Dhaka defence scheme (adhoc)
| Dhaka Defense Scheme (adhoc) | |
|---|---|
| ڈھاکہ ڈیفنس سکیم ঢাকা প্রতিরক্ষা প্রকল্প | |
 Insignia of GHQ Pakistan | |
| Active | 21 November 1971–16 December 1971 |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Eastern Command Headquarters | Dacca Cantonment, East Pakistan, Pakistan (now Dhaka, Bangladesh) |
| Motto(s) | Defend Dacca at all costs |
| Commanders | |
| Corps Commander | Lt. Gen. A. A. K. Niazi |
| Military Advisor | Maj. Gen. Rao Farman Ali |
| Chief of Staff | Brig. Baqir Siddiqui |
| Notable commanders | Maj. Gen. Hussain Raja Brig. William Harrison Brig. T.J. Malik |
The Dhaka Defence Scheme (Adhoc) was a strategic military framework formulated by the Eastern Command of the Pakistan Army in 1971 to fortify the capital of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) against the combined offensives of the Indian military and the Mukti Bahini insurgency. Conceived amidst the Bangladesh Liberation War and later the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the scheme aimed to establish a structured defence for Dhaka, the administrative and military nerve centre of the eastern theater. However, its execution was undermined by severe logistical constraints, the absence of adequate reinforcements, and the sheer numerical and tactical superiority of opposing forces, ultimately rendering it ineffective.
Background
[edit]Following the March 1971 military crackdown under Operation Searchlight by Tikka Khan, Pakistan faced increasing resistance from the Mukti Bahini, the Bengali nationalist militia fighting for independence.[1] The Indian military also provided support to the Mukti Bahini, further escalating the conflict.[2]
In anticipation of a full-scale war with India, the Eastern Command, under Lieutenant General A. A. K. Niazi, the commander of the Eastern Command formulated the Dhaka Defence Scheme as an emergency defensive plan.[3] The objective was to consolidate Pakistani forces in and around Dhaka, creating a last-stand defense against Indian forces should they attempt to capture the capital.[4]
Affiliation
[edit]The Dhaka Defence Scheme was a critical component of the broader Eastern Command strategy, designed to maintain control over East Pakistan amidst growing insurgency and external military intervention.[5] The Eastern Command was tasked with overseeing all military operations in East Pakistan, and the Dhaka Defence Scheme was meant to be its final contingency plan for defending the administrative and military center of the region.[6] However, the rapid Indian advance and internal weaknesses led to the failure of the scheme, culminating in the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops on December 16, 1971.[7]
By December 16, 1971, the scheme had completely collapsed, and Lieutenant General A. A. K. Niazi surrendered to the Indian Armed Forces and Mukti Bahini, marking the end of the Bangladesh Liberation War and the creation of independent Bangladesh.[8]
Assigned Commanders
[edit]| Rank | Name | Area of Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Brigadier | Mohammad Kashim | Dhaka Cantonment and Tongi area |
| Brigadier | Mian Mansoor Ali | Munshiganj and Narayanganj |
| Brigadier | Tajammul Hussain Malik | Hilli and Bogra |
| Brigadier | Bashir Ahmed | Dhaka city proper |
| Brigadier | William Harrison | Comilla and Chittagong |
EPCAF HQ and Sector Units
[edit]| Unit Name | Type |
|---|---|
| Police | Law Enforcement |
| Razakars | Paramilitary |
| Al-Badr | Militia |
| Al-Shams | Militia |
| Peace Committee | Paramilitary |
| East Pakistan Rifles | Border Guard |
References
[edit]- ^ "Genocide they wrote". The Daily Star. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ "India-Pakistan 1971 war: 13 days that shook the subcontinent". The Indian Express. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ Niazi, Amir Abdullah Khan (1998). The Betrayal of East Pakistan. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-577727-7.
- ^ "The Pakistan Army 1966-71". Goodreads. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ Nawaz, Shuja (2008). Crossed Swords: Pakistan, Its Army, and the Wars Within. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-547660-6.
- ^ Cloughley, Brian (1999). A History of the Pakistan Army: Wars and Insurrections. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-579015-3.
- ^ Ṣiddīqī, ʻAbdurraḥmān (1996). The Military in Pakistan, Image and Reality. Vanguard. ISBN 978-969-402-282-6.
- ^ Sātik, Siddīq (1977). Witness To Surrender. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-81-7062-108-9.