April 4 is the historic Teliapara Day. On this day in 1971, the first operational coordination meeting of the Liberation War was held at the manager’s bungalow of the Teliapara Tea Garden in Madhabpur Upazila of Habiganj. Surrounded by gentle hills and the greenery of tea estates, this first wartime meeting was a highly significasnt chapter in the history of Bangladesh’s Liberation War. On that day, commanders of the rebel units of the East Bengal Regiment and several retired senior Bengali Army officers gathered to discuss the problems of the resistance war and to determine a coordinated course of action.
The strategic decisions of the Teliapara Conference—particularly the formation of a united liberation force from the fighting battalions, assigning Colonel M. A. G. Osmani, known as “Papa Tiger,” the responsibility of directing the war, establishing Army regions, and proposing the formation of a political government—marked a turning point in the Liberation War. A second conference was held at Teliapara on April 10.
The manager’s bungalow of Teliapara Tea Garden is located about two kilometers inward from the Dhaka–Sylhet highway or Teliapara railway station, near the Indian border in Madhabpur Police Station of Habiganj subdivision of Sylhet district, now Habiganj district. It was here that the first informal headquarters of the Liberation War was established.
The government has decided to preserve the bungalow. Work is progressing to conserve this historically important site and convert it into a museum. This article presents the decisions taken at the Teliapara Conference, their significance, and the current status of preserving the bungalow.

Observance of Teliapara Day
This year, Teliapara Day was observed on April 4, 2026, at Teliapara Tea Garden with various programs.
To mark the occasion, the Habiganj District Muktijoddha Sangsad Unit Command began the program at 11:00 a.m. with the laying of floral wreaths. Later, at 1:00 p.m., a discussion meeting was held beside the memorial monument in the tea garden.
Speaking as the chief guest, BNP Secretary General and Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, said, “It was from Teliapara that the Great Liberation War began.” The special guest at the gathering of freedom fighters was Ahmed Azam Khan, Minister for Liberation War Affairs. State Minister Ishraq Hossain, several local members of parliament, freedom fighter commanders, the deputy commissioner, the superintendent of police, and other leaders were also present.
The meeting was chaired by Golam Mostafa Rafiq, convener of the Habiganj District Muktijoddha Sangsad Unit Command. The speakers highlighted the importance of the Teliapara meeting in the Liberation War.

Looking Back: The Background of the Teliapara Conference
After the brutal attack by the Pakistani army on the night of March 25, 1971, Bengali members serving in the Pakistani Army rebelled in their respective positions and became involved in the war for independence. This revolt by the Bengali soldiers was self-motivated and spontaneous. After the arrest of Late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation was left leaderless and fell into deep uncertainty. On March 27, Major Ziaur Rahman, commanding officer of 8 East Bengal stationed in Chattogram, declared independence from the Kalurghat radio station.
In the early days of the war, there was no coordination among the five Bengali battalions of the East Bengal Regiment, the EPR, police, Ansar, and Mujahids scattered across the country. Gradually, however, these forces established communication among themselves and took steps to launch coordinated operations. Army officers played an important role in maintaining this communication. The rebel Bengali soldiers increasingly realized that a long-term war required coordination and that the locally and separately launched resistance needed to be brought under unified leadership. Above all, a political government was necessary to legitimize the war. Realizing the importance of confronting the enemy through coordinated efforts, Bengali Army officers arranged a joint (Clandestine) meeting at Teliapara Tea Garden on April 4, 1971.

Why Teliapara Was Chosen as Headquarters
In this context, Teliapara’s geographical location was also significant. Near the border, surrounded by tea gardens, hilly, and comparatively secure, it was well suited as a headquarters. For these strategic reasons, Major Khaled Mosharraf, commanding officer of 4 East Bengal, selected Teliapara as headquarters and on March 29 moved his battalion headquarters from Madhabpur to Teliapara Tea Garden.
Based on prior communication, on April 2 Major Khaled met and exchanged views with Brigadier V. C. Pandey, Eastern Frontier Inspector General of the Indian BSF, near the Teliapara BOP in the border area. In their discussion, both sides decided to hold a coordination meeting of rebel Army officers at the tea garden manager’s bungalow on April 4. With the assistance of Brigadier V. C. Pandey, Major Khaled contacted Army officers stationed in various parts of Bangladesh as well as representatives of the Indian government.
It is particularly noteworthy that while pro-independence Army officers were holding their first coordination meeting at Teliapara on April 4, another highly important event was taking place that same day in Delhi, India. On that day, Tajuddin Ahmad met Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and began planning the organizational framework of the Liberation War. That is another history altogether.

