MILITARY BATTLES - DHAKA BOWL DEFENSE (LIBERATION WAR OF BANGLADESH)

General

1.         Three mighty rivers the Padma, the Meghna and the Jamuna which circumscribed the strategic triangle are commonly called the “Dhaka Bowl”. This denotes therefore the area surrounded by the Jamuna in the west, the Meghna in east, the Padma in the south and the international border in the north. The area includes administrative zones of greater Dhaka, Tangail and Mymensingh district.

Figure-1: Military Battles-Dhaka Bowl

2.         Though Pakintani Planners Emphasized on Dhaka as the launching for the defense of the then East Pakistan, ironically enough, the course adopted by Niazi and subsequent forces disposition did not have any worth while ingredient for the defense of Dhaka.

Do you want to get the mobile app of "Military Battles" website for Android Mobiles? Then DOWNLOAD The File for free and Install on your Android Mobile.

Layout of Dhaka Bowl

3.         The layout was as under:

a.         Outer Perimeter.       Line joining Manikgonj in the west, Khaliakoir in the north, Norshingdi in the North east, Doudkandi in the east and Munshigonj in the south east is the outer perimeter.

b.        Inner Perimeter.       Line joining Mirpur bridge, Tongi, Demra and Narayangonj is the inner perimeter.

Figure-2: Military Battles-Inner and Outer Perimeter of Dhaka Bowl Defense

Defense of Dhaka Bowl

4.         Defense of Dhaka bowl or Dhaka was inherent in the overall planning for the defense of East Pakistan. The salient aspects of the defense were as follows:

a.         Fortress Concept.  General Niazi’s fourth option or fortress concept envisaged holding allied offensive in all important border towns. This concept and consequent plan did not cater anything specific for ‘Dhaka Bowl’.

b.         Shortest Route to ‘Dhaka Bowl’.            The shortest route to Dhaka or Dhaka bowl form the international border lay accross  Bharamputra and Meghna through Mymensinsh - Dhaka and Akhaura – Bhairabbazar - Dhaka axes.

Figure-3: Military Battles-Shortest Route to Dhaka Bowl

c.         Pakistan Defense Vital in Mymensingh – Akhaura – Bharibbazar Area. Any offensive through northern and southern sector i.e. administrative division of Rajshahi and Khulna respectively involved longer distance and also crossing of the mighty Padma and Jamuna. Therefore the defense of Pakistan in mymensingh – Akhaura – Bhairabbazar area was vital for defense of Dhaka Bowl.

d.         Shortage of Troops.          After disposing troops as per the fortress  concept, General Niazi ran short of troops for the defense of the vital sector.

e.         Less Priority in Mymensingh Area.       Defense of Mymensingh area was given the less priority, Considering  the presence of a logistic formation, 101 communication zone of  Allied across the border.

f.          Creation of Adhoc Headquarters and Task Assigned to 36 Adhoc Division.   As the clouds of war began to gather General Niazi created two adhoc divisional Headquaters and four adhoc Brigade Headquarters. Thus 36 adhoc division under major general Jamsed, Director general  EPCAF (East Pakistan Civil Armed Forces) was assigned to look after Dhaka and its northern areas, including Tangail and Mymensingh district.

g.         36 Adhoc Division and 93 Brigade was Strengthened.   36 adhoc division got two Infantry battalions shed from 27 Brigade. There were 33 Punjab and 31 Belouch regiment which were grouped under 93 Brigade commanded by Brigadier Quadir.

5.         Elements.     The defense of Dhaka Bowl can be considered to have three basic elements, though not quite deliberate and thoughtful these elements had direct or indirect bearing in the defense of Dhaka Bowl. The details of elements are as follows:

a.         93 Brigade.

(1)       Deployments.            93 Brigade was deployed in Mymensingh with 31 Baluch in Jamalpur and 33 Punjab in Mymensingh.

(2)       Task.  This Brigade was holding the shortest route to Dhaka from the west.

