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December 16: Why This is In No Way India’s Victory, but the Indestructible Victory of Bangladesh
Recently, individuals like Barrister Fuad and others have raised claims that December 16 is not the Victory Day of Bangladesh; they argue that the Pakistanis surrendered solely to India. This claim is not only a distortion of history but a profound betrayal of the blood of three million martyrs.
Let us dissect this propaganda based on factual evidence:
1. What was written in the document? (The Smoking Gun)
The very first line of the Instrument of Surrender signed at the Ramna Racecourse on December 16 states:
"The PAKISTAN Eastern Command agree to surrender all PAKISTAN Armed Forces in BANGLA DESH to Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian and BANGLA DESH Forces in the Eastern Theatre."
This proves the Pakistani army did not submit to a single force, but to the "Joint Command" of India and Bangladesh. Can those who wish to label this solely as an Indian victory erase the words "BANGLA DESH Forces" from this document?
2. Presence and Legal Basis of the Bangladesh Government
Group Captain A.K. Khandker, the Deputy Chief of the Mukti Bahini, was present at the surrender ceremony as the representative of the Government of Bangladesh. Without a representative of the Bangladesh government, this document would not have achieved its legal completion. Furthermore, every operation from December 3 to December 16 was conducted under the banner of the "Joint Command." The Allied Forces (Mitra Bahini) acted as a supporting force in a friend’s time of need, not as an occupying force.
3. Does General Osmani’s absence question the victory?
Critics often use General Osmani’s absence as a shield for their arguments. However, Osmani himself clarified his stance. As the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, his protocol equivalent was the Indian Army Chief, General Manekshaw. Since Manekshaw did not attend to sign the document, Osmani did not wish to undermine his rank or the sovereignty of Bangladesh by standing beside General Aurora, who was a subordinate to Manekshaw. This was a demonstration of a patriotic commander’s sense of "National Dignity."
4. Why did Pakistan seek legal protection from India?
The Pakistanis were tactical. They knew that if they fell into the hands of the Mukti Bahini, they would face immediate retribution for the atrocities committed over nine months. To avail themselves of the protections of the Geneva Convention, they sought the legal loophole of surrendering to the Indian regular army. However, through the foresight of the Indian and Bangladesh governments, the inclusion of "Joint Command" in the document ensured that Bangladesh held equal rights over the victory and the territory.
5. The Ultimate Truth
In world history, almost no nation has achieved independence without the help of an allied state. France’s contribution to the American Revolutionary War was immense, yet no one calls America's Independence Day a "Victory for France." The primary architects of the December 16 victory were the common people of Bengal and the Mukti Bahini; India acted as the supporting force.
Historical References & Sources:
Instrument of Surrender (1971): Original copy (preserved in the National Museum and online).
'Surrender at Dacca: Birth of a Nation' – Lt. Gen. J.F.R. Jacob.
'Muldhara '71' – Moidul Hasan (Assistant to Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad).
'1971: Bhetore Baire' – Group Captain A.K. Khandker.
Interviews of General M.A.G. Osmani (Published in various media outlets after December 18, 1971).
Conclusion:
The claim that December 16 is not the Victory Day of Bangladesh can only be made by those who still harbor the ghost of defeated Pakistan in their hearts. No one has the right to deny this victory, which was written with the blood of the guerrilla fighters and the ordinary citizens who fought with weapons in hand.
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