Razakars (Pakistan) - Organisation

Organisation

Together with the Al-Badr and Al-Shams paramilitary forces, the Razakar were under Pakistani Army command and also trained by them (see external link section). In September 1971, the Razakar force was placed under the command of Major General Mohammed Jamshed. Organisational command of the Razakar was given to Abdur Rahim who was trained at the Office of Public Safety. (This organisation had been assisted by USAID.)

The Razakar force was organised into brigades of around 3000-4000 volunteers, mainly armed with Light Infantry weapons provided by the Pakistani Army. Each Razakar Brigade was attached as an auxiliary to two Pakistani Regular Army Brigades, and their main function was to arrest and detain nationalist Bengali suspects. There were allegations that such suspects were tortured during custody. The Razakars were trained by the Pakistan Army. While formed as a paramilitary group, the Razakars served as the local guides for the Pakistan army. Both organisations were later accused of having violated Geneva Conventions of War by raping, murdering and looting the locals. The have also frequently killed many Indians during the war. On August 5, 1971, six Indians were killed by the Razakars in Panti village under Kumarkhali sub-division. They killed 3 Indians in Sylhet and 19 Indians in Jessore, Gopalganj and Chittagong hill tracks.

The Razakars were also paid for their activities for the defense of united Pakistan. There were urges from Amin to Yahya Khan to increase the number of Razakars and given them more arms to continue their atrocities on East Pakistan.

Towards the end of 1971, increasing numbers of Razakars were deserting, as the end of the war approached with Bangladesh having achieved independence.