The Bangladesh Liberation War started on 26 March 1971 and ended on 16 December 1971. Some of the major events of the war are listed in the

timeline A timeline is a display of a list of events in chronological order. It is typically a graphic design showing a long bar labelled with dates paralleling it, and usually contemporaneous events. Timelines can use any suitable scale represen ...

below.

Timeline

Interactive Timeline of the Bangladesh Liberation War

Before the war

*1 March: General

Yahya Khan General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan , (Urdu: ; 4 February 1917 – 10 August 1980); commonly known as Yahya Khan, was a Pakistani military general who served as the third President of Pakistan and Chief Martial Law Administrator following his p ...

calls off the session of National Council to be held on 3 March in a radio address. *7 March:

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ( bn, শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান; 17 March 1920 – 15 August 1975), often shortened as Sheikh Mujib or Mujib and widely known as Bangabandhu (meaning ''Friend of Bengal''), was a Bengali politi ...

– leader of Awami League party that had won a landslide victory in Pakistan in the Federal Elections of 1970, but never been granted authority – announces to a jubilant crowd at the Dhaka Race Course ground, "The struggle this time is the struggle for our emancipation! The struggle this time is the struggle for independence!". *9 March: Workers of Chittagong port refuse to unload weapons from the ship 'Swat'. *16 March: Yahya Khan starts negotiation with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. *19 March: Nearly 200 people are injured at Jaydevpur during clashes between protesters and the Pakistan Army. *24 March: The Pakistan Army opens fire on Bengali protesters in Syedpur and Rangpur. About 150 people are killed.

Events during the War

March

*25 March to 26 March: Pakistan Army starts genocide in the form of

Operation Searchlight Operation Searchlight was the codename for a planned military operation carried out by the Pakistan Army in an effort to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in former East Pakistan in March 1971. Pakistan retrospectively justified the opera ...

Dhaka Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city i ...

and the rest of the country, attacking general civilians, political activists, students, and Bengali members of armed forces and police. *26 March: At 1.15 am,

is arrested by the Pakistani 3 commando unit. The Independence of Bangladesh is declared by Sheikh Mujibiur Rahman a few minutes before he was arrested by the Pakistani army. At 2.30 pm The Independence of Bangladesh was declared by Awami league leader of Chittagong M. A. Hannan on behalf of Bangobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from Kalurghat. This is Bangladesh's official Independence Day. *27 March: Independence of Bangladesh is again declared by Maj.

Ziaur Rahman Lt. General Ziaur Rahman (19 January 1936 – 30 May 1981), was a Bangladeshi military officer and politician who served as the President of Bangladesh from 1977 to 1981. He was assassinated on 30 May 1981 in Chittagong in an army coup d ...

on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. *31 March: Kushtia resistance begins.

April

*2 April:

Jinjira massacre The Jinjira massacre ( bn, জিঞ্জিরা গণহত্যা) was a planned killing of civilians by the Pakistan army during the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971. The killing took place at the unions Jinjira, Kalindi and Shubhadya of ...

. *6 April:

The Blood Telegram Archer Kent Blood (March 20, 1923 – September 3, 2004) was an American career diplomat and academic. He served as the last American Consul General to Dhaka, Bangladesh (East Pakistan at the time). He is famous for sending the strongly worded ...

*11 April: Radio address by

Tajuddin Ahmad Tajuddin Ahmad ( bn, তাজউদ্দীন আহমদ; ; 23 July 1925 – 3 November 1975) was a Bangladeshi politician and statesman. He led the Provisional Government of Bangladesh as its prime minister during the Bangladesh Liberat ...

, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. *10 April: A provisional Bangladesh government-in-exile is formed. *12 April: M. A. G. Osmani takes up the command of Bangladesh Armed Forces. *17 April: A provisional government-in-exile took oath in Baidyanathtala (now called

Mujibnagar Mujibnagar ( bn, মুজিবনগর), formerly known as Baidyanathtala (Boiddonathtola) and Bhoborpara, is a town in the Mujibnagar Upazila of Bangladesh. The Provisional Government of Bangladesh was formed on 10 April 1971, however, swor ...

