East Pakistan Central Peace Committee: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Bot
Last edited February 12, 2026
VisualWikitext
robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.
 
updated details
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{EngvarB|date=March 2022}}
{{Short description|East Pakistani committee}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
'''East Pakistan Central Peace Committee''' ({{lang-bn|পূর্ব পাকিস্তান কেন্দ্রীয় শান্তি কমিটি}}; {{lang-ur|مشرقی پاکستان مرکزی امن کمیٹی}}), also known as the '''Nagorik Shanti Committee''' (Citizen's Peace Committee), or more commonly '''Peace Committee''' or '''Shanti Committee,''' was one of several committees formed in [[East Pakistan]] (present-day [[Bangladesh]]) in 1971 by the [[Pakistan Army]] to aid its efforts in crushing the rebellion for Bangladesh independence. [[Nurul Amin]], as a leader of [[Pakistan Democratic Party]], led the formation of the Shanti Committee to thwart the [[Mukti Bahini]] who fought for the independence of Bangladesh.<ref name=Banglapedia>{{cite book |last=Mamoon |first=Muntassir |year=2012 |chapter=Peace Committee |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Peace_Committee |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=13 April 1971 |script-title=bn:ভারতীয় চক্রান্ত বরদাস্ত করব না |trans-title=We will never tolerate Indian conspiracy |newspaper=[[The Daily Sangram]]}}</ref><ref name="Rubin2010">{{cite book |last=Rubin |first=Barry A. |year=2010 |title=Guide to Islamist Movements |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wEih57-GWQQC&pg=PA59 |publisher=M.E. Sharpe |page=59 |isbn=978-0-7656-4138-0}}</ref><ref name="Fair2010">{{cite book |last=Fair |first=C. Christine |year=2010 |title=Pakistan: Can the United States Secure an Insecure State? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RC-ANwtR_SoC&pg=PA22 |publisher=Rand Corporation |pages=21–22 |isbn=978-0-8330-4807-3}}</ref>
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox political party
| name            = East Pakistan Central Peace Committee
| native_name      = {{ubl|{{plainlist|{{langx|bn|পূর্ব পাকিস্তান কেন্দ্রীয় শান্তি কমিটি}}|{{langx|ur|مشرقی پاکستان مرکزی امن کمیٹی}}}}}}
| colorcode        = #008000
| leader          =
| president        = [[Syed Khwaja Khairuddin]]
| chairperson      = [[Farid Ahmad]]
| foundation      = {{Start date and age|1971|4|10}}
| ideology        = * [[Anti-Bengali sentiment]]
* [[Anti-Hindu sentiment]]
* [[State terrorism]]
* [[Democide]]
| headquarters    = [[Dacca]], [[East Pakistan]]
| country          = {{flag|Pakistan}}
| abbreviation    = {{ubl|PPKSC ([[Bengali language|Bengali]])|EPCPC ([[English language|English]])}}
| founder          = 12 people, including [[Tikka Khan]] and [[Ghulam Azam]]
| dissolved        = {{Start date and age|1971|12|16}}
| membership      = 140<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailyjanakantha.com/different-news/news/414986|title=|date=April 9, 2019|language=bn|script-title=bn:ঢাকায় মুক্তিযুদ্ধবিরোধী নাগরিক শান্তি কমিটি|trans-title=Dhaka's anti-liberation Citizen Peace Committee|access-date=November 15, 2024|work=[[Janakantha]]}}</ref>
| membership_year  = April 1971
| position        = [[Far-right politics|Far-right]]
| religion        =  
| national        = {{ubl|[[Pakistan Armed Forces]]|[[Razakars (Pakistan)|Razakars]]|[[Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami|Jamaat-e-Islami]] | [[Al-Badr (East Pakistan)|Al-Badr]]|[[Al-Shams (East Pakistan)|Al-Shams]]}}
| flag            =  
}}


