Battle of Kamalpur
| Battle of Kamalpur | |||||||||
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| Part of Bangladesh Liberation War | |||||||||
 Baksiganj, Kamalpur Bangladesh Liberation War significant battlefields in History | |||||||||
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Supported by:  India (from November) | |||||||||
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4,000 |
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The Battle of Kamalpur (Bengali: কামালপুরের যুদ্ধ), launched against the Pakistan Army is one of the most significant military engagements fought by the Mukti Bahini in 1971 during its war of independence from Pakistan. The Pakistani Army set up a military camp at Kamalpur (now in Baksiganj Upazila of Jamalpur District) which was attacked by 1st East Bengal Regiment of Z Force several times. The first attack was made on June 12, and a second attack was made on July 31, 1971, also another attack at 22 October 1971 and in total, there were 18 battles in Kamalpur.
Camp at Kamalpur
[edit]Kamalpur, a border area, was known as the gateway to Dhaka from the northern sector under Sector 11, the central sector and the largest one of the Bangladeshi Forces.[5] It was situated on the mouth of the old Brahmaputra and on the road link with Mymensingh via Jamalpur.[6] Pakistan Army set up a military camp at Kamalpur. This camp was tactically crucial for the Pakistan Army because its fall would cause the Pakistan Army to lose control over the whole Jamalpur-Dhaka region.[7]
The Pakistani troops made concrete bunkers which contained shell proof roofs. To provide communication between bunkers, they dug communication trenches. The camp perimeter included Booby traps and mine fields as defence.[1][6]
About two companies of 31 regiment excluding Razakar paramilitaries constituted the enemy force.[1][6]
Attacks on Kamalpur Camp
[edit]On June 12, 1971, the first attack was launched by Z-Force at Kamalpur Camp. Pakistani troops tried to enter the villages of Sarishabari Upazila of Jamalpur district but failed, as the villagers confronted them. Many people in the villages were killed. While retreating, the Pakistani Army set fire in the villages.[1]
The second attack was led by Colonel (later Major General and President of Bangladesh) Ziaur Rahman on July 31, 1971. Zia was supported by Major Moinul Hossain, Captain Hafiz and Captain Salauddin Mumtaz.[6][7][8] The attack was made with two companies Delta and Bravo from the North – East of the enemy camp. Captain Salauddin Mumtaz commanded Delta on the left and Captain Hafiz commanded Bravo on the right. As the troops were moving towards the enemy post, the enemy artillery started firing heavily. As a result, the progress of the two companies became slow. The communication system collapsed because of heavy rain. However, the troops continued moving forward and entered the outer perimeter of the enemy camp. Though casualties were increasing, the fighters made progress through the minefield. At one stage of the fight, two artillery shells dropped in front of Captain Salauddin Mumtaz and killed him. And three Mukti Bahini fighters were killed trying to save him, and Captain Hafiz was injured. In the morning at 7:30, Major Moinul Hossain, the battalion commander of 1st East Bengal Regiment ordered the battalion to retreat.[8]
India joined the war at late November, they sent their military formations to take Kamalpur, but it was harder for the Indian Army than expected, they made more than 3 unsuccessful attempts to take Kamalpur, the Indian Army's moral was deteriorating, and casualties were heavily increasing but they knew the Pakistani forces had no artillery, only 2 mortars left and finally on December 4, the Pakistan Army was overrun and withdrawn and fell back to their headquarters at Jamalpur after an attack by the Bangladeshi Forces and the Indian Army. The Battle of Kamalpur was the deadliest major military engagement in the Bangladeshi War of Liberation, The Mukti Bahini lost 194 fighters in the battle.[2][3] The Indian Army lost more than 46 soldiers in the battle and 113 wounded.[citation needed] Meanwhile, the Pakistani Army lost 497 soldiers in the battle and around 162 and 220 soldiers captured.[2][9] In the aftermath of the battle, Pakistani forces were defeated.[1][2][3]
See also
[edit]- Timeline of the Bangladesh Liberation War
- Military plans of the Bangladesh Liberation War
- Pakistan Army order of battle, December 1971
- Evolution of Pakistan Eastern Command plan
- Defence of Kamalpur
- List of sectors in the Bangladesh Liberation War
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "A report on The News Today published on December 11, 2009". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Kamalpur liberation day Friday". Dhaka Tribune. 3 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "On this day Kamalpur was liberated". Bangladesh Post. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ "Kamalpur, Phulbari tasted freedom on this day in '71". The Daily Star. 4 December 2014.
- ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Taher, Colonel Abu". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d A document on Bangladesh Liberation War published in December 1999.
- ^ a b Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Bakshiganj Upazila". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ a b "The Battle of Kamalpur-31 July 1971". The Daily Star. 15 December 2007.
- ^ "Kamalpur, Phulbari tasted freedom on this day in '71". The Daily Star. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- Battles of the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971
- Battles of the Bangladesh Liberation War
- Jamalpur District
- Mukti Bahini
- June 1971 events in Bangladesh
- July 1971 events in Bangladesh
- August 1971 events in Bangladesh
- September 1971 events in Bangladesh
- October 1971 events in Bangladesh
- November 1971 events in Bangladesh
- December 1971 events in Bangladesh
- Attacks on military installations in the 1970s
- Attacks on government buildings and structures in Bangladesh
- Attacks on buildings and structures in 1971