Shiromoni tank battle

The Shiromoni tank battle is one of the most glorious chapters in Bangladesh’s Liberation War. In terms of magnitude and fierceness of fighting it can only be compared to the El Alamein tank battles in World War 2

Just as Lt. General Niazi was putting his signature on the document of surrender at the Race-course of Dhaka on December 16, the greatest tank battle of our Liberation War was going on at Shiromoni, Khulna. The flag of independent Bangla was fluttering above the Jessore Cantonment. Brigadier Hayat Khan had left Jessore Cantonment with his 107th Brigade on December 6.  The Pakistani forces from Faridpur, Kushtia, Jessore, Patuakhali and Barisal had assembled at Khulna. They hoped the American 7th Fleet would arrive through the Rupsha and Pashur rivers to pick them up to Pakistan. With that hope they continued fighting, violating Niazi’s order. Brig. Hayat Khan who used to command the Jessore cantonment from Khulna after Brigade Maj. Manjur took charge of the 8th Sector, assembled the collective forces of Jessore Cantonment, Patuakhali, Barisal, Faridpur and Kushtia right on the entry point Shiromoni of Khulna. He stationed the forces of Barisal and Patuakhali to resist the forces of Jainal Abedin, 9th Sector Commander, advancing from the Satkhira-Navaron side. Historic Shiromoni. He stationed more than 400 well-trained Punjabi troops with 32 tanks in the formation of a great battle there. Jessore must be resisted. In command was commander of the 107th Brigade, Hayat Khan himself. The late afternoon sun of December 16 set on the western horizon, the night fell. Up came the commando leader whose S.L.R finds its target so unmistakably, who struck terror in Hayat Khan and forced him to live in Khulna. The commando leader was none but Brigade Major Manjur.

At 9 p.m. the soil of Shiromoni was shaken by the roaring of guns. The winter air smelt of explosives. Two positions of Maj. Manjur’s Freedom Fighters were demolished in seconds by the tanks of the Punjabis. The branches of mango, jackfruit, coconut and other trees broke loose as those were getting hit by artillery shells. The volunteers of the field hospital rushed with wounded soldiers towards Jessore. The sound of cannon, the roars of tanks and the cries of the wounded made Shiromoni convulse.

The soil of Shiromoni was heated by continuous cannon and mortar shelling in combination with tank fires. The sky shone with fire from volleys of shelling. Khulna was jolted as if by an earthquake. Brigade 107 had unleashed a deadly attack on Manjur’s force. They were determined to exact revenge for the several earlier reversals at the hands of Manjur. Commander Hayat Khan who was G.O.C of Jessore Cantonment earlier was in command of 32 tanks. I had read about the world famous tank battle of Al-amin between the forces of Romel and Montgomery. I was fortunate enough to see the tank battle between Commando Maj. Manjur and Hayat khan. Only the previous day as a war correspondent of Swadhin Bangla Betar I came to the 8th Sector alongwith two Indian journalists. We stayed near the dangerous war field of Shiromoni.

The battle was going on. Hours were passing by. The minutes were like hours. To survive a minute or to hold the position for a minute seemed to be an accomplishment of an impossible task.  If one party thought that the other would surrender soon, the other also thought  the opponent would do so. No, the 107th Brigade stuck to their ground, not an inch did they retreat. Neither did the Freedom Fighters. Too much blood was shed on the soil of Shiriomoni. So many deaths! Five hours passed in this manner. With the night approaching further, the Pakistanis intensified their attacks. Another hour passed. The war had now gone on for long six hours without any let-up. The gallant Freedom Fighters were falling wounded in bunkers. Their comrades were tying bandage over the wounds in the bunkers and the wounded were pressing on the triggers of 303s, S.L.R etc. Someone was fetching a mug of water from quite a distance by crawling for the comrades fighting in a trench ahead of him. No one could afford any rest, there was no scope for turning the eyes into a different direction. All eyes were directed towards their targets, the bunkers of the enemies. Thus the war at Shiromoni continued.