Figure-4: Military Battles-Deployment of 93 Brigade

b.         27 Brigade.

(1)       Deployments.          This Brigade under 14 division was deployed on the Akhaura – Brahamanbaria – Bhairabbazar axis.

(2)       Task.  This Brigade was also holding the shortest route to Dhaka Bowl from the east.

Figure-5: Military Battles-Deployment of 27 Brigade

c.         Defense of Dhaka.

(1)       Outer and Inner Perimeter Defense.      Due to shortage of adequate forces, no troops could be kept earmarked for the defense of Dhaka proper. However, according to plan, Dhaka was to have outer and inner perimeters of defense.

(2)       Outer Perimeter Defense Arrangement.           It was planned that 93 Brigade (Mymensingh) 27 Brigade (Brairabbazar), 117 Brigade (Comilla) and 39 adhoc division  (Chandpur) would fall back and redeploy at Kaliakair, Narshingdi, Doudkandi and Munshiganj respectively.

(3)       Inner Perimeter Defense Arrangement.            An asserted force of about 5000 strong persons composed of all arms and services EPCAF, police and Rajakars was raised to from the inner perimeter of defense of Dhaka.

Figure-6: Military Battles-Perimeters of Dhaka Bowl Defense

d.        However, eventually this plan was never materialized.

Final Offensive on Dhaka

6.        The Core of the Allied Offensive.           It was as follows:

a.         Contain the Pakistani strong points at the border.

b.         Powerful mobile thrust by a series of by passing moves.

c.         Cut the enemy’s line of communications.

d.         Raced ahead for the Dhaka bowl.

7.         The Thrust.  It was as follows:

a.         Three major thrust from each of the three Army corps from three sectors and comparatively lesser thrust from the Meaghalaya area.

b.         Each thrust would strive to bypass major resistance and make for the strategic target leaving behind detachment to contain and eventually liquidate the center of resistance.

c.         As final option whichever thrust looked being winner would be exploited.

Figure-7: Military Battles-Final Offensive on Dhaka Bowl

8.         Details of the Forces.

a.         11 Corps.

(1)       Commander.            Lieutenant General Raina.

(2)       Organization of Force.

(a)       4 mountain division – Major General Raina.

(b)       9 mountain division – Major General Berar.

(c)        Bengal Area Troops – Major General Daivir Singh.

(3)       Area of Responsibility.     Advance from Khrisnapur and was responsible for south western sector (Jessore – Khulna Area).

b.         XXXIII Corps.

(1)       Commander.            Lieutenant general Thapan.

(2)       Organization of Force.

(a)       20 mountain division – Major General Lachman Singh.

(b)       71 mountain brigade – Brigadier Bakshi.

(c)        9 mountain brigade – Brigadier Tirath Verman.

(3)       Area of responsibility.          Advance from Balunghat and Silighury and was responsible for North-Western sector (Rajshahi Area).

c.         IV Corps.

(1)       Commander.            Lieutenant General Sagat.

(2)       Organization of Force.

(a)       8 mountain division – Major General Krishnorao.

(b)       23 mountain division – Major General Hira.

(c)        57 mountain division – Major General Gonsalves.

(3)       Area of Responsibility.   Advance from Tripura and was responsible for Eastern sector (Akhuara – Bhairabbazar Area).

d.         101 Communication Zone.

(1)       Commander.            Major general Nagra.

(2)       Organization of Force.   95 Mountain brigade.

(3)       Area of Responsibility.   Advance from Meghalaya and will be responsible for Northern sector (Mymensingh – Tangil area).

