Calling Ataul Ghani Osmani the “Supreme Commander” of the Liberation War is a Distortion of History! – Z. I. Khan Panna

The birthday of Muhammad Ataul Ghani Osmani, the first 1st Commander-in-Chief of Bangladesh Army and Commander-in-Chief of the Mukti Bahini during the Liberation War, fell on 1 September. On this occasion, anti-independence elements once again resurrected their old propaganda – they are promoting the claim that Osmani was the “Supreme Commander” of the Liberation War. This has led to confusion among some people, who have begun to echo the same assertion. I was even contacted by a few individuals who sought clarification. It therefore seemed necessary to explain the matter correctly for the new generation.

Ignorance of history is not our only problem. An even greater concern is the lack of even a basic understanding of political science, military strategy, and governmental processes. As a result, we often fall prey to unrealistic explanations and misleading propaganda.

It must be understood that in any war, the Supreme Commander is the Head of State, for he symbolises the ultimate authority not only over the armed forces but over the entire apparatus of the state. By contrast, a military chief commands only the armed forces, and that too under the authority of the Supreme Commander. Warfare is never confined to the military sphere alone; it encompasses diplomacy, propaganda, economics, and administration. All of these domains are coordinated by, or in the name of, the Supreme Commander through his representatives.

This is why there is a fundamental difference between the terms “Commander-in-Chief” and “Supreme Commander”. A Commander-in-Chief is the head of the armed forces, whereas the Supreme Commander is the Head of State. To describe M. A. G. Osmani as the Supreme Commander of the Liberation War is therefore tantamount to distorting history.

It is also important to clarify certain facts about Osmani’s career. He began his service in the British Indian Army, later transferred to the Pakistan Army, and eventually retired on 16 February 1967 with the rank of Colonel. At that time, Bengali officers in Pakistan had virtually no opportunity of rising to higher ranks. Indeed, the only Bengali officer to attain the rank of Brigadier under Pakistan was Brigadier Majumdar.

During the Liberation War, Bangladesh needed a senior Bengali officer to serve as Commander-in-Chief of the Mukti Bahini. Among the serving officers, the most senior was Brigadier Majumdar. Unfortunately, he was arrested by the Pakistanis and imprisoned in West Pakistan.

In Brigadier Majumdar’s absence, the most senior among the loyal Bengali officers in terms of both rank and age was Osmani. In addition, he was an elected Member of the Pakistan National Assembly as a nominee of the Awami League. Although retired, he was deemed the most suitable candidate for the position of Commander-in-Chief.

Like other MNA, Osmani crossed the border into India after the war began. On 11 April 1971, Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad delivered a speech from the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra announcing the formation of the Bangladesh Army, appointing M. A. G. Osmani as Commander-in-Chief of the Mukti Bahini. Later, when the Mujibnagar Government was formally constituted on 17 April 1971, Osmani was officially appointed as Commander-in-Chief of Mukti Bahini. During the course of the war, the Bangladesh Government conferred upon him the rank of General. This decision was clearly recorded in the official Gazette of Bangladesh.

The history of the Liberation War must be understood not merely through emotion but through accurate facts and proper context. There is a fundamental distinction between Supreme Commander and Commander-in-Chief: the Supreme Commander was the Head of State, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, while the Commander-in-Chief of the Mukti Bahini was M. A. G. Osmani. Osmani’s leadership, organisational ability and contribution were of immense significance, but to describe him as the Supreme Commander is to falsify history. It is the duty of the younger generation to study and disseminate history based on truth and documentary evidence, not on emotion—so that the propaganda of anti-independence forces can never again create confusion.

Author: Z. I. Khan Panna, a valiant freedom fighter, lawyer and human rights activist of Bangladesh.