Glorious Liberation War 1971: Road to Victory

1970 7 June In a public rally at Race Course Field, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announces: 'Upcoming elections will be referendum on the Six-Point Demand'. 28 November "1 million died during the cyclone. For acquiring self-rule, a further million will lay down their lives." Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a Press Conference

7 December Awami League wins massive majority in General Elections. Among 169 seats in East Pakistan, Awami League wins 167. 17 December Awami League wins absolute majority in the Provincial and National Assembly elections.

1971 3 January In a massive public gathering at Race Course Field, Awami League MCAs and MPAs take oath to implement Six-Point and Eleven-Point Demands. There Bangabandhu said: 'The Six-Point is no longer property of Awami League alone, but that of the whole nation. The proposed Constitution would be formulated based on the Six-Point and 11-Point. No one can create any obstacles in this regard.

11 January Bangabandhu states: 'Only Awami League is able to form Cabinet in East Bengal and Centre. People's aspirations can only be fullfilled by formulating a Constitution based on the Six-Point'. 17 February No power in the world can chain down the Bengalis into slavery and restrictions. We will not let the blood of the martyrs go in vain - Bangabandhu

1 March Cancellation of session of National Assembly of Pakistan was termed as a 'deep conspiracy' by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He urged the people to wage movement and struggles against it. 2 March The flag of independent Bangladesh, which had in its middle the map of the country, was hoisted at the historic 'Bottola' of Dhaka University. 3 March In the public gathering of Chatro League at Paltan Field, the song 'Amar Sonar Bangla' by Rabindranath Tagore was selected as the 'national anthem'.

7 March Bangabandhu gave an extempore speech of about 19 minutes in front of hundreds of thousands of people at Racecourse Field. It was as if he spoke the unspoken words of millions of Bengalis. He uttered those famous words: "Be prepared with whatever you have. Remember, we have given blood before, and we are prepared to do the same again. We will liberate the people of this country, Allah willing. This time, the struggle is for our liberation, this time the struggle is for our independence. Joy Bangla."

9 March In a public rally at Paltan Field, Bangabandhu states unequivocally that the West Pakistanis should formulate their own governance structure, as the people of East Pakistan will make their own governance regime after giving birth to their independent nation. 15 March Yahya Khan comes to Dhaka and pretends to hold talks with Bangabandhu to buy time; all the while soldiers of Pakistani Army are coming to Dhaka every day to boost their numbers.

Glorious Liberation War 1971: Road to Victory

19 March Bengali soldiers revolt in Joydevpur. 21 March The pretence of talks by Yahya is joined by Bhutto and his entourage as they arrive in Dhaka. 23 March This was the 'Pakistan Day'. However, apart from the cantonment and the Government House, the flag of Pakistan could not be seen anywhere in Bangladesh. In the Dhanmondi residence of Bangabandhu, the song 'Amar Sonar Bangla' is played and the flag of independent Bangladesh is hoisted.

25 March The night of one of the worst massacres and genocide of recent times. The barbarity of the night is marked by mass killings, rapes, looting, arson and utter destruction. The Pakistan Army engages in an unholy festival of cleansing hundreds of thousands of unarmed Bengalis.

26 March The day of the independence of the Bengalis. The day of waving the red and green flag on the world map. In the first hours of the day, the undisputed leader of the Bengalis, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, announces the independence of Bangladesh from his residence at Dhanmondi Road 32.

10 April The first government of independent People's Republic of Bangladesh is formed by making Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the President of the country. Syed Nazrul Islam was elected the Vice-President and the acting-President in the absence of Bangabandhu. Appointing Tajuddin Ahmed as the Prime Minister, Captain Monsur Ali, Khondokar Moshtaq Ahmed and AHM Kamruzzaman was inducted in the Cabinet.

11 April General Tikka Khan is replaced by General Niazi as the Chief of Armed Forces in Bangladesh by Pakistan. 17 April In Amrokanon of Byadyanathtola of the current Meherpur district, the first government of independent Bangladesh takes oath officially. The Acting President Syed Nazrul Islam hoists the flag of Bangladesh. During that time, the national anthem 'Amar Sonar Bangla' is played.

11 July The Muktibahini (Freedom Fighters) start operations as an organized unit. 1 August A massive concert at New York's Madison Square Garden, attended by such musical luminaries as Ravi Shankar, George Harrison etc touches the world's conscience and brings attention to the plight of Bengalis. The American poet Allen Ginsberg writes his famous poem 'September on Jessore Road' highlighting the plight of the Bengali refugees fleeing violence of the Pakistan Army.

28 September The first unit of Bangladesh's Air Force is formed at the Dimapur Airport of India's Nagaland state with three planes and nine airmen. 6 October Massive fight takes place between the Bangladeshi Freedom Fighters and the Pakistani Army. More than 400 soldiers, Razakars and Al-Badr militias are killed at the hands of the Bangladeshi forces, including 22 officers of the Army. The Pakistan Army is devastated by more than 2,500 commando attacks at various fronts by the Bangladeshi Freedom Fighters.

7 October Defence Minister of India Jagjivan Ram says in New Delhi: "We understand the only political solution to the Bangladesh issue as being one of 'independence'. We believe that the Bengalis will one day achieve their independence and Bangladesh will be recognized as an independent state. Because they are fighting for justice and truth". 9 November Bangladesh Navy starts its operations with the two ships received as gifts 'Padma' and 'Palash'. 'Palash' was used during the Liberation War by the No. 10 Sector. Its notable successful use was during 'Operation Jackpot' at Khulna, Narayanganj and Chittagong.

21 November 21 November was a very significant day during the nine months of Liberation War. On this day, the Bangladeshi Freedom Fighters and Indian Army formed the joint forces known as 'Allied Forces'. 6 December Independent Bangladesh receives its first recognition from India. 7 December Bhutan becomes the second country to recognize independent state of Bangladesh.

8 December The official spokeperson on India states that if Pakistan accepts their defeat in East Bengal, then the war would come to an end in all parts. 14 December Humanity was shamed during this day as the invading forces mounted yet another shameful episode of the nine month long genocide. Anticipating imminent defeat, the Pakistani Army and their local collaborators started killing and dumping the bodies of the brightest minds of Bangladesh to intellectually cripple the infant nation. Mass graves are filled with the bodies of the intellectuals in various places including Mirpur and Rayerbazar of Dhaka. Their tied-up and blindfolded bodies were riddled with marks of torture, stabbings and bullets.

16 December The thousand years long aspiration of the Bengalis for an independent nation was successfully fulfilled when at around 4.31 pm, ninety thousands Pakistani soldiers surrendered their arms to the allied forces at Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan.