Bridge on the River Meghna: The Dash to Dhaka

Ashok Kalyan Verma

Akhaura was an important Pakistani battalion size strong point located in the close proximity of Agartala, the capital of Tripura state in Eastern India. The Meghna River made the Eastern Sector in East Bengal very difficult to operate through, owing to large water bodies and marshes. In fact, operating from Tripura, Lt Gen Sagat Singh’s 4 Corp’s plans were to liberate maximum territory east of the Meghna in the Liberation War in 1971. The possibility of getting to Dhaka across the broad expanse of the marshy terrain and the mighty Meghna, seemed too far-fetched, but when it quite suddenly happened to come about, it led to the stunning victory in the war.

It began with the very convincing success of 57 Mountain Division in the capture of Akhaura. It was a set-piece attack against a Pakistani battalion size strong point. This led to a sudden change in the direct thrust to the Meghna being adopted, using the railway line on an embankment as its axis of advance. A quite unprepared 57 Division, with just two infantry brigades and no worthwhile bridging resources to overcome blown bridges, made bold to go for the Bridge on the River Meghna, leading to the most dramatic success story of the 1971 War. Gen Sagat seized the opportunity by employing helicopters to bypass Pakistani opposition and to dash to Dhaka – the ‘Centre of Gravity’ in the war. It was a stunning victory.

In contrast, the Pakistani higher leadership failed to protect Dhaka in the war. Indian and Mukti Bahani innovations led to a convincing success. The general population of Bangladesh and Dhaka, in particular, contributed most significantly to the stunning success. This account has been written 37 years after the Liberation War, following a visit by Indian Veterans to Bangladesh in March 2008. Authencity in battle narrations is difficult, but in this book, we have the step by step narration of the action of the opposite side, obtained from the enemy brigade commander’s book East Pakistan to Bangladesh – Brig Sadullah Khan’s narration of the same events as seen by him, which adds a unique flavour to the story.

Ashok Kalyan Verma Maj Gen Ashok Kalyan Verma, retired in November 1991 after thirty-five years in the Rajput Regiment. He was commissioned in the 2nd Battalion which suffered grievous losses in the disastrous war with China in 1962 on the Nam Ka Chu in Arunachal. He was transferred to a new raising, 18 Rajput, in 1965. He later commanded this unit during the Bangladesh Liberation War as a Lt Col. He was awarded Mention-in-Despatches for his role in the battle of Akhaura.
In subsequent service, he held staff and instructional appointments at the Staff College, College of Combat and National Defence College. He commanded a Brigade in Ladakh and 26 Inf Div in Jammu and Kashmir. As commander of the Higher Command Wing at Mhow during 1988-1990, he was continuously exposed to the critical analysis of military events, which included the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.
He was elected the Colonel of the Rajput Regiment forces in 1987 until his retirement.
Since retirement, he has authored Rivers of Silence (Lancer Publishers) in 1997, Blood on the Snow-Kargil, a Critical Analysis (Manohar Book Service) in 2000 and has contributed a leading chapter in the book A Brief History of the Indian Army brought out by USI.
As a keen naturalist he has contributed significantly to the Army’s efforts in the protection of wildlife during his service.
He is now settled in Himachal, near Kullu. His son Kunal is a documentary film-maker and an author, and his daughter is a tour manager for select tourist groups.