The Betrayal of East Pakistan : -Lt. Gen. A. A. K. Niazi

Bhutto had also promised Tikka that he would be made the Chief, and Maj.?Gen. Farman had been assured of a reward for his services. Farman was the cleverest behind?the?scenes manipulator. Lt.?Gen. Tikka was senior to Lt. Gen. GUI Hassan, who was nevertheless appointed COAS. All the generals senior to Gul Hassan refused to serve under a junior and went on pension except Tikka, who continued serving under his junior?which is normally not done during peacetime.
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Nazar of 16 Division was very much active, a fierce battle was still raging in Hilli on the borders, and the enemy's 6 Division was contained in Dinajpur, Saidpur, and Rangpur. In 9 Division's area, Brigadier Manzoor was withdrawing towards Kushtia and heavily involving an Indian division.
Page # 176
GOC 16 Division Maj.?Gen. Nazar Hassan and Brigadier Tajammul Hussain were ambushed on 7 December in area Plasbari but miraculously escaped. Nazar was given protection by a civilian.
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General Jamshed was in overall charge of Dhaka Fortress. Work on the construction of defences had started in October 1971. On 7 December a conference under General Jamshed was held to review the defences of Dhaka. The immediate threat was expected to come from the eastern side. It was estimated that the enemy would take about two weeks to build up for an attack on Dhaka. General Jamshed gave out new areas of responsibility and command and control: 93(A) Brigade of 36(A) Division on the area of Mirpur bridge; Narsingdi approach was given to 14 Division; Narayanganj to 39 (A) Division; and Manikganj approach to 314(A) Brigade under Col. Fazal?e?Hamid; Cantt, including Tongi, was to be under the command of Brig. Qasim. The city was to remain with Brig. Bashir. In the original plan, Dhaka was to be defended by 53 Brigade, other troops in the area, and the EPCAF. On orders from GHQ, when 53 Brigade moved out of Dhaka for counterinsurgency I earmarked troops from the holding formations for the defence of Dhaka.
I had planned the defence of Dhaka in four layers (see, map no. 12). The final battle was to be fought in the built?up areas.
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Dhaka defences was re?organized in four echelons as under:
Outer defences:
(1) Bera?Pabna line by 16 Division.
(2) Madhumati River Line by 9 Division.
(3) Old Brahmaputra line by 93 Brigade.
(4) Ashuganj?Daudkundi?Chandpur line by 14/39 Divisions.
Dhaka Triangle on Mirzapur Jaydebpur-Narsingdi and Manikganj line.
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Outer defences of Dhaka city?Sawar, Mirpur, Tangi Derma-Narayanganj line.
The following troops were available for the defences of Dhaka during the second week of December:
Ad hoc squadron of tanks -------------------------------------------------------------------50
Artillery (6 LAA Regiment, all guns intact with plenty of ammunition,
HQ Artillery, reinforcement, etc.)---------------------------------------------------------- 700
Engineers (rear parties of various units, HQ Engineers as one battalion) --500
Signals (3 battalion and various static units as 3 battalions) ------------------2000
Infantry (31 Baluch, 33 Punjab, ex?93(A) Bde, Commando Battalion
Less two Coys and reinforcements) -----------------------------------------------------4500
Troops for Magura Sector --------------------------------------------------------------------900
Services (ordnance and supply installation workshops)------------------------- 1000
Navy (marines)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 500
Air Commandos (PAF) -------------------------------------------------------------------------500
EPCAF ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4500
Mujahids -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1500
Razakars---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------700
West Pakistan Police -------------------------------------------------------------------------2500
Industrial Security Force ---------------------------------------------------------------------1500
HQ, Eastern Comd. and HQ 36 Division -----------------------------------------------9000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------30,350
Dhaka sector was under Major?General Jamshed, a brave General who had earned two Military Crosses and a Sitara?e-Jurat. Each axis was looked after by a Brigadier, sub?units commanded by Lieutenant Colonels and platoons by Majors and Captains.
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