Swadhin Bangla Biplobi Parishad

Last updated

The Swadhin Bangla Biplobi Parishad (English: Independent Bangla Revolutionary Council) was an armed underground student political group secretly organized in 1961 by Serajul Alam Khan, a key founder of Bangladesh, that worked to wage an armed secessionist struggle against Pakistani rule and achieve the independence of East Pakistan as "Bangladesh".

Swadhin Bangal Biplobi Parishad was secretly organized in Dhaka University's Jahrul Hoque Hall by Mujibur Rahman under command of Sirajul Alam Khan (who was from the same university) along with Abdur Razzak and Kazi Aref Ahmed. Its political arm was the Bangladesh Liberation Force (BLF). From 1962, it planned and organized mass movements through the historic 6-point and 11-point programs. Training of Dhaka University students for the armed revolt against Pakistan started on the university's gymnasium field on 1 March as the university's halls were closed to students since then. [1]

Earlier, Mujibur Rahman had founded another student group in the same university's Fazlul Huq Hall on 4 January 1948 named the East Pakistan Chhatra League, renamed the Bangladesh Chhatra League upon the Bangladesh Liberation War and Bangladesh's subsequent independence. The students of this league were recruited into the Mukti Bahini (Liberation Army), Mujibur Rahman's armed guerrilla force and the military arm of his political party the Bangladesh Awami League trained by India's foreign intelligence organization the Research and Analysis Wing [2] [3] to wage the liberation struggle. [4]

The BLF first made the flag of Bangladesh and hoisted it on 2 March 1971, when the Awami League, led by Mujibur Rahman, made a call for a general strike to agitate for independence. That strike saw violent pogroms against ethnic non-Bengalis residents in East Pakistan. [5] [6] [7] In response to those killings and mass expulsions, the Pakistani military on 25 March launched Operation Searchlight. Mujibur Rahman declared East Pakistan's independence the following day. Subsequently, under Mujibur Rahman's directive, the BLF high command was reconstituted with Serajul Alam Khan, Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, Abdur Razzak and Tofail Ahmed. This revamped BLF was renamed "Mujib Bahini" (Mujib's Army) in the war.

The general strike, pogroms and the resulting war followed on the heels of the Agartala Conspiracy, at the time deemed a politically motivated accusation by the Pakistani state against Bengali leaders but confirmed in 2011 to be factually true by the Bangladeshi Parliament's Deputy Speaker and one of the Agartala conspirators Shawkat Ali. [8] By the start of the war, other countries hostile to Pakistan seized upon the opportunity and gave material assistance to this student movement (that had by now morphed into an armed guerrilla revolt) to bring about Pakistan's disintegration, with a potentially friendly nation's independence being a favorable by-product. [9] [10] [11] When the war ended the Indian Army destroyed all files and records of its activities regarding East Pakistan before as well as during the war, [12] [13] though in 2015 the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would explain India's role in the war in an address at Dhaka University. [14]

The central role of students in the armed secessionist rebellion aided by India [15] [16] was the main reason why the Razakars killed Bengali students and intellectuals on Dhaka University grounds on 25 March at the start of Operation Searchlight and committed another massacre of Bengali intellectuals on 14 December, two days before Pakistan's defeat and surrender and Bangladesh's resulting independence. Both massacres were committed on the grounds that Dhaka University was a hotbed of guerrilla activity and served as an arms dump and a nerve center of military operations run by the university's students and faculty. [17]

After the end of the war, Mukti Bahini perpetrated hooliganism and looting, according to AK Khandokar. [18] The Mukti Bahini also resumed its persecution against ethnic non-Bengalis in the newly independent country. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheikh Mujibur Rahman</span> Founding father of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, often shortened as Sheikh Mujib or Mujib, also widely known as Bangabandhu, was the founder of Bangladesh. He first served as the titular president of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh between April 1971 and January 1972. He then served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh from the Awami League between January 1972 and January 1975. He finally served as President again during BAKSAL from January 1975 till his assassination in August 1975. In 2011, the 15th constitutional amendment in Bangladesh referred to Sheikh Mujib as the Father of the Nation who declared independence; these references were enshrined in the fifth, sixth, and seventh schedules of the constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh Liberation War</span> 1971 armed conflict that led to the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan

The Bangladesh Liberation War was a revolution and armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which resulted in the independence of Bangladesh. The war began when the Pakistani military junta based in West Pakistan—under the orders of Yahya Khan—launched Operation Searchlight against the people of East Pakistan on the night of 25 March 1971, initiating the Bangladesh genocide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syed Nazrul Islam</span> Bangladeshi politician (1925–1975)

Syed Nazrul Islam was a Bangladeshi politician and a senior leader of the Awami League. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, he was declared as the Vice President of Bangladesh by the Provisional Government. He served as the Acting President in the absence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tajuddin Ahmad</span> Bangladeshi politician and First Prime Minister of Bangladesh (1925-1975)

Tajuddin Ahmad was a Bangladeshi politician and statesman. He led the Provisional Government of Bangladesh as its prime minister during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 and is regarded as one of the most instrumental figures in the birth of Bangladesh.

Shah Azizur Rahman was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. However, he was the subject of considerable controversy for his collaboration with the Pakistan Army against the struggle to Independence of Bangladesh.

Muhammad Ataul Goni Osmani, was a Bengali military leader. Osmani's career spanned five decades, beginning with service in the British Indian Army in 1939. He fought in the Burma Campaign during World War II. After the partition of India in 1947, he joined the Pakistan Army and served in the East Bengal Regiment, retiring as a colonel in 1967. Osmani joined the Provisional Government of Bangladesh in 1971 as the commander-in-chief of the nascent Bangladesh Forces. Regarded as the founder of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, Osmani retired as a four-star general from the Bangladesh Army in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khaled Mosharraf</span> Bangladeshi freedom fighter and military leader

Khaled Mosharraf, Bir Uttom was a Bangladeshi military officer known for his role in the Bangladesh Liberation War. Khaled was the Sector Commander of Bangladesh Forces Sector 2, leader of the Crack Platoon and K Force (Bangladesh) Brigade Commander during the Bangladesh War of Independence. He fought heroically for Bangladesh's independence and was wounded in front line combat against the Pakistan Army. Under his command K-Force played a crucial role in the unconditional surrender of the Pakistani Army on 16 December 1971. On 23 October, while commanding an operation of the K-Force, Khaled Mosharraf was gravely wounded by enemy fire and required a long period of recovery. Although he suffered a bullet injury, he recovered and remained in command of Bangladesh Forces Sector 2. He is best known as an exceptional combatant who had planned and carried out guerrilla warfare from deep within the jungles of Melaghar. More than thirty five thousand guerilla fighters fought under Khaled's command in sector 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdul Kader Siddique</span> Bangladeshi politician and former freedom fighter

Abdul Kader Siddique is a Bangladeshi politician. He served as a Mukti Bahini member and organizer of the Bangladesh Liberation War. He fought with an estimated 17,000-strong guerrilla force in the Tangail region against the Pakistan Army. The army was called Kaderia Bahini. At the end of the war, in1971, Siddique's forces entered Dhaka along with the Indian forces, signaling the end of the war. He was awarded Bir Uttom by the Government of Bangladesh. Since 1999, he has been serving as the leader of his newly formed party, the Krishak Sramik Janata League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberation War Museum</span> Museum in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Liberation War Museum is a museum at Agargaon in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, which commemorates the Bangladesh Liberation War that led to the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan.

The Agartala Conspiracy Case was a sedition case in Pakistan during the rule of Ayub Khan against Awami League, brought by the government of Pakistan in 1968 against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the then leader of the Awami League and East Pakistan, and 34 other people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman</span> 1975 murder in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The first president of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and most of his family were killed during the early hours of 15 August 1975 by a group of young Bangladesh Army personnel who invaded his Dhanmondi 32 residence as part of a coup d'état. Minister of Commerce Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad immediately took control of the government and proclaimed himself president. The assassination marked the first direct military intervention in Bangladesh's civilian administration-centric politics. 15 August is National Mourning Day, an official national holiday in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Liberation War started on 26 March 1971 and ended on 16 December 1971. Some of the major events of the war are listed in the timeline below.

Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni was a Bangladeshi politician. He was one of the nephews of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the founding father of Bangladesh. He was the founder of Mujib Bahini Bangladesh Liberation Force-BLF one of the major guerrilla forces of the Bangladesh Liberation War and also the founder of Bangladesh Awami Jubo League, the youth wing of Bangladesh Awami League.

