Provisional Government of Bangladesh

First Government of Bangladesh (1971–1972)

Not to be confused with Caretaker government of Bangladesh or Interim government system of Bangladesh.

Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

অস্থায়ী বাংলাদেশ সরকার (Bengali)
Asthāẏī bāṅlādēśa sarakāra mujibanagara sarakāra

1971–1972

Flag

Seal

Anthem: আমার সোনার বাংলা (Bengali)
Amar Sonar Bangla
"My Golden Bengal"[1]

Areas claimed by the Provisional Government, present day Bangladesh

Status| Government-in-exile
Capital| Dacca (claimed)
Mujibnagar
Capital-in-exile| Calcutta
Common languages| Bengali
Demonym(s)| Bangladeshi
Government| Semi-presidential republic
President|

• 1971–1972

| Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

• 1971–1972

| Syed Nazrul Islam (interim)a
Prime Minister|

• 1971–1972

| Tajuddin Ahmad
Legislature| None (de jure)
Advisory Council (de facto)b
Historical era| Bangladesh Liberation War

• Formation

| 10 April 1971

• Cabinet oath-taking

| 17 April 1971

• Taking of military and political responsibilities

| 22 December 1971

• Abolished

| 12 January 1972
Area

• Total

| 148,460 km2 (57,320 sq mi)
Currency| Pakistani rupee (taka)
ISO 3166 code| BD

Preceded by | Succeeded by

|

|  | East Pakistan

|

| People's Republic of Bangladesh |

|

Today part of| Bangladesh

a. Originally, Syed Nazrul Islam was the vice-president of the government, but worked as the interim president as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was jailed in West Pakistan
b. Highest decision making organ of the government.

Part of a series on the

History of Bangladesh

* Etymology
* Timeline
* Traditional
* Urheimat

Ancient

|  Neolithic|  7600 - 3300 BCE

|

Bronze Age|  3300 – 1200 BCE
Pundra kingdom|  c.1280 – c. 300 BCE
Iron Age|  1200 – 200 BCE
Vanga kingdom|  c.1100 – c. 340 BCE
House of Vijaya|  543 BCE - 66 CE
Northern Culture|  700 – 200 BCE
Gangaridai|  c. 350 – c. 300 BCE
Nanda Dynasty|  c. 345 BCE– c. 322 BCE
Mauryan Empire|  325 – 185 BCE
Samatata kingdom|  c. 232 BCE – 800 AD
Shunga and Kushan|  c. 185 BCE – c. 75 CE
Southwestern Silk Road|  c. 114 BCE – c. 1450 CE
Indo-Roman trade relations|  c. 30 BCE – c. 600 CE
Gupta Empire|  240 – 550 CE
Kamarupa kingdom|  350 – 1140 CE

Medieval

|  Jaintia Kingdom|  500 – 1835 CE

|

Gauda Kingdom|  590 – 626 CE
Laur kingdom|  600 - 1565 CE
Harikela kingdom|  600 - 650 CE
Gour Kingdom|  600 – 1303 CE
Khadga dynasty|  650 – 750 CE
Bhadra dynasty|  c. 700s CE
Pala Empire|  750 – 1100 CE
Chandra dynasty|  900 – 1050 CE
Sena dynasty|  1070 – 1320 CE
Deva dynasty|  1100 – 1250 CE
Ghurid Conquest|  1202 CE
Khaljis of Bengal|  1204 - 1231 CE
Taraf Kingdom|  c. 1200s – c. 1600s CE
Bhulua Kingdom|  1203 – 1600s CE
Delhi Sultanate|  1204 – 1338 CE
Mamluk Dynasty|  1206 – 1290 CE
Khalji Dynasty|  1290 – 1320 CE
Tugluq Dynasty|  1320 – 1338,1342 CE
City State Sultanates|
Sonargaon|  1338 – 1352 CE
Lakhnauti/Gauda|  1342 – 1352 CE
Satagon/Saptagram|  1342 – 1352 CE
Twipra Kingdom|  c. 1400 – 1949 CE
Bengal Sultanate|  1352 – 1576 CE
Ilyas Shahi dynasty|  1342 – 1487 CE
House of Ganesha|  1414 – 1436 CE
Habshi dynasty|  1487 – 1494 CE
Hussein Shahi|  1494 – 1538 CE
Suri Interruption|  1539 – 1554 CE
Muhammad Shahi|  1554 – 1564 CE
Karrani dynasty|  1564 – 1576 CE
Pratapgarh Kingdom|  1489 – 1700s CE

Early Modern

|  Koch Kingdom|  1515 – 1956 CE

|

Suri Dynasty|  1540 – 1556 CE
Twelve Bhuyans|  1550 – 1620 CE
Porto Grande de Bengala|  1528 – 1666 CE
Kingdom of Mrauk U|  1530 – 1666 CE
Mughal Empire|  1576 – 1717 CE
Bengal Subah|  1576 – 1717 CE
Rajshahi Raj|  c. 1700s - 1950 CE
Zamindars|  1700s - 1900s CE
Pratapaditya Kingdom|  1602 – 1611 CE
Sitaram Ray Kingdom|  1688 – 1714 CE
Nawabs of Bengal|  1717 – 1757 CE
Maratha Invasions|  1742 - 1751 CE
Afghan insurrections|  1745 - 1750 CE
Siege of Calcutta|  1756 CE
Shamsher Gazi's Kingdom|  1748 – 1760 CE
Company Raj|  1757 – 1858 CE
Bengal famine of 1770|  1770 CE
Bengal Renaissance|  1772 - 1913 CE
Faraizi movement|  1818 – 1884 CE
The Great Rebellion|  1857 – 1858 CE
Tariqah-i-Muhammadiya|  1830 – 1831 CE
Titumir's rebellion|  1830s CE
British Raj|  1858 – 1947 CE
Partition of Bengal|  1905 CE
Bengal and Assam|  1905 - 1912 CE
Bengal Famine|  1943 CE
Bengali Prime Minister|  1937 - 1947 CE
Noakhali riots|  1946 CE

Modern

|  East Bengal|  1947 – 1955 CE

|

Partition of Bengal (1947)|  1947 CE
East Bengali refugees|  1947 CE
Bengali language movement|  1948 – 1956 CE
East Pakistan|  1955 – 1971 CE
1964 East Pakistan riots|  1964 CE
Indo-Pakistani war of 1965|  1965 CE
Six Point movement|  1966 CE
East Pakistan Uprising|  1969 CE
Pakistani general election|  1970 CE
Non-cooperation |  1971 CE
Bangladesh Liberation War|  1971 CE
Independence Declaration|  1971 CE
Provisional Government|  1971 – 1972 CE
Bangladesh genocide|  1971 CE
Surrender of Pakistan|  1971 CE

Contemporary

|  Bangladesh famine|  1974 CE

|

Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League|  1975 CE
Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman|  1975 CE
Jail Killing Day|  1975 CE
Military rule|  1975 – 1990 CE
Military coups in Bangladesh|  1975 - 2011 CE
Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict|  1977 - 1997 CE
Mass Uprising|  1990 CE
Transition to democracy|  1991 – 2008 CE
Caretaker government of Bangladesh|  1996 CE
Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord|  1997 CE
Bangladeshi political crisis|  2006–2008 CE
Hasina era|  2009–2024 CE
Vision 2021 and Digital Bangladesh|  2008 CE
Bangladesh Rifles revolt|  2009 CE
Shapla Square protests|  2013 CE
Bangladesh quota reform movement|  2013 CE
International Crimes Tribunal|  2009 CE
2015 Bangladeshi political crisis|  2015 CE
2018 Bangladesh road-safety protests|  2018 CE
2018 Bangladesh quota reform movement|  2018 CE
2021 Bangladesh Communal Violence|  2021 CE
Smart Bangladesh|
Bangladesh protests (2022–2024)|  2022- 2024 CE
July Revolution|  2024 CE
Aftermath of July Revolution|  2024–present CE
Yunus ministry|

Related articles

* Timeline of Bangladeshi history
* Bangladeshi art
* Bengali literature

Bangladesh portal

* v
* t
* e

The Provisional Government of Bangladesh (Bengali: অস্থায়ী বাংলাদেশ সরকার), popularly known as the Mujibnagar Government (মুজিবনগর সরকার, Mujibanagara Sarakāra); also known as the Bangladeshi government-in-exile,[2][3][4][5] was the first and founding government of Bangladesh that was established following the proclamation of independence of East Pakistan as Bangladesh on 10 April 1971. Headed by prime minister Tajuddin Ahmad, it was the supreme leadership of the Bangladeshi liberation movement, comprising a cabinet, a diplomatic corps, an assembly, an armed force, and a radio service. It operated as a government-in-exile from Kolkata. The president of this government was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who is the main undisputed figure here but in his absence Syed Nazrul Islam became the acting president.

After the 1970 general election, the military administration of Pakistan failed to hand over power to the elected legislators. When the Pakistan Army launched operations against separatists, the elected political leadership of East Pakistan declared independence and founded the provisional government with the support of the Government of India. Its cabinet took oath on 17 April 1971 in the town of Mujibnagar. It attracted many defectors from the Pakistani civil, diplomatic and military services and many leading intellectuals and cultural figures from East Pakistan.[citation needed]

The Mujibnagar government coordinated the war efforts of the Mukti Bahini and the nascent Bangladesh Armed Forces. It had its own postal service.[6] Its public relations strategy featured a widely popular radio station known as Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. It coordinated with the Government of India in conducting the armed resistance against the Pakistan army and also addressing the refugee crisis. It also undertook an international campaign to garner support for Bangladesh's independence, calling for stopping the genocide and preventing a refugee crisis. It appointed special envoys and operated representative missions in New Delhi, Washington, D.C., and London among many other cities.[citation needed]

## Background

[edit]

The 1970 general election, the first of its kind in Pakistan after years of military rule, was held on 7 December 1970. The Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, secured 160 out of 300 seats, becoming the majority in the National Assembly. With the elections concluded, president Yahya Khan was to inaugurate the National Assembly, and the elected legislators were to draft a new constitution. With the Awami League being in the majority in the assembly, there remained no obstacle to writing a constitution that complied with the six points demand. As a result, anxiety among the West Pakistani opposition parties and the military junta was on the rise.[7]

