Bangladesh Sector Commanders Conference 1971

The Sector Commanders Conference 1971 during the Bangladesh War of Independence also called war of liberation was held in the week of July 11-17 1971. This conference was significant for shaping and organizing the freedom struggle. The official creation of Bangladesh Forces, its command structuring, sector reorganization, reinforcement and appointing war commanders was its principle focus. This conference was equally presided over by Bangladesh Prime Minister Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed and General Osmani, during which General Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani received his promotion from Colonel and reinstated from retirement as active duty into the armed forces of Bangladesh as its senior most official. General M A G Osmani had thereby been appointed Commander in Chief of all Bangladesh Forces. Principal participants of this conference was Squadron Leader Muhammad Hamidullah Khan, Major Ziaur Rahman, Wing Commander Bashar, Major Jalil, Captain Haider, Lt. Col. Abdur Rab and Group Captain A.K.Khandaker. Lt.Col Rab was appointed as Chief of Bangladesh Army Staff and Group Captain Karim Khandaker as Deputy Chief of Armed Forces and later Chief of Air Staff Bangladesh Air Force. In this meeting, Bangladesh was divided into Eleven Sectors under Sector Commanders. Each sector was further structured into a combination of sub-sectors, each commanded by a Sub-Sector Commander.

The 10th Sector was directly placed under Commander in Chief and included the Naval Commandos as C-in-C’s special force. These commandos were later absorbed in to the Bangladesh Navy. Sector Commanders directed the guerrilla warfare against West Pakistani forces. For better efficiency in military operations each of the sectors were divided into a number of sub-sectors.

On November 21 1971, by the time all Bangladesh Forces had severely under-cut the strength of the West Pakistani Forces, under a complicated politico-military scenario, a demand of the Government of India was conceded to by the Bangladesh Government-in-exile in Calcutta, India. The Bangladesh Armed Forces handed over the full command and authority of its operations to the Indian armed forces to command the war. The morally broken and militarily devastated by the BD Forces, the Pakistani Army, on December 16 1971, without defiance in about two and a half weeks, surrendered itself to the Coalition Forces led by the Indian army. Victory was declared by the Indian authorities and all prisoners of war including combat material were taken to India, with the Indian army remaining inside independent Bangladesh until mid-March 1972.

After the 9(nine) month long bloody struggle for independence, a second conference was also held.

The Bangladesh Sector Commanders Conference was held in the week of July 11-17th, 1971. It was of extreme historical significance and tactical consequence. This conference was mainly in significance of command structuring of Bangladesh Forces, sector reorganization and reinforcement during the formation of the Bangladesh War of Independence. This conference was equally presided over by the Bangladesh interim government in exile Prime Minister Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed and General Osmani, during which the retired Colonel was promoted and reinstated as active duty into the armed forces of Bangladesh as its senior most official. General M A G Osmani was thereby appointed Commander in Chief of all Bangladesh Forces. Principal participants of this conference was Squadron Leader M.Hamidullah Khan, Major Ziaur Rahman, Wing Commander Bashar, Major Jalil, Captain Haider, Lt. Col. Abdur Rab and Group Captain A.K.Khandaker. Lt.Col Rab was appointed as Chief of Army Staff, Squadron Leader Hamidullah was assigned to the largest guerilla training camp of the liberation war at Chakulia, Bihar, as the Chief Military Representative of the Bangladesh government in exile and Group Captain Khandaker as Deputy Chief of Armed Forces. The preliminary preparation for the creation of the Bangladesh Air Force was also initiated with Khandakar to be its first chief. In this meeting, Bangladesh was divided into Eleven Sectors under Sector Commanders.

The 10th Sector was directly placed under Commander in Chief and included the Naval Commandos as C-in-C’s special force. [1] Sector Commanders directed the guerrilla warfare. For better efficiency in military operations each of the sectors were divided into a number of sub-sectors.On November 21, 1971 Bangladesh Liberation Force handed over the full command and authority of its operations to the Indian armed forces to command the war.

The Bangladesh Armed Forces was organized for Liberation War in 1971 into three brigades.

* "Z force", under Major Ziaur Rahman, consisted of 1, 3 and 8 East Bengal Regiment.
* "S Force", under Major Safiullah, was created in October 1971 and consisted of 2 and 11 East Bengal.
* "K Force", commanded by Khaled Mosharraf was created with 4, 9 and 10 East Bengal.

ee also

* List of Sectors in Bangladesh Liberation War