) in

Meherpur District Meherpur ( bn, মেহেরপুর, pron: ''meɦeɾpuɾ'') is the northwestern district of Khulna Division in southwestern Bangladesh. It is bordered by the Indian state of West Bengal to the west, and by the Bangladeshi districts of Kushtia a ...

*18 April:

Battle of Daruin Mustafa Kamal ( bn, মোস্তফা কামাল), better known as Shaheed Sipahi Mustafa Kamal was a sepoy in the Bangladesh Army during the Liberation War. He was born on 16 December 1947 in Hajipur village of Daulatkhan upazila un ...

, Comilla and

Battle of Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway Munshi Abdur Rouf ( bn, মুন্সী আবদুর রউফ; 8 May 1943 – 8 April 1971) was a Lance Nayek in the East Pakistan Rifles during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He enlisted in the East Pakistan Rifles on 8 May 1963, and was ...

Chittagong Hill Tracts The Chittagong Hill Tracts ( bn, পার্বত্য চট্টগ্রাম, Parbotto Chottogram), often shortened to simply the Hill Tracts and abbreviated to CHT, are group of districts within the Chittagong Division in southeast ...

. *24 April: Formation of Bangladesh Action Committee at Coventry, UK by non-resident Bangladeshis. *25 April to 15 August: Operation Jackpot by Mukti Bahini *28 April
Tajuddin pleas for arms aid to neighbors.

May

*5 May:

Gopalpur massacre The Gopalpur massacre ( bn, গোপালপুর গণহত্যা) was a massacre of 195 people committed by the Pakistan army during the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971. The killing took place at Gopalpur municipality of Lalpur Upazila ...

. *15 May: Indian army starts aiding

Mukti Bahini The Mukti Bahini ( bn, মুক্তিবাহিনী, translates as 'freedom fighters', or liberation army), also known as the Bangladesh Forces, was the guerrilla resistance movement consisting of the Bangladeshi military, paramilitary ...

. *20 May:The

Chuknagar massacre Chuknagar massacre ( bn, চুকনগর গণহত্যা) was a massacre of Bengali Hindus committed by the Pakistan Army and local Razakars during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. The massacre took place on 20 May 1971 at Dumuria ...

takes place at Khulna where the Pakistan army kills nearly 10 thousand people *24 May:

Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra ( bn, স্বাধীন বাংলা বেতার কেন্দ্র, lit=Free Bengal Radio Centre) was the radio broadcasting centre of Bengali nationalist forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1 ...

finds home in Kolkata.

July

* 11–17 July: Sector Commanders Conference in 1971.

August

*1 August:

The Concert for Bangladesh The Concert for Bangladesh (or Bangla Desh, as the country's name was originally spelt)Harry, p. 135. was a pair of benefit concerts organised by former Beatles guitarist George Harrison and Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar. The shows were he ...

in Madison Square Garden, New York by

Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar (; born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury, sometimes spelled as Rabindra Shankar Chowdhury; 7 April 1920 – 11 December 2012) was an Indian sitarist and composer. A sitar virtuoso, he became the world's best-known export of North In ...

, George Harrison and friends. *16 August: Operation Jackpot, Bangladesh naval commando operation. *20 August: Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman's attempt to defect by hijacking a fighter. *30 August: Pakistan Army crackdown on Dhaka guerrillas.

September

*5 September: Battle of Goahati, Jessore. *28 September:

Bangladesh Air Force The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) ( bn, বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী, Bangladesh Biman Bahini) is the aerial warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The Air Force is primarily responsible for air defence of ...

starts functioning.

