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In 1971, East Pakistan became a newly independent state, namely Bangladesh. Initially, it was called the ‘Pakistani Bengal’. It was established in 1955, was a part of the Pakistan province, and was governed by the constitution of Pakistan. Under the One unit Policy, East Bengal was renamed East Pakistan by Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammad Ali of Bogra. East Bengal Pakistanis were popularly known as ‘Pakistani Bengalis’ before the formation of East Pakistan. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan was set in East Pakistan by replacing the Pakistani Monarchy. Let us take a look at the history behind the formation of a newly independent state—Bangladesh.
Fight for the Bengali Language (14th August 1947 to 5th January 1968)
West Pakistan and East Pakistan were formally established on August 14, 1947. Khawaja Nazimudin of the Muslim League (ML) and Sir Frederick Chalmers Bourne were honoured as the Chief Minister and Governer of East Pakistan. Students from the Dhaka University of East Pakistan demanded Bengali as their official language on 8th December. On 11th March 1948, they organised the strike to get their demand fulfilled. However, Muhammad Ali Jinnah announced only Urdu as an official language of Pakistan during his speech in Dhaka, East Pakistan.
To oppose this, the Bengali students established Bhasha Andolon Movement On January 30, 1952, in which ten individuals died due to the clash between Bengali students and police from 21st February to 23rd February 1952. Two years after the election of the legislative assembly on 12th March 1954 in East Pakistan, Pakistan Constituent Assembly signed a new constitution of Pakistan with both Urdu and Bengali as national languages in the Nation of Republic Pakistan on 21 February 1956.
Hurdle in East Pakistan Government formation (6 January 1968 to 25 March 1971)
Parliamentary elections were held in East Pakistan in 1970, in which the Awami league political party supporting the autonomy for East Pakistan won with overwhelming support. However, the Army and the existing Government of the Republic of Pakistan stopped this party from governing, and leaders of the party were arrested. These provoked the East Pakistanis, and they protested in huge numbers. The Pakistani Army brutally suppressed the protest, leading the refugee movement into neighbouring India.
On 24 March 1971, approximately 1000 individuals were killed by the West Pakistani troops. Bengali demonstrators in the regions of West Pakistan were fired by them. On 25 March 1971, West Pakistani troops entered East Pakistan, since their President Agha Khan announced a state of emergency.
The battle between West and East Pakistan (26 March 1971 to 16 Dec 1971)
On 26 March 1971, troops of West Pakistan, under the order of the existing government, launched a military attack against Bengali demonstrators, freedom fighters, and Bengali troops and policemen of East Pakistan. East Pakistani Guerilla forces fought with the Pakistan Army. On 14 April 1971, East Bengali nationalists declared East Pakistan’s independence from West Pakistan.
West Pakistan was supported by Malaysia and Turkey; it received military assistance from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Libya, and Iran. Initially, the United States was also in support of West Pakistan. However, due to the expansion of the nationalistic movement in East Pakistan, its support was extended to a certain limit. East Pakistan was supported by India and Russia (signed treaty of mutual alliance with India).
The UN General Assembly demanded a ceasefire on 15 December 1971. The government troops in West Pakistan and the civilians, around 90,000, surrendered to the Indian troops in East Pakistan on 16 December 1971.
Around five lakh Bengalis, five thousand West Pakistani troops, and one thousand Indian troops were killed in this war.
Formation of Newly Independent State—Bangladesh (17 December 1971)
On 17 December 1971, East Pakistan finally got freedom, and the new independent state of Bangladesh was formed, which had a different constitution from that of the Constitution of Pakistan.
Conclusion
The struggle for the formation of Bangladesh was initiated because West Pakistan neglected the demands of East Pakistan. Both Urdu and Bengali were considered the official languages in the Republic of Pakistan on 21 February 1956. The republic of Pakistan did not want east Pakistan to become autonomous. The battle for Independent East Pakistan was started on 26 March 1971. West Pakistan was supported by Malaysia and Turkey; moreover, it received military assistance from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Libya, and Iran. India and Russia supported East Pakistan. On 17 December 1971, a new independent state of Bangladesh was formed.
