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The Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 was the culmination of a 25-year tumultuous relationship between East and West Pakistan. The British failed to keep a united India as riots started between the Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims in 1946. The riots were so widespread that on August 14, 1947 India was portioned into two separate states.
Thus partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 divided British India into two independent countries of India and Pakistan. Pakistan was composed of two wings–East and West Pakistan. The two wings were united emotionally, but the marriage of the two wings was artificial as they had little in common other than religion. Their speech, thought, food habits, dress, living and generally speaking, their respective way of life, were totally different.
These differences, in course of time, gave rise to a tumultuous relationship that failed to keep the two wings united. The flawed relationship ended in a brutal war in 1971. As such, it is imperative to learn the background of the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.
Causes of War
Language Movement–1952
Bangladeshis had one language and were proud of their ancestry; their language and literature were older than Urdu, the national language of West Pakistan, used by minority. Yet Mohammad Ali Jinnah stated in a public speech in March 1948 that Urdu would remain the state language of Pakistan. This infuriated all the non-Urdu speaking people of East Pakistan. On February 21, 1952, students and other civilians came out in the streets in protest but the police cracked down on the unarmed civilians. For East Pakistan, the language movement was the first stepping stone to independence.
Provincial Elections–1954
The first provincial elections were held in East Pakistan in 1954. In this election, Suhrawardy’s newly organized Awami League (Peoples’ League) allied with Fazlul Huq’s Peasants’ and Workers’ Party and a coalition of other Bangladeshi-dominated parties to form the United Front. In this election, the people of East Pakistan voted unilaterally for the alliance. As a result, the United Front had the maximum number of seats. Nurul Amin’s Muslim League, the dominant party in West Pakistan, won just 10 seats in East Pakistan; and thus, the Urdu-speaking people in East Pakistan’s ability to dictate policy was essentially finished. Fazlul Huq also became the chief minister of East Pakistan. The fine showing of the United Front convinced the politicians, civil servants, and the military at the center that they had to constrain Bangladeshi nationalism.
Ayub Khan’s Declaration of Martial Law–1958
In 1957 and 1958 governments rose and fell in Dhaka as the result of both instability in the assembly alignments and of intervention by the central government.43 As a sequel to the uncertainty, the deputy speaker of the house was killed in a riot. In such a dilapidated condition, president Mirza abrogated the constitution and declared martial law. General Ayub Khan remained as the chief martial law administrator. In 1962 Ayub Khan promulgated the new constitution of Pakistan, primarily giving enormous power to the president. Unfortunately, nothing addressed the concerns of East Bengal; and as such, anger, resentment and Bengali nationalism continued to grow.
Awami League’s Six-Point Program–1966
Before the resignation of Ayub Khan, several events took place in the political spectrum. Among those, the Awami League’s Six-Point Program was viewed as a foundational document in Bangladesh’s struggle for independence. This was not an instant memorandum developed within a short time. Rather, it was an outcome of Bangladeshi grievances accumulated for a long time. The initiation of the Six-Point Program started as a sequel to several events. However, the election of 1965 played an important role in formulating the program
National Election–1970
As Yahya Khan received the Six-Point Program from the Awami League, he opined that he was not in a position to implement them. He reiterated his prime task was to hold a general election in 1970 and hand over power at that point. However, in the December 1970 elections, the Awami League won 160 of 162 seats from East Pakistan. Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples’ Party was successful in the west, winning 81 of 83 seats. Yahya Khan opened talks with both the leaders but failed to reach a consensus, and thus failed to hand over the power to an elected government.
India’s Perspective
There is no doubt that the creation of an independent Bangladesh was in India’s interest for many reasons.
- Firstly, the Indo–Pakistan War in 1965 over Kashmir was one of the tipping points in this regard. India spent a huge amount of Money to keep armed forces at a constant state of readiness along the border of her hostile neighbor. A warm relationship with an independent Bangladesh would reduce this big expenditure.
- Secondly, India also wanted to start trading with East Pakistan for mutual benefit. But due to several political deadlocks, it was not a foregone conclusion.
- Thirdly, Pakistani rulers created a problem for India by training and militarily equipping the Naga rebels of Assam (northeastern part of India), who claimed a portion of India to establish an independent Nagaland.
