movement
of 1952, the election of 1954, the six-point movement of 1967, the mass uprising of 1969 and
the last speech of Bangabandhu on March 7, 1971 are undeniable. On 26 March, 1971
Bongabondhu declared the Independence of Bangladesh. Call upon the people of Bangladesh
to fight against the Pakistani army till the last soldier. He passed 3052 days on the jail not a
single day for his own but for the country. Finally, Bangladesh achieved her freedom and
found spirit. As Kahlil Gabrin says, " Life without freedom is like a body without spirit."
Conclusion: Bangladesh became independent through nine months of armed struggle.
Freedom has been achieved in exchange for the blood of three million martyrs. People of all
professions participate in war spontaneously. There is no nation in the world that has gained
independence through such a short period of armed struggle.
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References:
1. [Link]. 2013. 1971: A Global History Of The Creation Of Bangladesh, Harvard
University Press.
2. V Schendal. Willem. 2009. A History of Bangladesh. Cambridge University press.
3. [Link]
4. Jahan. Rounaq. Pakistan Failure in National Integration.
5. Ali Khan. Shawkat et al. 2017. History of the Emergence of Independent Bangladesh.
Grantha Kutir Press
6. Sayeed. Abu. 2014. History of the Emergence of Independent Bangladesh. Nijhu Moni
Press
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