26 March: Cities of resistance

25 March 1971. Around 11 p.m., Dhaka fell into an eerie silence—a brief pause before the storm. At Rajarbagh Police Lines, that silence was shattered by the sudden ringing of a warning bell.

Shortly before the bell rang, around 10:20–10:30 p.m., a wireless message arrived at Rajarbagh. Shahjahan Mia, the lines' wireless operator, heard Tejgaon operator Amirul Islam on the line:

"Charlie 7 to base. How do you hear me? Over."

 "The base for Charlie 7. You are loud and clear. Send your message over," replied Shahjahan.

 "Charlie 7 to base. About 35–37 trucks loaded with Pakistani army troops are moving toward Dhaka city from the cantonment. Over," said Amirul.

The news instantly changed the atmosphere at Rajarbagh. The officer in charge of the armory ran to ring the warning bell. At once, officers and staff gathered, shouting, "We need weapons! We need ammunition! They are coming to attack the police lines!"

By then, the general armory was already empty. Using shovels, they broke open the doors, grabbed rifles and ammunition, and took positions along the road.

Around 11:30 p.m., Pakistani forces moved past the Intercontinental Hotel, along Bailey Road and Shantinagar, reaching Chameli Bagh. At the barricade near Dawn High School, their vehicles were forced to stop. As they got out to clear the obstruction, police opened fire—killing two soldiers and injuring several others.

"This is the first example of resistance in the Liberation War in 1971," said freedom fighter Shahjahan Mia.

After that, Shahjahan could only send one message to all police stations three times in a row:

"Base for all stations of East Pakistan Police, a very important message for you. Take note and keep listening and watching…"

"We are already under attack by Pak Army. Try to save yourselves. Over and out."

After that the Police Lines could not hold their position. At that moment, a cannon shell struck the workshop beside the central motor vehicle workshop, causing a massive explosion and breaking a pillar. Electricity was cut off.

Operation Searchlight under the Pakistani army began from Rajarbagh Police Lines. On that night, the Pakistani army, equipped with heavy weapons, including tanks, cannons, and machine guns, also launched attacks at the EPR Headquarters in Pilkhana, Dhaka Univesity, and the Hindu Populated Shakhari Patti. That night they killed nearly hundreds of thousands of innocent, unarmed people.

After that night, as the declaration of Independence spread out across cities, resistance was made by the Police Lines, EPR, students, labourers, voluntary forces and mass people.

In major cities like Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet resistance started to take shape. Cities were preparing for a war of independence. People were preparing to fight back.

Dhaka

On 26 March, Dhaka was under control of the Pakistani army. Resistance that were made immediately during the attack on the previous night had become faded in the face of brutal attack. Throughout the day and night, Pakistani troops imposed curfew and spread across the city in groups, attacking buildings, slums, and houses of Awami League leaders. They fired gunshots, set fires, and killed unarmed civilians.

In the morning, they attacked the house of the Lieutanent Commander Moazzem Hossain, the second accused of the Agartola Conspiracy Case, on Elephant Road, brutally killed him, and took away his body.

At noon, the army attacked Hindu-populated areas of Old Dhaka. They surrounded houses from all sides, set them on fire, and killed people with gunfire. The destruction continued until late night.

Thousand of bodies were buried across the city throughout March 26. In the Dhaka University area, mass graves were dug and hundreds of bodies buried. In Old Dhaka, bodies were thrown into the Buriganga River.

Foreign journalists were confined inside the Intercontinental Hotel and were not allowed to go outside. The Central Shaheed Minar and several newspaper offices were destroyed by tank shells.

Although it was Friday, no Jumu'ah prayers were held in any mosque Dhaka that day.

Chattogram

On 26 March 1971, Chattogram emerged as one of the first centres of organised resistance, where scattered reactions quickly turned into coordinated defiance.

As news of the crackdown in Dhaka spread through radio stations, nationwide declaration, and words of mouth, tension in the port city hardened into a clear realisation. A war is inivitable now.

Bengali soldiers within the East Bengal Regimental Centre (EBRC) and EPR units began regrouping after surviving attacks inside the cantonment. By morning of that day, roads across Chattogram were being blocked with barricades – logs, trucks, and whatever civilians could gather.

The resistance soon took a more organised shape under Bengali military leadership, including officers like Ziaur Rahman, who moved to secure key points and disrupt Pakistani troop movements.

The most significant clash took place at Kumira, along the Dhaka-Chattogram route, where EPR members launched an ambush on a large Pakistani convoy. From elevated positions, they opened fire, damaging vehicles and halting the advance.

