General J F R Jacob | জেনারেল জ্যাকব সাক্ষাৎকার (ভিডিও)
My name is Gen Jacob.
I was Chief of Staff for Eastern Army for the 1971 war. I was responsible for planning and building up the logistics. We can’t fight without weapons and ammunitions, food, logistics are very important. Logistics were a major problem in 1971. It takes time to build up. You need bridges, you need food, you need ammunition, you need weapons, all these things. The infrastructures: roads have to be constructed. For instance; troopers had only one battalions, we had to build up the infrastructure for complete core. So 30,000 tons of stores had to move on that during the monsoon. Same at Tura and West Bengal and North Bengal. So, the logistics are the key factor. We wanted to have Dacca, as the geo-political, geo-strategic. And it was the center – we have the principal objective, since Niazi. We found it – defend all the towns – we bypassed the towns and go straight for Dacca. That’s what basically, what we did.
Things became very quarrel on, shall I say, on the 13th of December. We were the outskirts of Dacca in a force. The American fleet, was in the Straits of Malaka. The American Resolution and the United Nations Vetoed by the Soviets. Soviets had no more veto. Consolation in Delhi, I am being blamed. If Cease-Fire comes, we have nothing to show. What was good. Next morning we got an intercept. Saying that – the meeting in Govt house – we had it bombed, the Governor – therefore bombed it accurately . And the Governor resigned at the Intercontinental Hotel. This Hotel -Intercontinental Hotel.
On the 14th evening, Niazi and Farman Ali went to American consul – Spivak, with a following proposal: Ceasefire under UN, Handover the Govt to UN, Withdrawal under UN. No-reply No-mention of India. It was given to Bhutto in New York, who was standing UN, he rejected it outright. That night, at the United Nation he stormed, tearing the resolution; “Saying that we would never surrender, we fight to The End.” That was the night of the 15th or 16th morning. On the 16th morning, I got a message from Manekshaw. Ranged/Spoken me and said, “Go, and get a Surrender!” I said, “I will sent you a rough document, do I negotiate on that?” He said, “You know what to do, just go.” Pak Army sent me a car, firing is going on between the Mukti and the Pak Army. They sent a Pak-Brigadier. Hardly had we gone 4-5 hundred yards, when a string of Mukti crossed the road, fired at the car. I jumped out with my hands up and my Olive Indian uniform – they saw – I said, “Indian army, Indian army.” So they stopped firing. And they wanted to kill the Brigadier. I said, “No. Geneva conventions are Enforced!” So, they eventually let us go. I went to Niazi’s headquarters. I had the document – The Instrument of Surrender, read out.” But after-words I told Niazi, “You will surrender in public on the Race-Course.” He said, “I won’t.” I said, “You will.” You have done such a havoc to the people of Bangladesh – rape, murder and others. You will face some and surrender in front of them.” I said, “You will. I have already given instructions.”
So, we went to the Race-Course, and small table and two chairs. Niazi signed the Instrument of Surrender, the surrender of 93,000 troops took place. Due parameters were gave into the people of Bangladesh – the Mukti Bahini – who played a major role – they created an environment of fear – for which the Pakistan Army couldn’t dare not move out. That was the major role. Also the East Bengal was arranged, and the Indian army – we all worked together – shoulder to shoulder to ensure Victory.
The Govt of Bangladesh is very pragmatic. Govt and is doing everything for the betterment of its people and I congratulate them. I only pray that India-Bangladesh relations will keep on improving and rise to the heads. God bless Bangladesh. Thank you very much.
Unicoded by Dr Razibul Bari
Editor: Tashrique Mohammed Sikder