Liberation Diary: US pressurizes India, Pakistan for ceasefire on Dec 11

A number of notable historic events took place on this day in December 1971 . On this day, the United States pressurized Pakistan and India to accept the ceasefire proposal in the UN General Assembly. It is on this day, Kushtia district was freed from the enemy.

December 11, 1971 is a memorable day for Bangladesh. The first public meeting was held in Jessore at the town hall ground after defeating the Pakistani invaders.

Addressing the Prime Minister of the Mujibnagar government, Tajuddin Ahmed called for the reconstruction of war-torn Bangladesh. Many foreign journalists including reporters from the Washington Post, London‍‍`s Daily Telegraph and New York Times were present during the public meeting.

On December 11, an instruction to the people issued by the Mujibnagar government said, "Do not kill those murderers (captured or surrendered Pakistani soldiers), hand them over to the Mukti Bahini." Maybe we can reclaim the father of the nation in exchange for them.

Being in a sense of retreat, the army knew that defeat was certain, Major General Rao Farman Ali, the military adviser to the provincial government, sent an urgent message to the UN headquarters for a ceasefire.

On this day, the US pressured both India and Pakistan to accept the cease-fire resolution proposed by the United Nations General Assembly. White House Spokesman Ronald Ziegler said it is important for both India and Pakistan to accept the UN General Assembly resolution.

On December 11, 1971, the head of the Eastern Command, Lt. In a message to General Niazi, President of Pakistan Yahya Khan said that the US Seventh Fleet has left for Bangladesh. He also mentioned in his message that China is also preparing for war.

Morever, an indefinite curfew was imposed in Dhaka from midday on this day.

On this day in December, India temporarily suspended airstrikes at the Dhaka airport for the transfer of foreign nationals at the request of the United Nations.

On this day, the guerrillas of Mukti Bahini spread in every area of Dhaka. Allied troops landed in specific areas around Dhaka at night. Allied forces and Mukti Bahini came forward towards Dhaka.

On this day in 1971, 12 important areas of besieged Bangladesh including Jamalpur Mymensingh, Gaibandha, Chandipur, Tangail, Kushtia, Phulchharihat and Bahadurbad Ghats were liberatedb from the Pakistani occupation.

Jamalpur was freed from the invaders in the early hours of this morning after a six-day long siege and heavy fighting by Mukti Bahini and allied forces. Six officers and 522 soldiers of the 21 Baloch Regiment surrendered to the joint forces of Pakistani forces stationed at Jamalpur Garrison.

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.