- Apart from these issues, millions of East Pakistanis had religious, cultural, and linguistic ties with India. West Pakistani rulers also demeaned the Hindus of East Pakistan; whereas India was a Hindu-dominated country.
For all these reasons and more, India preferred an independent Bangladesh as a tonic to all these problems. The Indian government expected that if Bangladesh became independent, it would cooperate with India in a much wider form.
Course of War
On March 25, 1971, Yahya Khan, Bhutto and other members left for West Pakistan without giving any message or warning to the Awami League leaders. The West Pakistani military launched its sudden attack on March 25, 1917 at 11 p.m.it used automatic rifles, automatic weapons, bayonets and tanks. Yahya Khan appointed General Tikka Khan as the overall commander, and he was given 48 hours to suppress Bangladeshi nationalist movement. Within 34 hours, approximately 10,000 unarmed civilians were killed.
Until November 21, 1971, mostly Bangladeshi regular forces along with the Mukti Bahini operated in different parts of the country. Besides, there were few naval and air assets utilized to complement the war effort. However, on November 21, 1971 all the forces–Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force as well as the Mukti Bahini–launched their joint offensive against Pakistani military.
Pakistan launched the war against India on December 3, 1971, the UN took a more vigorous approach to the problem. While Soviet Union was supporting India, the U.S. and Chine stood by Pakistan. On December 5, 1971 Moscow vetoed a U.S. resolution urging the Security Council to call upon India and Pakistan to carry out a cease fire and military withdrawal.
The Russians exercised another veto within 24 hours when on December 7, 1971, the General Assembly voted 104 against 11 to call upon India and Pakistan to cease fire immediately and withdraw their forces to respective territories.
While the UN was debating, the war on the ground was going in favor of India. In the meantime, U.S. dispatched a naval task forces led by the nuclear-powered carrier Enterprise from U.S. seventh fleet. By the time the naval task force was close to Chittagong port of East Pakistan, all Pakistani forces surrendered unconditionally. If the UN espoused cease fire would be in effect, Bangladeshis’ hope for independence was not to be materialized.
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The Liberation War of Bangladesh, also known as the Bangladesh Genocide, was a nine-month war between the Pakistani military and Bengali nationalists in what was then East Pakistan. The war began on March 25, 1971, when the Pakistani military launched a crackdown on Bengali nationalists, killing hundreds of thousands of people and displacing millions more. The war ended on December 16, 1971, with the surrender of the Pakistani military and the creation of the independent state of Bangladesh.
The war was the culmination of a long period of political and economic discrimination against Bengalis by the Pakistani government. In 1947, when India was partitioned into two independent states, India and Pakistan, the Bengali-speaking region of Bengal was divided between the two countries. The eastern part of Bengal became East Pakistan, while the western part became West Pakistan. The two parts of Pakistan were separated by over a thousand miles of Indian territory.
From the beginning, there was a great deal of tension between East and West Pakistan. The Bengalis felt that they were being discriminated against by the West Pakistani government. They were underrepresented in the government, and they felt that their Economic Development was being neglected. In 1952, Bengalis launched a language movement, demanding that Bengali be recognized as one of the national languages of Pakistan. The movement was successful, but it further exacerbated the tensions between East and West Pakistan.
In 1970, the Awami League, a Bengali nationalist party, won the general election in East Pakistan. The Awami League’s leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, called for greater autonomy for East Pakistan. The Pakistani government refused to meet these demands, and on March 25, 1971, the Pakistani military launched a crackdown on Bengali nationalists. The crackdown, which became known as Operation Searchlight, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions more.
In response to the crackdown, Bengali nationalists formed the Mukti Bahini, a guerrilla force that fought against the Pakistani military. The war lasted for nine months, and it ended on December 16, 1971, with the surrender of the Pakistani military. The creation of Bangladesh was a major victory for Bengali nationalism, and it marked the end of the long period of political and economic discrimination against Bengalis.
The Liberation War of Bangladesh had a profound impact on the country’s history and development. The war resulted in the deaths of millions of people, and it displaced millions more. The war also caused extensive damage to the country’s Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE. However, the war also led to the creation of an independent Bangladesh, and it gave the Bengali people a sense of national identity.