On 1 March 1971, Yahya Khan postponed the inaugural session of the National Assembly on 3 March, indefinitely. According to him, "it was imperative to give more time to the political leaders to arrive at a reasonable understanding on the issue of Constitution making".[8][9] Sheikh Mujib immediately called for non-cooperation by his people, effectively taking control of East Pakistan.[10] Mujib kept issuing regular directives to people and party workers. Non-cooperation was an immediate success; people spontaneously defied a curfew imposed by the Army. On 3 March, Yahya Khan announced a round table conference would be held in Dhaka on 10 March to settle the disputes over the constitution.[11] On 7 March, however, in a speech in front of a massive gathering, Sheikh Mujib called for an indefinite general strike, asking his people to be prepared for any emergency and issued an ultimatum to the junta.[12]

On 15 March, Yahya Khan arrived in Dhaka and met Mujib the next day. A series of meetings took place between them until late March. At Yahya's insistence, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, leader of the West Pakistani opposition party (PPP), joined them from 21 March.[13] Mujib assured Yahya that his party would not harm West Pakistan's interests. During those talks, news of war preparations in East Pakistan reached the Awami League leadership. Troops and arms were being concentrated from West Pakistan. Mujib urged Yahya to stop the reinforcements, warning him of the consequences. The Awami League leadership expected that on 24 March final negotiations would take place,[14] however, that day passed with no meeting. On 25 March they learned that Yahya's delegation had secretly left Dhaka, leaving the discussions unfinished, killing any hope for a peaceful settlement.[14]

Sheikh Mujib kept ordering his workers to escape to safety. Mujib refused to escape until 25 March, fearing it would be used as a pretext to massacre innocent Pakistanis.[15] On 25 March, the night Yahya secretly left Dhaka and the Pakistan Army cracked down on the Bangladeshi population there, killing thousands of people. Like the entire nation, the Awami League's leadership was taken by surprise; they scattered, each busy finding their own path to safety, and losing contact with one another for a few days.[citation needed]

It was known days later that Sheikh Mujib had been arrested on the night of 25 March. Before his arrest, he broadcast the independence of Bangladesh in a radio message.[16]

## Formation

[edit]

Following the Pakistan Army crackdown on 25 March, Awami League leaders Tajuddin Ahmad, general secretary of the party, and Amir-ul Islam escaped Dhaka and crossed the Indian border on 30 March.[17] They were received at the border outpost by the regional head of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), Golok Majumdar.[18] Majudmar immediately transported them to Kolkata with him. There, on the night of 30 March and the next day, Tajuddin and Amir had discussions with BSF chief Khusro Faramurz Rustamji, who had come from Delhi after learning of their arrival.[19] On 1 April, Tajuddin and Islam, accompanied by Majumdar, left for Delhi aboard a military cargo plane.[20]

In Delhi, Tajuddin met with India's Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, on 4 April.[21] At their second meeting the following day, Gandhi informed him that Sheikh Mujib had been arrested and transported to Pakistan though Pakistan had not made this official yet.[22] Asked about the Bangladesh government, he replied, having consulted with Amir-ul Islam the day before, that a provisional government had been formed with Sheikh Mujib as its president with the senior Awami League leaders who had attended the Mujib-Yahya talks as cabinet members. Tajuddin presented himself as the prime minister.[23] Except for Sheikh Mujib, the whereabouts of the other members was unknown. Two crucial resolutions were reached in that meeting: India opened its borders to Bangladeshi refugees saving millions of lives in the upcoming days when Pakistani aggression reached outside major cities, and India allowed the Bangladesh Government to operate within Indian territory.[24] The Indian government also promised to help the Bangladeshi liberation war by any means possible.

While Tajuddin was in Delhi, part of the Awami League leadership congregated in Kolkata. Many of them, notably the youth and student leaders, viewed Tajuddin's meeting with the Indian prime minister as an outrageous act side-lining them.[25][a] On returning to Kolkata, on 8 April, Tajuddin found and met the group of leaders, including A H M Qamaruzzaman, and informed them of the Delhi meeting's outcomes, including the provisional government.[27][28] Some of the leadership present there questioned Tajuddin's legitimacy as prime minister.[28] The youth leader Sheikh Mani rejected the idea of the cabinet outright. Instead, he proposed setting up a revolutionary council dedicated to conducting armed resistance only.[27] Amir-ul Islam explained the inadequacy of the revolutionary council and the necessity of a legal government. After this, and following Qamaruzzaman's mediation, most of the leadership at the meeting accepted Tajuddin's proposal.[27]

On 10 April, Tajuddin, Amir-ul Islam, Sheikh Mani and others boarded an old Dakota plane borrowed from the Indian government and set off in search of other cabinet members scattered around the borders.[29][30] Flying at low altitudes, the plane stopped at various airstrips at the borders.[29] After picking up cabinet members Muhammad Mansur Ali, Abdul Mannan, and Syed Nazrul Islam from various places on the way, on 11 April, the entourage arrived in Agartala, capital of the Indian state of Tripura, where many other Awami League leaders had taken refuge, including Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad and Colonel M. A. G. Osmani.[30]

