When your life is at stake, every second is an eternity. The expression multiplied a thousand times portrays the same threat on a national aspect when besides lives, livelihoods and properties even one’s freedom comes under fire. But the people of this nation survived such a seemingly impossible and highly strenuous nine months of dread and suffering in 1971. The misery had reached such a state that even after the birth of Bangladesh’s independence on the December 16, 1971, following nine months of intense labour, the horrors of the war, the dreadful insecurities and the helplessness is still relived by those who had faced the time. The truth behind the statement is apparent through the real-life accounts received from the episodes of Muktijuddha Protidin (Liberation War Days), a regular talk show, conceptualised and hosted by freedom fighter and acclaimed cultural activist Nasiruddin Yousuff and aired on Channel i. Below is an account by Syed Tashfin Chowdhury who summarises a few episodes of the programme

March 25, 1971
   Despite a landslide victory, winning 167 seats out of the169 allotted for East Pakistan, when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was still refused the control of the state, Bangladeshis could not fail to acknowledge the conspiracy bred by the Pakistani military junta the whole time. Numerous incidents in the past showed neglect, callousness and a growing indifference toward the Bangladeshis. Even while Sheikh Mujib held talks with Yahya Khan, regarding a growing conflict prior to this day, Pakistani army platoons were sailing in through the ports of East Pakistan in plain clothes.
   The sheer sense of dread that lay in the minds of most Bangladeshis was overshadowed by an ambition to thwart the domination. To ‘pacify’ the people, the Pakistani army, led by Lieutenant General Tikka Khan, initiated Operation Searchlight from the midnight of March 25. It was not pacification but genocide, where even children were not spared. Women were raped, residential areas were shelled and the slums were pasted onto the grounds by the tanks and jeeps while people screamed inside of them.
   The next day saw bewildered Bangladeshis running toward the villages and the border areas, clinging onto their loved ones and necessities, with only the prayer of living to see another day.
   
   March 26, 1971
   To ascertain the crushed will of the Bangladeshis, the Pakistani army imprisons Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. However, Major Ziaur Rahman, one of the many courageous Bengali soldiers who had revolted against their Pakistani counterparts, announced the independence of Bangladesh on behalf of Sheikh Mujib, from the Kalurghat radio station in Chittagong.
   The announcement sparked an immediate reaction, sowing a dream of freedom in the minds of suppressed Bangladeshis, and paved the way for the liberation war.
   
   April 4, 1971
   Twelve senior officers of the liberation army assembled at the headquarters of the 2nd East Bengal regiment at Teliapara. Colonol MAG Osmany, Lieuntenant Colonel Abdur Rob, Major Kazi Nuruzzaman, Major Khaled Mosharraf, Major Shafat Jamil, Major Mainul Hossain Chowdhury and others at the meeting decided to engage the general public into the liberation war against the massive Pakistani army.
   Responsibilities of commanding operations in four sectors were also entrusted. Major Shafiullah was responsible for Sylhet-Brahmanbaria area while Major Khaled Mosharraf was given Comilla and Chittagong, Major Ziaur Rahman the Chittagong Hill Tracts and finally Major Abu Osman Chowdhury had Kushtia and Jessore. Colonel Osmani was declared commander of the Mukti Bahini.
   Major Khaled Mosharraf’s plan to recruit willing young and able bodied men, women and even teenagers from the refugee camps along the border and train them with guerrilla warfare and tactics was welcomed by the others at the meeting.
   
   April 5, 1971
   Led by Major Shafat Jamil, the 4th East Bengal regiment along with EPR, police and other members fought off the Pakistani forces at Ramgarh in Brahmanbaria.
   The valiant soldiers were able to fend off the Pak army, with their limited resources, from Mohokumar city in Brahmanbaria till April 14, after which they withdrew to regroup.
   The recruitment and training of thousands of students, doctors, teachers, farmers and people from all other professions from the various refugee camps by the Mukti Bahini had already begun.
   
   April 10, 1971
   Headed by Tajuddin Ahmed, the exiled Mujibnagar government was formed on this day. Tajuddin announced the names of three more regional or sector commanders.
   
   April 11, 1971
   A tremendous battle between the Mukti Bahini and the Pakistani army occurred at Kalurghat. The standoff continued for a week after which the Mukti Bahini withdrew.
   
