In nod to India role in liberation,Bangla to honour Lt Gen Jacob

The honour would be in line with the Hasina government’s efforts to revisit Bangladesh’s 1971 history and to recognise India’s role,a sensitive political issue.

Lt Gen Jacob was the Chief of Staff,Eastern Command,during the 1971 war and took many operational decisions at his own risk,despite differences with seniors. One such decision was speedy capture of Dhaka rather than fighting for other cities.

With the American seventh fleet moving towards the Indian coast,Lt Gen Jacob was sure that capture of Dhaka was the fastest way to effect a defeat. He also based his plans on the fact that the Pakistani army had concentrated troops around townships.

The surrender document,which Pakistan’s Lt Gen A A K Niazi signed,was also drafted by Lt Gen Jacob. He has recounted since that this was a gamble because Pakistan had 30,000 troops in Dhaka while only 3,000 Indian troops had reached outside the city. But for the surrender,both sides would have been in for a long battle.