It was few minutes past 3 o’ clock in the morning. The defence line of the Freedom Fighters and the Allied Forces was cracking up. The number of casualties suddenly went up. The Allied troops lost seven of their men including an officer and had 30 more wounded, 31 Freedom Fighters lost their lives and four times as many were wounded. Most of these casualties were in the last couple of hours. At 3:10 in the morning the sector commander sent two consecutive signals to the Allied Forces for ‘air cover’. The reply from the Allied Forces came through the H.Q code that their pilots were waiting at Dum Dum in their fighters for providing air cover till the darkness disappeared. This meant no ‘air cover’ would be available at night, perhaps.

The jeep carrying Manjur and Huda entered the Jessore Cantonment in full speed. For the first time I saw them after the tank battle had begun. They looked worried. I questioned myself if Manjur was going to be defeated in the last battle with Hayat Khan. They entered the room of the commander of the Allied troops. Just after 10 minutes they came out. They were rushing towards the jeep. We three ran after them and asked Maj. Huda what the news was. As he was getting on board the jeep he pointed at Manjur and said, “ He has taken full command. All forces are now at his disposal”.

Their jeep sped towards Shiromoni. Later on I came to know that both sector commander Manjur and Maj. Huda differed with the Allied Forcess’ commander over the war strategy. At Shiromoni the Allied Forces had 10-11 tanks with proportionate strength and there was commando-trained Muktibahini.

Dateline: Shiromoni, 4: 50 a.m. December 17.

It was none but Maj. Manjur round him like clouds his dearest suicidal commandos shot out at the speed of a shooting star. Cannon balls fell in front of them, splinters flew behind them and explosives flew past their heads. Running this way or that way, rolling on the ground, jumping over obstacles, leaning forward or backward, the major disappeared with his men somewhere nobody could see. Unbelieavable! According to his instruction two Allied Forces’ T-160 tanks sped through the main road and six other T-160s ran as if kissing the ground in the right with him. Along each tank a group of 12 suicidal commandos also began running. The commando column of the front line rushed following the commander. As if they had no other concern, as if they were playing the last game of the last night by staking their lives.

Manjur disappeared with his commandos within the defence of the Pakistanis at 5:15a.m. on December 16. No one had any idea if he and his commandos were alive. At this critical stage of the battle, Maj. Huda ordered the second line to defend the front line. Under artillery cover of the Allied troops and amidst the firing of the enemies, everyone ran into the frontline bunkers and positions with their heavy weapons. Like a tornado the tanks of the Allied Forces swerved to the right. Across three miles, Shiromoni was smarting under the heavy firing and shelling from the two sides. Branches of trees and the tops of coconut trees came down.

The soil and sky of Shiromoni were lit up like a day by the tank shelling. The air was heavy with the smell of gunpowder. And in a situation like this their commander disappeared just 300 yards ahead of them in some unknown bunker or hole within the enemy defence. Manjur and his suicidal squads entered the Pakistani defence at a lightning speed. Before the Pakistani colonels and brigadiers could believe their eyes, the defence put up by Hayat Khan, the impenetrable bunkers were thrown into pieces. The frightened and bewildered occupation troops came out of their burning Sherman tanks only to fall on their faces. Hayat Khan and his company were retreating fast. One commando brought the news of their retreat. Voicing the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan, the doubly spirited Freedom Fighters chased the enemy. At 5:45 in the morning the fighter jets of the Allied Forces appeared on the scene. Heavy bombardment and rocket attack broke and burnt the occupation troops. With 500 men, leaving 157 dead and hundreds injured, Brigadier Hayat Khan surrendered on his knees to the Indian 9th Division and Brigade Maj. Manjur.

The incredible tank battle at Shiromoni would have not been possible without the grace of God. Unless one has witnessed the battle, one cannot believe how was it possible. It is because of this unbelievable feat, a lesson on the “Tank Battle of Shiromoni” is taught at Army academies of different countries, including the Deradun Army Academy of India and Britain’s Sandhurst Army Academy. As an eye-witness of that battle I can vouch for the incredibility and ferocity of the tank battle of Shiromoni, which perhaps can be compare with that of the Al-amin. If history records the Al-amin Tank Battle of the World War II, it will also include the tank battle of Shiromoni.

