1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency

Anti-Mujibist socialist insurgency after the independence of Bangladesh Maoist insurgency in Bangladesh The lists of belligerents, commanders and leaders, and units, many of which are not mentioned in the article, are excessively long. See :Template:Infobox military conflict/doc December 2025 August 2024 Bangladesh insurgency the Cold War in Asia Soldiers of the Biplobi Shainik Sangstha.png Soldiers of the Biplobi Shainik Sangstha being received by the public after the Sipahi–Janata Revolution on 7 November 1975 1 February 1972 – 24 November 1975 (1972 02 01 1975 11 24) Bangladesh Insurgency largely subduedAssassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and takeover of power by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad Counter-coup by Mujibist military officers and deposition of Khondaker Mostaq Sipahi–Janata Revolution by JASAD and Ziaur Rahman's ascension to power Kader Siddique's insurgency Bangladesh Government of Bangladesh বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগের পতাকা.svg Awami League/BAKSAL (1972–75) বাংলাদেশ ছাত্রলীগের পতাকা.svg Chhatra League Socialist red flag.svg Sramik League Flag of the Bangladesh Army.svgFlag of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.svg Military-Supreme Court Administration (1975) Mujibist insurgents:During Khondaker Mostaq Ahmed's military junta and Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem's interim government Bangladesh 1971 Kader Bahinihttps://en.banglainsider.com/feature/3173/Those-who-protested-that-day Those who protested that day en.banglainsider.com en 10 December 2024 12 January 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190112044400/https://en.banglainsider.com/feature/3173/Those-who-protested-that-day dead Bangladesh army Pro-Mujibist military factions EBRegimentFlag.svg East Bengal Regiment (factions) 20px 46th Independent Infantry Brigade Socialist insurgents:জাসদের পতাকা.svg Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal জাসদের পতাকা.svg JASAD Chhatra LeagueMaoist insurgents:PBSP-Flag.png Purba Banglar Sarbahara PartyFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Anti-Mujibist military factionsFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg 2nd Field Artillery Flag of the Bangladesh Army.svg 1st Bengal Lancers Flag of the Bangladesh Army.svg 1st Bengal Cavalry EBRegimentFlag.svg 10th Bengal Regiment (factions)<hr/ >Other anti-Mujibist factionsSocialist red flag.svg Trade unionistsNon-BJSL aligned trade unionists were considered enemies by the BAKSAL regime বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগের পতাকা.svg Awami League (factions) Bangladesh armyBlack flag.svg Military junta (1975)From 15 August to 6 November Bangladeshবাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগের পতাকা.svg Sheikh Mujibur RahmanAssassination of Sheikh Mujibur RahmanBangladeshবাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগের পতাকা.svg Tajuddin AhmedJail KillingBangladeshবাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগের পতাকা.svg Muhammad Mansur AliJail KillingBangladeshবাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগের পতাকা.svg Syed Nazrul IslamJail KillingBangladeshবাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগের পতাকা.svg A. H. M. QamaruzzamanJail KillingBangladeshFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Khaled MosharrafAssassination of Khaled MosharrafBangladeshFlag of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence.svg Jamil Uddin AhmedBangladeshFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Khondkar Nazmul HudaBangladeshFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg A. T. M. HaiderBangladeshFlag of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.svg Abu Sadat Mohammad SayemBangladeshChief of Army Staff (Bangladesh) Flag.svg K. M. ShafiullahBangladeshFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Ziaur RahmanBangladeshFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Shafaat JamilBangladesh20px A. N. M. NuruzzamanBangladesh 1971 Abdul Kader Siddique জাসদের পতাকা.svg Abu Taherজাসদের পতাকা.svg M. A. Jalilজাসদের পতাকা.svg A. S. M. Abdur Rabজাসদের পতাকা.svg Hasanul Haq Inuবাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগের পতাকা.svg Khondaker Mostaq AhmedArrested under the Sayem ministry on 6 November 1975, released in 1978বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগের পতাকা.svg Taheruddin ThakurFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Syed Faruque RahmanFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Mohammad Bazlul HudaFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Abdul MajedFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Sultan Shahriar Rashid KhanFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg A. K. M. Mohiuddin AhmedFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Mohiuddin AhmedFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Shariful Haque DalimSentenced to death in absentiaFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Moslemuddin KhanSentenced to death in absentiaPBSP-Flag.png Siraj Sikder 20px Jatiya Rakkhi BahiniBangladesh Police Flag.svg Bangladesh PoliceBangladeshSocialist red flag.svg Lal Bahini জাসদের পতাকা.svg Gonobahiniজাসদের পতাকা.svgFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Biplobi Shainik SangsthaPBSP-Flag.png Purba Banglar Jatiya Mukti Front Flag of the Bangladesh Army.svg Factions of the Bangladesh Army 16,000 JRB personnel (1975) N/A 3,000 Awami League members killed4 members of parliament killed65% of military officers lose control of their troops Jasad: 6,000 killed (as per Jasad)3,000+ killed (as per Anthony Mascarenhas)PBSP: Unknown, at least 1 killedMilitary: At least one executed33 detainedOn 24 November 19752,035 unspecified political opponents killed between 1972 and April 1973 2,000+ workers killed during the Mongla Port massacreTotal: 2,000 – 4,000+ combatants/activists killed The 1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency refers to the period following the independence of Bangladesh, when factions opposing the government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, including the left-wing Gonobahini, and the Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party