Participation of the Pioneers of the Liberation War

On March 27, the 4 East Bengal Regiment (Baby Tigers) rebelled in Brahmanbaria, and on March 28, the 2 East Bengal Regiment (Junior Tigers) rebelled in Joydebpur. Major Khaled Mosharraf later moved his headquarters to Teliapara Tea Garden on March 29. The commanding officer of 2 East Bengal Regiment, Major K. M. Shafiullah, arrived in Kishoreganj with the company stationed in Tangail and another company stationed in Mymensingh. In a letter, Major Khaled Mosharraf requested Major Shafiullah to cancel his plan to attack Dhaka and instead proceed with his battalion to Brahmanbaria. Accordingly, Major Shafiullah established his headquarters at Teliapara Tea Garden via Brahmanbaria on April 1.
Meanwhile, Major Ziaur Rahman, commanding officer of 8 East Bengal (Pioneers) came from Ramgarh to Teliapara via Agartala on April 3. The establishment of the headquarters of both 2nd and 4th East Bengal at Teliapara was an important development of that time. Joining them was Major Zia, whose 8 East Bengal was then fighting in Chattogram. Later, under the leadership of these three war heroes, three separate forces would be formed. Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad later referred to these three Army leaders in his famous speech of April 10, saying, “These three heroic commanders of the eastern region have already met in conference...”
Brigadier V. C. Pandey brought retired Colonel M. A. G. Osmani (Later General) and retired Lt. Colonel M. Abdur Rab (Later Major General) from Agartala to Teliapara on the morning of April 4. It may be recalled that, on March 10, 1971, before the Liberation War, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had appointed Colonel Osmani as his Army adviser.

A Unique Gathering of Army Leaders
At 11:00 a.m., the meeting formally began under the chairmanship of Colonel Osmani. Present at this historic meeting were: retired Colonel M. A. G. Osmani, retired Lt. Colonel M. Abdur Rab, Lt. Colonel Salahuddin Mohammad Reza, retired Major Kazi Nuruzzaman, Major Ziaur Rahman, Major K. M. Shafiullah, Major Khaled Mosharraf, Major Shafayat Jamil, Major Nurul Islam, and Major Moinul Hossain Chowdhury.
Brigadier V. C. Pandey of the Indian BSF and Agartala District Magistrate Omesh Saigal were present as observers. Also present was Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmed, the rebel sub-divisional administrator of Brahmanbaria.
It should also be especially noted that several young officers of the East Bengal Regiment and other units, as well as several political leaders from the sub-divisions of Moulvibazar and Habiganj, were present at Teliapara Tea Garden at the time, though they did not participate in the conference itself. Local political leaders and local people made major contributions both to organizing the Teliapara Conference and to later Liberation War-related activities at Teliapara. Among them, the contribution of Dewan Ashraf Ali, then an Awami League (Presently activities are banned) leader of Teliapara Union, was outstanding.
Decisions of the Historic Conference

When the meeting began at 11:00 a.m., Major Khaled Mosharraf presented its objectives and agenda. Several important decisions were unanimously adopted. These included:

1.    Collection of arms, ammunition, and rations 
2.    Establishment of training centers and permission to use Indian border-adjacent territory 
3.    Establishment of a single command channel for directing the war, with Colonel Osmani given responsibility for coordination and command 
4.    Formation of a monitoring cell 
5.    Establishment of four Army regions 
6.    Assignment of the four commanders—Major Zia, Major Shafiullah, Major Khaled, and Major Abu Osman Chowdhury—to those Army regions 
7.    Expansion of Major Ziaur Rahman’s force, 8 East Bengal 
8.    Proposal for the formation of the Government of Bangladesh 
9.    Assigning Colonel Osmani the responsibility of taking steps to form a political government 
10.    Decision for a subsequent review meeting 

