bangladesh born

Bangladesh War for Independence and Indo-Pakistan War of 1971

The Bangladesh War for Independence began following the 1970 Pakistani election and eventually resulted in the secession of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Events related to this conflict also led to a war with India in 1971.

Pakistan held elections in 1970 under the authority of the Legal Framework Order, aiming to create a representative form of government following a year of martial law, with a new constitution to follow. The Awami League (AL) won an absolute majority, winning all its seats in East Pakistan. The Pakistan People’s Party, based in West Pakistan and led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, came in second, dominating in the west. The AL electoral victory promised it control of the government. However, party leader Sheikh Mujibur Rehman was not granted the premiership by the president and power-sharing negotiations ensued. Rehman suggested he become prime minister of East Pakistan while Bhutto be made prime minister of West Pakistan, supporting the party’s platform of decentralized government and increased provincial autonomy.
In March 1971 the AL launched a campaign of civil disobedience, immobilizing the east. In response, army units directed by West Pakistan launched a military operation in East Pakistan that was followed swiftly by a declaration of independence by Bengali nationalists and civil war.
Bengalis formed a paramilitary force—Mukti Bahini (Liberation Army)—to fight against the West Pakistan army. India provided refuge to nearly 10 million East Pakistanis displaced by the conflict and provided economic and military support to the Mukti Bahini forces. On 23 November 1971, Indian troops entered East Pakistan, and West Pakistan responded by declaring war on 3 December. The allied forces of the Indian army and the Mukti Bahini defeated the West Pakistan forces deployed in the East on 16 December 1971. Following Pakistan’s surrender, East Pakistan seceded and the state of Bangladesh was born.