OPERATION SEARCHLIGHT-II
Although Dacca had been benumbed overnight, the situation in the rest of the province continued to be fluid for some time. Chittagong, Rajshahi and Pabna, in particular, gave us anxious moments for several days.
The total number of Bengali and West Pakistani troops in Chittagong was estimated at 5,000 and 600 respectively. The former consisted recruits at the East Bengali Centre (2,500), the newly raised 8 East Bengal. East Pakistan Rifles Wing and Sector Headquarters, and the police. Our troops were mainly the elements of 20 Baluch whose advance party had sailed back to West Pakistan. A senior non-Bengali army officer in Chittagong, Lieutenant-Colonel Fatimi, was ordered to hold ground to allow time for reinforcements from Comilla to arrive.
The rebels initially had all the success. They effectively blocked the route of the Comilla column by blowing up the Subapur Bridge near Feni. They also controlled major parts of Chittagong cantonment and the city. The only islands of government authority there were 20 Baluch area and the naval base. Major Ziaur Rahman, the second-in-command of 8 East Bengal, assumed command of the rebels in Chittagong in the absence of Brigadier Mozumdar (who had been tactfully taken to Dacca a few days earlier). While the government troops clung to the radio station, in order to guard the building. Major Zia took control of the transmitters separately located on Kaptai Road and used the available equipment to broadcast the 'declaration of independence' of Bangladesh Nothing could be done to turn the tables unless reinforcements arrived in Chittagong.
The G.O.C. Major-General Khadim Hussain, learn about the stoppage of the Comilla column about fifty minutes past mid-night on D-day. Ile ordered Brigadier Iqbal Shafi to cross the nullah (ravine), leaving the bridge in hostile hand, and make his way to Chittagong at the earliest opportunity. Brigadier Iqbal Shafi, however, could not make any headway without taking the bridge. This he did next day by 10 a.m. The column moved, but again it was pinned down by hostile fire at Comccra, about twenty kilometers short of Chittagong. The advance company suffered eleven casualties including the commanding officer. The advance company suffered eleven casualties including the commanding officer, who was killed. The column lost contact with Brigade Headquarters (Comilla) as well as with Divisional Headquarters (Dacca).
The lack of information about the column raised much apprehension in Dacca. It might have been butchered! If so, what would be the fate of Chittagong? Would it remain with the rebels? With Chittagong in hostile control what would be the outcome of operation SEARCHLIGHT?
The G.O.C. decided to locate the missing column himself in an army helicopter next day. He would fly to Chittagong first and then follow the Chittagong-Comilla Road so that, if the column had meanwhile made any progress, he might find it on the outskirts of Chittagong. As his helicopter fluttered close to the Chittagong hills to land in the 20 Baluch arca, it attracted small arms fire from the rebels who had taken up positions on the high ground. The chopper was hit but sustained no serious damage. It managed to land
