1971 Glossary

A list of terminologies used in reference to Bangladesh’s Liberation War of 1971; most are Bangla (Bengali) words, with a few derived from Urdu and Arabic.

B   C   DEF   GHI   JKL   M   N   O   PQRS   TUV   WXYZ

Can't find what you're looking for? Please drop in a word at uttorshuri at yahoogroups.com.

Additional Links

A

 
Al Badr A volunteer militia composed mostly of Bengali men in Bangladesh who collaborated with the Pakistani Army in their acts of genocide, rape, abduction, and torture.  
Al Shams A wing of the volunteer militia working with Al Badr, composed largely of Bihari men residing in the erstwhile East Pakistan who had sided with the (West) Pakistani regime after the latter’s crackdown on the civilian population beginning on March 25, 1971.  
Awami League The major political party representing the Bengali people’s interests that emerged as an alternative to the Muslim League, the latter representing pro-Islamic leadership of pre-Partition India. The Awami League was born during the early days of Pakistan (initially as the Awami Muslim League), when the country's East and West wings were still trying to determine the nature of its nationalism, political structure, and the form of Government.  

B

 
Bangabandhu “A Friend of Bengal” — a title given to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of the Awami League, the political party that emerged at the forefront of the Bengalee people’s struggle for autonomy during 1966-1971.  
Bijay Dibash The Victory Day, December 16 — Pakistani Army surrenders to the Commander of the Joint Forces at the Racecourse, Dhaka.  
Bir Pratik (B.P.), Bir Bikram (B.B.), Bir ShresTha (B.S.) The official titles awarded to soldiers of Bangladesh's armed forces for their acts of courage and valour in defending the country. The highest honor (B.S.) is awarded only posthumously to those who have laid down their lives for their motherland.  

C

 
Collaborators The native people of Bangladesh who actively collaborated with the Pakistani Army in 1971. Although a collective term for members of the Razakar, Al Badr, Al Shams, and the Peace Committees, it specifically refers to the intellectuals from the universities and various governmental agencies who voluntarily took a position siding with the Pakistani Government. Most of them were later pardoned by Sheikh Mujib (unless there were any criminal convictions/proceedings against them). Only a handful, such as Ghulam Azam of the Jamat-e-Islami, were stripped of their citizenship and exiled. Unfortunately, most of these people have gone unpunished —even when there have been criminal convictions against them— and they are now fully rehabilitated and engaged in politics based on religious Fundamentalism in Bangladesh as well as abroad (mainly the USA and the UK).  

D

 
Dalal (da-laal) see Collaborators defined above.  

E

 
Ekattur Bangla word for 71.  
Ekushe February 21 February (1952) — the Language Martyrs day. Students and their supporters protesting the Pakistani Government’s decision to make Urdu the only state language were shot and killed in front of the Dhaka Medical College.  

M

 
Muktijoddha Freedom Fighter; Bengali civilians as well as Bengali members of the armed forces in East Pakistan who fought against the (West) Pakistani Army and their Bengali collaborators. Related word: Muktifauz - the resistance force(s) comprising of muktijoddhas.  
Muktijuddho The War of Independence, March 26 – December 16, 1971, as East Pakistan becomes Bangladesh.  

O

 
Operation Searchlight The official codename for the Pakistani Army's indiscriminate crackdown on Bengali civilian population during the Black Night of March 25, 1971 in Dhaka, Bangladesh (then East Pakistan). This was the last attempt of Gen. Yahya Khan, the Martial Law Dictator of Pakistan, to bring the Bengalees under complete control. A major aspect of this military operation was to achieve ethnic cleansing by murdering and terrorizing Bengalees believed to be under the influence of a Hindu culture, and therefore considered to be “imperfect Muslims”.  

P

 
Peace Committee Local pro-Pakistani governing bodies that were formed in various towns and/or neighborhoods for helping the Pakistani Government in maintaining its hold. These Committees were headed by Bengalees in positions of authority or local influence. Like the Rajakars and the Al Badr, the member of these Committees were also involved in seeking out Muktijoddhas, arresting people suspected of aiding the Muktijoddhas, and finding intelligence to help the Pakistani Army.  

R

 
Rajakar, Razakar A loosely organized group of Bengali people that provided support to the Pakistani Army during their occupation and genocidal activities in Bangladesh in 1971  
Refugees Some 10 million people who crossed the border into India, mainly in West Bengal in the west and Agartala in the east, to escape the wrath of the Pakistani Army.  

S

 
Shaheed, Shahid Martyr. Individuals who sacrificed their lives for the Liberation of Bangladesh. Also used in reference to the martyrs of the Language Movement during February 1952.  
Shwadhinata Dibash The Independence Day, March 26, 1971. Following the atrocious crackdown on the civilian population of Dhaka by the Pakistani Army, Sheikh Mujib issues a directive for an all out war against the Pakistani Occupation Forces.