==Background==
'''East Pakistan Central Peace Committee'''{{Efn|({{langx|bn|পূর্ব পাকিস্তান কেন্দ্রীয় শান্তি কমিটি|Purbo Pakistan Kendrio Shanti Committee}}; {{langx|ur|مشرقی پاکستان مرکزی امن کمیٹی}}), also known as the '''Nagorik Shanti Committee''' (Citizen's Peace Committee), or more commonly '''Peace Committee''' or '''Shanti Committee''', founded as the '''Dhaka Nagorik Committee''' ({{Langx|bn|ঢাকা নাগরিক কমিটি|4=Dhaka Citizens Committee}})}} was one of several committees formed in [[East Pakistan]] in 1971 to aid efforts of Pakistani forces during the [[Bangladesh War of Independence]]. [[Nurul Amin]], as a leader of [[Pakistan Democratic Party]], led the formation of the Shanti Committee to thwart the [[Mukti Bahini]], which fought for independence of the region.<ref name="Banglapedia">{{Cite Banglapedia|article=Peace Committee}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=13 April 1971 |script-title=bn:ভারতীয় চক্রান্ত বরদাস্ত করব না |trans-title=We will never tolerate Indian conspiracy |newspaper=[[The Daily Sangram]]}}</ref><ref name="Rubin2010">{{cite book |last=Rubin |first=Barry A. |year=2010 |title=Guide to Islamist Movements |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wEih57-GWQQC&pg=PA59 |publisher=[[M. E. Sharpe]] |page=59 |isbn=978-0-7656-4138-0}}</ref><ref name="Fair2010">{{cite book |last=Fair |first=C. Christine |year=2010 |title=Pakistan: Can the United States Secure an Insecure State? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RC-ANwtR_SoC&pg=PA22 |publisher=[[Rand Corporation]] |pages=21–22 |isbn=978-0-8330-4807-3}}</ref>
On 25 March 1971, the liberation war began. On 4 April 1971, twelve pro-Pakistan leaders, including [[Nurul Amin]], [[Ghulam Azam]] and [[Khwaja Khairuddin]], met [[General Tikka Khan]] of the Pakistan Army and assured him of co-operation in opposing the Bangladesh rebellion.<ref name="chandan">{{cite book |script-title=bn:একাত্তরের ঘাতক ও দালালরা |trans-title=The Killers and Collaborators of 71 |last=Chandan |first=Azadur Rahman |date=February 2011 |orig-year=2009 |edition=Revised 2nd |publisher=Jatiya Sahitya Prakash |location=Dhaka |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/105628755/%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%98%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%A8 <!-- Invalid ISBN; listed on publisher's web site, but still not valid. 13-digit ISBNs start with 978 or 979. |isbn=984-70000-0121-4 --> |pages=48–54}}</ref> After subsequent meetings, they announced the formation of the Citizen Peace Committee, with 140 members.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=133777 |title='Peace Committee formed on Apr 10 in '71 to resist birth of Bangladesh' |work=The Daily Star |access-date=7 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="dpak11041971">{{cite news |script-title=bn:ঢাকায় নাগরিক শান্তি কমিটি |newspaper=Dainik Pakistan |date=11 April 1971}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.observerbd.com/2014/10/25/50744.php |title=Wartime crime charges against Ghulam Azam |work=The Daily Observer |access-date=7 March 2022}}</ref> The first recruits included 96 Jamaat-e-Islami members, who started training in an Ansar camp at Khanjahan Ali Road, [[Khulna]].<ref>{{cite news |date=25 May 1971 |newspaper=Daily Pakistan}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=26 May 1971 |newspaper=[[The Azad|The Daily Azad]]}}</ref> The Shanti Committee is also alleged to have recruited [[Razakars (Pakistan)|Razakars]].<ref name="Wall Street Journal">''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', 27 July 1971; quoted in the book ''Muldhara 71'' by Moidul Hasan</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/07/15/guilty-of-all-grisly-acts |title=Guilty of all grisly acts |work=bdnews24.com |date=15 July 2013 |access-date=7 March 2022}}</ref>