fought an armed conflict against the government of Bangladesh between 1972 and 1975.Rizvi now blasts Inu at press briefing http://www.thedailystar.net/politics/rizvi-now-blasts-inu-press-briefing-1240042 The Daily Star UNB 15 June 2016 12 July 2016 The Sheikh Mujib government responded by forming the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini, which began a crackdown on the general populace.Ahamed Emajuddin 2004 The Military and Democracy in Bangladesh http://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p33231/pdf/ch0731.pdf May R. J. Selochan Viberto The Military and Democracy in Asia and the Pacific Sydney Australian National University Press 108–110 1-9209420-0-9 The force became involved in the numerous charges of human rights abuse including political killings,https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/bangladesh0509webwcover.pdf Ignoring Executions and Torture : Impunity for Bangladesh's Security Forces 18 March 2009 Human Rights Watch 16 August 2013http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/01/15/63217 16 January 2011 Amar Desh bn:রক্ষীবাহিনীর নৃশংসতা মধ্যযুগীয় বর্বরতাকেও হার মানিয়েছিল bn https://web.archive.org/web/20110117040756/http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/01/15/63217 17 January 2011 shooting by death squads,Chowdhury Atif 18 February 2013 Bangladesh: Baptism By Fire http://www.huffingtonpost.com/atif-choudhury/bangladesh-no-justice-wit_b_4455782.html HuffPost 12 July 2016 and rape.Fair Christine C. Riaz Ali 2010 Political Islam and Governance in Bangladesh Routledge https://books.google.com/books?id=SpFaBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA30 30–31 978-1-136-92624-2 The insurgency was one of the main reasons for the fall of Sheikh Mujib. Background In 1972, Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal was formed when it split from Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the Bangladesh Awami League, under the leadership of Serajul Alam Khan, M. A. Jalil, ASM Abdur Rab and Shahjahan Siraj. Its armed wing, Gonobahini, led by Colonel Abu Taher and Hasanul Haq Inu, began an armed campaign against the government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in order to establish scientific socialism and a Marxist state.Hossain Kazi Mobarak 13 March 2016 Hasanul Haq Inu's JaSoD splits as he names Shirin general secretary http://bdnews24.com/politics/2016/03/12/hasanul-haq-inus-jasod-splits-as-he-names-shirin-general-secretary Dhaka Tribune 11 July 2016 Political killings Political killings of 1972–74 the 1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency Mosharraf Hossain Politician Jessore.jpg Mosharraf Hossain, one of the many people killed during the killings 1972 02 01 1974 12 16 Mass killing, murder, extrajudicial killing, state terrorism, domestic terrorism, dirty war, forced disappearance To destroy the opposition Government:Jatiya Rakkhi BahiniBangladesh PoliceOpposition:Gonobahini Both the opposition and government suffer casualties Political killings continue State of emergency is declared The autocratic BaKSAL is formed 5,039 – 30,000 Anthony Mascarenhas states that by the end of 1973, the number of politically motivated murders in Bangladesh after independence was over 2000. The victims included some members of parliament and many of the murders were resulted of intra-party conflicts within the Awami League. The Gonobahini also killed numerous Bangladesh Chhatra League and Awami League members.JS sees debate over role of Gono Bahini http://www.thedailystar.net/js-sees-debate-over-role-of-gono-bahini-31691 The Daily Star 4 July 2014 13 July 2015 On the other hand, Maoists such as Siraj Sikder of the Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party and Abdul Haq began attacking the government and people whom they considered "class enemies".Alim Syed Fattahul 1 February 2012 Has Left Politics any Future? https://archive.thedailystar.net/forum/2012/february/left.htm Forum 6 2 13 July 2016Ali Khan Ifaz 2026-04-02 The Forgotten Massacre of the Left in Bangladesh https://www.jamhoor.org/read/the-forgotten-massacre-of-the-left-in-bangladesh 2026-04-10 Jamhoor The government responded by forming the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini. Anthony Mascarenhas claimed that within three years, deaths of mostly Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal members reached 30,000, all of which were killed by the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini.Mascarenhas Anthony Anthony Mascarenhas 1986 Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood Hodder and Stoughton London 37 978-0-340-39420-5 Journalists like Ahmed Musa suggest roughly 10,000–30,000 were killed, while JSD claims the killings were as high as 60,000. End of insurgency After being de facto ruler of the nation, Ziaur Rahman realized that the disorder set off by the soldiers' mutiny had to be suppressed firmly if discipline was to be restored in the army. Ziaur Rahman declared martial law, cracked down on the Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal, Abu Taher was sentenced to death and other party figures had various terms of imprisonment slapped on them.Ahsan Syed Badrul Bourgeois dreams of socialist revolution http://www.observerbd.com/2015/07/07/98425.php The Daily Observer 7 July 2015 13 July 2016 18 August 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160818131553/http://www.observerbd.com/2015/07/07/98425.php dead Legacy Human Rights Watch states that institutionalized violence committed by the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini during the insurgency, established the culture of impunity and widespread prevalence of abuses by security forces in independent Bangladesh. Commentators have called the period a "dark chapter of Bangladesh's history." Notes References Category:1970s conflicts Category:1970s in Bangladesh Category:Communism in Bangladesh Category:Cold War rebellions Category:Communist rebellions Category:Rebellions in Asia Category:Insurgencies in Asia Category:Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Category:History of the Awami League Category:History of Bangladesh (1971–present) Category:Dirty wars Category:Mujib era