BATTLE OF ASHUGANJ - 1971 BANGLA DESH

BATTLE OF ASHUGANJ – 1971 BANGLADESH

THE MEGHNA BRIDGE – 9 DECEMBER 1971

Maj Gen Ashok Kalyan Verma, AVSM

   (Then CO 18 RAJPUT)

One of the most significant events in the War for the Liberation of Bangladesh was the blowing up of the Bridge over the Meghna River on midday of 9 December 1971. Today being the 41st anniversary of the event, I am writing this piece as a remembrance and a tribute for our boys who were killed in this action. 

It is a well recognized fact that 4 Corps operations starting from Agartala were spearhead by 57 Division. As the opportunity presented itself, the Division's task was suddenly modified with the aim of getting to the Meghna River after the Pakistani brigade at Bhramanbaria fell back. This led to a pell-mell pursuit by us to get to the vicinity of Ashuganj.

The 1-Km long rail bridge over the Meghna, located just south of Ashuganj was the focal point towards which we were gravitating. By 8 December it was known from radio intercepts (on 6 Dec) that Gen Niazi had ordered the Pakistani 14 Division to withdraw its 313 and 27 Brigades for the close defence of Dhaka. These two brigades were from Maulvi-Bazar (to our north, closer to Sylhet) and Ashuganj respectively. It was critical for the Pakistani 27 Brigade to continue to deny direct access to the Meghna Bridge. Their 313 Brigade from Maulvi Bazar was expected to move by River Steamers on the Meghna to Ashuganj on its way to Dhaka. 

Major General Gonsalves's 57 Division's two brigades deployed to our north had followed the Pakistani 27 Brigade after it withdrew unexpectedly from Bhramanbaria on a broad front on 7 December. Their 27 Brigade were now deployed in a crescent shape east of Ashugandj - denying direct access to the giant Bridge.

18 Rajput was tasked to get to the River north of Ashuganj to watch out for any river borne movement from the north. On the evening of 8 December, Brigadier Mishra of 311 Brigade tasked the unit to enter Ashuganj using the defilade along the river bank and go for the Eastern end of the Bridge.

After fighting through the built up portion of Ashuganj, the battalion got close enough to the Bridge to make the GOC of the Pakistani Division panic. He hastily order the blowing up of the mega-bridge at both ends. Meanwhile, Pakistan's 27 Brigade, finding itself bypassed, fell back and then counter-attacked the threatening Rajputs. Pakistan's 27 Brigade then withdrew across the River by various craft during the night 9/10 December into Bhairab Bazar, abandoning Ashuganj to us.

After the successful overcoming of Akhaura on 5 December, owing to the sudden and unprepared change in 4 Corps plans to develop a thrust with 57 Division's two available brigades towards the Meghna at Ashuganj, the force was inadequately prepared with bridging equipment for operating in such riverine terrain. If the Meghna could be crossed, Dhaka could become the final objective. However, the flaw was that no bridging equipment had been planned as the Titas River had two water obstacles which had to be bridged to cross the vehicles, guns and ammunition to be moved forward to support the rapidly moving foot bound infantry. At Ashuganj the lack of artillery support at this crucial juncture was the critical failure. Close air support also went abegging as the FAC's party received a Pakistani 105 shell which killed the radio-man and disabled the radio. The FAC was also wounded.

Not withstanding the temporary setback on the ground, Gen Sagat Singh, GOC 4 Corps, carried out a stunning impromptu heliborne operation even as the ground battle raged to begin bypassing Pakistan's 14 Division that was now falling back across the River to Bhairab Bazar. It thus led to the thrust developing towards Narsingdi and Dhaka. Both Pakistan's 27 and 313 Brigades had failed to get back for the close defence of Dhaka

In hindsight the seemingly reckless and bold attempt on the eastern end of the Meghna Bridge by 18 Rajput (now 13 Mech Inf) led to this unexpected but spectacular overall success in the War. It remains a moot point that but for this event, 57 Division of 4 Corps could not have got to Dhaka the way it did. 

"Uncommon Valour Their Common Virtue" 

(28 September Agartala) Sepoy Sis Ram; Sepoy Om Prakash Singh; Sepoy Harmat Singh; (2-5 December Akhaura) Naik Ram KIshore; Sepoy Rajbeer Singh; Sepoy Chhotkunu; L/Hav Jagdish Singh; Sepoy Megh Singh Sepoy Sankatha Upadhya; Sepoy Bhagwan Singh; Sepoy Ram Balak Misra; (9 December ASHUGANJ) Major TL Sharma; Sub Megh Singh; Sepoy Achhe Lal; L/Hav Tara Chand; Naik Rajbir Singh; Sepoy Mahabir; L/Nk Jaipal Singh; Sepoy Ram Narain Singh; Sepoy Ram Niwas; Sepoy Hem Raj; Sepoy Gopi; Sepoy Sahukar; Sepoy Ram Diya; Sepoy Jagan Nath; Sepoy Umasankar Tiwari; Sepoy Keshari Singh; Sepoy Janobahadur Singh; Sepoy Ram Billash; Sepoy Harendra Singh; Sepoy Surendra Singh; Sepoy Japan; Sepoy Harpal Singh; Sepoy Jagpal Singh; (10 December) L/Hav Netrapal Singh; Sepoy Prahlad Singh; (11 December) Sepoy Vidya Ram; (14 December) L/Nk Jagendra Singh.

We remember their supreme sacrifice in the War for the Liberation of Bangladesh.