[1][2] In the beginning of the First World War, the army began to recruit many soldiers, non-combatants, and skilled and unskilled laborers from Bengal.

Notable soldiers in the unit included Khwaja Habibullah, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Ranadaprasad Saha and Mahbubul Alam.

[4][5][6] Governor of Bengal Lord Carmichael announced to form Bengali Army companies at the concluding session of the Legislative Council in Dhaka On 7 August 1916.

[2] That time the leaders of Bengal also decided to form a Bengali Regiment Committee to extend cooperation to the government in recruiting companies.

The programme to recruit Bengalis for the Double Companies began on 30 August 1916 at the Fort Williams Cantonment in Calcutta.

The first regiment of 228 soldiers of the Bengali Double Company arrived in Karachi in January 1914 after four months of training at Naushera.

[citation needed] The first battalion of the Bengali Regiment divided into three groups left Karachi in July 1917 to take part in the Mesopotamian war and by mid-September reached Baghdad.

While at Al Kut, Tanuma and Azizia, the Bengalis performed mainly security duties alongside receiving military training.

[2] After the first battalion of the 49th Bengali Regiment left for Baghdad in July 1917, its remaining soldiers stayed in Karachi and continued to receive military training.

● No 1:◆ Date: 1 July 1917 to 30 April 1918◆ Trigris Defences and Communication, Aziziyeh◆ References: WO95/5020/5◆ Notes: Sixty-three soldiers of the Bengali Battalion died of sickness and other causes.

[7][8] In one side of the monument, inscribed in the words: In Memory of Members of The 49th Bengalee Regiment Who Died in the Great War 1914-1919.

To the Glory of God, King, & Country.The other three sides of the memorial base contain the names of the 49 Bengalis killed in the Great War of 1914–1918.