==History==
== Background ==
The leaders of the East Pakistan Central Peace Committee called on citizens of Pakistan to defend Pakistan from "Indian aggression", as India was supporting the Bangladesh liberation movement. The Peace Committee organised a rally from [[Baitul Mukarram]] to Chawkbazar Mosque on 13 April. The rally was to end with a meeting near [[New Market, Dhaka|New Market]]. At the end of the rally, participants began rioting in [[Azimpur, Dhaka|Azimpur]], Shantinagar and Shankhari Bazar areas. They set fire to the houses of known pro-liberation people and killed some.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last=Karlekar |first=Hiranmay |date=2005 |title=Bangladesh: The Next Afghanistan? |url=https://archive.org/details/bangladeshnextaf0000karl |url-access=registration |publisher=SAGE |page=149 |isbn=978-0-7619-3401-1}}</ref>
On 25 March 1971, the war in East Pakistan began. On 4 April 1971, twelve pro-Pakistan leaders, including [[Nurul Amin]], [[Ghulam Azam]] and [[Khwaja Khairuddin]], met [[General Tikka Khan]] of the Pakistan Army and assured him of co-operation in opposing the Bengali rebellion.<ref name="chandan">{{cite book |script-title=bn:একাত্তরের ঘাতক ও দালালরা |trans-title=The Killers and Collaborators of 71 |last=Chandan |first=Azadur Rahman |date=February 2011 |orig-year=2009 |edition=Revised 2nd |publisher=Jatiya Sahitya Prakash |location=[[Dhaka]] |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/105628755/%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%98%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%A8 |pages=48–54 |archive-date=4 December 2013 |access-date=9 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204182022/http://www.scribd.com/doc/105628755/%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%98%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%A8 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After subsequent meetings, they announced the formation of Citizen Peace Committee, with 140 members.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=133777 |title='Peace Committee formed on Apr 10 in '71 to resist birth of Bangladesh' |work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]] |access-date=7 March 2016 |archive-date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308055315/http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=133777 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="dpak11041971">{{cite news |script-title=bn:ঢাকায় নাগরিক শান্তি কমিটি |newspaper=[[Daily Pakistan]] |date=11 April 1971}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.observerbd.com/2014/10/25/50744.php |title=Wartime crime charges against Ghulam Azam |work=[[The Daily Observer (Bangladesh)]] |access-date=7 March 2016 |archive-date=15 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115031759/https://www.observerbd.com/2014/10/25/50744.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first recruits included 96 Jamaat-e-Islami members, who started training in an Ansar camp at Khanjahan Ali Road, [[Khulna]].<ref>{{cite news |date=25 May 1971 |newspaper=[[Daily Pakistan]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=26 May 1971 |newspaper=[[The Azad|The Daily Azad]]}}</ref> The Shanti Committee also recruited [[Razakars (Pakistan)|Razakars]].<ref name="Wall Street Journal">''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', 27 July 1971; quoted in the book ''Muldhara 71'' by Moidul Hasan</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/07/15/guilty-of-all-grisly-acts |title=Guilty of all grisly acts |work=[[bdnews24.com]] |date=15 July 2013 |access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref>


The Peace Committee spread throughout East Pakistan, reaching even rural villages. Compared to the indiscriminate killing of Pakistan army the Peace committee were more specific and guided by lists they made of opponents.<ref name=":0" /> The Peace committee members were feared by the population of East Pakistan. Peace committee members were killed during [[Bangladesh Liberation War]].<ref>{{cite book |last=United States Congress |date=1971 |title=Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eC-8cRFQOycC |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |pages=27134–27135}}</ref>
== History ==
The leaders of the East Pakistan Central Peace Committee called on citizens of Pakistan to defend Pakistan from ''"Indian aggression"'', as India was accused of supporting the Bangladeshi liberation movement. The Peace Committee organised a rally from [[Baitul Mukarram]] to Chawkbazar Mosque on 13 April. The rally was to end with a meeting near [[New Market, Dhaka]]. At the end of the rally, riots began in [[Azimpur, Dhaka|Azimpur]], Shantinagar and Shankhari Bazar areas, fire was set to houses of Bengalis and some were killed.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last=Karlekar |first=Hiranmay |date=2005 |title=Bangladesh: The Next Afghanistan? |url=https://archive.org/details/bangladeshnextaf0000karl |url-access=registration |publisher=SAGE |page=149 |isbn=978-0-7619-3401-1}}</ref>


