Military Crackdown in Bangladesh

Military Crackdown
on 25 March, 1971
th
Military Crackdown and The Call For Independence
In the entire Pakistani period the Bengali nationalists were hardly involved in any armed
struggle. They had been essentially waging a peaceful and constitutional movement for
democracy and autonomy. Instead of transferring the power to elected representatives the
Pakistani ruling elites planned to initiate the brutal military action after the General Elections
of 1970. It seems the win in the election was a crime to the military rulers. When
Bangabandhu called for the non-cooperative movement and his people responded
accordingly, President Yahya Khan then intended to terrorize the population of Eastern
province into submission. The military junta led by Yahya Khan determined to frustrate the
transfer of power to the Awami league and preceded with their battle plan and military
crackdown. The British colonialists created an image of the Bengalis that they were non-
martial race. The Pakistan army which consisted mainly of Punjabi and Pathan also looked
down upon the Bengalis as racially inferior and weak. Pakistani juntas then designed to kill
four million people in forty-eight hours by the name of Operation Searchlight and thus have
a final solution of the ‘Bengal problem’.
Operation Searchlight : Blueprint of Slaughter
Operation Searchlight was a planned military operation carried out by the Pakistan army to
curb the Bengali nationalist movement in East Pakistan in March 1971. President Yahya Khan
at a conference in February 1971 said “Kill three million of them and the rest will eat out of
our hands.” The plan for the operation had been prepared by Major General Rao Forman Ali
and Major General Khadim Raja and channeled to General Hamid and Tikka Khan on 20th
March 1971. The violence resulting from Operation Searchlight led to the war.
The Operation was to start on the night of 25 March 1971 in Dhaka, and other garrisons were
to be alerted via phone about their zero hour to start their activities. General Farman Ali
commanded the forces in Dhaka, while the rest of the province was commanded by General
Khadim, Lt. General Tikka Khan and his staff were present in the 31st field command centre,
to supervise and support the command staff of the 14th division. The initial plan to arrest by a
company of No 3 SSG, led by major ZA Khan was scheduled at 01.00 a.m. on 26th March
night.
The Operation Plan:
1. Operation to be launched simultaneously all across East Pakistan.
2. Maximum number of political and student leaders, and those among cultural
organizations and teaching staff to be arrested.
3. Operation must achieve 100% success in Dhaka. Dhaka University would be occupied
and searched.
4. All internal and international communications to be cut off, including telephone,
television, radio and telegraph.
5. All East Pakistani (Bengali) troops to be neutralized by seizing weapons and ammunition.
6. To deceive the Awami League, President Yahya Khan to pretend to continue dialogue,
even if Mr. Bhutto disagrees, and to agree to Awami League demands.
The designated centres of offensive operations under that plan
were Dhaka, Khulna, Chittagong, Comilla, Jessore, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Saidpur and Sylhet,
areas where West Pakistani army units were concentrated.
The Pak military authority took the following decisions for implementing the aforesaid program by giving
utmost importance to their control over the Dhaka city.
1. 22-Baluch Regiment stationed in Peelkhana shall disarm the five thousand Bangali EPR soldiers and
capture their radio centre.
2. 32-Punjab Regiment shall disarm one thousand Bangali policemen in Rajarbagh Police Line which is the
main source of armed strength of the Awami League.
3. 18-Punjab Regiment will launch attack on the Hindu majority areas of Nawabpur and in other parts of old
Dhaka.
4. A group of selected soldiers from 22 Baluch, 18 and 32 Punjab Regiment will attack Iqbal Hall (Zahurul
Haq Hall), Jagannath Hall and Liaquat Hall of BUET, which are known as the centers of strength of the
Awami League rebels.
5. One platoon of commando soldiers of special service group will attack the house of Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman and will arrest him.
6. The field Regiment will control the Second capital and the adjoining settlements (Mirpur-
Mohammadpur).
7. In order to show strength, a small squadron of M 24 tanks will be plying on road and will start shelling, if
necessary.
The above mentioned soldiers will destroy any kind of barricade or resistance on the road, and will launch
operation in the houses of listed politicians.
The Pakistani soldiers came out of the cantonment at 11-30 pm, launched indiscriminate
attack on the demonstrating Bangalis in the Farm Gate area, and thus initiated the
Operation Searchlight. Then as per schedule they launched simultaneous attack on
Peelkhana and Rajarbagh. At 1-30 am they arrested Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
from his residence. At dead of night they launched operation at the residential quarters of
the teachers of Dhaka University including the then Iqbal Hall, Jagannath Hall, Rokeya
Hall and killed a huge number of students including nine teachers. Under the same
planning, serious attack was made on old Dhaka, Tejgaon, Indira Road, Mirpur,
Mohammadpur, Dhaka airport, Ganaktuli, Dhanmondi, Kalabagan, Kathalbagan etc. In the
same night many people were killed and injured in Chittagong by the firing of the army.
The Pak army launched indiscriminate attack and created havoc within the very month of
March under the 'Operation Searchlight' having their post at the cantonment. The offices of
the dailies like the Ittefaq, Sangbad and the Peoples were set on fire for their support to the
movement of the Bangalis. A good number of journalists, media personnels were burnt to
death

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