Battle of Kamalpur
| Battle of Kamalpur | |||||||||
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| Part of Bangladesh Liberation War | |||||||||
 Kamalpur Memorial in Bangladesh | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Supported by:  India (from November) | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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| Units involved | |||||||||
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| Strength | |||||||||
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: 4,000 |
 : 7,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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: Unknown |
: 497 killed[2] 162—220 captured[3][4] | ||||||||
The Battle of Kamalpur (Bengali: কামালপুরের যুদ্ধ), is one of the most significant military engagements fought by the Mukti Bahini in 1971 during its war of independence from Pakistan. The Pakistan Army set up a military camp at Kamalpur (now in Baksiganj Upazila of Jamalpur District) which was attacked by 1st East Bengal Regiment of Z Force several times. The first attack was made on June 12, and a second attack was made on July 31, 1971, also another attack at 22 October 1971 and in total, there were 18 battles in Kamalpur.
Camp at Kamalpur
[edit]Kamalpur, a border area, was known as the gateway to Dhaka from the northern sector under Sector 11, the central sector and the largest one of the Mukti Bahini.[5] It was situated on the mouth of the old Brahmaputra and on the road link with Mymensingh via Jamalpur.[6] Pakistan Army set up a military camp at Kamalpur. This camp was tactically crucial for the Pakistan Army because its fall would cause the Pakistan Army to lose control over strongholds in Jamalpur—Mymensingh—Dacca region.[7]
The Pakistani troops made concrete bunkers which contained shell-proof roofs. To provide communication between bunkers, they dug communication trenches. The camp perimeter included Booby traps and mine fields as defence.[1][6]
About two companies of 31 regiment excluding Razakar paramilitaries constituted the enemy force.[1][6]
Attacks on Kamalpur Camp
[edit]On June 12, 1971, the first attack was launched by Z-Force at Kamalpur Camp. Pakistani troops tried to enter the villages of Sarishabari Upazila of Jamalpur district but failed, as the villagers confronted them but local civilians were also killed. While retreating, the Pakistan Army set fire in the villages.[1]
The second attack was led by Ziaur Rahman on July 31, 1971. Zia was supported by Major Moinul Hossain, Captain Hafiz and Captain Salauddin Mumtaz.[6][7][8] The attack was made with two companies Delta and Bravo from the North – East of the enemy camp. Captain Salauddin Mumtaz commanded Delta on the left and Captain Hafiz commanded Bravo on the right. As the troops were moving towards the enemy post, the enemy artillery started firing heavily. As a result, the progress of the two companies became slow. The communication system collapsed because of heavy rain. However, the troops continued moving forward and entered the outer perimeter of the enemy camp. Though casualties were increasing, the fighters made progress through the minefield. At one stage of the fight, two artillery shells dropped in front of Captain Salauddin Mumtaz and killed him. And three Mukti Bahini fighters were killed trying to save him, and Captain Hafiz was injured. In the morning at 7:30, Major Moinul Hossain, the battalion commander of 1st East Bengal Regiment ordered the battalion to retreat.[8]
India joined the war at late November, brigades were deployed to capture Kamalpur, however Indian forces made more than 3 unsuccessful attempts to take Kamalpur which led to deterioration of moral, and casualties heavily increased and finally on December 4, the Pakistan Army was overrun and withdrawn and fell back to their headquarters at Jamalpur after an attack by Bangladesh Forces and the Indian Army.
The Battle of Kamalpur was one of the deadliest major military engagements in the 1971 war of independence, 194 militants of the Mukti Bahini were killed in the battle.[4][2] Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army lost 497 soldiers in the battle and 200 soldiers were captured.[4][9] In the aftermath of the battle, Pakistani forces were defeated.[1][4][2]
See also
[edit]- Timeline of the Bangladesh Liberation War
- Military plans of the Bangladesh Liberation War
- Pakistan Army order of battle, December 1971
- Evolution of Pakistan Eastern Command plan
- Defence of Kamalpur
- List of sectors in the Bangladesh Liberation War
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "A report on The News Today published on December 11, 2009". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "On this day Kamalpur was liberated". Bangladesh Post. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ "Kamalpur, Phulbari tasted freedom on this day in '71". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 4 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Kamalpur liberation day Friday". Dhaka Tribune. 3 December 2020.
- ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Taher, Colonel Abu". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d A document on Bangladesh Liberation War published in December 1999, Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ a b Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Bakshiganj Upazila". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ a b "The Battle of Kamalpur-31 July 1971". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 15 December 2007.
- ^ "Kamalpur, Phulbari tasted freedom on this day in '71". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 4 December 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- Battles of the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971
- Battles of the Bangladesh Liberation War
- Jamalpur District
- Mukti Bahini
- June 1971 in Bangladesh
- July 1971 in Bangladesh
- August 1971 in Bangladesh
- September 1971 in Bangladesh
- October 1971 in Bangladesh
- November 1971 in Bangladesh
- December 1971 in Bangladesh
- Attacks on military installations in 1971
- Attacks on military installations in Bangladesh