It was on March 25 1971, when the Pakistan military regime realized the Bengalis would not compromise with their dictated concept of power sharing, that the reign of terror began. They opted for a military solution to bring the Bengalis to term. They felt an armed reprisal against the little brown Bengalis would cower them into acceptance of the continuity of the West Pakistani dominance. A little show of firepower by the Pakistan Army would terrorize and ‘shell-shock’ the Bengalis to ever demand for anything next 100 years. No doubt this strategy backfired because by now the Bengalis under the leadership of Bongobondhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman stood firm on the ground of complete emancipation. The Awami League had been rightfully voted as the majority party of Pakistan. Therefore, in the democratic process Sheik Mujibur Rahman became the Prime Minister of Pakistan. This scenario was unacceptable to Pakistani high command in the business, politics and the armed forces. Thus began the infamous Operation Searchlight whereby Sheik Mujibur Rahman was arrested and a reign of terror was let loose. Dhaka being their stronghold, the Pakistan Army began the operation here. It was their hope that soon the rest of the country would fall in line. This they totally miscalculated.

The Bengali members of the Pakistan Armed Forces, stationed in Bangladesh, felt the hint of this betrayal by Yahya Khan. Fearing a reprisal against them they prepared to secure their positions. Of course many Bengali officers and soldiers were taken by surprise by the Pakistanis apprehending reprisal, were brutally killed. Those who managed to escape the dragnet consolidated their position and prepared for the Pakistani offensive.

Bengalis began to feel the crunch of arms and ammunition shortage. They realized the Pakistan onslaught could not be stopped for a long time. They had to make a strategic retreat and consolidate their power to continue the fight. With some seventy percent of Bangladesh being surrounded by India, most of the forces along with other civilian volunteers and refugees who were uprooted from their homes by Pakistanis, took shelter in neighboring India.

The Indian Government, on humanitarian grounds, responded generously to shelter and feed the homeless. Refugee camps began to spring up in the border areas. The problem arose with the Bengali Armed Forces and civilian volunteers who were also seeking shelter and arms supply, because of diplomatic complications. It was the aim of the Bengalis to continue the fight against the Pakistan Army.

The initial Liberation Forces formed with the members of East Pakistan Riffles, personnel of the armed forces, students and political activists were localized. They had no central command force or co-ordination.

After the formation of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh on April 17, 1971, in Mujibnagar, the Bangladesh Liberation force began to be consolidated and coordinated. In the middle of June the high command of the Liberation Forces, under their Chief Cornel (retd.) M. A. G. Osmani, met in a conference to draw up strategy, the future plan of action for the Liberation War and its implementations. After the meeting Bangladesh was also divided into 11 sectors with a senior officer as Sector Commander in charge of each sector. It was agreed to raise a regular armed force along with the continuing guerrilla forces then active in the fighting.

This meeting was a turning point for the Liberation War. The leaders felt the need to form an organized and regular forces comprising of all elements to make an effective offensive against the Pakistan Army. They worked on plans to reorganize the Guerrilla and regular forces and co-ordination in their operation to make an effective impact on the enemy. Plans were made to set up the S-Force, K-Force and the Z-Force under the command of Major K. M. Shafiullah, Major Khaled Mosharraf and Major Ziaur Rahman respectively.

All this time the youth of this country voluntarily poured into training camps to join the Liberation Forces. Their zeal and spirit was indomitable and admirable. The Pakistan Army had no chance to destroy this will of force. But this force needed to be guided and led. There was a vacuum in mid level leadership in the Liberation Force. Therefore it was agreed upon to pick a group of young Muktijoddhas (Freedom Fighters) who has proven their worth in the battle and other activities for an intensive crash course to prepare them for leadership as platoon or unit commanders in Guerrilla and regular warfare.61 bright young boys were inducted in this First Bangladesh War course who were already actively participating in the Liberation War as group or platoon leaders. They were selected from different camps. Many were tested, examined and grilled before the final selection of these 61. Without any political or social bias these young men were picked with an objective that in our War of Liberation they would be able to command the forces under them courageously and sincerely. The youth of this country served their land without thinking about themselves. It was a time for self-sacrifice. All those who went to the battlefield, did so with that attitude. Each and everyone wanted a free Bangladesh but was not sure they would see it. Even so, they were prepared to lay down their lives. One thing they were all sure of, was that this country would get rid of the occupying force- the Pakistan Army, and the Muktijoddhas would be victorious.