| Kader Bahini | |
| Native Name: | কাদের বাহিনী |
| Native Name Lang: | bn |
| Other Name: | Force of Kader |
| Founder: | Abdul Kader Siddique |
| Active: | 1971-1972 |
| Area: | Bangladesh |
| Status: | Dissolved |
| Size: | 17,000-50,000 |
| Allies: | Mukti Bahini |
| Opponents: | Pakistan Army |
| Battles: | Bangladesh Liberation War |
| War: | Bangladesh Liberation War |
Kader Bahini (Force of Kader) was an independent militia created during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, the other being Mukti Bahini.[1] It was named after its leader, Kader Siddique.[2]
The militia operated against the Pakistan Army in Tangail.[3] It comprised an estimated 50,000 civilians. Siddique was wounded at the Makrar battle near Balla village. Kader Bahini is notable for the capture of a Pakistani ship with large quantities of arms and ammunition at Bhuapur. They also captured several armored cars along with bulletproof carriers.
The Kader Bahini fought 253 battles against the Pakistan Armed Forces and collaborators. Kader Bahini killed more than 3,000 Pakistani troops and collaborators, and took more than 10,000 Pakistani troops and Razakar militias as POWs in the entirety of the Bangladesh Liberation War.
A planned military pacification carried out by the Pakistan Army – codenamed Operation Searchlight – started on 25 March to curb the Bengali nationalist movement[4] by taking control of the major cities on 26 March, and then eliminating all opposition, political or military,[5] within one month. Before the beginning of the operation, all foreign journalists were systematically deported from East Pakistan.[6]
During the war there were widespread killings and other atrocities – including the displacement of civilians in Bangladesh (East Pakistan at the time) and widespread violations of human rights began with the start of Operation Searchlight on 25 March 1971. Members of the Pakistani military and supporting militias killed an estimated 300,000[7] to 3,000,000 people,[8] and raped 200,000–400,000 Bangladeshi women in a systematic campaign of genocidal rape.[9] [10]
On 1 March 1971, the Tangail district unit of Swadhin Bangla Gono Mukti Parishad was formed. They organised the local youths and provided them with military training. After the launch of operation searchlight, local Mukti Bahini members in Tangail set up blockades on the road to Tangail at Goran-Satiachara in Mirzapur. The Pakistan Army entered Tangail on 3 April, breaking through the blockade. Abdul Kader Siddique who was then a leader of Chhatra League form the Kader Bahini composed Mukti Bahini from Tangail soon after. Naik Habibur Rahman Mia, a veteran (since 1955) of the 2nd East Bengal Regiment and who had been a Weapons Instructor at EBRC, was one of the Company Commanders of the Kaderia Bahini. The in-charge of training was 41 year old Ghatail, Tangail native, retired Subedar Major of the 1st East Bengal Regiment, Khondokar Abu Taher, who was one of the first generation recruits of the 1st East Bengal Regiment in 1949, retired in 1970 as Sub. Maj and had been a Weapons Instructor at PMA Kakul. Lance Naik Mohiuddin and Sepoy Abdul Mazid of East Bengal Regiment were Commando Platoon Leaders. At its height the force had at its disposal more than 15,000 .303 and Chinese Rifles, 2,000 SLRs, 800 LMGs and MMGs, 200 Antitank Rocket Launchers, 80 odd 50 Cal Heavy Machine Guns, 150 60mm mortars, 40 81mm mortars, 12 105 mm Recoilless Guns, and 10 120 mm mortars.[11]
The Kader Bahini operated inside Tangail area and allied with the Afsar Battalion, fought against the Pakistani Forces in Tangail. Throughout the Bangladesh Liberation War, the force stayed inside Bangladeshi territory and did not move to India, like many other units of the Mukti Bahini. Kader Siddiqui the founder and leader of Kader Bahini was himself a native of Tangail.[12]
On 10 August 1971, Kader Bahini in Tangail attacked two ships of the Pakistan Army containing arms, ammunition and fuel. The two ships were named ST Razan and SU Engineers LC-3. They were attacked on the convergence point of Jamuna and Dhaleswari Rivers at Sirajkandi. After a brief battle, Kader Bahini emerged victorious. They destroyed the supplies harming the logistics of the Pakistan Army in the region. The Battle came to be known as Jahazmara (Ship Killing). The Public Works Department built a monument near the site of the battle.[13]
On 10 December 1971, 2,000 Indian paratroopers landed in Tangail. They joined up with Kader Bahini. Together they liberated Tangail from Pakistani occupation. Captain Peter, a Bengali-Indian Army officer had arrived on 3 December to plan the landing of the Indian troops. New Tangail town was the last stronghold of Pakistan to fall in Tangail. Tangail was freed on 11 December 1971.[14] [15]
After the surrender of Pakistan Army on 16 December 1971, Sheikh Mujib was still in Pakistan. He was sentenced to death by a military tribunal. Kader Siddique declared that he and his 50 thousand men would not surrender until Mujib returned. In 1972, after Mujib had returned from Pakistan, Kader and his men surrendered his arms to Mujib on Bindubasini Boys High School in Tangail town.[16] [17]
India