Battle of Rangamati-Mahalchari Waterway

Part of Bangladesh Liberation War
| Date| April 8, 1971

|

Location|

Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway, Pakistan
(present-day Bangladesh)

Result|

Pakistani victory

* Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway captured by Pakistani forces

Belligerents
Pakistan Army|

Bangladesh

* Mukti Bahini

Commanders and leaders
Unknown|  Munshi Abdur Rouf †
Units involved
Unknown|  8th East Bengal Regiment
Strength
Unknown|  Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown|  100 killed

* v
* t
* e

Bangladesh Liberation War

CPB-NAP-BSU resistance

* 1968–1971 East Pakistan communist insurgency

Mukti Bahini resistance

* Searchlight
* Jackpot
* Barisal
* 1st Kamalpur
* 2nd Kamalpur
* Daruin
* Nakshi Border Outpost
* Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway
* Goalhati
* Dhalai Border Outpost
* Garibpur§
* Gazipur§

Sylhet§
* Kushtia
* Ghasipur

Shiromoni
* Bogra§

Indian intervention

* Cactus-Lilly
* Chengiz Khan
* Jackpot‡
* PNS Ghazi
* Trident
* Python
* Kamalpur
* Basantar
* Boyra

Chamb
* Dhalai
* Hilli‡
* Longewala
* Sylhet‡
* Meghna Heli Bridge
* Tangail
* Air War‡
* Naval War

* * *

Bangladesh genocide

* Dhaka University
* Shankharipara
* Jinjira
* Akhira
* Jathibhanga
* Demra
* Chuknagar
* Madhyapara
* Bakhrabad
* Burunga

Systematic events

* Agartala Conspiracy Case
* Killing of intellectuals
* Rape
* Provisional Government
* Refugees in India
* Pakistani Instrument of Surrender

* * *

§ indicates events in the internal resistance movement linked to the Indo-Pakistani War.
‡ indicates events in the Indo-Pakistani War linked to the internal resistance movement in Bangladesh.

The Battle of Rangamati-Mahalchari Waterway was a strategic battle during the Bangladesh Liberation War in April 1971, in which the Pakistani Army successfully captured the Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway, overcoming the Mukti Bahini forces.

## Background

[edit]

The Mukti Bahini forces, specifically the 8th East Bengal Regiment, established defensive positions at Burighat along both sides of the Chengi Lakes to restrict Pakistani forces from using the strategic Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway. Munshi Abdur Rouf, a soldier in the regiment, was assigned to this defensive position with the Mukti Bahini fighters, intending to monitor and ambush Pakistani movements along the waterway.[1]

## The Battle

[edit]

On April 8, 1971, the Pakistani Army launched an assault on the Mukti Bahini positions with seven speedboats and two launches. The Pakistani forces aimed to drive the Mukti Bahini away from the waterway. Pakistani troops managed to encircle nearly 100 Mukti Bahini fighters, disorienting them with concentrated fire.[2]

Seeing the dire situation, Munshi Abdur Rouf crawled to his trench and used his automatic machine gun to cover the retreat of his fellow soldiers. His covering fire forced the Pakistani boats to temporarily pull back. However, a direct mortar strike eventually killed Rouf, halting his resistance.[3][4]

## Aftermath

[edit]

Rouf was later honored with the title of Bir Sreshtho, the highest military award for bravery in Bangladesh.[5][6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Bir Sreshthos of Liberation War of Bangladesh". amader-kotha.com. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
2. ^ "Heroic legacy of Munshi Abdur Rouf". The Daily Star. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
3. ^ "Today is the 41st anniversary of Bir Munshi Abdur Rouf". Amar Desh. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
4. ^ "Bir Sreshtho Munshi Abdur Rouf". Liberation War Museum. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
5. ^ "Bir Sreshtho Munshi Abdur Rouf". Bangladesh Continual. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
6. ^ Ahmed, Mostak. "Famous people in Bangladesh history (Part – I)". Bangladesh Travel Assistance. Retrieved 5 November 2024.

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