Chitta Ranjan Dutta

Border Guards Bangladesh

British India and so he was born in Shillong. He started his schooling in Laban Government High School in Shillong, but moved to Habiganj after second grade. In 1944, he appeared for Entrance from Habiganj Government High School. Later he took admission at Asutosh College of the University of Calcutta in science. However, he left Asutosh College and completed his B.Sc. from Daulatpur College in Khulna.^[3]

East Pakistan Rifles. Between 1968 and 1970, he was adjutant of the Gilgit Scouts in Skardu. In 1970, Major Dutta was serving in the Quartermaster Branch of the 12th Infantry Division at Quetta.^[4] In January 1971, he had taken a three-month leave and was staying at his Habiganj residence.^[5] After Mujibur Rahman's 7 March speech, Dutta mentally prepared himself for a possible war. However, as the Pakistani occupation army launched the Operation Searchlight, Dutta wasn't initially aware of the widespread repression and torture. At that time he attended a meeting of the political leaders at the house of his neighbour Colonel Abdur Rab.^[4] Following the meeting, Dutta decided to fight for the independence of Bangladesh. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, Dutta became the sector commander of Sector 4, which covered the whole of the present Sylhet Division and some of adjoining areas.^[5] After the war, in 1972, Dutta was appointed as brigade commander in Rangpur.^[3] In 1972, formed the Bangladesh Rifles. He became the first director general of Bangladesh Rifles. In late 1973 he ordered BDR to attack holdouts of Chakma separatists who had collaborated with the Pakistan Army and ordered expulsion of civilians and burning of huts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. He later on regretted this decision^[3]