Liberation Diary: Victory for Bengalis as Bangladesh born on Dec 16

Today is December 16, the Victory Day of Bangladesh. The world saw the birth of a new country named Bangladesh. 

The sun was about to set. The East Pakistan was war-torn and blanketed with growing tension and panic. Intermittent war was sting being reported in places, even at city centres. 

In such a situation,  the commander of 92,000 marauding troops of the Pakistan army, Lieutenant General AAK Niazi, surrendered at Ramna Race Course, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka around 5:30pm.

According to the order of General AAK Niazi, Pakistan troops start surrendering weapons from 5am.

Around 8am, General Niazi requests Indian army chief to extend the surrendering period for another six hours.

An hour later, two officers of India and Bangladesh, in a vehicle, hoisting a white flag, go to Niazi’s HQ with a letter from divisional commander of the allied force, General Nagra. The message reads: “Dear Abdullah, I’m here. You will now surrender to me. This is an order.”

At around 1:00pm, General Jacob, chief of staff of General Aurora, commander general of the allied force, reaches Dhaka.

Later in the afternoon, a meeting is held at the General’s HQ for preparing the documents of surrender. Niazi, Rao Farman Ali and Jamshed represent the Pakistani side while Jacob, Nagra and Kader Siddiqui are present on Bangladesh’s side. It has been decided that General Aurora would sign the document on behalf of the victorious side while General Niazi would sign for the defeated side.

Within an hour, General Jagjit Singh Aurora, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, accompanied by the chiefs of staff of Indian navy and air force reach Dhaka from Kolkata. Niazi receives and congratulates him.

Around 4:45pm, General Niazi reaches the Race Course. For the final time, soldiers from both sides offer him guard of honour.

Around 5:25pm, General Aurora and General Niazi sit on a table in the Race Course. Aurora sits on the right side and Niazi on the left of the table. The instrument of surrender is ready. Aurora hands it to Niazi, who signs the paper and officially acknowledges Bangladesh as a free, independent and sovereign state.

Freedom fighters and commoners burst into joy and almost shook streets by the signature “Joy Bangla” slogan. 

Right from the evening, Dhaka turned into the city of joy, with people from all walks of life taking to the streets to celebrate. 

We have been publishing the series called Liberation Diary focusing on the country’s 1971 struggle for freedom by collecting information from various sources. Other than the website, the reports can also be found on the YouTube channel of thereport.live.