After so much of an effort and the concentration of troops, the defeat was enough to break the moral of Hayat Khan’s army. They decided to surrender. A table and a chair were placed in front of the circuit house.

At the far end of the ground stood 11 amphibious T-160 tanks of the Allied Forces. Brig. Delbar Singh sat on the chair. About 10 yards away in front of him stood up Brig. Hayat Khan and his senior officers. One of the staff members of Delbar Singh brought out the typed out instrument of

surrender from the brigadier’s attache case.

He kept it on the wooden table to read it out. After completing reading, he looked at Brig. Hayat Khan. Hayat Khan and his colleagues saluted and stood in attention.  Delbar Singh put down the instrument of surrender on the table. Hayat Khan and eight of his officers came forward two steps to take off the belts with revolver, badges of ranks and bent their bodies to put down those on the ground. At the time of taking off his badge of rank, the tall and fair complexioned brigadier could not hold his tears back. The monsters who dishonoured thousands of mothers and sisters of Bangla for nine months, used their revolvers and rifles to take away the dearest ones from mothers and spouses, had to surrender their weapons on the soil with their body bent and heads bowed.

The people of Khulna raised “Joy Bangla’ slogan like the surging waves of the sea. Amidst the deafening slogans the commander of the occupation troops signed the instrument of surrender on the right hand side and Brigadier Delbar Singh on the left. Delbar said, “We are giving the guarantee that we will follow all the rules applicable to the POWs, according to the Geneva Convention. Overjoyed people all around the circuit house were chanting “Joy Bangla.”

At this stage Maj. Jalil came to the circuit house ground, shouting the “Joy Bangla” and “Joy Delbar Singh” slogans. It should be mentioned that Jalil was removed from the charge of the 9th sector, because he refused to co-operate with an investigation team at this sector and also because he refused to obey Gen. Osmany. He went towards the Sunderbans with his followers in November without handing over the charge to Jainal Abedin as instructed by Osmany. That night the All India Radio broadcast the surrendering ceremony, including Jalil’s slogans. The Muktibahini and the Allied Forces advanced towards Khalispur Housing Society where the Pakistani troops were surrendering. I tried to have an interview with Hayat Khan at the time of his getting into the car. By that time he had got on board the car with Brig, Delbar Singh. I introduced myself to Col. Afroz, Hayat’s colleague, and asked, “how do you feel?” He gave a passive reply, “fine”.

I could not read their minds. I asked at once, “Why did you violate Niazi’s command and why did you stage another unnecessary bloody battle at Shiromoni? Did you think of escaping?”

My last sentence appeared to have struck him hard. Getting on board the jeep he angrily replied, “We never tried to escape. Shiromoni battle is the proof .” The troops of the Allied Forces were pushing him into the jeep. I could somehow ask him, “How would you justify the deaths at Shiromoni?” The sharp reply of the colonel came from the running jeep, “One day this will inspire our people here.”

When the Pakistani troops were surrendering their arms at Khalispur Housing Society in a queue before Delbar Singh, I asked Hayat Khan, “Why did you order mass killing?” Looking straight at me the brigadier said, “I did never give such order.”

“Have you not heard of any case of rape and killing by your soldiers?” I asked.

“I don’t know. And war is not playing to the gallery,” replied Hayat Khan rudely and then turned away his face. Delbar Singh beckoned me to leave, saying, “Gentleman, thanks.”

On April 2, 1981 two Freedom Fighters Abdul Kuddus and Nazrul Islam alongwith a commander were beheaded in Rajshahi. Birprotik Abu Taher met his tragic death on the P.G hospital compound without medical reatment. Freedom Fighter Abdur Rahman and Freedom Fighter and journalist Dulal were shot dead on the street of Dhaka. The sons of Bangla who were invulnerable to the bullets of Pakistanis, are now falling dead on the liberated country’s streets and fields.

16th December is the landmark date in our nation’s life. It is the date on which we saw light after darkness, a new sun-etched flag was raised signaling the birth of the Bengali nation.

