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Razakars (Pakistan)
The Razakars (Urdu: رضا کار Bengali: রাজাকার, lit. 'Volunteer') were a gendarmerie and paramilitary force in East Pakistan organised by General Tikka Khan in 1971. They were organised as a counter-insurgency force to fight Mukti Bahini militants in the Bangladesh War of Independence, and played an infamous role in the 1971 Bangladesh genocide. The Razakars were disbanded following Pakistan's defeat and surrender in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
Razakar is a Persian term meaning volunteer. The former Bangladesh government denoted all collaborators of the Pakistan forces as Razakars. This includes leaders, members of East Pakistan Central Peace Committee and even the Chakma King, Maharaja Tridev Roy.
In Bangladesh today, Razakar is used as a pejorative term meaning "traitor" or Judas.
In June 1971, the Ansar was disbanded and reconstituted as the Razakars. Initially, they were controlled by the Shanti Committee, which was formed by several pro-Pakistani leaders including Nurul Amin and Khwaja Khairuddin. Bangladeshi journalist Shahriar Kabir alleges that the first recruits were 96 Jamaat party members, who started training in an Ansar camp at Khan Jahan Ali Road, Khulna.[better source needed]
The East Pakistan Razakars Ordinance was promulgated on 2 August 1971 by the Governor of East Pakistan, Lieutenant General Tikka Khan. The Ordinance stipulated the creation of a voluntary force to be trained and equipped by the Provincial Government. Then, they were reorganized as members of the Pakistan Army through an ordinance of the Ministry of Defence promulgated on 7 September 1971. The Razakar force was placed under the command of Major General Mohammed Jamshed. Organizational command of the Razakar Bahini was given to Abdur Rahim.
The Razakar force was organised into brigades of around 3,000–4,000 volunteers, mainly armed with light Infantry weapons provided by the Pakistan Army. Each Razakar brigade was attached as an auxiliary to two Pakistan regular army brigades, and their main function was to arrest and detain pro-independence Bengalis and Bengali nationalists. Suspects were tortured during custody and killed. Razakars were trained by the Pakistan Army.
The Razakars were paid by the Pakistan Army and provincial administration. Leading supporters of a united Pakistan urged General Yahya Khan to increase the number of Razakars and given them more arms to extend their activities in East Pakistan. They were advised "to uproot secessionists, antisocialists and Naxalites."
Towards the end of 1971, increasing numbers of Razakars were deserting, as the end of the war approached and East Pakistan moved towards independence.
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Razakars (Pakistan)
The Razakars (Urdu: رضا کار Bengali: রাজাকার, lit. 'Volunteer') were a gendarmerie and paramilitary force in East Pakistan organised by General Tikka Khan in 1971. They were organised as a counter-insurgency force to fight Mukti Bahini militants in the Bangladesh War of Independence, and played an infamous role in the 1971 Bangladesh genocide. The Razakars were disbanded following Pakistan's defeat and surrender in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
Razakar is a Persian term meaning volunteer. The former Bangladesh government denoted all collaborators of the Pakistan forces as Razakars. This includes leaders, members of East Pakistan Central Peace Committee and even the Chakma King, Maharaja Tridev Roy.
In Bangladesh today, Razakar is used as a pejorative term meaning "traitor" or Judas.
In June 1971, the Ansar was disbanded and reconstituted as the Razakars. Initially, they were controlled by the Shanti Committee, which was formed by several pro-Pakistani leaders including Nurul Amin and Khwaja Khairuddin. Bangladeshi journalist Shahriar Kabir alleges that the first recruits were 96 Jamaat party members, who started training in an Ansar camp at Khan Jahan Ali Road, Khulna.[better source needed]
The East Pakistan Razakars Ordinance was promulgated on 2 August 1971 by the Governor of East Pakistan, Lieutenant General Tikka Khan. The Ordinance stipulated the creation of a voluntary force to be trained and equipped by the Provincial Government. Then, they were reorganized as members of the Pakistan Army through an ordinance of the Ministry of Defence promulgated on 7 September 1971. The Razakar force was placed under the command of Major General Mohammed Jamshed. Organizational command of the Razakar Bahini was given to Abdur Rahim.
The Razakar force was organised into brigades of around 3,000–4,000 volunteers, mainly armed with light Infantry weapons provided by the Pakistan Army. Each Razakar brigade was attached as an auxiliary to two Pakistan regular army brigades, and their main function was to arrest and detain pro-independence Bengalis and Bengali nationalists. Suspects were tortured during custody and killed. Razakars were trained by the Pakistan Army.
The Razakars were paid by the Pakistan Army and provincial administration. Leading supporters of a united Pakistan urged General Yahya Khan to increase the number of Razakars and given them more arms to extend their activities in East Pakistan. They were advised "to uproot secessionists, antisocialists and Naxalites."
Towards the end of 1971, increasing numbers of Razakars were deserting, as the end of the war approached and East Pakistan moved towards independence.