Surya Sen led the revolutionary movement in Chittagong (now in Bangladesh) where his views attracted several followers. He wanted to free Chittagong from the hold of the British and to establish an independent government. For the purpose, he set up several organisations, including the revolutionary Chittagong Republican Army.
Surya Sen was involved in the Assam-Bengal Railway dacoity aimed at raising funds for arms and ammunition. He was also suspected of setting up the Dakshineswar factory for producing bombs and was jailed from 1926 to 1928 for revolutionary activities. He decided to organise an armed rebellion to show that it was possible to challenge the might of the British Empire.
On April 18, 1930, the Republican Army carried out a raid on two government armouries and completely brought to a halt telephone, telegraph and railway services. The Army seized power of Chittagong and declared the establishment of a National Revolutionary Government. Surya Sen then issued a manifesto in the name of Indian Republican Army and called on all Indians to revolt against the British in a similar way.
However, the British soon retaliated and launched attacks on the Revolutionary Army. The clashes between the Army and the British forces unleashed a wave of violence in Chittagong. Under Sen’s guidance, Preetilata Waddedar attacked the European club in 1932. The British forces began a frantic search for Sen, who was finally captured in February 1933. He was sentenced to death and hanged on January 12, 1934. The Chittagong raid, however, succeeded in its attempt to fire the imagination of the youth who recruited themselves in several revolutionary groups.