Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini
Encyclopedia
The Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini was a highly controversial political militia
force formed in 1975 with a status of an elite force which was loyal to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
. It was assigned an apparent functionality of recovering arms from the civilians but actually acted as an armament to protect the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
-regime from military coup and other armed challenges.
Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini is considered one of the main ingredients of discontent among the army
and the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
as well.
After the assassination
the organization was abolished and the personnel were absorbed into the regular army.
Repatriated offices were highly trained personnel. After the independence they expected to be absorbed in a regular and disciplined military force. Mujib had consistent attachment and sympathy to the freedom fighters. He favored them by giving appointments to his civil government and especially in the military. Repatriates constitute only the half of the military which was dominated by former guerrillas and some civilians induced as a reward for their contribution in the liberation war. Most of the repatriated officers were denied their expected posts and some of them were denied promotions throughout the rest of Mujib's regime. The repatriates viewed this as a breach of discipline and threat to the integrity of the military. So they felt no personal loyalty to Mujib and viewed the freedom fighters as an undisciplined and politicized element in the military.
Repatriates were trained in Pakistan in British tradition of strict military professionalism. To them the prospect of serving an individual rather than an institution was reprehensible. The officers were engaged in disarming the civilians and taming Mujib's political opponents. Moreover most of them were assigned to functionless jobs as "Officers on special duty".
These acts of Mujib created enough discontent among the repatriated officers. There were always fears for coup in the military. Mujib then viewed the establishment of a new elite force as the solution to this problem. He formed the Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini (National Defense Force) and given it the status of an elite force. It worked parallel to the regular army intended to recover arms from civilians and to insulate the regime against military coups and other armed challenges to its authority.
.
The above article does not contain any name of the forces Rakkhi Bahini. The chief of the Rakkhi bahini must be named.
The reason behind the establishment of Rakkhi Bahini was not to prevent any possible military coup; the main reason was to perpetuate the Mujib regime and to stifle dissent voices. The scale deaths and destruction perpetrated by this militia force has been unprecedented in Bangladesh.
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
force formed in 1975 with a status of an elite force which was loyal to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
. It was assigned an apparent functionality of recovering arms from the civilians but actually acted as an armament to protect the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
-regime from military coup and other armed challenges.
Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini is considered one of the main ingredients of discontent among the army
Bangladesh Army
The Bangladesh Army is the land forces branch and the largest of the three uniformed service of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities in support of Bangladesh's security and defense strategies including defense of the nation's...
and the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
The assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took place in the early hours of August 15, 1975, when a group of junior Bangladesh Army officers invaded Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence with tanks...
as well.
After the assassination
Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
The assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took place in the early hours of August 15, 1975, when a group of junior Bangladesh Army officers invaded Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence with tanks...
the organization was abolished and the personnel were absorbed into the regular army.
Background
The repatriated army officers, who had languished in West Pakistani jails during the Liberation War of Independence, had every support to Mujib in the question of the independence of Bangladesh. But they were in opposition to the pro-Indian sympathy and the abstract support for the Soviet Union of Mujib. Also they were not in favor of his effort to restrict the role of Islam in national affairs.Repatriated offices were highly trained personnel. After the independence they expected to be absorbed in a regular and disciplined military force. Mujib had consistent attachment and sympathy to the freedom fighters. He favored them by giving appointments to his civil government and especially in the military. Repatriates constitute only the half of the military which was dominated by former guerrillas and some civilians induced as a reward for their contribution in the liberation war. Most of the repatriated officers were denied their expected posts and some of them were denied promotions throughout the rest of Mujib's regime. The repatriates viewed this as a breach of discipline and threat to the integrity of the military. So they felt no personal loyalty to Mujib and viewed the freedom fighters as an undisciplined and politicized element in the military.
Repatriates were trained in Pakistan in British tradition of strict military professionalism. To them the prospect of serving an individual rather than an institution was reprehensible. The officers were engaged in disarming the civilians and taming Mujib's political opponents. Moreover most of them were assigned to functionless jobs as "Officers on special duty".
These acts of Mujib created enough discontent among the repatriated officers. There were always fears for coup in the military. Mujib then viewed the establishment of a new elite force as the solution to this problem. He formed the Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini (National Defense Force) and given it the status of an elite force. It worked parallel to the regular army intended to recover arms from civilians and to insulate the regime against military coups and other armed challenges to its authority.
.
The above article does not contain any name of the forces Rakkhi Bahini. The chief of the Rakkhi bahini must be named.
The reason behind the establishment of Rakkhi Bahini was not to prevent any possible military coup; the main reason was to perpetuate the Mujib regime and to stifle dissent voices. The scale deaths and destruction perpetrated by this militia force has been unprecedented in Bangladesh.