The writer is former Secretary to the Govt. of Bangladesh and War Correspondent of Swadhin

Bangla Betar Kendra

Email: [email protected],

Web: www.musabd.com

Shiromoni tank battle

The Shiromoni tank battle is one of the most glorious chapters in Bangladeshs Liberation War. In terms of magnitude and fierceness of fighting it can only be compared to the El Alamein tank battles in World War 2

Just as Lt. General Niazi was putting his signature on the document of surrender at the Race-course of Dhaka on December 16, the greatest tank battle of our Liberation War was going on at Shiromoni, Khulna. The flag of independent Bangla was fluttering above the Jessore Cantonment. Brigadier Hayat Khan had left Jessore Cantonment with his 107th Brigade on December 6. The Pakistani forces from Faridpur, Kushtia, Jessore, Patuakhali and Barisal had assembled at Khulna. They hoped the American 7th Fleet would arrive through the Rupsha and Pashur rivers to pick them up to Pakistan. With that hope they continued fighting, violating Niazis order. Brig. Hayat Khan who used to command the Jessore cantonment from Khulna after Brigade Maj. Manjur took charge of the 8th Sector, assembled the collective forces of Jessore Cantonment, Patuakhali, Barisal, Faridpur and Kushtia right on the entry point Shiromoni of Khulna. He stationed the forces of Barisal and Patuakhali to resist the forces of Jainal Abedin, 9th Sector Commander, advancing from the Satkhira-Navaron side. Historic Shiromoni. He stationed more than 400 well-trained Punjabi troops with 32 tanks in the formation of a great battle there. Jessore must be resisted. In command was commander of the 107th Brigade, Hayat Khan himself. The late afternoon sun of December 16 set on the western horizon, the night fell. Up came the commando leader whose S.L.R finds its target so unmistakably, who struck terror in Hayat Khan and forced him to live in Khulna. The commando leader was none but Brigade Major Manjur. At 9 p.m. the soil of Shiromoni was shaken by the roaring of guns. The winter air smelt of explosives. Two positions of Maj. Manjurs Freedom Fighters were demolished in seconds by the tanks of the Punjabis. The branches of mango, jackfruit, coconut and other trees broke loose as those were getting hit by artillery shells. The volunteers of the field hospital rushed with wounded soldiers towards Jessore. The sound of cannon, the roars of tanks and the cries of the wounded made Shiromoni convulse. The soil of Shiromoni was heated by continuous cannon and mortar shelling in combination with tank fires. The sky shone with fire from volleys of shelling. Khulna was jolted as if by an earthquake. Brigade 107 had unleashed a deadly attack on Manjurs force. They were determined to exact revenge for the several earlier reversals at the hands of Manjur. Commander Hayat Khan who was G.O.C of Jessore Cantonment earlier was in command of 32 tanks. I had read about the world famous tank battle of Al-amin between the forces of Romel and Montgomery. I was fortunate enough to see the tank battle between Commando Maj. Manjur and Hayat khan. Only the previous day as a war correspondent of Swadhin Bangla Betar I came to the 8th Sector alongwith two Indian journalists. We stayed near the dangerous war field of Shiromoni. The battle was going on. Hours were passing by. The minutes were like hours. To survive a minute or to hold the position for a minute seemed to be an accomplishment of an impossible task. If one party thought that the other would surrender soon, the other also thought the opponent would do so. No, the 107th Brigade stuck to their ground, not an inch did they retreat. Neither did the Freedom Fighters. Too much blood was shed on the soil of Shiriomoni. So many deaths! Five hours passed in this manner. With the night approaching further, the Pakistanis intensified their attacks. Another hour passed. The war had now gone on for long six hours without any let-up. The gallant Freedom Fighters were falling wounded in bunkers. Their comrades were tying bandage over the wounds in the bunkers and the wounded were pressing on the triggers of 303s, S.L.R etc. Someone was fetching a mug of water from quite a distance by crawling for the comrades fighting in a trench ahead of him. No one could afford any rest, there was no scope for turning the eyes into a different direction. All eyes were directed towards their targets, the bunkers of the enemies. Thus the war at Shiromoni continued. It was few minutes past 3 o clock in the morning. The defence line of the Freedom Fighters and the Allied Forces was cracking up. The number of casualties suddenly went up. The