Battle of Shiromoni

The Battle of Shiromoni (Bengali: শিরোমণির যুদ্ধ) (13–17 December 1971) fought during the Bangladesh Liberation War and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 between the Pakistan Army and the joint forces of the Bangladesh and Indian Army. This was one of the last battles of the Bangladesh Liberation War which continued till 17 December 1971, even though the commander of all Pakistani Forces in Bangladesh had already surrendered on 16 December 1971.

Battle of Shiromoni
Part of Bangladesh Liberation War and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Date13–17 December 1971
Location
Shiromoni, Khulna, Bangladesh
Result Bangladeshi-Indian victory
Belligerents
 Bangladesh
 India		  Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Brigadier Hayat Khan
Strength

 Defected Bengali soldiers of the 9th Infantry Division of the Pakistan Army

i. 32nd Infantry Brigade

ii. 42nd Infantry Brigade

iii. 350th Infantry Brigade

 Sector VIII of the Mukti Bahini

 Sector IX of the Mukti Bahini

50th Parachute Brigade

45th Cavalry

 1st Squadron 5th Cavalry

 107th Infantry Brigade (under 9th Infantry Division of the Pakistan Army)

i. 6th Punjab Regiment

ii. 12th Frontier Force

iii. 15th Frontier Force

iv. 21st Punjab Regiment
Casualties and losses
  • 250-300 Indians killed at the Badamtola ambush
  • 7 Indians killed and 30 injured at the battle
  • 31 Bangladeshis killed and 124 injured
 157 Pakistanis killed

Background

Even though the Jessore city was lost, the Pakistanis were able to develop a strong resistance against the Bangladeshi and Indian forces at Shiromoni. Commanding the Pakistani forces at Shiromoni was Brigadier Hayat Khan of the 107th Infantry Brigade. According to the book ‘The Tank Battle of Shiromoni’ by Gazi Saiful Hasan, there were three main reasons why the Pakistanis positioned themselves at Shiromoni:[1]

The Battle

Ambush at Badamtola

On their way to Khulna, after passing through Shiromoni and getting near Badamtola, the Indians faced an ambush by the Pakistani military. Around 250-300 Indians were killed by the Pakistani Army.[2]

Major Manzur takes command of the joint Bangladeshi and Indian Forces at Shiromoni

Behind each of these tanks, Major Manzur sent twelve Mukti Bahini men eager to get martyred. With this suicidal commando force joined Major Manzur himself.[3]

Surrender of Brigadier Hayat Khan

On that day, at around 1:30 pm, Brigadier Hayat Khan, along with his 3,700 men,[4] officially surrendered to joint Bangladeshi and Indian Forces on the premises of Khulna Circuit House, fifteen kilometers away from Shiromoni. Brigadier Delvar Singh of the Indian Army, who arrived at the surrender ceremony via helicopter, signed the document for the Pakistani surrender on behalf of the allied forces.[5] The instrument of surrender was signed at 1:55 pm.

References
  1. Gazi Saiful Hasan (2017). The Tank Battle of Shiromoni (in Bengali). Kamrul Book House. p. 19. ISBN 9789843319371.
  2. S.M. Babar Ali (1991). স্বাধীনতার দুর্জয় অভিযান (in Bengali). Mahir Printers. p. 152. ISBN 9789848772492.
  3. Musa Sadik (1995). মুক্তিযুদ্ধ হৃদয়ে মম (in Bengali). Bangla Academy Press. p. 228. ISBN 9843001230.
  4. Gazi Saiful Hasan (2017). The Tank Battle of Shiromoni (in Bengali). Kamrul Book House. p. 29. ISBN 9789843319371.
  5. Musa Sadik (1995). মুক্তিযুদ্ধ হৃদয়ে মম (in Bengali). Bangla Academy Press. p. 230. ISBN 9843001230.
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