At the end of the meeting, Colonel Osmani fired a blank shot from his pistol and formally declared war against the Pakistani forces.
The Second Teliapara Conference, April 10

As decided in the first meeting, a second Army meeting was held at Teliapara on April 10. Almost all who had attended the first meeting were present at the second as well. This meeting was necessary to review the implementation of the earlier decisions.
At the start of the meeting, Colonel Osmani was asked to report on how far he had progressed regarding the formation of a government with elected representatives. He informed them that he had already discussed the matter with several MNAs and MPAs who had crossed the border. Most of the representatives, he said, had understood the importance of the matter. He also stated that Tajuddin Ahmad had assured him that a Bangladesh government would soon be announced.
To transform the scattered armed resistance into coordinated action and bring it under a command structure, it was decided that the entire country would be divided into six Army regions instead of four.

The Teliapara Conference and What Followed
This meeting took place before the formation of the Government of Bangladesh. No written resolutions were preserved. However, the verbal decisions regarding organization, leadership, and conduct of the war were later approved by the Bangladesh government that was formed afterward. In his historic radio address of April 10, Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad referred to some of the decisions of this meeting. Later, these decisions were expanded, refined, revised, and updated to make them more relevant to the evolving situation.
The meeting gave our forces an organizational concept, and they emerged under the identity of the Mukti Bahini. It was in this meeting that the greatest importance was placed on forming a political government. As a result of this conference, an unplanned rebellion began to turn into a war. The outline of an armed liberation struggle became clear.
Regarding the significance of the Teliapara Conference, Air Vice Marshal A. K. Khandker, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Liberation War, wrote that when the nation was leaderless and political leaders were unable to make decisions in their scattered condition, the Army officers’ recommendation helped in forming a provisional government and establishing political leadership for the war. When political leaders, including Tajuddin, learned that the rebel Army officers had already proposed forming a political government, they felt reassured that at least some progress had been made toward war preparation. He described the officers’ action as highly commendable (1971, Vetore Baire).
On April 10, 1971, Tajuddin Ahmad announced the formation of the Government of Bangladesh in exile. Its formal implementation took place on April 17 at the oath-taking ceremony in Baidyanathtala, later named Mujibnagar, near the Chuadanga border in Kushtia. It may be said that, in continuity with the Teliapara Conference, the exile government later divided Bangladesh into 11 sectors to conduct the armed war of independence. On April 12, the new government officially appointed Colonel M. A. G. Osmani as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Forces, with the status of a cabinet minister.

Teliapara in Books
Muhammad Sayeedur Rahman Talukdar, a son of Habiganj, social organizer, writer, and researcher, wrote an excellent research-based book on the Teliapara Conference titled Teliapara: Witness to the Fire of Liberation War (2023). The incident is also discussed in writer and researcher Sheikh Fazle Elahi’s book Habiganj District in the Liberation War.
Major General K. M. Shafiullah, Bir Uttam, who was present at the conference, discussed the matter in detail in his book Bangladesh at War. Colonel Shafayat Jamil, Bir Bikram, also wrote about it in The Liberation War of ’71, the Bloody Mid-August, and the Conspiratorial November. The well-read memoir Bar Bar Fire Jai by Major Akhtar Ahmed, Bir Protik, beautifully portrays Teliapara. At that time, he had been serving as a lieutenant (Doctor) at the headquarters of 4 East Bengal. Others who wrote on the Teliapara Conference include Major General Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, Bir Protik (Retd.), Major Kamrul Hasan Bhuiyan, Colonel Mohammad Abdul Haq (Retd.) Lt. Colonel Muhammad Lutful Haq (Retd.), and Major Saidul Islam (Retd.).