What set Chattogram apart was the convergence of soldiers, workers, and civilians in a shared resistance. Unlike Dhaka, the city did not fall immediately. Instead, 26 March marked the day when the fear transformed into organised resistance – laying the foundation for a prolonged war.

Rajshahi

The brutality of 25 March in Dhaka spread to Rjashahi. People become terrified upon hearing the news and many fled to their villages. However, on the first day of war, Rajshahi Police Lines formed a strong resistance around the city.

During the day on 25 March, police including Havildar Abul Kashem were patrolling with Pakistani forces. At one point, an argument broke out., and a non-Bengali army havildar beat him. This incident angered the police lines. To control the situation, Reserve Inspector Mazhar Khan was sent to Sardah Police Academy.

That night, news of the Rajarbagh attack spread quickly among police nationwide. Rajshahi Police took defensive positions, guarding the area throughout the night.

On 26 March morning, people began building barricades across the city, with police members joining in plain civil dress.

One thing that needs to be mentioned is that most of the police were Bengali, and control remain in their hands. Punjabi Armed SI Subedar Enayet Khan supported the Bengalis. Havildar Atiar Rahman led them, and Havildar Ramzan Ali Was in charge of the armory.

On that morning, Atiar distributed weapons and called for resistance. He raised the flag of Bangladesh at the police lines.

The Pakistani Army ordered DIG Mamun Mahmud to surrender and hand over the armory keys. He immediately refused.

That evening, Pakistani forces opened fire near the police lines; police returned fire. Later, the army retreated temporarily.

Around midnight, Pakistani forces advanced again but were forced to retreat under heavy resistance. They then took positions near the Padma River., Laxmipur intersection, EPR lines and the radio centre. Sporadic gunfire continued all night.

Later that day, on 27 March morning, Pakistani force intensified. They surrounded the police lines and deployed heavy weapons.

At around 10am, a Pakistani officer used a microphone to urge stopping the conflict and called for peace talks.

However, later Pakistani forces began brutal attack and killed Bengalis in Rajshahi police lines. They also attacked Awami League leaders and supporters, capturing and killing many prominent individuals.

Khulna

Khulna was the last major city to be besieged by Pakistani forces, largely due to strong resistance by freedom fighters.

After hearing about 25 March, people became frightened but young men formed volunteer groups to resist. They knew a war was coming but they had no clear idea how it would unfold or where support would come from.

But later, resistance was formed.

At that time, young Abu Daud Morol felt, "These invading forces must be resisted; we have to build resistance against them."

He further said in an interview, "After coming to Khulna, they [the Pak military] started beating Bengalis randomly wherever they found them. Some were even shot dead."

"Barricades had been set up on various roads and intersections in Khulna. In the places where barricades were put up by people, they fired heavily," he added.

General people of the area had built the barricades.

Barricades were set up at Shiromoni, Phulbari Gate, Maniktala, near the CHD warehouse, Mohsin intersection, Daulatpur new road, and near Baikali Cinema Hall. People had put up barricades at different intersections.

However, the Pakistani army came and removed the barricades. Wherever barricades had been placed, the army brutally beat people there. They also set fire to nearby houses and shops.

Mujib Bahini commander Sheikh Kamruzzaman Tuku said, "After the crackdown in Dhaka, we called upon students, workers and general people to build barricades using logs, bricks and stones on highways and railways to resist the invading forces."

On 29 March, Pakistani forces entered Khulna from Jessore Cantonment in a convoy of 216 vehicles, set up camps, and took control of the radio station.

Plans to attack the Khulna radio station were formed jointly by Major MA Jalil, Kamruzzaman Tuku, and Subedar Major Zainul Abedin. Local revolutionary leader Manas Ghosh also supported the plan.

Sylhet

On March 26, 1971, Pakistani forces captured Sylhet without any resistance. However, due to shortages in the 31st Punjab Regiment and rebellion by EPR and Ansar forces, they failed to suppress Bengali resistance in surrounding areas.

After Operation Searchlight began in Dhaka, Sylhet experienced a different atmosphere on March 26. Rather than immediate clash, there was silent tension. News of the Dhaka crackdown spread quickly, created fear that soon turned into anger.

Pakistani troops occupied strategic points, while Bengali forced quietly emerged and regrouped. EPR members reorganised near border areas, laying the foundation for resistance. Police also became alert after hearing of the attack in Rajarbag Police Lines.

Students, activists, and general people began preparing mentally for resistance.