Al-Shams

Al-Shams a paramilitary force formed under the patronage of the Pakistan government to assist the occupation army in East Pakistan during the liberation war of 1971. The name 'Al-Shams'; is derived from an Arabic term which literally means 'the sun'. Al-Shams was constituted from among the followers of extreme rightist political parties. The force disintegrated with the surrender of the Pak-army on 16 December 1971. [Muntassir Mamoon] [Mamoon, Muntassir Professor of History, Dhaka University]