Reunited in Agartala, the Awami League leadership pondered the cabinet agenda and distributing cabinet offices. In the absence of President Sheikh Mujib, Syed Nazrul Islam served as acting president, Khondaker Mostaq took the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qamarauzzaman was given the State Minister's office, Mansur Ali the Finance Ministry, Abdul Mannan took his responsibility as the Minister-In-Charge of Information and Broadcasting Ministry,[31] and Osmani, a retired veteran of the Pakistan army, was appointed commander-in-chief of the armed forces.[30][32] The entire cabinet returned to Kolkata on 13 April, set to take oath at some yet unoccupied place in Bangladesh.[31]

The oath taking ceremony took place on 17 April, at a village along the India-Bangladesh border, called Baidyanathtala, in Kushtia district (currently Meherpur district), on Bangladeshi soil.[33][b] The ceremony was conducted by Abdul Mannan.[35] Professor Muhammad Yusuf Ali read the proclamation of independence,[35] drafted by Amir-ul Islam, an Awami League MNA-elect and barrister of the Dacca High Court, with the help of Subrata Roy Chowdhury, a barrister of the Calcutta High Court,[36] retroactively in effect from 10 April.[30] Answering a journalist during the ceremony, Tajuddin named the place Mujibnagar, after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[37] Later the government-in-exile came to be popularly known as the Mujibnagar Government. Mujibnagar was abandoned quickly after the oath ceremony as participants feared a raid by Pakistani forces.[38] The government settled in Kolkata, in exile, for the rest of the war—briefly at a house on Ballyganj Circular Road[39] and then at 8 Theatre Road.[40]

## Constitution

[edit]

The proclamation of independence issued on 10 April served as the interim constitution of Bangladesh until 1972 and provided the legal basis of the provisional government. It declared that as Pakistan has failed to convene its elected legislators for framing a new constitution on 3 March and instead launched an "unjust and treacherous war", Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had fulfilled aspirations for self-determination by declaring independence of Bangladesh on 26 March:[41]

> Whereas in the facts and circumstances of such treacherous conduct Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader of the 75 million people of Bangladesh, in due fulfilment of the legitimate right of self-determination of the people of Bangladesh, duly made a declaration of independence at Dacca on March 26, 1971, and urged the people of Bangladesh to defend the honour of and integrity of Bangladesh[41]

The proclamation declared formation of a constituent assembly, consisting of the elected legislators, and Bangladesh as a people's republic with "equality, human dignity and social justice" as its fundamental principles:

> We the elected representatives of the people of Bangladesh, as honour bound by the mandate given to us by the people of Bangladesh whose will is supreme duly constituted ourselves into a Constituent Assembly, and having held mutual consultations, and in order to ensure for the people of Bangladesh equality, human dignity and social justice declare and constitute Bangladesh to be sovereign Peoples' Republic and thereby confirm the declaration of independence already made by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[41]

## The government headquarters

[edit]

According to prime minister Tajuddin's secretary Faruq Aziz Khan:

> The prime minister had a small office room no bigger than 10'x10'. A small secretariat table and a few chairs were all the furniture the PM's office had. An iron chest and a steel cabinet occupied most of the space of this little room ... Behind this room there was a bigger room about 25'x20' in size which was the PM's bed room cum sitting and dining room, all combined in one.[42]

> The other wing of the building which had almost similar accommodation was occupied by the commander-in-chief of the army Col. M.A.G. Osmani while the upper floor was occupied by some M.N.As and M.Ps as a kind of a hostel. It also housed the offices of the acting president Syed Nazrul Islam, finance minister M. Mansoor Ali and home minister Mr. Qamruzzaman.

> [43]

## Structure

[edit]

### Cabinet

[edit]

Provisional Cabinet of Bangladesh

1st Council of Ministers of Bangladesh

Sculpture of the cabinet members of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh at Mujibnagar

Date formed| 10 April 1971 (1971-04-10)
Date dissolved| 12 January 1972 (1972-01-12)
People and organisations
President|

* Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
* Syed Nazrul Islam (Acting)

Prime minister| Tajuddin Ahmad
Member parties| Bangladesh Awami League
History
Predecessor| East Pakistan
Successor| Mujib II
Office | Office Holder

|

President | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Vice President (Acting President) | Syed Nazrul Islam
Prime Minister | Tajuddin Ahmad
Finance Minister | Mansur Ali
Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Forces | Colonel M. A. G. Osmani
Foreign Minister | Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad
Home Minister | Abul Hasnat Muhammad Kamaruzzaman

Divisions/departments:[44]

1. Cabinet Secretariat
2. General Administration Department
3. Relief and Rehabilitation Department
4. Parliamentary Affairs Division
5. Agriculture Department
6. Engineering Department

Autonomous bodies:[44]

1. Planning Commission
2. Board of Trade and Commerce
3. Board of Control, Youth and Reception Camps
4. Relief and Rehabilitation Committee
5. Evacuee Welfare Board

### Parliament

[edit]

The interim constitution converted Bengali members of Pakistan's national and provincial assemblies elected in the 1970 general election into members of the Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh.[citation needed]

### Administration

[edit]

On 2 June, Bangladesh was divided into five administrative units, called Zonal Administrative Council, governed by elected legislators.[45] On an order (GA/810/345) issued by the prime minister on 27 July the number of zonal councils was increased to 9 and their functions were formalized.[46] On another order (GA/7366/500), issued on 18 September, the number was increased to eleven.[47] The administrative zones were headquartered in Indian territories bordering the zones. The administrative zones were the following:[48]

