Dhaka besieged, Pakistan forces' defenses start collapsing

December 12, 1971. Just four days before the independence, the battlefield in Bangladesh reached its peak of maximum tension. The Indo-Bangladesh joint forces surrounded Dhaka from all sides. The defenses of the Pakistani forces collapsed; most of the areas of the country was declared a liberated area. In the international arena, the independence of Bangladesh was practically certain—this was the most important day just before the victory.

According to battlefield information, from the morning of December 12, the joint forces began advancing simultaneously towards Dhaka. The Tongi-Gazipur sector in the north, the Narayanganj-Narsingdi advance in the east, and the Savar and Manikganj corridor in the west. The advance in these three directions quickly isolated Dhaka. The Pakistani forces' land communication was almost completely cut off.

The biggest blow came by air on December 12. Tejgaon Airport was severely damaged by the continuous attacks of the Indian Air Force. The Pakistani Air Force was practically paralyzed. Military logistics were stopped. The Pakistani army was cornered by shelling on various barracks and establishments in Dhaka. The destructive guerrilla attacks of the freedom fighters also reached their peak on the same day, as a result of which the movement of the enemy was greatly restricted.

Most of the districts of the country were liberated on this day. Mymensingh, Faridpur, Cumilla, Manikganj—one after another, the local people and freedom fighters declared each area as a free zone by hoisting flags. People took to the streets. Flags started flying from houses to houses. “Freedom is coming”—such declarations spread everywhere. Public support reached the highest level in history at the last moment of the Liberation War.

On this day, the world media first published—
“Dhaka's fall Imminent”—the fall of Dhaka was certain. The US Seventh Fleet advanced towards the Bay of Bengal, creating diplomatic tension. India began to see this as an attempt to influence the context of the Liberation War. International support for Bangladesh became stronger. The Pakistani military leadership inside Dhaka was in extreme conflict that day. The Pakistanis were in a crisis of equipment and food. Communication was cut off. Above all, their morale was broken.

All in all, the defeat of the Pakistani occupation forces was certain, but on December 12 they had not yet decided to formally surrender.

The various events of this day determined the process of victory for the next four days. The military and political progress of December 12 was directly the basis for the surrender of December 16.

December 12, 1971—a day that made the much-awaited dawn of independence clearer. Dhaka was practically on the verge of collapse, and victory was a certain reality in the united advance of the freedom fighters and the people.