Fiery March of 1971: A Month of Sorrow, Struggle, War, Freedom, Humanity, Dreams, and Survival

The Liberation War of Bangladesh, while bringing independence, also took away many intellectuals and loved ones. Many women lost their husbands and children. For many, the memories of the war remain a dark, haunting night.

In the history of Bangladesh's independence, March 1971 was a tumultuous and eventful month. On March 1, 1971, the then military dictator of Pakistan, President Yahya Khan, abruptly postponed the National Assembly session indefinitely, sparking widespread protests. In response, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for a non-cooperation movement across Bengal. Gradually, the movement for autonomy transformed into the struggle for Bangladesh's independence, culminating in the events of March 25.

March 26 is celebrated as Bangladesh's Independence Day. On the night of March 25, 1971, the Pakistani military launched a brutal attack on unarmed Bengalis in Dhaka. That very night, resistance began, marking the start of the Bangladesh Liberation War. After a nine-month-long struggle, Bangladesh achieved independence on December 16, 1971, at the cost of 3 million lives and the honor of 200,000 women.

The genocide, codenamed "Operation Searchlight," was planned as early as the beginning of March 1971. On March 1, Yahya Khan's sudden announcement to postpone the National Assembly session on March 3 ignited public outrage. On March 2, students at Dhaka University raised the flag of independence. On March 3, the Declaration of Independence was announced at Paltan Maidan, and the national anthem, "Amar Sonar Bangla," was sung. The long-awaited March 7 arrived, when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his historic speech, declaring, "This struggle is for our freedom; this struggle is for our independence." The non-cooperation movement and preparations for war spread across Bangladesh, including Dhaka University.

On March 25, 1971, Pakistani General Yahya Khan secretly left Dhaka. Ten days earlier, he had arrived in the capital of East Pakistan. The Pakistani rulers believed they had deceived everyone. However, as Siddiq Salik, the Pakistani Army's public relations officer, wrote in his book Witness to Surrender, Mujib's intelligence had already figured out the plan. Lieutenant Colonel A.R. Chowdhury, part of Yahya Khan's security team, noticed Yahya's luggage being loaded onto a Dodge vehicle headed for the airport and informed Sheikh Mujib. Wing Commander A.K. Khandkar, watching from his office, confirmed Yahya's departure and relayed the news to Mujib. Salik also mentioned a foreign journalist calling him to confirm if Yahya had indeed left Dhaka. Little did anyone know that night would be so long and devastating.

At midnight on March 25, the Pakistani Army launched "Operation Searchlight," attacking Dhaka with heavy weaponry. The city turned into a death trap as the world watched in horror how the barbaric forces, in the name of religion, mercilessly slaughtered nearly half a million sleeping Bengalis in one night. Simon Dring, a reporter for the Daily Telegraph, described the planned destruction that began around 10 PM, though the official "Zero Hour" was set for 1 AM. At midnight, the invaders attacked Pilkhana, Rajarbagh Police Lines, and Nilkhet areas. The 22nd Baloch Regiment disarmed Bengali soldiers at Pilkhana and seized the EPR headquarters' wireless system.

Meanwhile, the 18th Punjab, 32nd Punjab, and 22nd Baloch Regiments unleashed massive destruction in Dhaka University using tanks and mortars. The city's night turned horrific with machine gun fire, tank shells, and flames. The most brutal massacre occurred at Jagannath Hall, Dhaka University. The invaders also attacked the Medical College dormitory and the university's slum areas. The genocide spread across the city, with hyenas pouncing on sleeping people. Resistance began at Rajarbagh Police Lines, and EPR members also fought back, sacrificing their lives. Thus began the nine-month-long Liberation War, leading to Bangladesh's independence. Pakistani General Tikka Khan led the genocide, aided by local collaborators like Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, and Peace Committees.

The massacre continued from night until morning. The genocide of March 25 was not just a one-night killing spree; it was the beginning of one of the most heinous mass murders in human history. Over the next nine months, the Pakistani forces and their collaborators, including Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wings, killed 3 million innocent men, women, and children, unleashing a river of blood across Bengal. They committed mass rapes, arson, and looting, creating a barbaric history that surpassed the Jewish Holocaust (1933-45) and the Rwandan genocide (1944) in cruelty and scale.

By midnight, Dhaka had become a city of corpses. The Pakistani military junta carried out similar brutal killings and destruction in other major cities. The Pakistani government's own documents acknowledge this mass killing. A white paper published during the war stated that over 100,000 lives were lost between March 1 and March 25, 1971. Operation Searchlight was not merely an attempt to suppress Bengali nationalism; it was a blueprint for a horrific genocide, planned long in advance. The Pakistani military junta viewed Bengalis as inferior, considering their language, culture, and way of life un-Pakistani. In the name of a united Pakistan, they launched Operation Searchlight to "purify" these "un-Pakistanis," resulting in one of the world's worst genocides in Bangladesh.

At midnight, the Pakistani forces conducted "Operation Big Bird," arresting Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader of the Bengali nation and the architect of their century-long struggle for freedom. That day, the Pakistanis sought not only to kill but also to destroy the very essence of the Bengali identity. The genocide committed against the Bengalis that day fulfilled the United Nations' definition of genocide. In the early hours of March 26, Bangladesh's independence was declared. Bangabandhu formally announced independence via a PPR transmitter, urging every inch of land to be freed from Pakistani invaders. The unarmed people's uprising turned into an armed rebellion, marking the beginning of the Liberation War. Inspired by Bangabandhu's call, the resistance spread across the country, with Bengali members of the military and police joining the fight. Thus began the nine-month-long bloody struggle that led to the birth of independent Bangladesh on the world map.

A treacherous faction within the country collaborated with Pakistan during that time, and their descendants continue to conspire against Bangladesh. They refuse to acknowledge the atrocities committed by the "Pakistani invaders" and express sorrow over the trials of war criminals. These enemies of the Bengali nation repeatedly attempt to distort history. Pakistan's sympathizers remain active in Bangladesh, unhesitant to alter the nation's history. Pakistan has a long record of rewriting history, and conspiracies surrounding Bangladesh's independence continue to this day.

March 25 represents one of our greatest sacrifices. The Liberation War is our identity. In this single word, the nation finds its roots. When recalling Bangladesh's history, the fragmented struggles of a thousand years for independence come to mind. Above all, the great Liberation War of 1971 embodies our true freedom. This history of the Liberation War emerged from our struggle for linguistic rights and self-governance.

To free this country from 23 years of Pakistani rule, much blood was shed. Countless sacrifices gave birth to these historical moments.