East Pakistan was a province that existed from 1947 to 1971. It was created during the division of Bengal. After gaining independence, it became the independent state of Bangladesh. It remains in this status to this day. In this article, we will talk about the history of this territory, the main events that led to its independence.
Establishment of a province
East Pakistan was formed in 1947. The province was created when Bengal was partitioned. This is a historical region in the northeast of South Asia, which was predominantly populated by Bengalis. Currently, the territory of Bengal is divided between India and Bangladesh.
In 1947, this region was divided along religious lines. Mostly Muslims began to live in East Pakistan, adherents of Hinduism began to live in India. This happened during the existence of British India - a large colonial possession in South Asia, formed in the middle of the XIX century.
Mountbatten Plan
The formation of East Pakistan becamepossible as a result of the Mountbatten plan. This is a plan for the division of the British colonies, named after the Viceroy of India, who developed it.
In 1947, King George VI of Great Britain approved it as a law for the independence of India. According to Mountbatten's plan, instead of British India, the Indian Union and Muslim Pakistan were created. Both received the rights of the British dominions. At the same time, initially part of the territory remained disputed.
The fate of Bengal and Punjab was decided by a separate vote in the Legislative Assembly. Each principality was given the opportunity to independently determine which of the new states it will join or remain in the same status.
The partition of the Punjab laid down in Mountbatten's plan led to a bloody war. In total, about one million people died as a result of the partition of British India.
Rename
The province was originally called East Bengal. But in 1956 it was renamed. It was then that it began to be called East Pakistan. The modern name of this territory is Bangladesh. In 1971, the region managed to achieve independence. The people's liberation war led to this.
Where East Pakistan used to be part of British India, now it is an independent territory.
Provincial governors
During its existence, 15 governors have been replaced. Knowing which country was called East Pakistan, you will better understand the history of this region.
Amiruddin Ahmad became the first governor. Among the most notable politicians,who held this position, Zakir Hussein should be noted. This is an Indian statesman who was the President of India in the late 60s. He pursued a policy of secularism, which was criticized by Muslim activists. He led the region from October 1958 to April 1960.
In August 1969, Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan ruled the region for about a week. This is a Pakistani statesman and military figure. In the 80-90s, he headed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs three times.
From September 1969 to March 1971, Saeed Mohammed Ahsan occupied the governor's chair. This is a famous Pakistani military leader who led the navy. After him, for several months this post belonged to the Pakistani General Tikka Khan. Which was distinguished by particular cruelty towards the Bengali population of East Pakistan. For his actions during the Bangladesh War of Independence, he was nicknamed the Butcher of Bengal. He also marked the brutal suppression of the Bengali opposition, which was organized by Rahman and the Awami League separatist movement.
The last governor of the region was Amir Niyazi, who served in this post from December 14 to December 16, 1971. He was the leader of the Pakistani troops during the Bangladesh War of Independence and is considered one of the most successful military figures in the history of Pakistan. Defeated, he signed the act of surrender, after which the war was over. For Pakistan, this defeat was an official humiliation as a regional power.
Bangladesh War of Independence
East and West Pakistan, that is, modern Pakistan and Bangladesh, participated in this armed conflict. At that time they were part of the same country and India.
The territories were very different from each other culturally. The western part has always dominated, the majority of the political elite lived there. At the same time, West Pakistan was inferior to East Pakistan in terms of population.
In 1970, powerful cyclones hit the east coast. They caused the death of about 500 thousand people. At the same time, the central government reacted inefficiently to the elimination of natural disasters. His incompetent work of the population was greatly annoyed. After that, the winning party of the Awami League failed to take their jobs.
The President of Pakistan negotiated with Majibur Rahman, who advocated the secession of East Pakistan. The negotiations failed, then the order was given to launch Operation Searchlight to seize this unit by force. Rahman was arrested. West Pakistan's methods were bloody, resulting in a large number of casu alties. Hindus and intellectuals were targeted, along with some 10 million refugees who tried to take refuge in India.
On the eve of his arrest, Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh, urging him to fight for it. Leaders of the Awami League party established a government-in-exile based in Calcutta, India.
The War of Independence lasted for ten months - from March to December 1971. The reason was the desire of the Bengalis tonational liberation. The Mukti Bahini People's Liberation Movement in Bangladesh, along with regular troops, entered into a confrontation with the Pakistani armed forces.
December 16, victory over the Pakistani army was announced.
Declaration of Independence
After that, Bangladesh East Pakistan officially became known. Initially it was a parliamentary republic. With Rahman as the first ever prime minister.
He put forward four fundamental principles on which the state was based. These were socialism, nationalism, democracy and secularism. He began to disarm the militant rebel groups, foreign economists were invited to develop a program to develop the country along the socialist path.
In 1972, a large-scale nationalization of industrial enterprises was carried out. First of all, sugar factories, cotton and jute factories. The government also seized control of insurance companies, banks and tea plantations.
Parliament was approved at the end of 1972. Now you know which country used to be called East Pakistan.
At the beginning of the story
Bangladesh, which used to be called East Pakistan, faced serious difficulties at the beginning of its independence. The socialist path of development was complicated by the famine of 1974-1975, which was provoked by severe flooding. Nearly 2,000 people died as a result of the disaster.a million were injured, and about a million more local residents were left homeless. As a result, about 3/4 of the country was covered by the disaster. Up to 80% of the crop died.
Food shortages that year coincided with an increase in oil prices, which led to a significant increase in inflation. The leadership was accused of nepotism and corruption. As a result, martial law was introduced at the end of 1974.
Amendments to the constitution were adopted. The parliamentary and democratic system has been replaced by presidential rule with a one-party leadership system. Rahman became president, declaring the need for change, which should lead to a victory over terrorism and corruption. The Prime Minister's attempts to establish authoritarian rule led to a bloody coup d'état.
Change of rulers
In August 1975, Rahman was killed along with his entire family. The wave of terror that swept across the country ended with the coming to power of General Ziaur Rahman, who restored the multi-party parliament. He was killed in 1981 in another military coup.
General Hussein Mohammad Ershad came to the leadership. He remained in power until 1990, when, under pressure from the West, he was forced to resign. The decline in the role of anti-communist leaders in the region has played its role.
Khaleda Zia, widow of General Zia Rahman, led the Nationalist Party to victory in the parliamentary elections, becoming the first female prime minister in the history of the state. In 1996, the Awami League, led by one of thethe surviving daughters of Mujibur Rahman. In 2001, the Nationalist Party regained power in the country. In the same year there was an armed conflict with India.
India-Bangladesh border conflict
The conflict lasted from 16 to 20 April 2001. The reason was the appearance of an Indian outpost in the disputed territory. The Indians refused the demand to dismantle it. The Bangladeshi army forced them out of the disputed territory.
The fighting went on for three days. During this time, mortar and rocket attacks were used. The Indians lost 16 people killed, the armed forces of Bangladesh - three.
The conflict was resolved at the level of the leaders of neighboring countries.
Current situation
In 2007 elections were held under the supervision of a transitional government. The main task was the fight against corruption. Many officials and politicians were arrested. The Awami League won. Sheikh Hasina became prime minister.
In 2014, her party again won the parliamentary elections, extending its term of office for another five years.
Now East Pakistan is an agro-industrial country with a developing economy. It is considered one of the poorest countries in Asia. About 63 percent of the local population is employed in agriculture.
The main exports are jute, clothing, frozen fish, leather, seafood.