On 14 April, at a meeting in Dhaka, the Citizen Peace Committee renamed itself as the East Pakistan Central Peace Committee. A working committee was formed consisting of 21 members.<ref name=po-apr16>{{cite news |title=Citizens Peace Committee Renamed |newspaper=[[The Pakistan Observer]] |date=16 April 1971}}</ref> They set up an office in [[Maghbazar]]. The Peace Committee appointed one or more liaison officers for the different police station areas of Dhaka. On 17 April 1971, the members of the peace committee apprised Governor [[Tikka Khan]] of the progress made by them toward restoring normalcy and confidence among the citizens.<ref name=po-apr17>{{cite news |date=17 April 1971 |title=Peace Committee Leaders call on the Governor |newspaper=The Pakistan Observer}}</ref> The central peace committee was being deputed to the district and divisional headquarters throughout east Pakistan.<ref name=po-apr26>{{cite news |date=26 April 1971 |title=Peace Committee to be set up in districts |newspaper=The Pakistan Observer}}</ref> The peace committee in Munshiganj gave a grand reception to the [[West Pakistan]]i militaries on 11 May 1971.<ref name=purbadesh>{{cite news |date=11 May 1971 |newspaper=Daily Purbadesh}}</ref>
The Peace Committee spread throughout East Pakistan, reaching even rural villages. Compared to the indiscriminate killing of Pakistan Army, the Peace Committee were more specific and guided by lists, they made of opponents.<ref name=":0" /> The members of Peace Committee were feared and hated by the population of East Pakistan. Peace committee members were killed during the war.<ref>{{cite book |last=United States Congress |date=1971 |title=Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eC-8cRFQOycC |publisher=[[U.S. Government Printing Office]] |pages=27134–27135}}</ref>


According to the historian Azadur Rahman Chandan in his 2011 book about the war, the Peace Committee was the first organisation to be set up by local residents who collaborated with Pakistan.<ref name="chandan"/> Its members were drawn from the political parties of the [[Muslim League (Bangladesh)|Muslim League]] and [[Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami|Jamaat-e-Islami]], which thought an independent Bangladesh was against Islam; as well as the [[Urdu]]-speaking [[Biharis]].<ref name="kann">{{cite news |first=Peter R. |last=Kann |date=27 July 1971 |title=East Pakistan Is Seen Gaining Independence, But It Will Take Years |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>
On 14 April, at a meeting in Dhaka, the Citizen Peace Committee renamed itself as the East Pakistan Central Peace Committee. A working committee was formed consisting of 21 members.<ref name=po-apr16>{{cite news |title=Citizens Peace Committee Renamed |newspaper=[[The Pakistan Observer]] |date=16 April 1971}}</ref> They set up an office in [[Maghbazar]]. The Peace Committee appointed one or more liaison officers for the different police station areas of Dhaka. On 17 April 1971, the members of the peace committee apprised Governor [[Tikka Khan]] of the progress made by them toward restoring normalcy and confidence among the citizens.<ref name=po-apr17>{{cite news |date=17 April 1971 |title=Peace Committee Leaders call on the Governor |newspaper=[[The Pakistan Observer]]}}</ref> The central peace committee was being deputed to the district and divisional headquarters throughout east Pakistan.<ref name=po-apr26>{{cite news |date=26 April 1971 |title=Peace Committee to be set up in districts |newspaper=[[The Pakistan Observer]]}}</ref> When Pakistani troops arrived in [[Munshiganj]], south of the capital, on 9 May 1971, they were warmly received by the local peace committee and other residents.<ref name=purbadesh>{{cite news |title=Munshiganj Welcomes Pak Troops |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/san/newspapers/paob19710512-01.1.1 |date=12 May 1971 |newspaper=[[The Pakistan Observer]] |pages=1, 6}}</ref>


==Abolition==
According to the historian Azadur Rahman Chandan in his 2011 book about the war, the Peace Committee was the first organisation to be set up by local residents who collaborated with Pakistan.<ref name="chandan"/> Its members were drawn from the Muslim League, [[Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan|Jamaat-e-Islami]], which thought an independent Bangladesh was against Islam; as well as the [[Urdu]]-speaking [[Biharis]].<ref name="kann">{{cite news |first=Peter R. |last=Kann |date=27 July 1971 |title=East Pakistan Is Seen Gaining Independence, But It Will Take Years |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>
On 16 December 1971, after the end of the war, the committee was abolished.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}


==Former members==
== Tasks ==
* [[Khwaja Khairuddin]] - Leader of the [[Council Muslim League|East Pakistan Council Muslim League]]


==See also==
* This was a pro-Pakistan local militia formed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
* [[Al-Badr (East Pakistan)|Al Badr]]
* They collaborated with the '''Pakistan Army''' to suppress the Bengali nationalist movement.
* [[Al-Shams (East Pakistan)|Al Sham]]
* Members of this committee were involved in:
** Targeted killings of Bengali nationalists and intellectuals.
** Supporting the Pakistan Army in atrocities, including massacres and widespread rape.
** Instigating violence and terrorizing Bengali civilians.


