Battle of Sylhet

The Battle of Sylhet (Bengali: সিলেটের যুদ্ধ Silet-er Juddho) was a major battle fought between the advancing Mitro Bahini and the Pakistani defences at Sylhet during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The battle took place 7 December and 15 December and was the Indian Army's first heliborne operation.[1] It was a succession of the Battle of Gazipur in Kulaura.

This article is about the modern battle of Sylhet. For medieval conquest of Sylhet, see Conquest of Sylhet.

Siege of Sylhet
Part of Bangladesh Liberation War and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Date December 7–16, 1971 Location Sylhet, Bangladesh Result Decisive Indian & Mukti Bahini Victory Pakistani Garrison Surrenders
Belligerents
Mukti Bahini India	Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Gen. Sagat Singh Maj. Gen. K. V. Krishna Rao Brig. C. A. “Bunty” Quinn Brig. Raja C. V. Apte Brig. M. B. Wadke Brig. Kulwant Singh Gp Capt Chandan Singh	Brig. Muhammad Saleemullah Brig. Iftikhar Rana
Strength
IV Corps: 8 Mountain Division 59 Mountain Brigade 81 Mountain Brigade Echo Sector BSF Sector 1 East Bengal Rifles	202 Infantry Brigade 313 Infantry Brigade

See also

• Timeline of the Bangladesh Liberation War
• Military plans of the Bangladesh Liberation War
• Mitro Bahini order of battle
• Pakistan Army order of battle, December 1971
• Evolution of Pakistan Eastern Command plan
• 1971 Bangladesh genocide
• Operation Searchlight
• Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts
• Meghna Heli Bridge

References

1. Battle Of Sylhet. Defence India Archived August 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine