New Delhi: Today Bangladesh is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Independence Day. Bangladesh Liberation Army (BLA) had fought a lot with his army to free East Pakistan i.e. today’s Bangladesh from the clutches of Pakistan. BLA was trained in India for this war. Although the Indian Army was not a part of this war from the beginning. But, still the Pakistani army started ‘Operation Genghis Khan’ against India and attacked the western border of India. After that India not only participated in this war, but in just 14 days, Pakistan was also divided into two pieces. With this, Bangladesh was born on this day on 16 December 1971. This day is also celebrated as ‘Victory Day’ in India.
Army repression in East Pakistan
Pakistan’s military dictator Yahiya Khan was repressing the people living in the eastern part of his own country. On March 25, 1971, he ordered the crushing of the public sentiments of East Pakistan. After this the leader of the movement Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested. People started taking refuge in India. After this there was pressure on the Indian government to intervene.
read also
General Shaw’s firm intention
The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi held talks with the Chief of the Army Staff, General Manik Shaw. Then India had only one mountain division and it also did not have the capacity to build bridges. Monsoon was about to knock. In such a situation, entering East Pakistan was risky. General Shaw made it clear that he would enter the battlefield with complete preparation.
enemy attacked
On December 3, 1971, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was addressing a public meeting in Calcutta (Kolkata). In the evening, Pakistani Air Force started bombing military airports like Pathankot, Srinagar, Amritsar, Jodhpur, Agra etc. The government planned a counter-attack.
India’s aggressive reply
Indian troops occupied Jessore and Khulna in East Pakistan. On 14 December, the Indian Army received a secret message that a meeting of top officials of Pakistan was about to take place at the Government House in Dhaka. During the meeting itself, Indian MiG-21 planes dropped bombs and blew up its roof.
Pakistani soldiers became prisoners of war
General Manik Shaw sent a message to General JFR Jacob to reach Dhaka immediately to prepare for the surrender on 16 December. Pakistani General AAK Niazi had more than 26 thousand soldiers in Dhaka, while India had only 3,000 soldiers available 30 km from there. General Jacob reached Niazi’s room and saw the documents of surrender lying on the table. Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Arora reached Dhaka. Niazi handed over the revolver and badge to Lt Gen Arora. Both signed the document. On December 17, 93,000 Pakistani soldiers were made prisoners of war. Around 3,900 Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives. Thus was the foundation of Bangladesh.
pakistan surrender
General Jacob told Niazi about it. He said, “The security of Pakistani soldiers and their families will be guaranteed only when Pakistan signs the letter of surrender. Otherwise be ready to face the consequences.” General Niazi was not ready for this. General Jacob gave them half an hour to surrender. Half an hour later, General Jacob asked Niazi three times if he was ready to surrender. General Niazi did not respond. Finally, General Jacob, realizing that Niazi had agreed to his surrender, set up two chairs at the racecourse grounds in Dhaka.
By then Major General Jagjit Singh Arora of India had also reached Dhaka. General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi of the Pakistani Army with 93,000 soldiers before him finally surrendered to India. At the time of surrender, General Niazi had tears in his eyes.
The Indian Army later released the prisoners under the Simla Agreement between the two countries. India won the war in just 14 days and liberated Bangladesh.