Allied troops lost seven of their men including an officer and had 30 more wounded, 31 Freedom Fighters lost their lives and four times as many were wounded. Most of these casualties were in the last couple of hours. At 3:10 in the morning the sector commander sent two consecutive signals to the Allied Forces for air cover. The reply from the Allied Forces came through the H.Q code that their pilots were waiting at Dum Dum in their fighters for providing air cover till the darkness disappeared. This meant no air cover would be available at night, perhaps. The jeep carrying Manjur and Huda entered the Jessore Cantonment in full speed. For the first time I saw them after the tank battle had begun. They looked worried. I questioned myself if Manjur was going to be defeated in the last battle with Hayat Khan. They entered the room of the commander of the Allied troops. Just after 10 minutes they came out. They were rushing towards the jeep. We three ran after them and asked Maj. Huda what the news was. As he was getting on board the jeep he pointed at Manjur and said, He has taken full command. All forces are now at his disposal. Their jeep sped towards Shiromoni. Later on I came to know that both sector commander Manjur and Maj. Huda differed with the Allied Forcess commander over the war strategy. At Shiromoni the Allied Forces had 10-11 tanks with proportionate strength and there was commando-trained Muktibahini. Dateline: Shiromoni, 4: 50 a.m. December 17. It was none but Maj. Manjur round him like clouds his dearest suicidal commandos shot out at the speed of a shooting star. Cannon balls fell in front of them, splinters flew behind them and explosives flew past their heads. Running this way or that way, rolling on the ground, jumping over obstacles, leaning forward or backward, the major disappeared with his men somewhere nobody could see. Unbelieavable! According to his instruction two Allied Forces T-160 tanks sped through the main road and six other T-160s ran as if kissing the ground in the right with him. Along each tank a group of 12 suicidal commandos also began running. The commando column of the front line rushed following the commander. As if they had no other concern, as if they were playing the last game of the last night by staking their lives. Manjur disappeared with his commandos within the defence of the Pakistanis at 5:15a.m. on December 16. No one had any idea if he and his commandos were alive. At this critical stage of the battle, Maj. Huda ordered the second line to defend the front line. Under artillery cover of the Allied troops and amidst the firing of the enemies, everyone ran into the frontline bunkers and positions with their heavy weapons. Like a tornado the tanks of the Allied Forces swerved to the right. Across three miles, Shiromoni was smarting under the heavy firing and shelling from the two sides. Branches of trees and the tops of coconut trees came down. The soil and sky of Shiromoni were lit up like a day by the tank shelling. The air was heavy with the smell of gunpowder. And in a situation like this their commander disappeared just 300 yards ahead of them in some unknown bunker or hole within the enemy defence. Manjur and his suicidal squads entered the Pakistani defence at a lightning speed. Before the Pakistani colonels and brigadiers could believe their eyes, the defence put up by Hayat Khan, the impenetrable bunkers were thrown into pieces. The frightened and bewildered occupation troops came out of their burning Sherman tanks only to fall on their faces. Hayat Khan and his company were retreating fast. One commando brought the news of their retreat. Voicing the Joy Bangla slogan, the doubly spirited Freedom Fighters chased the enemy. At 5:45 in the morning the fighter jets of the Allied Forces appeared on the scene. Heavy bombardment and rocket attack broke and burnt the occupation troops. With 500 men, leaving 157 dead and hundreds injured, Brigadier Hayat Khan surrendered on his knees to the Indian 9th Division and Brigade Maj. Manjur. The incredible tank battle at Shiromoni would have not been possible without the grace of God. Unless one has witnessed the battle, one cannot believe how was it possible. It is because of this unbelievable feat, a lesson on the Tank Battle of Shiromoni is taught at Army academies of different countries, including the Deradun Army Academy of India and Britains Sandhurst Army Academy. As an eye-witness of that battle I can vouch for the incredibility and ferocity of the tank battle of Shiromoni, which perhaps can be compare with that of the Al-amin. If history records the Al-amin Tank Battle of the