During the Bangladesh War of Independence, the Bangladesh Forces (not to be confused with Mukti Bahini) were divided in the geographical area of Bangladesh into eleven divisions designated as sectors.[1] Each sector had a sector commander I.e. Division Commanders who directed the military operation further coordinated through several sub-sectors under sub-sector commanders who fought along with their troops and civilian resistance fighters.[2] Most of the Sector Commanders and quite a number of sub-sector commanders remained in security under Indian BSF border camps such as Wing Commander Bashar, Major Shafiullah, Major Mir Shawkat Ali.[1]
The history of the Bangladesh war of Independence dates back to April 1971 when it began its inception with the title of Bangladesh Forces during the first Bangladesh Sector Commanders Conference held in the week of July 11–17, 1971.[3] It was at this conference during which time BD Forces was organized and formed for the independence struggle. It was significant in the light of its official creation and formation as Bangladesh Forces, its command structuring, sector reorganization, reinforcement and appointing war commanders were its principal focus.
This conference was presided over by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tajuddin Ahmed, and Colonel M.A.G. Osmani, during which General Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani was reinstated from retirement to active duty into the Bangladesh Forces as its senior most official.[4] Colonel M.A.G. Osmani had thereby been appointed Commander in Chief of all Bangladesh Forces with Lt. Col M. A. Rab as Chief of Army Staff. Principal participants of this conference was Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan, Major Ziaur Rahman, Wing Commander M Khademul Bashar, Major M. A. Jalil, Captain Haider, Lt. Col. M A Rab.[5]
The Bangladesh Forces was organized for the war in 1971 into in 11 divisions (sectors) and later 3 indep brigades were christened, under BDF HQ situated at 8 Theatre Road, Calcutta, West Bengal. Bangladesh interim provincial government of July 11, 1971 appointed Col. M A G Osmani as Commander in Chief.[6] [7] [8] Lt. Col Rab was appointed as Chief of Bangladesh Army Staff. In this meeting, Bangladesh was divided into Eleven Divisions (Sectors) under BDF Commanders.[9]
BDF Commanders of the sectors directed the guerrilla warfare. For better efficiency in military operations each of the BFF sectors were divided into a number of sub-sectors. On November 21, 1971 Bangladesh Forces under Indian Army formed an allied command in which India took surrender of Pakistani forces on December 16, 1971. The table below provides a list of the BDF sectors along with the area under each of them, the names of the BDF commanders of 11 sectors and sub-sectors.[10] [11]
The 10th BDF Sector was directly placed under Commander in Chief and included the Naval Commandos and C-in-C's special force. These commandos were later absorbed into the Bangladesh Navy. BDF Commanders directed the guerrilla warfare against West Pakistani forces.
The Bangladesh Forces (BDF) received assistance from the Indian authorities soon after hostilities started. On December 3rd, 1971, The Indian Army entered Bangladesh through air and land.[12] The Pakistani forces morally broken and militarily devastated by the BD Forces, agreed to a cease fire without defiance in about one and a half weeks, on December 16, 1971.[13] [14]
The cease fire was switched to a surrender document by the Indian government which the Commanding General of the Pakistan Army Eastern Command signed reluctantly. Victory was declared by the Indian authorities and all prisoners of war including combat material were taken to India. Bangladesh Forces were ordered for complete sector close down and demobilization on January 29 by end of March 1972 under the direction of General M.A.G Osmani in final Sector Commanders Conference held at the old Police HQ at 27 Old Mintu Road, Dhaka. All BDF sector Commanders along with C-in-C BDF Gen. M.A.G. Osmani transferred from their posts to respective services. The first government of Bangladesh was formed on 10 April 1971.They took an oath on 17 April 1971.[15] [16]
| Sectors of the Bangladesh War of Independence[17] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sector | Area | Sector Commander | Sub Sectors (Commanders) | Political Advisor |
| 1 | Chittagong District, Chittagong Hill Tracts, and the entire eastern area of the Noakhali District on the banks of the river Muhuri. The headquarters of the sector was at Harina. | • Major Ziaur Rahman (April 10, 1971 – May 5, 1971) • Captain Rafiqul Islam (June 10, 1971 – April 6, 1972) |
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| 2 | Districts of Dhaka, Comilla, and Faridpur, and part of Noakhali District.The headquarters of the sector was at Melaghar | • Major Khaled Mosharraf (April 10, 1971 – September 22, 1971) • Major ATM Haider (Sector Commander September 22, 1971 – April 6, 1972) |
| • R.K Chowdhury (April, 1971 - December 15, 1971) |
| 3 | Area between Churaman Kathi (near Sreemangal) and Sylhet in the north and Singerbil of Brahmanbaria in the south. | • Major K. M. Shafiullah (April 10, 1971 – July 21, 1971) • Captain A. N. M. Nuruzzaman (July 23, 1971 – April 6, 1972) |
| • R.K Chowdhury (April, 1971 - December 15, 1971 |
| 4 | Area from Habiganj District on the north to Kanaighat Police Station on the south along the 100miles border with India. The headquarters of the sector was initially at Karimganj and later at Masimpur. | • Major Chitta Ranjan Dutta (April 10, 1971 – April 6, 1972) • Captain A Rob |
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| 5 | Area from Durgapur to Dawki (Tamabil) of Sylhet District and the entire area up to the eastern borders of the district. The headquarters of the sector was at Banshtola. | • Major Mir Shawkat Ali (April 10, 1971 – April 6, 1972) |
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| 6 | Rangpur District and part of Dinajpur District. The headquarters of the sector was at Burimari near Patgram. | • Wing Commander M Khademul Bashar (April 10, 1971 – April 6, 1972) |
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| 7 | Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra and part of Dinajpur District. The headquarters of the sector was at Tarangpur near Kaliaganj. | • Major Nazmul Huq (April 10 – September 27, 1971) • Major Quazi nooruzzaman (September 30 – April 6, 1972) • Subedar Major A Rab |
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| 8 | In April 1971, the operational area of the sector comprised the districts of Kushtia, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal, Faridpur and Patuakhali. At the end of May the sector was reconstituted and comprised the districts of Kuhstia, Jessore, Khulna, Satkhira and the northern part of Faridpur district. The headquarters of the sector was at Benapole. | • Major Abu Osman Chowdhury (April 10 – July 17, 1971) • Major Abul Manzoor (August 14, 1971 – April 6, 1972) |
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| 9 | Barisal, Patuakhali, and parts of the district of Khulna and Faridpur.The headquarters of the sector was at Hasnabad | • Major M. A. Jalil (July 17 – December 24, 1971) • Major MA Manzur • Major Joynal Abedin |
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| 10 | This sector was constituted with the naval commandos. | • Lieutenant AM Ataul Haque (July 17 – April 6, 1971) | None. | |
| 11 | Mymensingh and Tangail along with parts of Rangpur - Gaibandha, Ulipur, Kamalpur and Chilmari. The headquarters of the sector was at Teldhala until October 10, then transferred to Mahendraganj. | • Major Ziaur Rahman June 10, 1971 – October 10, 1971 • (Interim) Major Abu Taher (October 10, 1971 – November 2, 1971 (injured from minor grenade blast) • Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan (November 2, 1971 – April 6, 1972) |
Bagmara (divided between junior commissioned officers of the EPR);
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