Defence of Kamalpur

Defence of Kamalpur
	Part of the Bangladesh Liberation War
Date	14 November – 4 December 1971
Location	Kamalpur, Jamalpur, East Pakistan
Result	Eventual Indo-Bangladeshi victory Defenders surrender after 21 days, due to an order from superior officers; Pakistanis repulse 3 successive attempts to take the fort;
Belligerents
Bangladeshi government in exile; India	Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Major Abu Taher; Brigadier Hardev Singh Kler; Maj. Gen. Gurbax Singh (WIA)	Captain Ahsan Malik (surrendered after siege due to order from superiors)
Units involved
Mukti Bahini; Indian Army 95 Brigade Group; ; Indian Air Force;	31 Baloch Company
Strength
4,000 troops; Unknown number of MiG-21 aircraft	60–70 defenders ; 30 Pakistan Army soldiers; 30–40 paramilitaries troops;
Casualties and losses
46 killed; 113 wounded	2 killed; 3 wounded

The Defence of Kamalpur was a battle fought over Kamalpur near the border between India and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during the Bangladesh War of Independence. Kamalpur, a hamlet in Jamalpur on the border, was defended by 60-70 regular and irregular Pakistani soldiers under the command of Captain Ahsan Malik.

The company-sized Pakistani unit fought against a brigade of Indian soldiers and Mukti Bahini troops as the Indian military made several unsuccessful attempts to capture the Pakistani positions.

After defending the area for 21 days, the besieged Pakistani troops were ordered by their superiors to surrender. The defending Pakistani troops suffered hardly any casualties, despite being subjected to repeated Indian artillery bombardment and air strikes.

The then Indian Chief of Army Staff, General Sam Manekshaw sent a personal congratulatory message to Captain Malik, complementing him for his successful defense against the odds. Maj. Gen. Gurbux Singh also wanted to meet Malik personally, but was wounded by a mine on his way to Kamalpur.