The struggle this time, is a struggle for independence. They passed a sea of jubilant people as they went to the race course, the very ground from where nine months ago, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had announced the war of independence by uttering the words, "…The struggle this time is a struggle for emancipation. Khandaker travelled with Aurora in his jeep to the Ramna Race Course ground. In the group of people with Auora, there was Group Captain AK Khandaker, deputy chief of staff, Bangladesh forces, who represented the Mukti Bahini in the surrender ceremony. The victor and the vanquished stood in full view of the Bengalees, who made no secret of their extreme sentiments of love and hatred for Aurora and Niazi respectively." Siddik Salik, the then public relations officer of the Pakistan army, in his book "Witness to Surrender" said that in the early afternoon, Niazi gave Jagjit a military salute and shook hands. Jacob readily agreed to the first demand, but argued that the civilians would have to stay in Bangladesh until swapped with the Bangalees stranded in camps in erstwhile West Pakistan.Īfter the discussion, Niazi went to Dhaka airport to receive Jagjit Singh Aurora. Niazi put forward two conditions: that the Pakistan troops would retain their personal arms for their own protection and that of the Pakistani civilians until adequate Indian troops were available to arrange their security in Dhaka and that all Pakistani civilians will not be left at the mercy of the Bangalees. "I felt indignant and agitated, for the Indian proposal was inadequate, failing to highlight the measures for the safe custody of the civilians ," Niazi wrote. He was also blamed for a massacre and fearing reprisals, he wanted to escape. Farman's participation in the drastic military action on March 25 had aroused animosity and seething anger among Bangalees, who wanted to punish him for his crimes against them. The guilt and weakness he had displayed during the hours of crisis seemed to disperse. In his book "The Betrayal of East Pakistan", Niazi wrote that among the generals, Farman's demeanor underwent a dramatic change. "I again took this as acceptance," Jacob said. When Niazi said he did not have a sword, Jacob said that Nazi would surrender his pistol. Niazi would then surrender his sword, proposed Jacob. Jacob said Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, commander of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, also chief of the joint Bangladesh and India forces, would be given a guard of honour by detachments of the Indian and Pakistani armies.Īfter that Aurora and Niazi would sign the documents. Niazi argued that this was not appropriate. He felt it would be appropriate to have a public surrender in full view of the people of Dhaka who had suffered so terribly. Jacob told him that the surrender ceremony would take place at the Ramna Race Course, now Suhrawardy Udyan. Niazi said he would like it to take place in his office. Then the two parties discussed the modalities of the surrender. "I asked him if the document was acceptable. Jacob reiterated that the terms were already very generous and walked out of the room, leaving the Pakistanis to deliberate. Niazi passed the document to the others to study. "These guarantees and clauses in the instrument of surrender are unique and are not found in any other surrender documents," Jacob wrote. Jacob assured that they would be treated as soldiers with due dignity and the Geneva Convention would be honoured strictly, and that there would be respect for all ethnic minorities. Niazi said what Jacob was asking him to sign was unconditional surrender. Major General Rao Farman Ali objected to surrendering to the Indian and Bangladeshi forces. Pakistani forces expected that the document would be on conditions of cease fire and evacuation under arrangements of the UN. The others in the room became fidgety," Jacob wrote in his book titled "Surrender at Dacca: Birth of a Nation". There was dead silence in the room, as tears streamed down Niazi's cheeks. "Col Khara read out the terms of surrender.
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