Memorials of the Liberation War at Teliapara
Many important events of the Liberation War are connected with the manager’s bungalow and the tea garden area of Teliapara. It was here that Sector 3 was formed with 2 East Bengal along with associated EPR, police, and civilian manpower, and Teliapara remained the headquarters of Sector 3 until May 19, 1971. The first training center for freedom fighters was also established here. The bungalow also witnessed several bloody battles with Pakistan Army. Yet this historic structure is still being used as the residence of the managers of the Teliapara Tea Garden.
A memorial monument for the martyred freedom fighters has been built beside the bungalow. It was inaugurated in June 1975 by former Army Chief Major General K. M. Shafiullah. The monument, shaped like a bullet, has two plaques at the entrance inscribed with lines from poet Shamsur Rahman’s famous poem Swadhinata Tumi. Beside it stands another plaque erected by the BGB Sreemangal Sector titled “The First Army Headquarters of the Liberation War.” Surrounded by the greenery of the tea garden, the site also includes a natural lake. In the rainy season, when red Shapla (Water Lilies) bloom across it, the scenery becomes exceptionally beautiful.

Some Relevant Events Concerning Teliapara and 2 East Bengal
For the officers and soldiers of 2 East Bengal, known as the Junior Tigers, Teliapara remains a source of pride and memory. The conference was held at the joint headquarters of 2 and 4 East Bengal. Until May 19, Teliapara remained the headquarters of both 2 East Bengal and Sector 3. This battalion made a glorious contribution to the Liberation War in greater Sylhet. It is noteworthy that while the Teliapara Conference was taking place, a company of 2 East Bengal under Captain M. Azizur Rahman (Later Major General & Bir Uttom) was fighting the Pakistani army in Sherpur, Sadipur, and Sylhet town. Major C. R. Dutta (Later Major General & Bir Uttom) was also engaged in the battle for Sylhet at that time.
Between 2001 and 2003, 2 East Bengal was stationed at Sylhet Cantonment, and I served in that unit during that period. Under a project of Army Headquarters, the battalion was assigned to collect information on the history of the Liberation War in Sylhet district. At the same time, we were working on the Liberation War history of 2 East Bengal as well. Many training activities, including winter and summer exercises, were held in Habiganj, Chunarughat, and Teliapara, requiring us to visit Teliapara many times.
The Battle of Teliapara and a Documentary
In 2003, a team of officers of 2 East Bengal at Sylhet Cantonment presented “The Battle of Teliapara” as part of a brigade study period. At that time, the commanding officer of the battalion was the highly dynamic Lt. Colonel Mohammad Yusuf (Later Brig General).
To make the Army tradition and the subject more vivid, a short video/documentary on the Battle of Teliapara was shown before the study period. Part of it included a reenactment of the historic Teliapara Conference by officers and soldiers of 2 East Bengal. Several officers and soldiers appeared in khaki uniforms and acted in the roles of the famous Army commanders who had attended the conference. Technically and artistically, the video was modest in quality, but it was full of deep regimental pride and emotion. Retired Havildar Abdur Rahman, Bir Bikram, who had participated in the Battle of Teliapara, attended the event and shared his wartime experiences.

On Preserving the Historic Bungalow
Efforts have been made at different times to preserve the historic manager’s bungalow. However, in 2025, Colonel Mohammad Abdus Salam, Bir Protik (Retd), President of the “Shaheed Muktijoddha Smriti and Research Foundation”, took a special initiative to preserve it. On April 7, 2025, this distinguished son of Sylhet, who also had the honor of participating in the Liberation War at Teliapara, wrote to the then Adviser for Liberation War Affairs, Faruk-e-Azam, requesting the preservation of the tea garden bungalow.
The letter noted that the late Sector Commander Major General K. M. Shafiullah had made repeated attempts to preserve and maintain the bungalow but had failed. At present, the bungalow is under the NTC, most of whose ownership belongs to the government. It was proposed that the bungalow be maintained as the first Army headquarters of the armed forces and established as a site for visitors with appropriate historical displays.
Later, Secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Israt Chowdhury told Prothom Alo on September 9, 2025, that there were plans to construct a museum at this historically important site of the Liberation War so that visitors could learn the history of the war. In that case, the NTC would be provided with a new structure at an alternative location.
Taking the matter into consideration, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs wrote to the Habiganj district administration to take necessary action to cancel the lease of the bungalow and the adjacent land given to the National Tea Company Limited (NTC). The district administration later informed the ministry that the NTC would not object if the government built a museum at the site, provided that an alternative facility was constructed for the NTC (Prothom Alo, 9th September, 2025). As far as is known, progress has been made on the museum project at Teliapara.

