During Bangladesh Liberation War the Bangladesh Forces (not to be confused with Mukti Bahini) was divided in the geographical area of Bangladesh into eleven sectors. Each sector with a sector commander who directed the military operation further coordinated through several sub sectors under sub sector commanders.
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The history of the war of Bangladesh war of independence dates back to April 1971 when it began its inception with the title of Bangladesh Forces during the first Bangladesh Sector Commanders Conference held in the week of July 11-17 1971. It was at this conference during which time BD Forces was organized and formed for the independence struggle. It was significant in the light of its official creation and formation as Bangladesh Forces, its command structuring, sector reorganization, reinforcement and appointing war commanders was its principle focus. This conference was equally presided over by Bangladesh Prime Minister Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed and General M.A.G. Osmani, during which General Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani received his promotion from Colonel and was reinstated from retirement to active duty into the Armed Forces of Bangladesh as its senior most official. General M.A.G. Osmani had thereby been appointed Commander in Chief of all Bangladesh Forces. Principal participants of this conference was Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan, Major Ziaur Rahman, Wing Commander M Khademul Bashar, Major M. A. Jalil, Captain Haider, Lt. Col. Abdur Rab and Group Captain Khandaker. Lt.Col Rab was appointed as Chief of Bangladesh Army Staff and Group Captain Khandaker as Osmani's deputy. In this meeting, Bangladesh was divided into Eleven Sectors under Sector Commanders. Each sector was further structured into a combination of sub-sectors, each commanded by a Sub-Sector Commander.
The 10th Sector was directly placed under Commander in Chief and included the Naval Commandos as C-in-C’s special force. These commandos were later absorbed in to the Bangladesh Navy. Sector Commanders directed the guerrilla warfare against West Pakistani forces. For better efficiency in military operations each of the sectors were divided into a number of sub-sectors.
The Bangladesh Forces received measured assistance from the Indian authorities soon after hostilities started. Principally India being among the poverty nations had very limited resources. Though alliance with the USSR proved to be a great asset toward the end of the war and after. Bangladesh's independence struggle got boosted after India decided to support the Awami League local militia, Mukti Bahini, initially with arms and training and later with its armed forces under the security umbrella provided by the Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty of August 1971. Stategically India had no choice but to support Bangldesh as she had long understood East Pakistan's(Bangladesh's) strategic importance. India was virtually cut off from her eastern states almost entirely. And had the worst of relations with Pakistan was the order of the time which clearly exists even to this day. Trained military personnel of all sides understood the complex terrain of Bangladesh. Bangladesh's humid, wet monsoon climate and terrain was one of the greatest assets of the struggle for independence. The Indian Army's not so advanced equipment, training and outlook plus the Bangladesh terrain made early intervention impossible, prolonged and swift movements impractical and unimaginable. On November 21, 1971, when the natural climate was more adaptable and by which time all Bangladesh Forces had severely under-cut the strength of the West Pakistani Forces, under a complicated politico-military scenario, a demand of the Government of India was conceded to by the Bangladesh Government-in-exile in Calcutta, India, which was handing over the full command and authority of its operations to the Indian armed forces to command the war. The Indian Army entered Bangla Desh through air and land. The Pakistani force already morally broken and militarily devastated by the BD Forces, agreed to a cease fire without defiance in about one and a half weeks, on December 16, 1971. Though in a surprising move the cease fire was switched to a surrender by the Indian government which the Commanding General of the Pakistan Army Eastern Command reluctantly signed. The Bangladesh Forces C-in-C General M.A.G. Osmani including every member of the Bangladesh Forces Sector Commanders including Force Commanders who organised and led the war along with the members of Bangladesh Government in exile was barred from attending. The entire Bangladesh interim government in Calcutta were also barred. However, quite a few Mukti Bahini militia commanders whom India separately assisted and organised along with their followers were allowed to enter Dhaka clad with weapons and ammunition. Indian Army took control of all military sites, key government establishments of Bangladesh, including the media. Victory was declared by the Indian authorities and all prisoners of war including combat material were taken to India, with the Indian army remaining inside independent Bangladesh another three months until mid-March 1972. Bangladesh Forces were ordered for demobilization on January 29th under the direction of General M.A.G Osmani in final Sector Commanders Conference at the old Police HQ at Mintu Road, Dhaka, effective 14th February of 1972.
