TitleAuthorISBNPublisherLanguageEditionReview
Witness to Surrender Siddiq Salik 984 05 1373 7 The University Press Limited English 1997 (first published in 1977 by Oxford University Press, Karachi) Review by Abdul M. Ismail - An interesting perspective by a (West) Pakistani Officer on the 1971 conflict. The deployment and actions taken by the occupational forces can be confirmed by cross examination from other text written in military format (see Maj. Gen. KM Safiullah (Bangladesh) and Lt. Gen. JFR Jacob (India) below for further details). What is an arousing observation is when the author re-lives the events leading up to Mujib’s arrest and the one sided dialogue which took place prior to that event.
Surrender at Dacca : Birth of a Nation Lt. Gen. JFR Jacob 984 05 1395 8 The University Press Limited English1997 Review by Abdul M. Ismail - Written by India’s Chief of Staff (Eastern Wing) during the 1971 War, the then Maj. Gen. Jacob describes the all important logistical aspects and reasoning behind the delay with military intervention of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force until the latter part of 1971. Co-ordination between the three services and integration of (plus the role played by the) Mukti Bahini is well documented hence adding the aspect of realism of the campaign to liberate Bangladesh.
The Year That Was Ishrat FirdousiN/A Bastu Prakashan English1996 Review by Abdul M. Ismail - The book is a collection of short stories and portrays individual experiences of over 70 people during the nine month military crackdown. They neither promote themselves as heroes nor victims but as observers and participants to what culminated to the formation of an independent nation. The inclusion of transcripts by (West) Pakistanis and Biharis, albeit limited in number, is a welcome addition to the compilation. Several narration’s by Bengalis point out the difficult situations which some (West) Pakistani civilians had to endure during the conflict.
Bangladesh at War Maj. Gen. K. M. Safiullah, psc., Bir Uttam 984-08-0109-0 Academic Publishers English 1995 (Second Edition) Review by Abdul M. Ismail - An excellent account from a Sector Commander and Bangladesh’s First Army Chief of Staff, who describes the Mukti Bahini’s continual confrontation with the (West) Pakistani military from the point of desertion to the surrender ceremony at the Ramna Race Course. Failed attempts and losses of both men and equipment whilst employing conventional tactics with vastly inferior equipment and lack of air support/artillery forced the Freedom Fighters to use guerrilla tactics. This approach, as Brig. Siddiq Salik states, proved to have had an adverse affect on the (West) Pakistani soldiers towards the closing days of the campaign. Due credit is given to all other Sector Commanders and includes a summary of events and tactics used which occurred other areas of the country during the conflict. This is the only book written by a Bengali Officer on the 1971 campaign which is known to be in the libraries of the Pakistani Military Academy.
Of Blood and Fire : The Untold Story of Bangladesh’s War of Independence Jahanara Imam translated by Mustafizur RahmanN/A Academic Publishers English 1991 (Second Edition) Review by Abdul M. Ismail - Originally published in Bengali, February 1986 under the title of ‘The Days of ’71’, the book was eventually translated to English. This afforded a wider audience to experience the events in Dhaka up to, during and after the military crackdown. Written in the format of a day-to-day diary, the author provides a touching account of her family’s involvement, and those around her, with the struggle for independence. The emotions and concerns of a wife and mother are heartfelt and will leave readers with lasting distaste for war and conflict.
A Tale of Millions : Bangladesh Liberation War – 1971 Maj. Rafiqul Islam, Bir UttamN/A Ananna English 1986 (Third Edition) Review by Abdul M. Ismail - An authoritative account of Captain Rafiqul Islam, an East Pakistan Rifles (EPR) Company Commander who, like numerous other Bengali Officers took up arms and rebelled against their (West) Pakistani counterparts. The author shows his frustration of lack of logistical support, indiscipline of non-military personnel and shares his thoughts by his criticising his superior officers. An interesting observation was the recruitment of student leaders and educated individuals by Indian Intelligence. These ‘elite’ Bengalis were given superior training, arms and ammunition and operated under the Operational Layout of the Indian Armed Forces rather than under a unified command structure of (and much to the annoyance of the) Bangladesh Military . The second half of the book is dedicated to activities which occurred in other sectors and includes operational activities of the naval commandos who specifically targeted military and supply vessels.
War and Secession : Pakistan, India, and the Creation of Bangladesh Richard Sisson, Leo Rose520076656 Univ California Press English1991 N/A
bish Bachhor Par Edited by Muhammad Jafar IqbalN/A Published by Dr. Nurun Nabi & Sajjad Choudhury Bengali1991 N/A
muldhAra Moidul HassanN/A University Press Limited Bengali1986 N/A
lokkho prAner binimae Rafiqul Islam, Bir UttamN/A Chhayapath Prakashani Bengali1981 Also an English Version– A Tale of Millions.
ekAtturer ranAngon Shamsul Huda ChowdhuryN/A Ahmed Publishing House Bengali1982 N/A
ekAtturer dinguli Jahanara ImamN/A Sandhani Publications Bengali1986 English Version Available
muktijudhhe nae mAsh Major S. A. BhuianhN/A Ahmed Publishing House Bengali1972 N/A
India’s Wars Since Independence – The Liberation of Bangladesh – Vol 1 Maj.-Gen. Sukhwant Singh 07 06 91 05 75 Stosius Inc., Advent Books Div1980 N/AN/A
shAdhinatA ’71, Vol I & II Kader Siddiqui, Bir UttamN/A Dey’s Publishing Bengali1985 N/A
BANGLADESH, THE UNFINISHED REVOLUTION Lawrence LifschultzN/A ZED Press ENGLISH1979 N/A
THE BANGLADESH REVOLUTION & AFTERMATH Talukder ManiruzzamanN/A Bangladesh Book International ENGLISH1980 N/A
ekAtturer ghatok o dAlAlerA ke kothAeN/A Muktijudda Chetana Bikash KendraN/A Bengali1987 N/A
PAKISTAN CRISIS David LoshakN/A McGraw-Hill Book Company ENGLISH1971 N/A
THE LIGHTNING CAMPAIGN Maj-Gen. D. K. PalitN/A Thompson Press(India) Ltd ENGLISH1972 N/A
DISCOVERY OF BANGLADESH Stephen M. GillN/A The Uffington Press ENGLISH1973 N/A
A SOCIO_POLITICAL HISTORY OF BENGAL & BIRTH OF BANGLADESH Kamruddin Ahmad.N/A Inside Library ENGLISH1975 N/A