A real history why Pakistan and Bangladesh separated in 1971

 

The separation of Pakistan and Bangladesh in 1971 was a significant event in the history of the Indian subcontinent. The separation was the result of a long-standing dispute between East and West Pakistan, which arose out of political, economic, and cultural differences between the two regions.

When Pakistan gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947, it was divided into two parts - West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan) and East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh). However, the two regions were separated by over 1,000 miles of Indian territory, which made communication and transportation difficult.

From the beginning, East Pakistan felt marginalized and exploited by West Pakistan. The two regions had different languages, cultures, and economic interests. West Pakistan was dominated by Punjabi-speaking Muslims, while East Pakistan was predominantly Bengali-speaking. The East felt that the West controlled most of the political power and economic resources and that the government did not address their concerns adequately.

In 1970, the Awami League, a political party in East Pakistan, won a landslide victory in the national elections. However, the ruling military junta in West Pakistan, led by General Yahya Khan, refused to allow the Awami League to form a government. This led to widespread protests and a crackdown by the Pakistani military.

In March 1971, the Pakistani military launched a brutal campaign to suppress the Bengali nationalist movement in East Pakistan. The military carried out massacres, torture, and rape of Bengali civilians, and forced millions to flee as refugees to neighboring India.

India, which had been sympathetic to the Bengali cause, intervened in the conflict by providing military support to the Bengali guerrilla fighters. The Indian army entered East Pakistan in December 1971, and within two weeks, defeated the Pakistani army.

On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani army surrendered to the Indian army, and East Pakistan became the independent nation of Bangladesh. The war resulted in the deaths of an estimated 3 million people, many of them civilians.

The separation of Pakistan and Bangladesh was a traumatic event in the history of the Indian subcontinent. It highlighted the dangers of religious, linguistic, and cultural divisions and showed the importance of addressing regional grievances and promoting national unity. 

Today, Bangladesh and Pakistan have separate identities and distinct political systems, but they share a common history and face common challenges.