The Bangladesh Forces was organized for Liberation War in 1971 into three brigades in 11(eleven) sectors. BDF HQQ's 8 Theatre Road, Calcutta, India. Prime Minister: Mr. Tajuddin Ahmad BD Forces C-in-C: General Ataul Ghani Osmani Sector Commanders Conference 1971 of Bangladesh interim government of July 11, 1971 appointed Col. M A G Osmani as Commander in Chief, Lt. Col. Abdur Rab as chief of Army Staff and Group Captain A K Khandker as Deputy Chief of Staff. In this meeting, Bangladesh was divided into Eleven Sectors under Sector Commanders. The 10th Sector was directly placed under Commander in Chief and included the Naval Commandos and C-in-C’s special force.[1]
Sector Commanders directed the guerrilla warfare. For better efficiency in military operations each of the sectors were divided into a number of sub-sectors. On November 21, 1971 Bangladesh Forces under Indian Army formed an allied command in which India took surrender of Pakistani forces on December 16, 1971. The table below provides a list of the sectors along with the area under each of them, the names of the sector commanders and the names of sub-sectors.Sector Commanders Conference 1971 of Bangladesh interim government of July 11, 1971 appointed Col. M A G Osmani as Commander in Chief, Lt. Col. Abdur Rab as chief of Army Staff. In this meeting, Bangladesh was divided into Eleven Sectors under Sector Commanders. The 10th Sector was directly placed under Commander in Chief and included the Naval Commandos and C-in-C’s special force.[2]
Sector Commanders directed the guerrilla warfare. For better efficiency in military operations each of the sectors were divided into a number of sub-sectors. On November 21, 1971 Bangladesh Forces under Indian Army formed an allied command in which India took surrender of Pakistani forces on December 16, 1971. The table below provides a list of the sectors along with the area under each of them, the names of the sector commanders and the names of sub-sectors.
| Sectors of Bangladesh Liberation War | |||
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| Sector | Area | Sector Commander | Sub Sectors (Commanders) |
| 1 | Chittagang District, Chittagong Hill Tracts, and the entire eastern area of the Noakhali District on the banks of the river Muhuri. The headquarters of the sector was at Harina. | • Major Ziaur Rahman (April 10, 1971 – June 25, 1971) • Major Rafiqul Islam (June 28, 1971 – February 14, 1972) |
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| 2 | Districts of Dhaka, Comilla, and Faridpur, and part of Noakhali District. | • Major Khaled Mosharraf (April 10, 1971 – September 22, 1971) • Major ATM Haider (Sector Commander September 22, 1971 – December 18, 1972) |
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| 3 | Area between Churaman Kathi (near Sreemangal) and Sylhet in the north and Singerbil of Brahmanbaria in the south. | • Major K. M. Shafiullah (April 10, 1971 – July 21, 1971) • Captain ANM Nuruzzaman (July 23, 1971 – February 14, 1972) |
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| 4 | Area from Habiganj District on the north to Kanaighat Police Station on the south along the 100 mile long border with India. The headquarters of the sector was initially at Karimganj and later at Masimpur. | • Major Chittarajan Datta (April 10, 1971 – February 14, 1972) • Captain A Rab |
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| 5 | Area from Durgapur to Danki (Tamabil) of Sylhet District and the entire area up to the eastern borders of the district. The headquarters of the sector was at Banshtala. | • Major Mir Shawkat Ali (April 10, 1971 – February 14, 1972) |
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| 6 | Rangpur District and part of Dinajpur District. The headquarters of the sector was at Burimari near Patgram. | • Wing Commander M Khademul Bashar (April 1971 – February 14, 1972) |
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| 7' | Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra and part of Dinajpur District. The headquarters of the sector was at Taranngapur. | • Major Nazmul Huq (April 10 – September 27, 1971) • Major Quazi nooruzzaman (September 28 – February 14, 1972) • Subedar Major A Rab |
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| 8 | In April 1971, the operational area of the sector comprised the districts of Kushtia, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal, Faridpur and Patuakhali. At the end of May the sector was reconstituted and comprised the districts of Kuhstia, Jessore, Khulna, Satkhira and the northern part of Faridpur district. The headquarters of the sector was at Benapole. | • Major Abu Osman Chowdhury (April 10 – July 17, 1971) • Major MA Manzur (August 14, 1971 – February 14, 1972) |
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| 9 | Barisal, Patuakhali, and parts of the district of Khulna and Faridpur. | • Major M A Jalil (July 17 – December 24, 1971) • Major MA Manzur • Major Joynal Abedin |
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| 10 | This sector was constituted with the naval commandos. | • Commander HQ BD Forces (December 3–16, 1971) | None. |
| 11 | Mymensingh and Tangail along with parts of Rangpur - Gaibandha, Ulipur, Kamalpur and Chilmari. The headquarters of the sector was at Teldhala until October 10, then transferred to Mahendraganj. | • Major Ziaur Rahman (June 27, 1971 – October 10th, 1971; • Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan) (November 2nd, 1971 – February 14th, 1972) From October 10th until November 2nd 1971, Major Abu Taher was temporarily appointed to this Sector as Major Zia was abruptly ordered to move with his Brigade to Sylhet Region. Due to accidental injury he suffered in his leg, he was transferred to Pune, India for treatment) |
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there was also a forse lead by major general Ziaur Rahman. this forse was known as Z forse.