==References==
* They earned a notorious reputation for betrayal and brutality against the Bengali population.
 
== Abolition ==
On 16 December 1971, after the end of the war, the committee was abolished.<ref name="Banglapedia" />
 
== Former members ==
* [[Khwaja Khairuddin]] - President of [[Council Muslim League|East Pakistan Council Muslim League]]
 
== See also ==
* [[Bangladesh genocide]] (1971)
** [[Bangladesh Genocide Remembrance Day]]
** [[Al-Badr (East Pakistan)|Al Badr]], perpetrator
** [[Al-Shams (East Pakistan)|Al Shams]], perpetrator
** [[Razakars (Pakistan)|Razakars]], perpetrator
** [[Mujahid Bahini (East Pakistan)|Mujahid Bahini]], perpetrator
* [[List of massacres in Bangladesh]]
** [[Persecution of Biharis in Bangladesh]]
** [[Persecution of Buddhists#Bangladesh|Persecution of Buddhists in Bangladesh]]
** [[Persecution of Hindus#Bangladesh|Persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh]]
** [[Persecution of Christians in Bangladesh]]
** [[Attacks on secularists in Bangladesh|Persecution of atheists and secularists in Bangladesh]]
 
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
 
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{1971 Bangladesh genocide}}
{{1971 Bangladesh genocide}}


[[Category:Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:Politics of the Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:History of East Pakistan]]
[[Category:Reactions to the Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Wartime collaboration]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi war crimes]]
[[Category:Perpetrators of the Bangladesh genocide]]

Latest revision as of 03:24, 12 February 2026



East Pakistan Central Peace Committee
  • Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.
Abbreviation
PresidentSyed Khwaja Khairuddin
ChairpersonFarid Ahmad
Founder12 people, including Tikka Khan and Ghulam Azam
FoundedApril 10, 1971; 55 years ago (1971-04-10)
DissolvedDecember 16, 1971; 54 years ago (1971-12-16)
HeadquartersDacca, East Pakistan
Membership (April 1971)140[1]
Ideology
Political positionFar-right
National affiliation

East Pakistan Central Peace Committee[lower-alpha 1] was one of several committees formed in East Pakistan in 1971 to aid efforts of Pakistani forces during the Bangladesh War of Independence. Nurul Amin, as a leader of Pakistan Democratic Party, led the formation of the Shanti Committee to thwart the Mukti Bahini, which fought for independence of the region.[2][3][4][5]

Background[edit | edit source]

On 25 March 1971, the war in East Pakistan began. On 4 April 1971, twelve pro-Pakistan leaders, including Nurul Amin, Ghulam Azam and Khwaja Khairuddin, met General Tikka Khan of the Pakistan Army and assured him of co-operation in opposing the Bengali rebellion.[6] After subsequent meetings, they announced the formation of Citizen Peace Committee, with 140 members.[7][8][9] The first recruits included 96 Jamaat-e-Islami members, who started training in an Ansar camp at Khanjahan Ali Road, Khulna.[10][11] The Shanti Committee also recruited Razakars.[12][13]

History[edit | edit source]

The leaders of the East Pakistan Central Peace Committee called on citizens of Pakistan to defend Pakistan from "Indian aggression", as India was accused of supporting the Bangladeshi liberation movement. The Peace Committee organised a rally from Baitul Mukarram to Chawkbazar Mosque on 13 April. The rally was to end with a meeting near New Market, Dhaka. At the end of the rally, riots began in Azimpur, Shantinagar and Shankhari Bazar areas, fire was set to houses of Bengalis and some were killed.[14]

The Peace Committee spread throughout East Pakistan, reaching even rural villages. Compared to the indiscriminate killing of Pakistan Army, the Peace Committee were more specific and guided by lists, they made of opponents.[14] The members of Peace Committee were feared and hated by the population of East Pakistan. Peace committee members were killed during the war.[15]

