Recruitment, training, deployment of the force and war strategy

After being selected as a commander of Sector-5 of the liberation forces, Mir Shawkat Ali

initiated his campaign with four hundred freedom fighters; The sector was composed of 800

regulars and 5000 guerillas. He later developed a workforce of 12 thousand. His sector stretched

from Shylet’s Durganagar to Danki, including the entire border area. As he came here, he met up

with Indian Major General KV Krishna Rao of the 8th Mountain Division and Major Gurbaksh

Singh Gill of the 101 Communication Zone.

Major Gurbaksh Singh Gill was appointed to take his Sector operations under his supervision;

Major Mir Shawkat decided to launch his operations. Alongside Major Gill’s HQ in Shillong,

Major Shawkat also set up his HQ at Bonoshtola in Shillong.

Major General Gill and his officers provided him with staff to increase the recruitment of more

Mukti Bahini troops under his command and supervise the operations of the fifth sector. Major

Gill—was soon going to liberate Bangladesh through the border area of the 11th sector. Besides

he monitored the fifth sector, providing plans/advice for Major Shawkat.

So, under the advice of Major Gurbaksh Singh Gill, Major Shawkat divided the fifth sector into 5

sub-sectors.

1) Muktapur sub-sector under Subedar Major Nazir Hossain and second in command FF Faruq

2) Dauki sub-sector under Subedar Major BR Chowdhury

3) Shela sub-sector under Captain helal

4) Bholaganj sub-sector under Lieutenant Taheruddin

5) Balat sub-sector under Subedar Goni, Captain Salahuddin and FF Enamul Haq

The fifth sector had one of the worst terrains. Being one of the least connected with the Kashia

and Jayantiya mountains makes it difficult to operate here. Vehicles did not function well in this

mountainous terrain, with few operational roads that made weapons and logistical supply from

India very difficult.

By finding data on deployment forces in sector 5, we have discovered that Tengratilla of

Doarabazar Upazila of Sunamganj district was a critical area as there is a gas field. The then East

Liberation war sector 5

History of Bangladesh (HIS103)