Liberation War 1971: questions and answers
Study every question with its correct answer and explanation.
1. Where did Sheikh Mujibur Rahman deliver his historic speech of 7 March 1971?
- A. Paltan Maidan
- B. Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan)
- C. Bangabhaban
- D. Curzon Hall, Dhaka University
Answer: Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan)
The 7 March speech was delivered at the Racecourse Maidan in Dhaka, now called Suhrawardy Udyan. On 30 October 2017, UNESCO added the speech to its Memory of the World International Register as documentary heritage.
2. What was the code name of the Pakistani army's military crackdown launched on the night of 25 March 1971?
- A. Operation Jackpot
- B. Operation Gibraltar
- C. Operation Blitz
- D. Operation Searchlight
Answer: Operation Searchlight
Operation Searchlight began on the night of 25 March 1971 with mass killings in Dhaka, and Bangladesh observes 25 March as Genocide Day. Operation Jackpot, by contrast, was the name of the Bangladeshi naval commandos' coordinated attacks on ports in August 1971.
3. On which date did the Mujibnagar Government (the Provisional Government of Bangladesh) take its oath?
- A. 17 April 1971
- B. 10 April 1971
- C. 26 March 1971
- D. 25 April 1971
Answer: 17 April 1971
The provisional government was formed on 10 April 1971 and sworn in on 17 April 1971 at Baidyanathtala in Meherpur, which was renamed Mujibnagar. Syed Nazrul Islam served as Acting President and Tajuddin Ahmad as Prime Minister.
4. Into how many sectors was the war zone divided during the Liberation War?
- A. 9
- B. 10
- C. 11
- D. 12
Answer: 11
The battlefield was divided into 11 sectors, with Sector 10 reserved for naval commandos. In addition, three brigade-size forces were formed: Z Force, K Force and S Force, named after their commanders Ziaur Rahman, Khaled Mosharraf and K. M. Shafiullah.
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5. Who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Forces during the Liberation War?
- A. M. A. Rab
- B. M. A. G. Osmani
- C. A. K. Khandker
- D. Ziaur Rahman
Answer: M. A. G. Osmani
Colonel (later General) M. A. G. Osmani was the Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Forces in 1971. Lt. Col. M. A. Rab served as Chief of Staff and Group Captain A. K. Khandker as Deputy Chief of Staff.
6. How many freedom fighters were awarded the Bir Sreshtho, Bangladesh's highest gallantry award?
- A. 4
- B. 5
- C. 6
- D. 7
Answer: 7
Seven freedom fighters were honoured with the Bir Sreshtho, all posthumously. The four gallantry awards for the Liberation War, in order of rank, are Bir Sreshtho, Bir Uttom, Bir Bikrom and Bir Protik.
7. Which day is observed in Bangladesh as Martyred Intellectuals Day?
- A. 21 February
- B. 25 March
- C. 14 December
- D. 16 December
Answer: 14 December
Martyred Intellectuals Day is observed on 14 December, remembering the teachers, doctors, writers and journalists abducted and killed in the final days of the war. The Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Rayerbazar in Dhaka stands at one of the sites where bodies were found.
8. From where did the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra first begin broadcasting in March 1971?
- A. Kalurghat, Chattogram
- B. Shahbag, Dhaka
- C. Agartala
- D. Kolkata
Answer: Kalurghat, Chattogram
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra began broadcasting on 26 March 1971 from the Kalurghat transmitter in Chattogram and later operated from Kolkata. Its popular programme 'Charampatra', presented by M. R. Akhtar Mukul, boosted the morale of freedom fighters.
9. In which city was 'The Concert for Bangladesh' held on 1 August 1971?
- A. London
- B. New York
- C. Kolkata
- D. Paris
Answer: New York
The Concert for Bangladesh was held at Madison Square Garden in New York, organised by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar. It raised funds for refugees from East Pakistan and is regarded as one of the first major international benefit concerts.
10. Where was the Instrument of Surrender signed on 16 December 1971?
- A. Paltan Maidan
- B. Dhaka Cantonment
- C. Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan)
- D. Bangabhaban
Answer: Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan)
The Instrument of Surrender was signed at the Racecourse Maidan in Dhaka by Lt. Gen. A. A. K. Niazi before Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora of the joint command of Indian and Bangladesh forces. Group Captain A. K. Khandker was present representing Bangladesh, and 16 December is celebrated as Victory Day.