World War II, it will also include the tank battle of Shiromoni. After so much of an effort and the concentration of troops, the defeat was enough to break the moral of Hayat Khans army. They decided to surrender. A table and a chair were placed in front of the circuit house. At the far end of the ground stood 11 amphibious T-160 tanks of the Allied Forces. Brig. Delbar Singh sat on the chair. About 10 yards away in front of him stood up Brig. Hayat Khan and his senior officers. One of the staff members of Delbar Singh brought out the typed out instrument of surrender from the brigadiers attache case. He kept it on the wooden table to read it out. After completing reading, he looked at Brig. Hayat Khan. Hayat Khan and his colleagues saluted and stood in attention. Delbar Singh put down the instrument of surrender on the table. Hayat Khan and eight of his officers came forward two steps to take off the belts with revolver, badges of ranks and bent their bodies to put down those on the ground. At the time of taking off his badge of rank, the tall and fair complexioned brigadier could not hold his tears back. The monsters who dishonoured thousands of mothers and sisters of Bangla for nine months, used their revolvers and rifles to take away the dearest ones from mothers and spouses, had to surrender their weapons on the soil with their body bent and heads bowed. The people of Khulna raised Joy Bangla slogan like the surging waves of the sea. Amidst the deafening slogans the commander of the occupation troops signed the instrument of surrender on the right hand side and Brigadier Delbar Singh on the left. Delbar said, We are giving the guarantee that we will follow all the rules applicable to the POWs, according to the Geneva Convention. Overjoyed people all around the circuit house were chanting Joy Bangla. At this stage Maj. Jalil came to the circuit house ground, shouting the Joy Bangla and Joy Delbar Singh slogans. It should be mentioned that Jalil was removed from the charge of the 9th sector, because he refused to co-operate with an investigation team at this sector and also because he refused to obey Gen. Osmany. He went towards the Sunderbans with his followers in November without handing over the charge to Jainal Abedin as instructed by Osmany. That night the All India Radio broadcast the surrendering ceremony, including Jalils slogans. The Muktibahini and the Allied Forces advanced towards Khalispur Housing Society where the Pakistani troops were surrendering. I tried to have an interview with Hayat Khan at the time of his getting into the car. By that time he had got on board the car with Brig, Delbar Singh. I introduced myself to Col. Afroz, Hayats colleague, and asked, how do you feel? He gave a passive reply, fine. I could not read their minds. I asked at once, Why did you violate Niazis command and why did you stage another unnecessary bloody battle at Shiromoni? Did you think of escaping? My last sentence appeared to have struck him hard. Getting on board the jeep he angrily replied, We never tried to escape. Shiromoni battle is the proof . The troops of the Allied Forces were pushing him into the jeep. I could somehow ask him, How would you justify the deaths at Shiromoni? The sharp reply of the colonel came from the running jeep, One day this will inspire our people here. When the Pakistani troops were surrendering their arms at Khalispur Housing Society in a queue before Delbar Singh, I asked Hayat Khan, Why did you order mass killing? Looking straight at me the brigadier said, I did never give such order. Have you not heard of any case of rape and killing by your soldiers? I asked. I dont know. And war is not playing to the gallery, replied Hayat Khan rudely and then turned away his face. Delbar Singh beckoned me to leave, saying, Gentleman, thanks. On April 2, 1981 two Freedom Fighters Abdul Kuddus and Nazrul Islam alongwith a commander were beheaded in Rajshahi. Birprotik Abu Taher met his tragic death on the P.G hospital compound without medical reatment. Freedom Fighter Abdur Rahman and Freedom Fighter and journalist Dulal were shot dead on the street of Dhaka. The sons of Bangla who were invulnerable to the bullets of Pakistanis, are now falling dead on the liberated countrys streets and fields. 16th December is the landmark date in our nations life. It is the date on which we saw light after darkness, a new sun-etched flag was raised signaling the birth of the Bengali nation. The writer is former Secretary to the Govt. of Bangladesh and War Correspondent of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra Email: [email protected], Web: www.musabd.com