The word “liberation” becomes our word from when Sheikh Mujib proclaimed in his historic speech of 7th March, "Our struggle is for our freedom. Our struggle is for our independence. We shell give Bangla rid of Pakistan. But to achieve the actual taste of liberation and independence we had to struggle length of 9 month under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the name ‘Bangladesh’ was written in the holy blood of thousands of innocent. Bangladesh achieved its independence in 1971. All the classes’ people had contribution in liberation war, from student, labor, army, E.P.R. and Police. But The Contribution of Bangladesh Police in the glorious history of Bangladesh is momentous and never-to-be-forgotten. They were in the forefront with the freedom thirsty and struggling people of Bangladesh against Pakistan well-armed military. In the dark of March 25,1971, The resistance by the Bengali police members at Rajarbag is basically the first resistance against Pakistani army during our War of independence. Many police personnel embraced martyrdom during fighting bravely with mere .303 rifles against the Pakistani invaders.
According to the statistics, Around 33,995 police personnel were in service in the then East Pakistan during the Liberation War. Of them, 13,000 denied loyalty to the then
government and joined the freedom fight. However, it has been speculated that the figure of police freedom fighters was much higher as around 70 percent of police personnel in some districts joined the war. A government order issued during the period also supported the speculation, saying “The Govt. of East Pakistan, Dacca has been pleased to convey sanction to the creation of the following temporary posts in the East Pakistan police force and deputation thereto, of the officers and men from West Pakistan for a period of 6 months with effect from 1-6-71.” As the war prolonged they had a glorious contribution in the liberation war. It is ought to be mentioned that about 1262 police officers of different ranks could be listed who martyred for the independence of Bangladesh and many others got missing.
The contribution of police force to the independence was mainly divided into two phases.
1. Before the independence war, the period before March 24, 1971
2. During the independence war, from March 25 to December 16, 1971.
Ø Before the independence war.( the period before March 24, 1971):
Before the the liberation war was started, The unrest in political arena and occupation by west Pakistani and the discrimination between Bangali and Non-
Bangali and facilities and power made the all classes people anger and the police was not except from them. They were mentally prepared to take part in the forthcoming war being encouraged by the historic speeches delivered by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 7th March --“The charge of maintaining law and order has to be handed over fully to police and Bengali EPR".. When six and eleven point- demands were put forth led by the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Students and workers of the then East Pakistan were moving forward simultaneously for materializing the 6 and 11-point-demands. The police members from east Pakistan had a deep support and assistance here.
At the ending of Pakistani military ruler Yahya Khan’s regime, the Awami League got an large popularity and wined in National Assembly in the 1970 election. But the west Pakistanis’ were not willingly to form a government by East Pakistanis leaded by Bangabandhu. Later the, “Larkana Conspiracy” involving civil-military bureaucrats and landlords under the leadership of Bhutto began against the rights of Bangalies. Due to the conspiracy, parliament session was deferred for an indefinite period which made the process of handing over of the state power impossible. The Bangalies choose the path of struggle and started the Non- cooperation movement. The police personnel from all level played the co-coordinative role in this movement. So that, the West Pakistanis’ military government cannot do anything even they arrest the east Pakistani leaders due to non coordinative role of east Pakistani Police members. Then the Inspector General of Police Taslim Uddin Ahmed was removed from the post on charge of assisting local political leaders.
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Some Police officials dedicated their life in Liberation war |
Ø During the independence war, from March 25 to December 16, 1971.
The first attack on Bangaldeshi people by Pakistani army started by attacking on Razarbug Police Line in the midnight of 25th March the first resistance from behalf of Bangladeshies against Pakistani armed Force held by Bangali Police members in Razarbug at that night. Since Bangabandhu’s speech on 7th March Bengali police members were prepared to face any attack and to revolt against the attack. Without waiting for any direction from higher authority, they spontaneously built barricades around the police lines on March 25 night, possessing .303 rifles. With the desperate invasion of Pakistani well-armed military force, they made immediate resistance with their last bullet. In this uneven fight against well-equipped invading army, many police staffs were succumbed to death and around 150 valiant police freedom fighters were arrested on that night.
When Rajarbagh police lines was attacked, the information was passed through wireless to all police members all over the country as the Wireless operator of Razarbug Police Station Mr. Shahjahan spread the command to all the police members via wireless “ base for all station of east Pakistan police, keep listening, watch, we are already attacked by the pak army. Try to save yourself, over “
As the war strengthened, the Mujibnagar government established and a police headquarters was also formed at East Pakistan’s deputy high commission’s office in Kolkata and the then DIG Abdul Khalek was appointed as the maiden IGP and Home Secretary to the government in exile to accelerate the participation of police members in liberation war.. After joining as IGP in a letter he commended all Bengali police personnel to join in the war saying “we are the police force of Bangladesh, we are freedom fighters and it is our moral duty to take part in the Liberation War of Bangladesh without any delay.” He made the call to all saying “The fight should be continued until last soldiers of West Pakistani invading army is not driven out from Bangladesh".
The Bangali police members had great contribution in independence war. They participated themselves, managed the arms and funds for liberation fighters and trained up people. At least 14,000 policemen from different parts including Rajarbagh, Rajshahi, Pabna, Kushtia, Khulna, Chittagong and Chittagong hill tracts participated actively. Almost 1,262 sacrificed their live in the war and many other got missing. . The heroism, sacrifice and contribution made by police during Liberation War will be remembered forever in the history of Bangladesh. The police have gotten the great Liberation Medal 2011 for their glorious contribution in the war of liberation war.
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