Chittagong in the initial days had the naval base, 20 Baluch and a company of 31 Punjub. 3 Commando battalion was in the process of arrival. Chittagong presented the weakest link of the overall Pakistani military planning. But this was only for a short while.
9 Division located at Kharian was ordered to move to Dhaka. The Division started arriving Dhaka from April 2. The move was, surprisingly enough, completed by the first week of April. The general officer commanding of the division, Major General Shawkat Reza, on arrival in Dhaka was given his mission. The Division had the task of clearing area from Sylhet down to Chittagong by the end of May. Its 27 Brigade was placed under command 14 Division and was moved to Mymensingh. 313 Brigade was flown to Sylhet where 31 Punjub was already under great pressure. 117 Brigade was sent to Comilla, to replace 53 Brigade, which was ordered to move to Chittagong.
Having taking over the control of Comilla cantonment 117 Brigade began to fan out in battalion columns. 33 Baluch was ordered to recapture Chandpur but it got bogged down on the very outskirts of the cantonment. A similar column was sent to capture Akhaura which also faced with similar fate.
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