The Mukti Bahini - Catalyst for Bangladesh's Independence
Introduction:
The Mukti Bahini, also known as the Bangladesh Forces, was the guerrilla resistance movement consisting
of the Bangladeshi military, paramilitary and civilians during the Bangladesh Liberation War that
transformed East Pakistan into Bangladesh in 1971. They were initially called the Mukti Fauj.
The study's objective :
The Mukti Bahini , or the Bangladesh Liberation Army, holds a significant place in the history of
Bangladesh's struggle for independence. This assignment aims to explore the importance and significance
of the Mukti Bahini , shedding light on its pivotal role in achieving the sovereignty of Bangladesh.
Furthermore, it will address the debates surrounding the formation and influence of the Mukti Bahini,
making it a subject of critical analysis.The Mukti Bahini was a pivotal force during the Bangladesh
Liberation War in 1971. This topic is chosen for its representation of a resolute and dedicated armed
movement that played a crucial role in the fight for Bangladesh's independence. The assignment will
outline the historical background, describe key events, and present an analysis of the Mukti Bahini's role
within the broader context of Bangladesh's history.
Organization :
"Niomito Bahini" or "regular forces" were drawn from the paramilitary, military, and police forces of East
Pakistan, while "people's forces" or "Gonnobahini" were civilians. These two groups made up the "Mukti
Bahini." The Bangladeshi government assigned and defined these names. The Gonnobahini were known as
"freedom fighters" by the Indians, while the Niomito Bahini were referred to as "Mukti Fauj".
Background :
East Pakistan campaigned against the usage of Urdu as the sole official language of Pakistan. The Awami
League had won the majority in the 1970 Pakistan election. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as the leader of the
Awami League, was prevented from forming a government.[17] Bengali was the only language in Pakistan
not written in the Persian-Arabic script. The merger of the provinces of West Pakistan into one
administrative "unit" caused great suspicion in East Pakistan.[18] Pakistan's unwillingness to give
autonomy to East Bengal and Bengali nationalism are both cited as reasons for the separation.[19] The
1970 Bhola Cyclone had caused the death of at least 300,000 and possibly as many as 500,000 people
while the infrastructure, transport and other services were severely damaged. The central government of
Pakistan was blamed for the slow response and misuse of funds.[20][unreliable source?] It created
resentment in the population of East Pakistan.[21] The resentment allowed the Awami League to win 160
of the 162 parliamentary seats allocated to East Pakistan which made the Awami League the majority
party in the 300 seat parliament of Pakistan.[22][23] After the 1971 elections, Yahya Khan hoped for a
power sharing agreement between Mujib and Bhutto, though talks between them did not result in a
solution. Mujib wanted full autonomy, Bhutto advised Yahya to break off talks.In March, General Yahya
Khan suspended the National Assembly of Pakistan.
On 7 March 1971, Sheikh Mujib made his now famous speech in Ramna Race course (Suhrawardy Udyan)
where he declared "The struggle this time is for our freedom. The struggle this time is for our
independence".[25] East Pakistan television broadcasters started broadcasting Rabindranath songs, a
taboo in Pakistan, while reducing the air-time of shows from West Pakistan. Civilian interaction with the
Pakistan Army were decreased and they were increasingly seen as an occupying force, while local
contractors stopped providing supplies to the Pakistan Army.[26] The Pakistan Army also tried to disarm
and dismiss personnel of Bengali origin in the East Pakistan Rifles, the police and the regular army. The
Bengali officers mutinied against the Pakistan Army, and attacked officers from West Pakistan.[27] The
Pakistan Army's crackdown on the civilian population had contributed to the revolt of East Pakistani
soldiers. The East Pakistani soldiers moved to India and formed the main body of Mukti Bahini.[28] Sheikh
Mujib on 26 March 1971 declared the independence of Bangladesh, while Pakistan's president Yahya Khan
declared Mujib a traitor during a national broadcast on the same day.[29][30] The Pakistan Army moved
infantry and armoured units to East Pakistan in preparation for the coming conflicts.
The Descripted section :
The assignment's descriptive section will describe the circumstances that gave rise to the Mukti Bahini. It
will give a thorough account of all of its operations, including significant military engagements and
campaigns, during the Bangladesh Liberation War. We'll discuss the leaders and combatants in the Mukti
Bahini as well as the strategies and tactics they used.