Some Initiatives by RAOWA
Recently, the issue of Teliapara has been discussed with importance at national day programs, seminars, memorial meetings, and discussion sessions organized by the Retired Armed Forces Welfare Association (RAOWA). In particular, current RAOWA Chairman, writer, and security analyst retired Colonel Mohammad Abdul Haq has eloquently highlighted the significance of Teliapara in his writings, talk shows, and speeches.
RAOWA has also established a think tank, the RAOWA Research and Study Forum (RRSF). This body is conducting research on national security, defense issues, and important Army history topics such as this.

A Few Words About Preserving the Manager’s Bungalow
The documentary made on “Teliapara in the Liberation War” began with a traditional song of the tea garden workers, reflecting their hard lives and their joys and sorrows.
While preserving the bungalow, it must be kept in mind that no structure should be built there that harms the environment of the tea garden, especially the lives and livelihoods of its poor workers. It should be remembered that during the Teliapara Conference and throughout the Liberation War, these impoverished tea workers gave remarkable assistance to the army and the freedom fighters. On the night of March 28/29, at the request of Major Khaled Mosharraf, hundreds of tea workers worked all night to build a road through the hills from Teliapara Tea Garden to the BSF camp at the Tripura border. Many tea workers were killed and tortured by the Pakistani forces because of their support for the Liberation War. It is hoped that the future Teliapara museum in the manager’s bungalow will present the history of the Liberation War objectively and impartially. Everyone who contributed to the war deserves recognition.

Teliapara: A Place I Return to Again and Again
I have many memories connected with Teliapara. I have visited it many times on official duties and on personal trips. In April 2008, I joined the then BDR, now BGB, as commanding officer of the 1 Rifles Battalion in Sarail, Brahmanbaria. At that time, Teliapara BOP was within the area of responsibility of our battalion, though my tenure there was brief.
My last visit to Teliapara was on December 29, 2024. Beside the manager’s bungalow stands the Liberation War memorial. Behind it lies an extraordinary lake filled with Shapla (Water Lilies). In the strange beauty of that tea garden landscape, hundreds of red lilies were blooming. Standing beside the lake on a winter afternoon, it seemed to me that the martyrs of 1971 had bloomed there as Shapla (Red Lilies). I was also reminded of the young martyrs of the 2024 mass uprising. I found myself wondering whether we would be able to build the Bangladesh of the dreams and aspirations of the martyrs of 1971 and 2024—or whether those dreams would fly away like migratory birds over the Shapla covered lake.

The Need for an Objective Assessment of the Teliapara Meeting
The Teliapara Conference will remain forever memorable as a milestone in laying the formal foundation of both the Liberation War and the independent Government of Bangladesh. Even before the war was formally organized by the government, Army officers felt the need for an organization and a government to conduct the war in a coordinated manner. This was a critically important development in the Liberation War. Their thinking and initiative played a unique role in conducting the war in an organized and controlled way. Teliapara Tea Garden, as a witness to the fire of the Liberation War and as a turning point, will remain forever bright in history.
It is hoped that the manager’s bungalow at Teliapara will soon be transformed into an attractive museum. Archive-based research and the study of Army history should also be developed there. Teliapara deserves national attention. At the same time, it should neither be overvalued nor undervalued. Teliapara should never become an issue of partisan politics. What is needed is an objective and impartial assessment. It is hoped that the new BNP government, brought to power with a broad public mandate, will show the way in presenting the history of the Liberation War, including Teliapara, in an objective manner.

Salute to Teliapara
The independence of Bangladesh is the result of the unimaginable sacrifices and struggles of its people. It is a special blessing from Almighty Allah. Preserving independence is not easy. Today, Ukraine and Iran are fighting bravely to protect their independence. Their national unity is notable.
Days like Teliapara Day remind us of the spirit of the Liberation War, the importance of defending independence, and the value of organization, national unity, and coordination. On this day, I salute all the heroic freedom fighters who participated in the Teliapara Conference. Teliapara will remain a source of love for Bangladesh, courage, and unity. Salute to Teliapara. Salute to Bangladesh. Let the message of Teliapara be the building of a united Bangladesh.

Author: Retired Brigadier General, Researcher and Analyst, Former Commanding Officer of 2 East Bengal..