   April 12, 1971
   Following support from the Indian government, the headquarters of the Bangladesh Forces began operations in Calcutta.
   Also, it is believed by scholars and historians that someday between this date until April 15, Dhirendra Nath Datta, the renowned lawyer and politician was murdered by the Pakistan army after being picked up from his Comilla residence on March 29.
   The Pakistan government and army were especially irked at Dhirendra as he had demanded that Bangla be recognised as one of the state languages of Pakistan in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan (CAP) on February 25, 1948. He immediately received enraged reactions from Jinnah, then president of Pakistan and Dhirendra’s proposal was refused.
   The action had sparked the language movement building up to February 21, 1952. Although the Pakistan government did give in to the demands of the Bangladeshis right after the movement, their vindictive side did not let them forget the man who they held responsible for the debacle.
   Dhirendra was picked up from his home in Comilla on the night of March 29, along with one of his sons. It is believed that after being tortured for nearly two weeks, they lost their lives in the hands of the Pakistan army.
   
   May 2, 1971
   Ramgarh, the western region near the border, which had been free and under the control of the Mukti Bahini, became the target of the Pakistan army. The army attacked the region from three directions and although the Mukti Bahini fought valiantly for some days, they had to ultimately withdrew.
   Liberation war fighters still believe that they learnt a good lesson about war strategies through this particular battle.
   
   May 9, 1971
   This was a black day for Bangladesh and would be forever lined along with the day Mir Zafar, Ghoseti and others had conspired with the British government against Nabab Sirajuddowla.
   On this day, in 1971, Golam Azam, then Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami, met governor Tikka Khan. During the meeting, Azam proposed to initiate a second wing of the Pakistani army, which will assist them in the so-called ‘pacification’ of the Bangladeshis.
   After acceptance from Tikka, a name proposal for the new wing given: Razakar Bahini. It was formed a few days later, in Khulna under the leadership of Moulana Yousuf.
   This force aided the Pakistan army to carry on with the genocide for the next eight months right until independence. Now, 36 years after independence, the political group is still at large and still unpunished for their crimes during the war.
   
   July 7, 1971
   The plan of training the general public in guerrilla warfare finally began to succeed. Although initially the Mukti Bahini took a defensive stance during March and April, after May, with a bigger force, some arms and resources that they could salvage from battles with the enemy and those who supported them, the faction now fought the war with renewed zeal.
   The notion was realised by the Pakistan army on this day when one of their adequately manned and armed patrols were successfully ambushed by a group of Mukti Bahini at Noapara near Kashba.
   As news of the battle spread through the land, it strengthened the will and fighting spirit of other Mukti Bahini platoons ready to take on more lethal operations.
   
   July 10, 1971
   Possibly the success on July 7 paved the way for this day when the 4th East Bengal Regiment successfully attacked a Pakistan army supply boat at Shalda River of Sector 2 near Jhikora.
   Despite the winning streak, Bangladeshis were still afflicted with the dread of being picked up Razakars, Al Badr and Pakistan army members and being taken to their camps. The camps were analogous to the ‘concentration camps’ of the Nazis and were more dreadful, due to the inhuman torture of the men and the rape of numerous women, from families who supported the dream of an ‘independent Bangladesh’.
   
   August 2, 1971
   Three companies of the ‘Z’ force, lead by Major Shafat Jamil attacked Pakistan army convoy in Dewanganj near Jamalpur. The battle that ensued had probably left a burning impression of the Mukti Bahinis fighting prowess and agility in the minds of those Pakistan army soldiers, who managed to retreat to Jamalpur after the attack.
   Freedom fighters believe that this was one of the turning points and would forever be a milestone achieved by them as they rarely lost in the scattered skirmishes and battles that occurred with the enemy for the next four months.
   
   December 3, 1971
   Although their support was initially passive, the Indian army began operations
   inside Bangladesh with the Mukti Bahini. Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora became the commander of this joint forces and the move was aggravated when the Pakistan Air Force bombing Srinagar, Amritsar and other parts of India prior to this day.
   The Indo-Pakistan war broke out as a result. The joint forces of the Mukti Bahini and Indian army continued to rampage into Bangladesh with the surrender of Pakistan army becoming more viable with every passing second.
   
   December 16, 1971
   The Mukti Bahini and the Indian forces entered Dhaka city at 10:10am. Along with Group Captain A K Khondoker, deputy chief of staff, representing the Mukti Bahini, the instrument of surrender was signed by Jagjit Singh Aurora and Lieutenant General A A K Niazi at the then-Ramna recourse (now Suhrawardy Uddyan) at 5:01pm on this day, materialising the dream that so many had lost their lives, family members and shed blood for nine months.