No. | Zone | Headquarter  | Jurisdiction | Chairman

|
|
|
|

1 | South-East Zone I | Sabrum |

1. Chittagong.
2. Chittagong Hill Tracts.
3. Feni sub-division of Noakhali District.

| Nurul Islam Chowdhury
2 | South-East Zone II | Agartala |

1. Dacca.
2. Comilla.
3. Noakhali district except Feni sub-division.

| Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury
3 | East Zone | Dharmanagar |

1. Habiganj and Moulvibazar sub-divisions of Sylhet district.

| Col. M A Rab
4 | North-East Zone I | Dawki |

1. Sadar and Sunamganj sub-divisions of Sylhet district.

| Dewan Farid Gazi
5 | North-East Zone II | Tura |

1. Mymensingh.
2. Tangail.

| Shamsur Rahman Khan
6 | North Zone | Coochbehar |

1. Rangpur.

| Matiur Rahman
7 | West Zone I | Balurghat |

1. Dinajpur
2. Bogra.

| Abdur Rahim
8 | West Zone II | Maldah |

1. Rajshahi.

| Ashraful Islam
9 | South-West Zone I | Krishnanagar |

1. Pabna.
2. Kushtia.

| Abdur Rauf Chowdhury
10 | South-West Zone II | Bangaon |

1. Faridpur.
2. Jessore.

| Fani Bhushan Majumdar
11 | South Zone | Barasat |

1. Barishal.
2. Patuakhali.

| M A Momen

The following officers were appointed to each zone by the government:[49]

1. Zonal Health Officer.
2. Zonal Education Officer.
3. Zonal Relief Officer.
4. Zonal Engineer.
5. Zonal Police Officer.
6. Zonal Information Officer.
7. Zonal Accounts Officer.

### Armed forces

[edit]

Since mid-March, during the Mujib-Yahya talks, East Bengal troops were being disarmed and senior East Bengal's armed forces officers were being transferred on various pretexts. As the war broke out, East Bengal soldiers serving in various Pakistan Army battalions had revolted and raised an armed resistance against Pakistan forces all over East Bangla immediately. Rebel commanders of these battalions, mostly junior officers, unaware of the establishment of a provisional government, met along with Colonel Osmani on 4 April.[24] At that meeting, the Bangladesh Forces BDF, was formed, with Colonel Osmani as its Commander-in-Chief. A provisional command structure and operation plan was adopted until a government could be formed. Prime Minister Tajuddin learned of the Bangladesh Forces while he was in New Delhi. In his 10 April radio speech he uniformly granted it official recognition. Subsequently, Lt. Colonel M. A. Rab took over as the Chief of Staff of Land Forces (Army). During August 1971 Group Captain A K Khandker took over as his Deputy. After November 21, 1971, Khandkar was entitled as Deputy Chief of Staff of Army (Liaison).[citation needed]

Office | Office Holder  | Notes

|
|

Commander-in-Chief of Bangladesh Forces (BDF) | Colonel M A G Osmani |
Principal Military Representative Provincial Government (Guerrilla Training) | Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan, TJ, SH  |
Chief of Staff(Army) | Lieutenant Colonel M. A. Rab |
Deputy Chief of Staff(Liaison) | Group Captain A K Khandker

Initially, the Bangladesh Forces consisted of the remnants of the five regular battalions of the East Bengal Regiment (EBR) of the Pakistan Army: 1, 3, and 8 (commanded by Major Ziaur Rahman HJ); 2 (commanded by Major K M Shafiullah); 4 (commanded by Major Khaled Mosharraf). In July, Osmani amalgamated the 3 battalions under Ziaur Rahman's command into a brigade, called 'Z-force'.[50] Similarly, in August–September, two more brigades, 'S-force' and 'K-force', and 3 more battalions for them (9, 10, and 11 EBRs) were partially raised.[50]

Able aged citizens from across the land throughout many locations also raised armed resistance. Unable to overcome the Pakistan forces' onslaught, owing mainly to lack of heavy arms and manpower, both resistances soon retreated into Indian territory. As Pakistan land forces spread around the country, thousands of men from many parts of occupied Bangladesh crossed the border into India, seeking arms and training to join the fight against the Pakistan occupation force.

In the mid-July (11 to 17) conference of the BDF sector commanders at the Bangladesh Government's headquarters on Theatre Road in Kolkata, the regular force, comprising the rebel Bengali soldiers from the Pakistan Army and the EPR, was named "Regular Force" (popularly called Mukti Fouj) and the irregular guerrilla warriors were named Gono Bahini (popularly called Muktijoddha or "Freedom Fighter").[51] The sectors were also reorganized.

The Bangladesh Independence war guerrillas were based in camps on the East Pakistan-India border.[52] On 21 November, it joined Indian forces as part of a combined Bangladesh-Indian allied offensive against Pakistan, which resulted in victory.

### Bureaucracy

[edit]

Many Bengali members of the Civil Service of Pakistan defected to the government of Bangladesh. Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, Noorul Quader Khan,[53] S. A. Samad, Khandaker Asaduzzaman, Saadat Husain and Akbar Ali Khan were early leaders of the newly formed Bangladesh Civil Service. Moudud Ahmed served as Postmaster General.[54] The provisional government established an elaborate structure of administrative departments. Yusuf Ali and J. G. Bhowmik served as the chief Relief Commissioners for Bangladeshi refugees. The noted artist Quamrul Hassan served as Director of Art and Design. Kolkata and Agartala were the main centres of the government-in-exile.

