Gonobahini (1971)

This article is about the Mukti Bahini force. For the left-wing guerrilla force, see Gonobahini.

Gonobahini
গণবাহিনী
Active	1971
Country	Provisional Government of Bangladesh
Allegiance	Mukti Bahini
Type	Civilian guerrilla militia
Role	Guerrilla warfare
Part of	Mukti Bahini
Engagements	Bangladesh Liberation War

Gonobahini (Bengali: গণবাহিনী, "People's Army") was a component of the Mukti Bahini, the guerrilla force which fought against the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. The Gonobahini was composed exclusively of civilians.

Together with the Niyomito Bahini, the Gonobahini formed the two principal wings into which the Mukti Bahini was divided, a distinction given by the Government of Bangladesh: those with a military, paramilitary, or police background were designated Niyomito Bahini ("regular forces"), while fighters from a non-military background were designated Gonobahini ("people's forces"). While the Niyomito Bahini drew from the police, military, and paramilitary — including defectors from the East Bengal Regiment and the East Pakistan Rifles — the Gonobahini was made up of volunteers who had no prior military or police background but nevertheless wished to join the liberation forces.

These civilian fighters formed lightly trained brigades operating under military command, organized within the command structure headed by General M. A. G. Osmani, who was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Forces following the formation of the Mujibnagar government in April 1971.