List of Sectors in Bangladesh Liberation War - Background

Background

The history of the war of 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. 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 was its principle focus. This conference was equally presided over by Bangladesh Prime Minister Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed and General M.A.G. Osmani, during which General Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani received his promotion from Colonel and was reinstated from retirement to active duty into the Armed Forces of Bangladesh as its senior most official. General M.A.G. Osmani had thereby been appointed Commander in Chief of all Bangladesh Forces. 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. Abdur Rab and Group Captain Khandaker. Lt.Col Rab was appointed as Chief of Bangladesh Army Staff and Group Captain Khandaker as Osmani's deputy. In this meeting, Bangladesh was divided into Eleven Sectors under Sector Commanders. Each sector was further structured into a combination of sub-sectors, each commanded by a Sub-Sector Commander.

The 10th Sector was directly placed under Commander in Chief and included the Naval Commandos as C-in-C’s special force. These commandos were later absorbed in to the Bangladesh Navy. Sector Commanders directed the guerrilla warfare against West Pakistani forces. For better efficiency in military operations each of the sectors were divided into a number of sub-sectors.

The Bangladesh Forces received measured assistance from the Indian authorities soon after hostilities started. Principally India being among the poverty nations had very limited resources. Though alliance with the USSR proved to be a great asset toward the end of the war and after. Bangladesh's independence struggle got boosted after India decided to support the Awami League local militia, Mukti Bahini, initially with arms and training and later with its armed forces under the security umbrella provided by the Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty of August 1971. Strategically India had no choice but to support Bangldesh as she had long understood East Pakistan's(Bangladesh's) strategic importance. India was virtually cut off from her eastern states almost entirely. And had the worst of relations with Pakistan was the order of the time which clearly exists even to this day. Trained military personnel of all sides understood the complex terrain of Bangladesh. Bangladesh's humid, wet monsoon climate and terrain was one of the greatest assets of the struggle for independence. The Indian Army's not so advanced equipment, training and outlook plus the Bangladesh terrain made early intervention impossible, prolonged and swift movements impractical and unimaginable. On November 21, 1971, when the natural climate was more adaptable and by which time all Bangladesh Forces had severely under-cut the strength of the West Pakistani Forces, under a complicated politico-military scenario, a demand of the Government of India was conceded to by the Bangladesh Government-in-exile in Calcutta, India, which was handing over the full command and authority of its operations to the Indian armed forces to command the war. The Indian Army entered Bangla Desh through air and land. The Pakistani force already 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. Though in a surprising move the cease fire was switched to a surrender by the Indian government which the Commanding General of the Pakistan Army Eastern Command reluctantly signed. The Bangladesh Forces C-in-C General M.A.G. Osmani including every member of the Bangladesh Forces Sector Commanders including Force Commanders who organised and led the war along with the members of Bangladesh Government in exile was barred from attending. The entire Bangladesh interim government in Calcutta were also barred. However, quite a few Mukti Bahini militia commanders whom India separately assisted and organised along with their followers were allowed to enter Dhaka clad with weapons and ammunition. Indian Army took control of all military sites, key government establishments of Bangladesh, including the media. Victory was declared by the Indian authorities and all prisoners of war including combat material were taken to India, with the Indian army remaining inside independent Bangladesh another three months until mid-March 1972. Bangladesh Forces were ordered for demobilization on January 29 under the direction of General M.A.G Osmani in final Sector Commanders Conference at the old Police HQ at Mintu Road, Dhaka, effective 14 February 1972.

The Bangladesh Forces was organized for Liberation War in 1971 into three brigades in 11(eleven) sectors. BDF HQQ's 8 Theatre Road, Calcutta, India. Prime Minister: Mr. Tajuddin Ahmad BD Forces C-in-C: General Ataul Ghani Osmani Sector Commanders Conference 1971 of Bangladesh interim government of July 11, 1971 appointed Col. M A G Osmani as Commander in Chief, Lt. Col. Abdur Rab as chief of Army Staff and Group Captain A K Khandker as Deputy Chief of Staff. In this meeting, Bangladesh was divided into Eleven Sectors under Sector Commanders. The 10th Sector was directly placed under Commander in Chief and included the Naval Commandos and C-in-C’s special force.

Sector Commanders directed the guerrilla warfare. For better efficiency in military operations each of the 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 sectors along with the area under each of them, the names of the sector commanders and the names of sub-sectors.Sector Commanders Conference 1971 of Bangladesh interim government of July 11, 1971 appointed Col. M A G Osmani as Commander in Chief, Lt. Col. Abdur Rab as chief of Army Staff. In this meeting, Bangladesh was divided into Eleven Sectors under Sector Commanders. The 10th Sector was directly placed under Commander in Chief and included the Naval Commandos and C-in-C’s special force.

Sector Commanders directed the guerrilla warfare. For better efficiency in military operations each of the 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 sectors along with the area under each of them, the names of the sector commanders and the names of sub-sectors.