Operation Searchlight was a planned military operation carried out by the Pakistani Army in 1971 to suppress the Bengali nationalist movement in East Pakistan. The operation involved killing tens of thousands of civilians and arresting political and student leaders. This operation reflected poorly around the world and galvanized support for an independent Bangladesh. The atrocities committed led the people of East Pakistan to begin the Liberation War against Pakistan, which ultimately resulted in Pakistan's defeat and the creation of an independent Bangladesh in December 1971.

1. OPERATION SEARCHLIGHT, DID IT
SAVE OR DESTROY PAKISTAN?
A REVIEW
ON

2. WHAT IS OPERATION SEARCHLITE?
• A planed military
killing carried out
by Pakistani Army
to suppress the
Bengali nationalist
movement in East
Pakistan

3. • After the Awami League had won a decisive majority (capturing 167 out of 313 seats) in
the 1970 Pakistan parliamentary elections, the Bengali population expected a swift
transfer of power to the Awami League based on the six point program.
• On 28 February 1971, Yahya Khan the President of Pakistan, under the pressure of PPP of
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, postponed the national assembly meeting scheduled for March. The
Pakistan Peoples Party had already started lobbying to weaken the stand of Sheikh Mujib,
and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was heard saying that he wanted the Bengalis to stay away.
• The Awami League, in response to the postponement, launched a program of non-co-
operation (largely outlined in the 7 March Awami League rally) which was so successful
that the authority of the Pakistan government became limited to the cantonments and
government institutions in East Pakistan.
WHY OPERATION SEARCHLITE HAD
BEEN OCCURRED?

4. AIMS OF THE OPERATION SEARCHLIGHT
• Operation to be launched simultaneously all across East Pakistan.
• Maximum number of political and student leaders, and those among cultural organizations
and teaching staff to be arrested.
• Operation must achieve 100% success in Dhaka. Dhaka University would be occupied and
searched.
• Free and greater use of fire authorized for securing cantonments.
• All East Pakistani (Bengali) troops to be neutralized by seizing weapons and ammunition.

5. AFTERMATH OF OPERATION SEARCHLIGHT
• Operation searchlight had reflected in all over the world
• People all over the world knew about the genocide which is executed by West Pakistan .
• According to New York Times (3/28/71) 10,000 people were killed, New York Times (3/29/71)
5,000-7,000 people were killed in Dhaka , The Sydney Morning Herald (3/29/71) 10,000 – 100,000
were killed, New York Times (4/1/71) 35,000 were killed in Dhaka during operation searchlight.
• As the Pakistan army launched its genocide on 25 March 1971,Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
(Bangabandhu) declared Bangladesh's independence early on 26 March. He was arrested soon
afterward by the army and flown to West Pakistan, to be put on trial on charges of treason.
• After the declaration of independence , People of East Pakistan involved in Liberation War.

6. • In March–June, The Mukti Bahini became increasingly active. The Pakistani military
sought to quell them, but increasing numbers of Bengali soldiers defected to this
underground "Bangladesh army". These Bengali units slowly merged into the Mukti Bahini
and bolstered their weaponry with supplies from India.
• In June–September, Bangladesh was divided into Eleven sectors, each with a commander
chosen from defected officers of the Pakistani army who joined the Mukti Bahini to
conduct guerrilla operations and train fighters. Most of their training camps were situated
near the border area and were operated with assistance from India.
• In October–December, Bangladeshi conventional forces attacked border outposts.
Kamalpur, Belonia and the Battle of Boyra are a few examples.Guerrilla attacks
intensified, as did Pakistani and Razakar reprisals on civilian populations. Pakistani forces
were reinforced by eight battalions from West Pakistan.
DURING THE LIBERATION WAR

7. LIBERATION WAR RESULT
• On 16 December 1971, Lt. Gen Amir Abdullah khan Niazi ,CO of Pakistan Army
forces located in East Pakistan signed the Instrument of surrender. At the time of
surrender only a few countries had provided diplomatic recognition to the new
nation. Over 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered to the Indian forces & Bangladesh
Liberation forces, making it the largest surrender since World War-II.

8. CONCLUSION AND IMPACT OF OPERATION
SEARCHLIGHT
• Thought there had many valid reason for want of independent of Bangladesh But if there
didn’t occur operation searchlight , then the scenario might be different.
• Genocide unleashed on Bengalis in East Pakistan on 25th March 1971 by West Pakistan
which toward to the liberation war and ultimately west Pakistan lose.
• So that we can say that operation searchlight helped to destroy Pakistan and create a newly
independent Bangladesh.
Operation
Searchlight
Liberation War
Occurred
Pakistan Divided

9. THANK YOU