October

*13 October: Dhaka guerrillas kill

Abdul Monem Khan Abdul Monem Khan (28 July 1899 – 13 October 1971) was a Pakistani politician who was the longest serving governor of East Pakistan during 1962–1969. Early life and education Khan was born in Humayunpur village of Bajitpur Upazila, Kishoreg ...

, governor of East Pakistan. *28 October to 3 November:

Battle of Dhalai The Battle of Dhalai was a battle fought between India and Pakistan before the formal start 1971 India-Pakistan War for the liberation of Bangladesh. The battle started after an attack by Indian army on Pakistani border outpost (BOP) in East Pak ...

in which 3 companies (215 soldiers) of the Jat Regiment (2 JAT) of Indian Army defeated a battalion (800 soldiers) of 30th Frontier Force Rifles (30 FFR) of Pakistan Army. Hamidur Rahman of

was posthumously awarded the Bir Sreshtho, the highest recognition of bravery in Bangladesh. *31 October to 3 November:

: Allied attack from

Tripura Tripura (, Bengali: ) is a state in Northeast India. The third-smallest state in the country, it covers ; and the seventh-least populous state with a population of 36.71 lakh ( 3.67 million). It is bordered by Assam and Mizoram to the ea ...

into East Pakistan to stop Pakistani cross-border shelling.

November

*9 November: Six small ships constitute the first fleet of

Bangladesh Navy The Bangladesh Navy ( bn, বাংলাদেশ নৌবাহিনী, Bangladesh Nou Bahini) is the naval warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, responsible for Bangladesh's of maritime territorial area, and the defence of imp ...

. *16 November:

Battle of Ajmiriganj A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

, an 18-hour encounter between

and Pakistan army. A famous freedom fighter, Jagatyoti Das, is killed. *14 November to 4 December: The

Battle of Kamalpur The Battle of Kamalpur (কামালপুরের যুদ্ধ), launched against the Pakistan Army, is one of the most significant battles fought by Bangladesh Forces in 1971 during its war of independence from Pakistan. The Pakistan Ar ...

began, where Pakistani troops defended Kamalpur for 21 days before being ordered to surrender by their superiors. *20 to 21 November:

Battle of Garibpur The Battle of Garibpur was a battle that was fought by the Pakistan Army against the Indian Army on 20–21 November 1971. This battle was fought 12 days before India officially joined the war against Pakistan. The battle started after an Indian ...

: India attacked Pakistani forces and captured Boyra salient in East Pakistan *21 November: Bangladesh Armed Forces are formed. *22 November to 13 December, and sporadic fighting to 16 December: Battle of Hilli: Indian attack on

Bogra Bogra ( bn, বগুড়া), officially known as Bogura, is a major city located in Bogra District, Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. The city is a major commercial hub in Northern Bangladesh. It is the second largest city in Rajshahi Divi ...

in East Pakistan.

December

*3 December:

destroys Pakistani oil depots. *3 December: Pakistani pre-emptive airstrikes in India. As a result, India declares war against Pakistan. *3 to 6 December: Battle of Chamb; Pakistan attacks and takes over part of southern Kashmir from India. *4 December :

Battle of Longewala The Battle of Longewala (4–7 December 1971) was one of the first major engagements in the western sector during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, fought between assaulting Pakistani forces and Indian defenders at the Indian border post of Longe ...

; India stops a Pakistani invasion directed at

Jaisalmer Jaisalmer , nicknamed "The Golden city", is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, located west of the state capital Jaipur. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone and is crowned by the ancient Jaisalmer Fort. This fort contains a ...

. *4 to 5 December :

Battle of Gazipur The Battle of Gazipur ( bn, গাজীপুরের যুদ্ধ) was a military engagement on 4 and 5 December 1971, during the Bangladesh liberation war. It took place at the Gazipur Tea Estate near Kulaura, in the Sylhet District of ...

in which Indian Army and Mukti Bahini captured Gazipur *5 December :

Battle of Basantar The Battle of Basantar also known as the Battle of Shakargarh or Battle of Barapind (December 4–16, 1971) was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector of India. The Indian troops won a har ...

