This ignited the smouldering rebellion in the East Wing and when the Mukti Bahini - the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters - captured Chittagong radio station, Major Ziaur Rahman (on behalf of Sk. Mujibur Rahman) announced the birth of the new country and called upon its people to resist the oppression of the Pakistani army at all cost. President Yahya Khan responded by sending more troops to quell rebellion.

General Tikka Khan, the butcher of Beluchistan, was instructed to rid the country of Sheikh Mujib's supporters and his troops began the systamatic slaughter of the Mukti Bahini and other 'subversive' elements such as intellectuals and Hindus.

By April, Mujib Nagar was declared as the temporary Capital of Bangladesh. A formal government was formed.

By June, the struggle became a guerrilla war, with more and more civilians joining the Mukti Bahini. With the whole countryside against them, the Pakistan army's tactics became more brutal. Nalpam was used against innocent villages.

Pakistan had taken Dhaka and secured other major cities, and by November 1971 the whole country suffered the burden of occupying army. The searches, looting, rape and slaughter of civilians continued and during the nine months from the end of March 1971, 10 million people had fled to refugee camps in India.

Bangladeshis refer to Pakistan's tactics as attempted genocide, and it has been claimed that rape was so widespred and systematic that it was an attempt to change the racial makeup of the country. Clouds of vultures cast ghastly shadow over Bangladesh during this time.

Border clashes between Pakistan and India became more frequent as the Mukti Bahini, who were being trained and equipped by India, were using border as a pressure valve against Pakistan's onslaught.

Finally, the Pakistan air force made a pre-emptive attack on Indian forces and it was open warfare. The end came quickly. Indian troops crossed the border, liberated Jessore (a south western garrison town of East Pakistan) on 7th December and prepared to take Dhaka.

The occupying army of West Pakistan was being attacked from the west by Indian army, from the north and east by the Mukti Bahini and from all quarters by the civilian population.

By 14th December the Indian victory was complete, and Pakistan's General Niazi signed the surrender agreement on 16th December 1971.

On his release from jail, Shiekh Mujib took over the reins of government. He announced the establishment of the world's 139th country - Bangladesh was born.