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Bengal responded positively to the war effort, in the form of an ambulance corps, a signal company and an infantry regiment , the 49th Bengalis. Uniquely, the Regiment consisted entirely of Bengalis, and also uniquely recruited soldiers from Bhadralok (upper and middle class) families.<ref> [http://akdcts.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-49th-bengalees-and-war-memorial-in.html The 49th Bengalees and the War Memorial in College Square] March 5, 2013 Reflections, which quotes from "A Bengali Infantry Regiment in the Great War" by Ashok Nath, originally published in ''Peace and Security Review'' Vol. 4, No. 7, First Quarter, 2011, pp. 32-44 (Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies)</ref>

The regiment was sent to Punjab for training and the regiment was finally officialy raised in Karachi on 1 July 1917. The 49th Bengalis were sent to Mesopotamia (Iraq) after the surrender of the British forces in Iraq to the Turkish Army. They reached Baghdad in September 1917 and were assigned to garrison duties . The unhealthy climate took their toll and large numbers of the troops fell sick. The regiment did not see any combat , however , being on garrison duties or guard duties during the war. The regiment was one of the first to be demobilised after the war and it ceased to exist on 31 August 1920 There is a memorial to those who died, in College Square, Calcutta, which also includes the Districts from which the men came.<ref> [https://rangandatta.wordpress.com/2011/12/25/bengali-war-memorial/ Bengali War Memorial, College Square, Calcutta (Kolkata)] December 25, 2011 Rangan Datta.</ref>

*[http://wwwen.docstocbanglapedia.comorg/docs/81309596/Bangladesh-Institute-of-Peace-and-Security-Studies "A Bengali Infantry Regiment in the Great War"index.php?title=Bangali_Paltan Bangali Paltan] by Ashok NathMuhammad Lutful Huq. ''Peace and Security Review'' Vol. 4, No. 7, First Quarter, 2011, pp. 32-44 Banglapedia (National Encyclopaedia of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies) Scroll to the article. Retrieved 21 September 2014

*[https://rangandattaweb.wordpressarchive.com/2011/12org/25web/bengali-war-memorial20170709153740/ Bengali War Memorial, College Square, Calcutta (Kolkata) ]December 25, 2011 Rangan Datta. Retrieved 21 September 2014*[httphttps://www.telegraphindia.com/1140101/jsp/nation/story_17740177.jsp#.VB2IsVYWFFw "The bhadralok goes to war"] by Sujan Dutta January 1 , 2014 ''The TelegrsphTelegraph, Calcutta'', now an archived webpage. Retrieved 21 September 2014