Early Resistance :
Martial law was imposed, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was taken into custody, and East Pakistan's Operation
Searchlight was launched on March 25. The Pakistani army attacked disloyal members of the Awami
League, the East Pakistan Rifles, and the East Bengal Regiment. The Mukti Bahini, composed primarily of
attack survivors, began the war to free Bangladesh. Major Ziaur Rahman and his Bengali soldiers fought
their way out of Chittagong City on March 27, the day Bangladesh declared its independence from
Pakistan. The massacre at Dhaka University marked the start of the 1971 genocide against Bangladesh.
Civilians began to resist Pakistani forces by taking over weapons depots in different cities. The Deputy High
Commission of Pakistan in Kolkata abandoned its position and raised the Bangladeshi flag on 18 April. The
Mujibnagar Government was established on April 17. In May, Foreign Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
requested that General Yahya Khan cede control of West Pakistan to his political party, but Khan declined,
claiming it would validate Mukti Bahini's assertion that East Pakistan was a territory under West Pakistan.
Air operations :
On September 28, 1971, the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) was founded, and Air Commodore A. K. Khandker
served as its commander. It began operations from an airstrip in the jungle close to Dimapur in Nagaland,
India. The Bangladesh Forces seized control of World War II airstrips in Lalmonirhat, Shalutikar, Sylhet, and
Comilla in November and December as they occupied liberated territories. On December 3, 1971, the BAF
began "Kilo Flights" under the direction of Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud. Otter DHC-3 aircraft used
sorties to destroy Pakistani fuel supplies in Narayanganj and Chittagong. The refinery in Burma, along with
several ships and oil depots, were among the targets.
Naval operations :
Operation Jackpot, launched by Bangladesh Forces on 15 August 1971, involved the sinking of Pakistan
Navy vessels in Mongla, Chittagong, Chandpur, and Narayanganj. This operation was a major propaganda
success for Bangladeshi forces, exposing the West Pakistani occupation's fragile hold. The Bangladesh
Navy targeted patrol craft and ships carrying ammunition and commodities. The Mukti Bahini acquired
two gunboats with mine-laying capabilities, but were mistakenly bombed by Indian Air Force troops,
resulting in the loss of both vessels and some lives. The developing Bangladesh Navy also attacked ships
and used sea mines to prevent supply ships from docking in East Pakistani ports.
Organization :
M. A. G. Osmani, a Bengali veteran of World War II and the Pakistan army, established the Bangladesh
Armed Forces on April 4, 1971. He was appointed as the defence minister and designated the Mukti Bahini
into several divisions, including regular armed forces, special brigades, and paramilitary forces. The
Niyomito Bahini (Regular Forces) included East Pakistan Rifles and police, while the Gonobahini (People's
Forces) consisted of lightly trained civilian brigades under military command. The Gonobahini was created
by political activists from various political parties.
The guerrilla movement in Pakistan consisted of three wings: well-armed Action Groups, military
intelligence units, and guerrilla bases. The first conference of sector commanders took place in July 1971,
with prominent commanders including Pakistan Armed Forces defector officers and soldiers. The Mujib
Bahini was led by Awami League youth leaders, while Australian war veteran William A. S. Ouderland
organized guerrilla warfare in Dacca and provided vital intelligence to the Bangladesh Forces. Left-wing
politicians Kader Siddique, Hemayet Uddin, and Moni Singh created several guerrilla units, with Kader
operating in the Tangail District and Hemayet raising his Bahini on local supplies.
One of the Mukti Bahini's cultural branches was the Independent Bangladesh Radio Station. Field
hospitals, wireless stations, training camps and prisons were run by the Mukti Bahini.
Equipment :
Early control of Pakistani arms depots, which Bengali forces eventually took over in March and April 1971,
was advantageous to the Mukti Bahini. Through the Calcutta arms trade, the Mukti Bahini acquired
substantial amounts of military-grade hardware, such as Italian howitzers, Alouette III helicopters,
"Dakota" DC-3 aircraft, and "Otter" DHC-3 fighter planes. The Indian military also provided a restricted
amount of equipment to the Mukti Bahini because New Delhi permitted the Bangladeshi forces to run
their own weapons supply system via Calcutta Port. The Mukti Bahini employed hand grenades made in
India, Lee-Enfield rifles, and sten guns.