On 14 April, at a meeting in Dhaka, the Citizen Peace Committee renamed itself as the East Pakistan Central Peace Committee. A working committee was formed consisting of 21 members.[16] They set up an office in Maghbazar. The Peace Committee appointed one or more liaison officers for the different police station areas of Dhaka. On 17 April 1971, the members of the peace committee apprised Governor Tikka Khan of the progress made by them toward restoring normalcy and confidence among the citizens.[17] The central peace committee was being deputed to the district and divisional headquarters throughout east Pakistan.[18] When Pakistani troops arrived in Munshiganj, south of the capital, on 9 May 1971, they were warmly received by the local peace committee and other residents.[19]

According to the historian Azadur Rahman Chandan in his 2011 book about the war, the Peace Committee was the first organisation to be set up by local residents who collaborated with Pakistan.[6] Its members were drawn from the Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, which thought an independent Bangladesh was against Islam; as well as the Urdu-speaking Biharis.[20]

Tasks[edit | edit source]

  • This was a pro-Pakistan local militia formed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
  • They collaborated with the Pakistan Army to suppress the Bengali nationalist movement.
  • Members of this committee were involved in:
    • Targeted killings of Bengali nationalists and intellectuals.
    • Supporting the Pakistan Army in atrocities, including massacres and widespread rape.
    • Instigating violence and terrorizing Bengali civilians.
  • They earned a notorious reputation for betrayal and brutality against the Bengali population.

Abolition[edit | edit source]

On 16 December 1971, after the end of the war, the committee was abolished.[2]

Former members[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.; Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.), also known as the Nagorik Shanti Committee (Citizen's Peace Committee), or more commonly Peace Committee or Shanti Committee, founded as the Dhaka Nagorik Committee (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.)

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ ঢাকায় মুক্তিযুদ্ধবিরোধী নাগরিক শান্তি কমিটি [Dhaka's anti-liberation Citizen Peace Committee]. Janakantha (in Bengali). 9 April 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Peace Committee". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  3. ↑ ভারতীয় চক্রান্ত বরদাস্ত করব না [We will never tolerate Indian conspiracy]. The Daily Sangram. 13 April 1971.
  4. ↑ Rubin, Barry A. (2010). Guide to Islamist Movements. M. E. Sharpe. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-7656-4138-0.
  5. ↑ Fair, C. Christine (2010). Pakistan: Can the United States Secure an Insecure State?. Rand Corporation. pp. 21–22. ISBN 978-0-8330-4807-3.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Chandan, Azadur Rahman (February 2011) [2009]. একাত্তরের ঘাতক ও দালালরা [The Killers and Collaborators of 71] (Revised 2nd ed.). Dhaka: Jatiya Sahitya Prakash. pp. 48–54. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  7. ↑ "'Peace Committee formed on Apr 10 in '71 to resist birth of Bangladesh'". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  8. ↑ ঢাকায় নাগরিক শান্তি কমিটি. Daily Pakistan. 11 April 1971.
  9. ↑ "Wartime crime charges against Ghulam Azam". The Daily Observer (Bangladesh). Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  10. ↑ Daily Pakistan. 25 May 1971. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ The Daily Azad. 26 May 1971. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ↑ The Wall Street Journal, 27 July 1971; quoted in the book Muldhara 71 by Moidul Hasan
  13. ↑ "Guilty of all grisly acts". bdnews24.com. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Karlekar, Hiranmay (2005). Bangladesh: The Next Afghanistan?. SAGE. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-7619-3401-1.
  15. ↑ United States Congress (1971). Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 27134–27135.
  16. ↑ "Citizens Peace Committee Renamed". The Pakistan Observer. 16 April 1971.
  17. ↑ "Peace Committee Leaders call on the Governor". The Pakistan Observer. 17 April 1971.
  18. ↑ "Peace Committee to be set up in districts". The Pakistan Observer. 26 April 1971.
  19. ↑ "Munshiganj Welcomes Pak Troops". The Pakistan Observer. 12 May 1971. pp. 1, 6.
  20. ↑ Kann, Peter R. (27 July 1971). "East Pakistan Is Seen Gaining Independence, But It Will Take Years". The Wall Street Journal.
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=East_Pakistan_Central_Peace_Committee&oldid=459575"
Discover more