REVOLUTION, MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THE WAR OF LIBERATION IN BANGLADESH

The book reveals a crucial part of Bangladesh history, which the author calls “The Missing Link” focusing on the period of 26 March- 17 April 1971, and the pre-1971 dynamic factors that led to the birth of a new state Bangladesh. In addition to analyzing the role of political leaders during 1970-71, the book focuses on the role of Bengali military officers in the Pakistan Army in initiating the War of Liberation in 1971. The 1970 post-election negotiation between the political leaders of East and W. Pakistan was used as a ploy to strengthen W. Pakistani military strength in E. Pakistan. The Bengali political leaders prepared the people of E. Pakistan for autonomy, but at the critical moment they faltered. That is when the Bengali military officers, who were deeply motivated by nationalistic aspirations, stepped in to fill the void in political leadership. The author looks into why the Bengali officers in the Pakistan Army were motivated to take the crucial decision to revolt, and how did they continue the war till 17 April 1971 when the Bangladesh Government-in-exile was formed.