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

Brigadier Shafi had been specially selected by me to command 23 Brigade, which was to hold Dinajpur?Rangpur and not alloy Indian troops to advance further.
With Brigadier Shafi taking over command, the fighting pattern took a dramatic turn. An aggressive stance replaced the defensive posture.
Page # 138
It was also being used to protect the flanks of 205 Brigade in the south in area Hilli, blocking the approach to Bogra and Dhaka, where a fierce battle was being fought.
Brigadier Tajammul Hussain, Commander 205 Brigade Group, had organized the Hilli defences with tactical finesse. He had placed screens along the railway line at Noapara, at Basudpura check?post, and at the Railway Station complex. The main compact defended localities were sited in depth to cover all routes leading into East Pakistan. They were effectively covered by 4FF s and elements of 13FF Battalions. The positions were supported by a field regiment, a mortar battery, a squadron of tanks, and elements of recce and support battalion. The depth of the positional defence was about two thousand five hundred yards.
Page # 139
It was in this sector that Major Akram, one of the compam commanders of 4FF, was awarded a posthumous Vishan?e?Haidei for his gallantry in Mapara area. The complete 205 Brigade Group fought extremely well. Lt.?Col. Abbasi of 4FF was wounded and evacuated. As 4FF was holding Hilli, a very important position, I could not afford to leave it without a good CO, so I took my General Staff Officer, Lt.?Col. Mumtaz, GSO?I (Intelligence), to Hilli when I visited the area on 26 November 1971. He put up a magnificent show. He also officiated as Brigade Commander during Tajammal's absence when the latter was ambushed. For his extraordinary bravery he was awarded Sitara?eJurat. It was a model battle against the enemy's four brigades.
Page # 144
Brigadier Tajammal Hussain Malik had volunteered to fight in East Pakistan. I wanted to keep him for the defence of Dhaka but he insisted on going to a front?line brigade. He was sent to 205 Brigade under General Nazar. I had full faith in him as a good commander and a brave leader. He had proved his mettle in the 1965 war. He displayed the qualities of a true soldier of Islam and gave the toughest battle to the Indians. I recommended him for the award of Nishan?e?Hailer, but GHQ ignored him and his heroic deeds as many chairbound soldiers and sycophants had to be catered for. I insisted on his promotion to Major General, as some people were afraid of him because of his unflinching faith in Islam. He was promoted and became the only Brigadier from East Pakistan to attain this rank.
Our troops also successfully transfixed the Indian army in Dinajpur, Rangpur, Saidpur, Bogra, and Rajshahi, so that the enemy could not transfer troops to West Pakistan. In fact, with the arrival of Brigadier Manzoor's brigade from 9 Division into 16 Division's area, the enemy was sandwiched in the north and south.
Page # 145
Major?General M. H. Ansari was my Logistics Area Commandc.)Dhaka. I got him promoted because of his brave action again,( the rebels. He took over the command of 9 Division from Major General Shaukat Raza. Ansari had two brigades in his division, and he established 9 Division Headquarters at jessore. On the commencement of hostilities, he moved to Faridpur. He fought his battle according to the formulated plan. At times he was out of communication with his subordinate formations. I provided guidance to them during the intervening period.
9 Division was to hold Kustia, Jhenida Jessore and Khulna line. Troops had also to fall back to Faridpur to prevent the eneim from reaching Dhaka. 57 Brigade, under Brigadier Manzool Ahmad, was responsible for Jhenida?Kushtia. 107 Brigade under Brigadier Hayat, SJ, was to defend by rajessore. After delayi))g and causing attrition to the enemy, the brigade was to fall back to Magura?Faridpur. One battalion was to look after Satkhira, Khulna area. I had an ad hoc brigade of CAF in Khulna, which I moved to Dhaka later.
Page # 146
Hayat was finally ready to face the enemy at Daulatpur, a town a few kilometres short of Khulna. This position had extensive marsh on one flank, and the Bhairab River flanking the other side. He converted this area into a strong defensive position, deriving maximum strength from the terrain. The existing obstacles were used to best advantage.
Page # 147
Hayat's performance was extraordinary. With a small force, he played around with a superior enemy force. He blunted tlic enemy armour, consisting of T?55 and PT?i6 tanks outwitted the opposition with his quick decisions and bold actions, acid eliminated the enemy by his courage, fortitude, and initiative. Hayat was a brave commander.
Page #148
Brigadier Manzoor, Commander 57 Brigade, was allowed to move to 16 Division area with most of his equipment, crossing the Ganges over the Harding Bridge, which had been roughly decked. The brigade thereafter came under the command of 16 Infantry Division. When Manzoor initially withdrew from the forward delaying positions, his brigade HQ with one Rifle Company got detached and reached Jhenida, while Manzoor with the rest of his Brigade and Tactical HQ, firmed in Kushtia. When he crossed over to 16 Division area with his troops, Major?General Ansari, using the leftover troops of Manzoor's brigade (Main Brigade HQ and one Rifle Company) and two newly arrived battalions from Dhaka, raised an ad hoc Brigade. He gave the command of this Brigade to Col. K. K. Afridi, his Col. Staff. Afridi was responsible for looking after the approaches to Faridpur and Golando. Ansari himself took over the command of the troops defending the Faridpur Fortress and Golando strong point. Col. Afridi fought magnificently.
Page # 149