### Diplomacy

[edit]

On 15 April, before the Mujibnagar Cabinet took oath, Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed secretly met Hossain Ali, the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan in Kolkata. Tajuddin persuaded Ali, along with his Bengali staff, to switch allegiance to the Bangladesh government the day after the cabinet took their oaths.[37] As promised, Ali and 70 employees at the Deputy High Commission swore allegiance to the Bangladesh Government, turning the Pakistan High Commission on 9 Circus Avenue into the Bangladesh Mission in Kolkata for good.[55][56] The mission came to house part of the government's offices, most importantly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[57]

In early April, Tajuddin commissioned economist Rehman Sobhan to stop the economic advisor to Yahya Khan, economist Mirza Muzaffar Ahmad, from acquiring fresh foreign aid for Pakistan and persuade Bangladeshi officials serving at Pakistani foreign missions to switch allegiance to Bangladesh.[58] In late May, Tajuddin charged journalist Muyeedul Hasan with communicating with the Indian political groups and also establishing liaison with the USSR.[59]

Name | Title | Mission

|
|

Humayun Rashid Choudhury | Ambassador-at-Large | New Delhi
Abul Maal Abdul Muhith | Ambassador-at-Large | Washington, D.C.
Rehman Sobhan | Special Envoy | Washington, D.C.
Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury | Chief Overseas Representative[60] | London
Abul Fateh | Ambassador-at-Large | Calcutta

### Cultural wing

[edit]

In May, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, the official radio service of the Government of Bangladesh, began operating with a transmitter allotted by the Indian government.[61] It served as the cultural propaganda wing of the Bangladeshi provisional government.

## Conduct of war

[edit]

Pakistan was diplomatically assisting its ally the United States in its rapprochement with Communist China.[62] India as a non-aligned under the premiership of its first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi. She agreed to join with the Provincial Bangladesh Government; from 21 November the Indian Army took over control from BD Forces.[63] 'Youth camps' were set up in border areas to train youths in guerrilla warfare. A sizable guerrilla force was raised within a few months.

From late June, the first batch of trained BD Forces guerrillas, a few hundred in number, entered and began operating within occupied Bangladesh.[64] Their repeated hit-and-run attacks on Pakistan Army bases and communication systems hampered the Pakistan Army.

During this juncture India signed a friendship treaty with the USSR in August and Russian armament supply to India began. Till then about 500 guerrillas were trained.[65] It was planned that the number would be increased by 10,000 more, by training 1,000 guerrillas per month.[65] From late August, besides limited training and supplying the BDF, the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, headquartered in Kolkata, got involved in setting their monthly 'ops target'.[65] Major General B N Sarkar of the Indian Army was appointed as the military liaison between the Indian government and the Provincial Government of Bangladesh. In a naval operation, BDF naval commandos, blew up two Pakistan Navy ships anchored at Chittagong port in Bangladesh.[66]

At the beginning of the war, three divisions of the Pakistan Army were stationed in East Pakistan.[67][67] From 25 March to 7 April, Pakistan forces in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) were reinforced by two more divisions from Pakistan.[68] For a decisive offensive against Pakistan, Indian forces were reinforced with forces stationed in its northern front, securing the border with China. Indian military strategists scheduled the decisive offensive in winter.[67] Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Forces would destroy the border outposts, thus making it easier for the guerrillas to pour in and operate within the country.

BDF guerrillas kept attacking government headquarters, military check posts, bridges, railways, and power stations. As a result, land transportation capacity in occupied Bangladesh reduced to one-tenth by September.[69] From the second week of October, guerrilla operation intensified further.[69] By late October, only 90 of the 370 outposts survived.[70]

In early December, in the wake of a Pakistan air strike on Indian territory, India declared war with Pakistan and recognized Bangladesh. US president Richard Nixon bluffed a presence of the Seventh Fleet into the Bay of Bengal. The USSR opposed the move and also deployed a single warship in the Bay of Bengal. The Pakistan forces surrendered on 16 December in Dhaka.[citation needed]

## Dissent

[edit]

In September, 40 members of the national and provincial assemblies of the South Zone, headquartered in Barasat, issued a statement expressing dissatisfaction on the provisional government's performance.[71] They asked for revocation of the prime minister's Zonal Administrative Council order (GA/810/345) and instead forming a committee consisting of Awami League members.[71] They also complained about the members of the Planning Commission as 'none of them is Awami Leaguer nor do they believe in the ideology of Awami League'.[72] They asked for Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad's resignation from the cabinet and Awami League.[73]

The Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, and labour groups united under a separate force, initially called the Bangladesh Liberation Force (BLF) and later Mujib Bahini. Though initially commissioned by Osmani to recruit youths for the regular Bangladesh Forces,[65] they eventually emerged as an independent armed force, under the auspices of the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).[74][75] Mujib Bahini clashed with the regular forces at various places. Sector Commanders of the regular forces and Osmani urged the government to bring them under the same command.[65] Prime Minister Tajuddin himself expressed his concern about Mujib Bahini to Indian officials on occasion[75] and to Prime Minister Gandhi at their meeting on 22 October.[76] The situation, however, never improved.

