The 8th East Bengal Regiment's Role Under Major Zia in Sector 1

The 8th East Bengal Regiment played a foundational and heroic role in Sector 1 during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Stationed in Chittagong under Major Ziaur Rahman as second-in-command, the regiment became the epicenter of early armed resistance, providing the professional core for Mukti Bahini operations in the southeast.

Its revolt on March 25-26, 1971, and subsequent integration into structured forces under Zia ensured Sector 1's strength from the war's outset through to victory.The Regiment Before the WarRaised in 1968 as part of the Pakistan Army's East Bengal Regiment series, the 8th was a predominantly Bengali unit with around 300-500 personnel by 1971. Major Ziaur Rahman served as second-in-command, while the commanding officer was a West Pakistani, Lt. Col. Rashid Janjua.The regiment was based at Sholoshahar in Chittagong Cantonment. Bengali officers and soldiers grew increasingly nationalist amid the Awami League's 1970 election victory and subsequent crackdown.The Crucial Revolt: March 25-26, 1971As Operation Searchlight unfolded, Major Zia—learning of the Dhaka massacres—led the regiment in immediate revolt:

Bengali troops arrested or neutralized Pakistani officers.
They seized the armory, securing rifles, machine guns, mortars, and ammunition.
Brief clashes with loyalist forces were won decisively.

This action prevented a massacre in Chittagong and preserved the regiment largely intact. Survivors retreated into the Chittagong Hill Tracts, forming the initial guerrilla nucleus for Sector 1.Under Major Zia's Command in Sector 1 (April-June 1971)Appointed Sector 1 commander in April 1971, Major Zia used the 8th East Bengal as his primary regular force:

Defected personnel organized into companies for ambushes and raids.
They established bases in the hills, including toward Harina headquarters.
The regiment coordinated early operations in the Belonia Bulge and disrupted port activities.
It trained civilian recruits, expanding Sector 1's strength rapidly.

Zia's leadership ensured the regiment's discipline and combat effectiveness during the initial guerrilla phase.Reforming and Role in Z Force (From June 1971)In June-July 1971, Major Zia formed Z Force—the first conventional brigade of Bangladesh Forces—at Teldhala, Meghalaya. The reformed 8th East Bengal Regiment (CO: Major A.J.M. Aminul Haque) became one of its three battalions, alongside the 1st and 3rd.Z Force operated in the northeastern sectors (initially overlapping Sector 1 areas), conducting major raids, border battles (e.g., Kamalpur), and supporting signal and artillery units.The 8th contributed to southern operations, maintaining pressure on Chittagong approaches and aiding final offensives in December 1971.Legacy of the 8th East Bengal RegimentThe regiment's early defection provided Sector 1 with trained infantry that civilian volunteers lacked. It exemplified Bengali military resolve, inspiring further mutinies across East Pakistan.Post-war, the 8th East Bengal continues in the Bangladesh Army, embodying the spirit of 1971.The regiment under Major Zia symbolized the shift from oppression to liberation—professional soldiers choosing nation over uniform.Joy Bangla! The 8th East Bengal Regiment's bravery under Zia formed the steel core of Sector 1's resistance.
Tags: Bangladesh Liberation War 1971, 8th East Bengal Regiment, Major Ziaur Rahman, Sector 1 Role, Mukti Bahini Z Force, Chittagong Revolt, Muktijuddho, Joy Bangla