9.         Plans for the Final Offensive on Dhaka.           Three major and one comparatively lesser thrusts were planned as under:

a.         II Corps (Jessore – Khulna Area).          In the south western sector 4 and 9 mountain division of this corps were operating and they were responsible to liberate west of the Padma. They captured important town of Jessore, Khulna Chunadanga and Meherpur. Before they reach upto Faridpur Pakistan forces surrendered.

b.         XXXIII Corps (Rajshahi Area).     In this north western sector the main thrust went at Hilli by 20 Mountain division while minor thrust were directed at other bordering town and communication centers. After neutralizing Pakistan stronghold at Hilli, Bogra was captured. The offensive in this sector ended with the surrender of 16 Pakistan division at Bogra.

c.         IV Corps (Akhaura – Bhairabbazar Sector).

(1)       The main offensive in this sector was launched along Akhaura – Bhairabbazar axis by 57 mountain division of IV corps along S force and the troops of Number 3 sector. After neutralizing Pakistani defense at Akhaura on 05 November, the division advanced towards Ashuganj pursuing the withdraw of Pakistani 27 Brigade and other elements of 14 division. Brahamanbaria fell on 08 Nov 71.

(2)       After the brief battle of Ashuganj part of Pakistani 14 division along with divisional Headquarters withdrew towards Bhairab-Bazar across the Meghna. Bhairab Bazar Bridge was demolished by the withdrawing Pakistani forces.

(3)       Leaving a force to contain the Pakistani position at Bhairab Bazar, leading elements of 57 mountain division along with 2^nd East Bengal crossed the river Meghna and proceeded to Norshingdi. Massive heli-lifting was also carried out to concentrate force at the rear of the enemy for speedy advance to Dhaka.

(4)       By 12 December 311 Mountain Brigade and part of 73 Mountain Brigade and S force got accross the Meghna Narshingdi was captured intact.

(5)       There after 311 mountain brigade headed for Demra while 73 Mountain Brigade advanced towards Tongi via Ghorashal. By 14 December the leading elements of 57 Mountain Division reached the outskirts of Dhaka.

d.        101 Communication Zone (Mymensingh – Tangail).

Figure-4: Military Battles-101 Communication Zone Advance

(1)       In Mymenshingh – Jamalpur sector 101 communication zone along with the troops of 11 sector advanced along Kamalpur – Jamalpur and Haluaghat – Mymensingh axes.

(2)       95 Mountain Brigade of 101 communication zone liquidated Kamalpur BOP after a bloody and fierce battle. Then they seized Jamalpur fortress of 31 Baluch as the battalion was ordered to withdraw to Dhaka.

(3)       95 Brigade advanced towards Modhupur while 11 sector along with Mukthi Bahini advanced along Haluaghat Mymensingh axis. Mymensingh was captured unopposed.

(4)       Afterwards both the column along with 167 Mountain Brigade hurriedly allotted to 101 communication zone, reached Tangail in the wake of retreating Pakistani forces.

(5)       On 11 December, 2 para battalion of the Indian Army was dropped at kalihati near Tangail. The para battalion in conjunction with the troops of Quader Siddique established several road blocks on Mymensingh – Tangail road Brigadiar Quadir the Pakistani Commander finding himself trapped and finally surrendered.

(6)       After linking up with the para battalion the brigade reached Joydebpur on 13^th and Tongi Bridge on 14^th. On 16 December by first light the para battalion leading another column of 101 communication zone on Chandra-Savar axis reached Mirpur bridge, Just on the western outskirts of Dhaka city.

e.        The Surrender.

(1)       As the allied forces wear about to enter Dhaka, General Niazi agreed to surrender.

(2)       101 communication zone of northern sector and the 57 mountain column of eastern sector entered Dhaka in the afternoon of 16 December.

(3)       General Aurora along with his air and naval counterparts and Group Captain Khondokar from Bangladesh  forces flew to Dhaka to attend the surrender ceremony.

(4)       The instrument of surrender was signed at 1631 hours on 16 December at the then Ramna Race course ground. With this the occupation Army  laid down the arms and Bangladesh was thus liberated.

Do you want to get the mobile app of "Military Battles" website for Android Mobiles? Then DOWNLOAD The File for free and Install on your Android Mobile.