Bangladesh-India Allied Forces :
Operation Chengiz Khan by West Pakistan drew India into the Bangladesh conflict, leading to a joint
command structure between Bangladeshi and Indian forces. The Indian Armed Forces supported three
corps of the Mukti Bahini, while the Bengali guerrilla army guided the Indian army. The Indian and Mukti
Bahini outnumbered the Pakistani army divisions of East Pakistan, capturing surrounding land through
major joint engagements. The Meghna Heli Bridge airlifted Bangladeshi and Indian forces from
Brahmanbaria to Narsingdi, while cities like Jessore, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Kushtia, Noakhali, and
Moulvibazar fell to the Mukti Bahini-Indian forces. The Pakistan Army and pro-Pakistani militias began
mass murder of Bengali intellectuals and professionals in Dhaka. The Mukti Bahini liberated most of the
Dhaka District by mid-December.
Relations with India :
Ten million Bengali refugees fled to India due to famine and Pakistan army ravages. The war sparked unity
in the Bengali-speaking world, with strong support for Bengalis and Mukti Bahini from the Indian media
and public. India feared a communist-dominated movement for Bangladesh and wanted the refugees to
be permanently stranded in India. Indira Gandhi authorized diplomatic, economic, and military support to
the Bangladesh Forces in April 1971. The Provisional Government of Bangladesh established its secretariat
in exile in Calcutta, and the Indian Armed Forces provided substantial training and bases for the
Bangladesh Forces. Mukti Bahini were allowed to cross the border at will, but some were suspicious of
Indian involvement and resented the formation of the Mujib Bahini by India. India officially recognized
Bangladesh as an independent country on December 6, 1971.
International reactions :
The Pakistani genocide in West Pakistan led to international outrage, with Democratic senator Ted
Kennedy criticizing the Nixon administration for ignoring the Bengalis' genocide. The Mukti Bahini gained
international support, with the Bangladeshi provisional government considering an "International Brigade"
with European and North American students. The Soviet Union supported the Bangladesh Forces and
India, while the US wooed China through Pakistan, leading to India signing a friendship treaty with
Moscow in 1971. However, both the US and China failed to mobilize sufficient support for Pakistan.
Honours :
Bir Sreshtho (The Most Valiant Hero) is the highest military honour in Bangladesh and was awarded to
seven Mukti Bahini fighters. They were Ruhul Amin, Mohiuddin Jahangir, Mostafa Kamal, Hamidur
Rahman, Munshi Abdur Rouf, Nur Mohammad Sheikh and Matiur Rahman. The other three gallantry
awards in decreasing order of importance are Bir Uttom, Bir Bikrom and Bir Protik
The Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust Act, 2018 defines all liberation war participants as Bir
Muktijoddha. In October 2020, the government ordered the addition of the word "Bir" to the term
"freedom fighter." In December 2021, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs mandated the use of "Bir" as
an honorific prefix for freedom fighter names, with the English synonym being "Heroic Freedom Fighter."
Women :
Women had participated in the Bangladesh Liberation War as Mukti Bahini soldiers. Several female
battalions were trained for guerrilla warfare by the Mukti Bahini. One of the two female warrior heroes of
the Bangladesh Liberation War is Taramon Bibi. It is well known that Captain Sitara Begum established
field hospitals for wounded Mukti Bahini fighters. Mukti Bahini was a female organisation that included
Professor Nazma Shaheen of the University of Dhaka and her sister.
Post-war :
The Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Police, and Bangladesh Armed Forces succeeded the Mukti Bahini. In
addition to other benefits, reservations were granted to civilian fighters for positions in government and
higher education. To represent former guerrillas, the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Assembly was
established. The Ministry of Bangladesh Liberation War is in charge of Mukti Bahini members' welfare.
After the war, the Bangladeshi government had grave concerns about maintaining law and order due to
the broad availability of weapons. Following Pakistan's surrender, there are rumours that some militia
units participated in retaliatory attacks against the Urdu-speaking populace.
The analysis section :
The assignment's analysis section will examine the Mukti Bahini's contribution to the unification of the
Bangladeshi resistance movement's disparate factions. It will evaluate how the force fits into the larger
objectives of the liberation war, how it affects international recognition, and how important it is as a
symbol of resistance. It will also examine how the Mukti Bahini's lasting influence shaped Bangladesh's
political and military environment.
Conclusion :
To sum up, the Mukti Bahini represents Bangladesh's unwavering fight for independence and self-
determination. It stands for a people's collective will to protect their rights and take control of their own
destiny. This assignment aimed to give a thorough grasp of the significance and impact of the Mukti
Bahini, as well as a critical analysis of its function and historical background. The conclusions and
evaluations presented here highlight this force's crucial influence on Bangladesh's history and ongoing
effects on the country.
The nation of Bangladesh continues to honour and remember the Mukti Bahini, a symbol of its
unwavering struggle for independence.