By August, Minister of Foreign Affairs Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad and his cohorts at his ministry secretly established a liaison with the United States, a key ally of Pakistan, without the Government's knowledge.[77] With Sheikh Mujib on trial in Pakistan for high treason, the same group was also spreading the 'either freedom or Mujib' doctrine.[78] Indian intelligence agencies had discovered the fact just before Mostaq was scheduled to lead the Bangladesh delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Tajuddin removed Mostaq from the UN delegation and sacked him later in December, after the war.[79]

## See also

[edit]

* Government in exile
* The Jai Bangla

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ As a contingency plan, the Awami League leadership was supposed to meet at the house of a former Awami League worker settled in Kolkata named Chittaranjan Sutar. Before leaving for Delhi, Tajuddin asked his BSF hosts to find Sutar's address to no avail. Tajuddin had to leave without contacting him. This added to the youth leaders' suspicions.[26]
2. ^ The exact site was a mango orchard, not far from the site of the Battle of Plassey, in which the British East India Company defeated the last independent Nawab of Bengal in 1757.[34]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "National Anthem". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
2. ^ "Bangladesh 50 Timeline – the Road to Independence".
3. ^ "Dec 18, 1971: Government's vanguard arrives in free Dhaka".
4. ^ "The Liberation War and the Provisional Government". 26 March 2018.
5. ^ "Bangladesh Provisional Government in Exile | the Asian Age Online, Bangladesh".
6. ^ "Postal Administration of Mujibnagar Government". 21 August 2017.
7. ^ Nurul Huda, Muhammad (7 June 2020). "A look back at the historic Six Point Movement".
8. ^ Hossain 1985, p. 177.
9. ^ Sobhan 1985, p. 265.
10. ^ Sobhan 1985, pp. 265–266.
11. ^ Hossain 1985, p. 179.
12. ^ Hossain 1985, p. 183.
13. ^ Hossain 1985, pp. 183–184.
14. ^ a b Sobhan 1985, p. 267.
15. ^ Islam 1985, pp. 56–57.
16. ^ Karim 2005, p. 204.
17. ^ Islam 1985, pp. 62–67.
18. ^ Islam 1985, p. 67.
19. ^ Islam 1985, p. 68.
20. ^ Islam 1985, p. 69.
21. ^ Islam 1985, p. 71.
22. ^ Islam 1985, p. 73.
23. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 11.
24. ^ a b Hasan 1986, p. 13.
25. ^ Ahmad 2014, p. 44.
26. ^ Karim 2005, p. 206: "One of the first things Tajuddin wanted to do after arriving in Calcutta was to get in touch with Chittaranjan Sutar. He was a Hindu Awami Leaguer from Barisal who had been asked by Mujib in the late 1960's to settle in Calcutta to maintain contact with the Indian authorities in case of any help was needed from them. He was living in Bhowanipur area of Calcutta and Tajuddin had memorised his address, instead of writing it down, for security reasons. Tajuddin mentioned the address of Chittaranjan as 26 Prasad Road to Surajit Chattapadhya, a BSF officer, who was looking after him. But there was no road called Prasad Road in Calcutta. Chittaranjan Sutar's name was not listed in the telephone directory because he had changed his name to Bhujanga Bhushan Roy. The street where Chittaranjan Sutar was living had been named after Dr. Rajendra Prasad, a former President of India, and was called Rajendra Road, not Prasad Road."
27. ^ a b c Islam 1985, pp. 74–75.
28. ^ a b Hasan 1986, p. 14.
29. ^ a b Islam 1985, p. 75.
30. ^ a b c d Hasan 1986, p. 15.
31. ^ a b Islam 1985, p. 79.
32. ^ Ahmad 2014, p. 45.
33. ^ Islam 1985, p. 81.
34. ^ Khan, Mozammel H (17 April 2016). "Genesis of Bangladesh's Constitution". The Daily Star (Op-ed). Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
35. ^ a b Islam 1985, p. 81–82.
36. ^ Islam 1985, p. 79–80.
37. ^ a b Islam 1985, p. 82.
38. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 16.
39. ^ Anisuzzaman 1997, p. 83.
40. ^ Batabyal, Guru Saday (2021). Politico-military strategy of the Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971. Routledge. p. 141\. ISBN 978-0-367-32268-7.
41. ^ a b c "The Proclamation of Independence" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
42. ^ Khan 2014, p. 175.
43. ^ Khan 2014, p. 176.
44. ^ a b Hasan 1986, p. 246.
45. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 24.
46. ^ Imam 2010, pp. 519–524.
47. ^ Imam 2010, p. 525.
48. ^ Imam 2010, p. 223.
49. ^ Imam 2010, p. 523.
50. ^ a b Hasan 1986, p. 51.
51. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 46.
52. ^ Bass, Gary J. (2013). The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide. Alfred A. Knopf. pp. 96, 98. ISBN 978-0-307-70020-9. "India worked closely with the self-declared Bangladeshi government in exile ... planned camps where the Indian army would train Bengali nationalist guerrillas ... General [J. F. R.] Jacob remembers, 'The [Indian] government asked us to train the Mukti Bahini, so we set up camps, with the BSF [Border Security Force] at the border areas.'"
53. ^ "Desh Garments – A pioneer's gift to his country". The Daily Star. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
54. ^ Feroze, Shahriar (16 December 2014). "That unsung 'Philatelic war' ..." The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
55. ^ Islam 1985, p. 83.
56. ^ Rahman 1982.
57. ^ Anisuzzaman 1997, pp. 84–85.
58. ^ Sobhan 1985, p. 275.
59. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 32–35.
60. ^ "Mr. Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, M.P." Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015.
61. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 25.
62. ^ Lee, Sunwoo Vivian (October 2016). "Road to Rapprochement: Establishment of the 1972 United States' Visit to the People's Republic of China through the Pakistani Channel" (PDF). Global Politics Review. 2 (2): 58–73.
63. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 19.
64. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 39–40.
65. ^ a b c d e Hasan 1986, p. 67.
66. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 68.
67. ^ a b c Hasan 1986, p. 97.
68. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 17.
69. ^ a b Hasan 1986, p. 107.
70. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 108.
71. ^ a b Hasan 1986, p. 83.
72. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 238.
73. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 239.
74. ^ Khasru, B. Z. (2014). The Bangladesh Military Coup and the CIA Link. New Delhi: Rupa Publications Private Limited. pp. 216–218\. ISBN 9788129129086. "India developed the Bangladesh Liberation Force plan after it had become aware of the power struggle within the Awami League. Many Awami League leaders opposed Tajuddin as prime minister. Some of the youth and student leaders openly expressed their displeasure with his appointment ...
Aware of this tension between Mujib and Tajuddin, the youth leaders sought to exploit it to advance their own agenda with [Indira] Gandhi's blessing. General Uban Singh confirmed this account. RAW's decision to raise a separate militia stemmed from India's fear that the freedom fighters, or the Mukti Bahini, under Osmany's command included guerrillas from various political persuasions and many of those guerrillas nurtured an ambition to turn East Pakistan into a Communist nation."
75. ^ a b Hasan 1986, p. 64.
76. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 125.
77. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 80.
78. ^ Hasan 1986, p. 81.
79. ^ Karim 2005, p. 227.

