Al-Badr (East Pakistan) facts for kids

Al-Badar (আল বদর) was a special group formed in East Pakistan in 1971. It was created by the national Pakistan Army to help them during a difficult time.

The name Al-Badar means The Battlefield of Badar. This name connects to an old religious struggle from about 1400 years ago. However, the conflict in 1971 between Pakistan and the Bengali people who wanted independence was mostly about their country's future, not about religion.

Why was Al-Badar Formed?

In 1971, a civil war began in Pakistan. The Pakistani military needed help from people in East Pakistan who still wanted to be part of Pakistan. They also needed help from people who had moved to East Pakistan from other parts of India. Their goal was to stop the independence fighters of Bangladesh, like the Mukti Bahini.

The Al-Badar group was created to find these independence fighters. They also acted as guides for the regular army because they knew the local areas well. Members of Al-Badar included students and teachers from Islamic schools (called madrasas). It also included Bengali people who supported certain political parties, and people who had moved from other parts of India.

Different Groups in 1971

During this time, Pakistan formed three main types of helper groups:

• Razakars: These were people who had moved to East Pakistan from other parts of India.
• Al-Badar: These were mostly Bengali Muslim students from colleges, universities, and madrasas. They were loyal to a political party called Jamaat-e-Islami.
• Al-Shams: These were also Bengali madrasa students, teachers, and supporters of other Islamic political parties.

Among these three, Al-Badar was very organized. They had their own system for how the group worked and how members reported to each other.

What Did Al-Badar Do?

The Al-Badar group had many different jobs. Some of their tasks involved fighting, while others did not.

• They took part in military operations.
• They spied on the Mukti Bahini (the independence fighters).
• They questioned people to get information.
• They worked as guides for the regular army.
• They were involved in secretly killing some people.
• They found and targeted Mukti Bahini soldiers.
• They helped provide supplies to the army at the front lines.

The End of Al-Badar

On December 16, 1971, Pakistan gave up without any conditions. Members of Al-Badar, along with the Razakars and Al-Shams, also surrendered. They surrendered to the Mitro Bahini, which was a joint force of Indian and Bangladeshi armies.

Since these group members were Bengali, it was thought that Bangladesh would treat them as an opposing group. This meant they would be arrested and held as prisoners of war. However, many of them faced harsh treatment. Some were arrested, and others had to leave Bangladesh.

See also

In Spanish: Al-Badr (Pakistán Oriental) para niños