The Mujib Bahini, also known as Bangladesh Liberation Force (BLF), was an armed force formed during the Bangladesh Liberation War to fight against Pakistan in 1971. The force was mainly composed of activists drawn from the Awami League and its student front, the Chhatra League. At its height, it had reportedly 13,000 members. It was organised with the active assistance of Major General Sujan Singh Uban of the Indian Army. Serajul Alam Khan and Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani, Tofael Ahmed and Abdur Razzaq, MP were the organizers of this force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independence Day (Bangladesh)</span> National holiday in Bangladesh

The Independence Day of Bangladesh is celebrated on 26 March as a national holiday in Bangladesh. It commemorates the country's declaration of independence from Pakistan in the early hours of 25 March 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proclamation of Bangladeshi Independence</span> 1971 founding document of Bangladesh

The independence of Bangladesh was declared on 26 March 1971 at the onset of the Bangladesh Liberation War by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; the following day the declaration was broadcast by Major Ziaur Rahman in a radio broadcast. On 10 April, the Provisional Government of Bangladesh issued a proclamation on the basis of the previous declaration and established an interim constitution for the independence movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7 March Speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman</span> 1971 speech by the Founding Father of Bangladesh

The 7 March Speech of Bangabandhu was a public speech given by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Founding Father of Bangladesh on 7 March 1971 at the Ramna Race Course in Dhaka to a gathering of over two million (2,000,000) people. It was delivered during a period of escalating tensions between East Pakistan and the powerful political and military establishment of West Pakistan. In the speech, Bangabandhu informally declared the independence of Bangladesh, proclaiming: "The struggle this time, is a struggle for our liberty. The struggle this time, is a struggle for our independence." He announced a civil disobedience movement in the province, calling for "every house to turn into a fortress".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Provisional Government of Bangladesh</span> Government-in-exile of Bangladesh (1971–1972)


The Provisional Government of Bangladesh, popularly known as the Mujibnagar Government, was established following the declaration of independence of East Pakistan as Bangladesh on 10 April 1971. Headed by prime minister Tajuddin Ahmad, it was the supreme leadership of the Bangladeshi liberation movement, comprising a cabinet, a diplomatic corps, an assembly, an armed force, and a radio service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mukti Bahini</span> Bengali guerrilla resistance movement in former East Pakistan

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muktijoddha Sangsad</span>

Muktijoddha Sangsad a non-political welfare association of the combatants during the Bangladesh Liberation War formed on 13 February 1972. The organisation has a football club, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, named after itself.

References

  1. ↑ "Anatomy of Violence: Analysis of Civil War in East Pakistan in 1971 – Natun Dhaka Digest". dhakadigest.net. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Swami, Praveen (26 December 2011). "India's secret war in Bangladesh". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  3. ↑ Richard, Rose, Richard, Leo E. (1991). War and Secession: Pakistan, India, and the Creation of Bangladesh. University of California Press. ISBN   978-0520076655.
  4. ↑ "'Mujib Bahini didn't fight liberation war'". New Age. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  5. ↑ Aziz, Qutubuddin (1974). "Blood & Tears" (PDF). storyofbangladesh.com. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "1971: Genocide of the Non Bengalis by the Indians and the Awami League". Pakistan: Politically Unpolitical. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  7. ↑ Bose, Sarmila. "Myth-busting the Bangladesh war of 1971". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "'Agartala conspiracy case was not false'". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  9. ↑ "1971 India Pakistan War: Role of Russia, China, America and Britain". www.theworldreporter.com. 30 October 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  10. ↑ "Israel helped India in 1971 war, reveals book". Hindustan Times. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  11. ↑ "Israel secretly provided arms to India in 1971: Book - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  12. ↑ "Truth lost? Most military records of Bangladesh war missing - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  13. ↑ "'Files would have revealed Army's role' - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  14. ↑ "Text of PM's address at Bangabandhu Convention Centre". www.narendramodi.in. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  15. ↑ "Indian forces fought along Mukti Bahini: Modi". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  16. ↑ "We are near and we are together: PM speaks at Dhaka University". www.narendramodi.in. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  17. ↑ Saleem, Farrukh (14 March 2016). "Mukti Bahini, the forgotten terrorists". TheNews. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  18. ↑ "AK Khandker sued for 'Mujib Bahini's looting' claim". 10 September 2014.
  19. ↑ Zehra, Batool (26 February 2012). "The other side of history". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.