; India attacks and takes over Pakistani territory in the

Shakargarh Shakargarh ( ur, ), the capital of Shakargarh Tehsil, is a city in the north-eastern part of Narowal District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It borders Jammu, India to the north and Sialkot to the west Its literacy rate is more than 85% wh ...

Salient, opposite

Jammu Jammu is the winter capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the headquarters and the largest city in Jammu district of the union territory. Lying on the banks of the river Tawi, the city of Jammu, with an area of ...

. *6 December:

Jashore Jessore ( bn, যশোর, jôshor, ), officially Jashore, is a city of Jessore District situated in Khulna Division. It is situated in the south-western part of Bangladesh. It is the administrative centre (headquarter) of the eponymous district ...

(

Jessore Jessore ( bn, যশোর, jôshor, ), officially Jashore, is a city of Jessore District situated in Khulna Division. It is situated in the south-western part of Bangladesh. It is the administrative centre (headquarter) of the eponymous district ...

) became the first district in Bangladesh to gain independence. Bhutan becomes the first country to recognise Bangladesh after India.

becomes Bangladesh Betar. *7 to 16 December:

Battle of Sylhet The Battle of Sylhet ( bn, সিলেটের যুদ্ধ ''Silet-er Juddho'') was a major battle fought between the advancing Mitro Bahini and the Pakistani defences at Sylhet during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The battle took pla ...

, liberation of Jessore, Sylhet and Moulovi Bazar. *8 December:

Operation Python Operation Python, a follow-up to Operation Trident, was the code name of a naval attack launched on West Pakistan's port city of Karachi by the Indian Navy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. After the first attack during Operation Trid ...

: Indian naval attack on

Karachi Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former c ...

, West Pakistan. *9 December:

Battle of Kushtia The Battle of Kushtia can refer to two incidents during the Bangladesh Liberation War, both of which happened in what is now Bangladesh: *A battle on 19 April 1971 between East Bengali rebels and Pakistani forces. *An Indian attack from West Benga ...

: Indian attack from

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fou ...

into East Pakistan. Chandpur and Daudkandi liberated from Pakistan. *9 December:

Meghna Heli Bridge Meghna Heli Bridge, codenamed Operation Cactus Lilly, was an aerial operation of the Indian Air Force during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, commencing India's involvement in Bangladesh Liberation War. It took place on 9 December, when the I ...

liberated from Pakistan *10 December: Liberation of Laksham. Two Bangladeshi ships sunk mistakenly by an Indian air attack. *11 December: Tangail Airdrop, which liberated Poongli Bridge on the Jamuna river *11 December: Liberation of Hilli, Mymenshingh, Kushtia and Noakhali. USS ''Enterprise'' is deployed by the

US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

in the

Bay of Bengal The Bay of Bengal is the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean, bounded on the west and northwest by India, on the north by Bangladesh, and on the east by Myanmar and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. Its southern limit is a line betwee ...

to intimidate the Indian Navy. *13 December: Soviet Navy deploys a group of warships to counter ''Enterprise''. The ''Enterprise'' moves towards Southeast Asia, averting a confrontation. *14 December: Selective genocide of Bengali nationalist intellectuals. Liberation of Bogra. *16 December: End of the Bangladesh Liberation War. Mitro Bahini takes

. Pakistan Army surrenders to Mitro Bahini represented by

Jagjit Singh Aurora Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Arora (also Jagjit Singh Aurora)Both spellings are used in official documents; though "Aurora" predominates in the listings in the pre-Independence ''Indian Army List'', as do those in the ''Gazette of India''. ...

of the Indian Army faction of the military coalition. *22 December: The provisional government of Bangladesh arrives in Dhaka from exile.

References

{{Reflist * Bangladesh Liberation War