GK
Shikhi

Lesson 4/44 min

Z, S and K Forces and the guerrilla groups

The three forces (brigades)

ForceCommanderNote
Z ForceMajor Ziaur RahmanFormed in July 1971; headquarters at Tel Dhala, Tura
S ForceMajor K. M. ShafiullahFormed in the later part of 1971
K ForceMajor Khaled MosharrafFormed in the later part of 1971

Memory trick: The letter is the first letter of the commander's name: Z = Zia, S = Shafiullah, K = Khaled.

Watch out: One book gives Z Force 7 July, S Force 1 October and K Force 14 October 1971. Banglapedia's dates differ (Z Force 17 July in one entry; S and K Force September or October), so we give no exact dates here.

Irregular forces and guerrilla groups

NameLeaderArea / details
BLF (Mujib Bahini)—Formed of Chhatra League activists and educated youths, trained in guerrilla war
Kaderia BahiniAbdul Kader Siddique (Tiger Siddique)Tangail
Hemayet BahiniHemayet UddinFaridpur region
Baten BahiniKhondokar Abdul BatenTangail
Crack PlatoonFormed by Khaled Mosharraf and A. T. M. HaiderDhaka city (Sector 2); trained at Melaghar

The Crack Platoon

  • Struck Dhaka city by guerrilla ‘hit and run’ attacks
  • Members included Shafi Imam Rumi (martyred), Badiul Alam and the pop star Azam Khan
  • It is said to have carried out 82 operations in Dhaka, one of them at Hotel Intercontinental

Mujib Battery

  • Formed on 22 July 1971 at Konaban (Tripura), India
  • The first artillery unit of Bangladesh

Check yourself

In which city and under which sector was the ‘Crack Platoon’ active?

At a glance

  1. 1

    Three forces: Z (Ziaur Rahman), S (K. M. Shafiullah), K (Khaled Mosharraf).

  2. 2

    Z Force's headquarters was at Tel Dhala, Tura.

  3. 3

    The Crack Platoon was a Sector 2 guerrilla group in Dhaka city; members included Rumi, Badiul Alam and Azam Khan.

  4. 4

    Kaderia Bahini was led by Abdul Kader Siddique; its area was Tangail.

  5. 5

    Hemayet Bahini: led by Hemayet Uddin; area Faridpur.

  6. 6

    Mujib Battery: 22 July 1971, the first artillery unit.

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