The war for liberation the led to Bangladesh Independence. This was a revolutionary independence war in 1971 which established the republic of Bangladesh. The war pitted Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) and later helped by India against the West Pakistanis and lasted over a duration of nine months. It witnessed large-scale atrocities, the exodus of 10 million refugees and the displacement of 30 million people. We describe various crucial events starting form the declaration of independence to the final victory.

Freedom FightersDeclaration of Independence

The story behind the declaration of Independence on March 26, 1971.

PM Tajuddin Ahmed’s statement to the world, April 17, 1971.

On April 17, 1971, the then acting PM of Bangladesh made a statement to the world to support the Bangladesh cause for freedom.

The Bangladesh Genocide

A statistical look.The genocide in Bangladesh began on 26 March 1971 with the launch of Operation Searchlight, as West Pakistan began a military crackdown  to suppress Bengali calls for self-determination. During the nine-month long war for independence, members of the Pakistani military and supporting militias (Razakars and Al Badrs) killed between 300,000 –3,000,000 people and raped between 200,000–400,000 Bangladeshi women in a systematic campaign of genocidal rape

Bangladesh Genocide in Pictures

Graphic content warning. Images of genocide.

Eyewitness Accounts

Various eye witness accounts from the liberation war.

US Congressional Records

Records from the US congress regarding Bangladesh during the war.

US State Department Archives

Archives that capture events before, during and after the 1971 liberation war.

International Press

Coverage by the international press

Videos

Rare video footage from the foreign press. Graphic content warning.

The Instrument of Surrender

Signing the Instrument of Surrender 1971

Signing the Instrument of Surrender 1971

About the final surrender by the Pakistani Army to the combine allied forces of Bangladesh and India.
Includes pictures of the surrender ceremony and the actual Instrument of surrender.

Remembering a Liberation War

Twenty five years ago, India and Pakistan went to war over the issue of Bangladesh. Mukti Bahini guerillas and Indian soldiers swept past Pakistani defenses and forced the Pakistani Army to surrender within two weeks. On the western front, Indians and Pakistanis fought a series of even deadlier battles. This 1971 War web exhibition commemorates that war…