Operation Jackpot retold: 'It was like a suicide mission'

Operation Jackpot was a watershed event in Muktibahini’s resistance to the Pakistan army’s nationwide crackdown in 1971. Many believe it changed the course of the nine-month long war. “Our mission was to sink ships, so we had to receive special training on how to remain under water for a long time,” says AHM Jilani Chowdhury. He was an intermediate student of Mirsarai Nizampur College in Chittagong when he joined the independence struggle. “I had to run away from my home as my parents did not consent to my joining the war,” he says. Narrating the rigidity of his training, he says those days at Palashi by the Bhagirathi River in Nadiya district of India were still vivid in his memory. “We literally had to receive training rigorously up to 18 hours a day for three long months." The mission of the operation was to launch simultaneous attacks in four places: Chittagong, Mongla, Chandpur and Narayanganj. A total of 45 ships were sunk by the naval commandoes during the course of the operation. For the operation in Chittagong, 60 commandos participated. Of these, 40 commandos took part directly while the rest were put on standby.'Like a suicide mission'Chowdhury remembers that the elements were against them on the night of the operation, on August 15, 1971. “A gusty wind was blowing with occasional drizzling. We had to swim against the strong currents of the Karnaphuli river. When we reached the target ships - swimming six to seven feet underwater - we scraped the dirt off the vessels with knife and attached Limpet mines.”

“A timer was set to the Limpet mines. Unfortunately, the mines detonated with a deafening sound before we could swim ashore. The firing from the ship was going on like rain into the water. We narrowly escaped death on that night,” relats Chowdhury.

“It was like a suicide mission, literally and truly, as all the commandoes had to give an undertaking that none would be responsible in the event of their deaths,” he adds. The operation was successful and the mission to block the main waterways was accomplished. Following the destruction of 11 ships that belonged to the Pakistan army, Chittagong Port was declared non-operational for offloading any shipments from abroad.'Severe blow' to Pakistan Army“There were two routes for the Pakistan army to enter Bangladesh," recalls Chowdhury. "The aerial option was blocked by India and the other option was the waterways through which they were receiving reinforcements. Operation Jackpot dealt a severe blow to the supply line of arms and ammunitions of Pakistan army.” Most significantly, the operation boosted the morale of the freedom fighters as it was a 100% success with zero casualties on the Muktibahini’s end, and it put a dent in the confidence of Pakistani occupation forces. “In terms of a single-day success in war, the operation is unparalleled in the whole world. It received huge coverage in international media outlets, debunking the myth that ‘East Pakistan was under control,” he says. Chowdhury - who retired as a deputy general manager of Bangladesh Krishi Bank - laments that the younger generation seem to know very little about this glorious chapter of the freedom struggle. “The escapade should be incorporated into the curricula of our schools, colleges and universities. Films, plays and documentaries should be made on this to make today’s youth familiar with it,” says the naval commando.

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Anwar Hussain is Chittagong correspondent for the Dhaka Tribune