## Sources

[edit]

* Imam, H T (2010). বাংলাদেশ সরকার ১৯৭১ [Bangladesh Government 1971] (in Bengali) (3rd ed.). Dhaka: Agamee Prakashani. ISBN 9789844017832.[non-primary source needed]
* Hasan, Muyeedul (1986). মূলধারা '৭১ [Mainstream '71] (in Bengali) (2nd ed.). Dhaka: The University Press Limited. ISBN 9789848815632.[non-primary source needed]
* Rahman, Hasan Hafizur, ed. (1982). "প্রথম অধ্যায়: ১২: কলিকাতাস্থ পাকিস্তানী ডেপুটি হাই কমিশনারের বাংলাদেশের পক্ষাবলম্বন" [First Chapter: 12: Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata Switches Allegiance to Bangladesh]. বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ: দলিলপত্র [History of Bangladesh War of Independence: Documents] (PDF). Vol. 3\. Dhaka: Ministry of Information, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. pp. 30–32\. ISBN 9844330912.[non-primary source needed]
* Islam, Barrister Amir-ul (1985). "৯: ব্যারিস্টার আমিরুল ইসলাম (সাক্ষাৎকার)" [9: Barrister Amir-ul Islam (Interview)]. In —— (ed.). বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ: দলিলপত্র [History of Bangladesh War of Independence: Documents] (PDF) (in Bengali). Vol. 15\. Dhaka: Ministry of Information, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. pp. 51–110\. ISBN 9844330912.[non-primary source needed]
* Hossain, Doctor Kamal (1985). "১৮: ডক্টর কামাল হোসেন (সাক্ষাৎকার)" [18: Doctor Kamal Hossain (Interview)]. In —— (ed.). বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ: দলিলপত্র [History of Bangladesh War of Independence: Documents] (PDF). Vol. 15\. Dhaka: Ministry of Information, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. pp. 143–193\. ISBN 9844330912.[non-primary source needed]
* Sobhan, Rehman (1985). "৩৬: রেহমান সোবহান (সাক্ষাৎকার)" [36: Rehman Sobhan (Interview)]. In —— (ed.). বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ: দলিলপত্র [History of Bangladesh War of Independence: Documents] (PDF). Vol. 15\. Dhaka: Ministry of Information, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. pp. 263–293\. ISBN 9844330912.[non-primary source needed]
* Anisuzzaman (1997). আমার একাত্তর [My Seventy-One (Memoir)] (in Bengali). Dhaka: Sahitya Prakash. ISBN 9844651255.[non-primary source needed]
* Khan, Faruq Aziz (2014). Spring 1971. Dhaka: Agamee Prakashani. ISBN 9789840416332.
* Karim, S. A. (2005). Sheikh Mujib: Triumph and Tragedy. Dhaka: The University Press Limited. ISBN 9789845061537.
* Ahmad, Mohiuddin (2014). জাসদের উত্থান পতন: অস্থির সময়ের রাজনীতি [Rise and Fall of JSD: Politics in the Time of Turmoil] (in Bengali) (10th ed.). Dhaka: Prothoma Prokashan. ISBN 9789849074755.

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