In the years since the war, Bangladesh has made significant progress in economic development. The country has achieved high rates of economic Growth, and it has reduced POVERTY significantly. Bangladesh has also made progress in political development. The country has held several free and fair elections, and it has established a stable Democracy.
Bangladesh is still a developing country, but it has made significant progress in recent years. The country has a young and growing Population, and it has a large and educated workforce. Bangladesh is well-positioned to continue its economic development in the years to come.
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The meaning of life is a question that has been asked by philosophers and theologians for centuries. There is no one answer that will satisfy everyone, but some possible answers include: to find happiness, to make a difference in the world, to learn and grow, to connect with others, and to experience the beauty of the world.
What is the purpose of life?
The purpose of life is another question that has been pondered by many people. Some believe that the purpose of life is to find happiness, while others believe that it is to make a difference in the world. Still others believe that the purpose of life is to learn and grow, or to connect with others. Ultimately, the purpose of life is up to each individual to decide.
What is the difference between religion and spirituality?
Religion is a system of beliefs and practices that is based on the belief in a higher power or powers. Spirituality is a personal experience of the sacred or divine. Religion is often organized and has a set of rules and rituals, while spirituality is more personal and individual.
What is the difference between faith and belief?
Faith is a trust or confidence in something, while belief is an acceptance of something as true. Faith is often based on emotion or personal experience, while belief is based on evidence or reason.
What is the difference between love and lust?
Love is an intense feeling of deep affection, while lust is a strong sexual desire. Love is often based on emotional connection, while lust is often based on physical attraction.
What is the difference between happiness and joy?
Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment, while joy is a feeling of intense pleasure or delight. Happiness is often based on external circumstances, while joy is often based on internal factors such as gratitude or hope.
What is the difference between success and fulfillment?
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What is the difference between intelligence and wisdom?
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What is the difference between courage and bravery?
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Sure, here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic Liberation War of Bangladesh:
What is the capital of Bangladesh?
(A) Dhaka
(B) Chittagong
(C) Sylhet
(D) RajshahiWhat is the Official Language of Bangladesh?
(A) Bengali
(B) English
(C) Urdu
(D) HindiWhat is the currency of Bangladesh?
(A) Taka
(B) Rupee
(C) Dollar
(D) PoundWhat is the population of Bangladesh?
(A) 160 million
(B) 170 million
(C) 180 million
(D) 190 millionWhat is the religion of the majority of people in Bangladesh?
(A) Islam
(B) Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism
(C) Christianity
(D) Buddhism-2/”>BuddhismWhat is the length of the Bangladesh-India border?
(A) 4,096 kilometers
(B) 4,156 kilometers
(C) 4,216 kilometers
(D) 4,276 kilometersWhat is the length of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border?
(A) 271 kilometers
(B) 281 kilometers
(C) 291 kilometers
(D) 301 kilometersWhat is the highest mountain in Bangladesh?
(A) Mount Everest
(B) Kanchenjunga
(C) Dhaulagiri
(D) MakaluWhat is the largest river in Bangladesh?
(A) Ganges
(B) Brahmaputra
(C) Meghna
(D) JamunaWhat is the national flower of Bangladesh?
(A) Lotus
(B) Rose
(C) Jasmine
(D) MarigoldWhat is the national bird of Bangladesh?
(A) Green pigeon
(B) Blue rock pigeon
(C) Spotted dove
(D) Oriental magpie-robinWhat is the national animal of Bangladesh?
(A) Royal Bengal tiger
(B) Asiatic elephant
(C) Ganges river dolphin
(D) Indian rhinocerosWhat is the national tree of Bangladesh?
(A) Sundari tree
(B) Sal tree
(C) Teak tree
(D) BambooWhat is the National Anthem of Bangladesh?
(A) Amar Shonar Bangla
(B) Jana Gana Mana
(C) Vande Mataram
(D) Saare Jahan Se AcchaWhat is the National Flag of Bangladesh?
(A) Green with a red circle in the center
(B) Red with a green crescent and star in the center
(C) White with a red sun in the center
(D) Blue with a white crescent and star in the center
I hope these MCQs are helpful!