CAUSES OF SEPARATION OF

EAST PAKISTAN

Abdul Rehman Shah 16EL84

Naveed Jokhio

16EL105

Basit Ali

16EL61

Saddam Virk

16EL93

THE RISE OF BENGALI SUBNATIONALISM

From the very beginning, the relations between

the two wings were difficult and complicated.
The two main areas of conflicts between East and
West Pakistan were the language issue, and
economic centralism.
The question of the status of Bengali language
was resolved by the mid 1950s but no consensus
could ever be reached on economic issues.

The following were the factors that led to the rise

of Bengali nationalism among the people of East
Pakistan.

GEOGRAPHICAL DIFFERENCES

I. THE GEOGRAPHICAL AND SOCIOCULTURAL DIFFERENCES

Immediately after independence, Pakistans two

wings were set apart by one thousand miles of
enemy territory.

Both air and maritime contact could be blockaded

by India at any time. This unique geographical
position could pose a grave threat to the integrity
of the country.

With the exception of religion and a common

struggle for independence, there was practically
nothing common between the two wings of the
country.
In short, Pakistan lacked all the usual bonds that
unite a nation, viz., social setup, culture,
language, etc.

II. THE LANGUAGE ISSUE

On 26 January 1952, the Basic Principles

Committee of the Constituent Assembly of
Pakistan recommended that Urdu should be the
only state language. It sparked off a wide wave of
resentment in East Bengal.
Although Bengali was recognized as the state
language along with Urdu in the Constitution of
195618 but, perhaps, it was too late to defuse the
rising spirit of Bengali nationalism.

III. ECONOMIC DISPARITY AND

EXPLOITATION OF THE EASTERN
WING
East Pakistan was deprived of its due share in
the developmental funds and foreign aid.
The bulk of the countrys revenue was spent in
West Pakistan
East Pakistan earned most of the countrys
foreign exchange by the export of jute; yet most of
it was spent on the industrialization of West
Pakistan.
East Pakistan provided 60 percent of the total
revenue, compared to 40 percent by West
Pakistan, but it received only 25 per cent for its
expenditure.

IV. THE DEGENERATION OF MUSLIM LEAGUE

AND THE RISE OF REGIONAL BENGALI PARTIES

Muslim League fell into selfish hands soon after

independence and became a hotbed of intrigues.
The internal dissentions in the Party caused the
decline of the only national organization of the
country and the rise of regionalist parties.
In February 1948, prominent League leaders like
Maulana Abdul Hameed Bhashani and Fazlul
Haq left the Muslim League.

In June 1949, they formed a new party called East

Pakistan Awami Muslim League. Maulana
Bhashani was elected President of this new party,
while Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman, a student leader,
was appointed the Joint Secretary of the party.
In March 1950, the party was re-named as AllPakistan Awami Muslim League and Suharwardi
was appointed as the President and Chief
Organizer of the Party. In July 1953, Sheikh
Mujeebur Rehman was made General Secretary of
the party. Provincial autonomy and Bengali as the
state language topped the new manifesto of the
Party.

V. POLITICAL GRIEVANCES AND

ALIENATION OF EAST PAKISTAN

The first political shock for the East Pakistanis

came in 1947 when the more popular and
charismatic leader, Hussain Shaheed
Suharwardi, was not allowed to assume the
Parliamentary leadership of East Pakistan
Assembly. Instead, Nazimuddin, who had no base
among the masses, was elected Chief Minister
because Liaqat Ali Khan considered Suharwardi
as a rival, who could challenge his authority and
position in the party

SIX POINT FORMULA OF SH.

MUJEEB
The Awami League view was supported by 75% of
the electorate inEast Pakistanwho voted in the
elections in 1970. Pakistanshall be Federation
grooming full autonomy on the basis of 6 Points to
each of Federating units.

The character of Government shall be Federal

and Parliamentary. The representation in the
Federal legislature shall be on the basis of
population.
The Federal Government shall be responsible
only for Defence and Foreign Affairs.

SIX POINT FORMULA OF SH.

MUJEEB

There shall be two separate currencies mutually or

freely convertible in each wing for each region.
Fiscal Policy shall be the responsibility of the
Federating units.
Separate accounts of foreign exchange earning of each
of the federating units.
The units shall be empowered to maintain a Paramilitary fore in order to contribute towards national
security.

WAR OF POWER BETWEEN BHUTTO

AND MUJEEB

The Awami League, by virtue of its overwhelming majority in election, was entitled to
establish its government
but Mr. Z.A. Bhutto having the patronage from
General Yahya Khan boycotted the session of
National Assembly atDhaka, which was
postponed by General Yahya Khan.
Mr. Mujeeb-ur-Rehman alleged Yahya Khan
with partiality and began to agitate the people
for civil war.

MUKTI BAHNI

MUKTI BAHINI

Mukti Bahini was an organization of so called

freedom fighters ,created by Indian army to help
and guide them in their invasion of east Pakistan
The training ,supply of weapons ,planning all
done by Indian army
Strength of this organization is approximately
100,000 persons

MUKTI BAHINI

Mukti Bahini were not trained to fight side by

side with Indians
They were trained for urgency operations
There was large number of civilians who were
inducted they could not handle mortars . or stay
under artillery fire
However after surrender General Niazi admitted
that MUKHTI BAHINI made him blind and deaf.

MILITARY OPERATION

Mr. Mujeeb refused to go toIslamabad.

His home became centre of all policies and
administrative affairs ofEast Pakistan.
OnMarch 23, 1971, a lot of West Pakistanis were
massacred and Bangladesh Flag was hoisted
instead of Pakistani Flag. The Pakistan Day was
celebrated as the Resistance Day.

MILITARY OPERATION

General Tikka Khan was made the Governor of

East Pakistan. He successfully crushed the antigovernment elements, but could not manage the
affairs properly due to the non-cooperation of
Bengali bureaucracy who were responsible for the
revolt.
The military operation brought inexpressible
miseries and sufferings to the Bengalis. The
result was that Central Government deprived
herself of the public support and sympathies.

HIJACKING OF INDIAN PLANE TO

LAHORE ON JAN 30,1971
Hijacking of the aircraftGangawas arranged by
the Indian Intelligence Agencies as the
culmination of a series of actions taken by the
Indian Government.
Incident occurred at a time when talks were in
progress between the leaders of Awami League
and PPP for the resolution of differences.
Indiabanned Pakistani flights over its territory
to disrupt communications between two halves
and strengthened the separatist tendencies.

INDIAN PLAN OF OPERATION:

Avoiding frontal attacks

Bypassing strong points

Paratroopers to speed up operations

Preventing Pakistani troops from falling into

Decca bowl
Reaching Decca in 14-15 days to prevent UN
from interfrence to arrange ceasefire.

Using refugee issue as a reason Indian army

attacked east Pakistan with foreign support.
Pakistan army could only resisit for two weeks .
When Indian paratroopers reached Decca they
found there only razakars, men from engineering
corps, mujhahids.

THE SURRENDER

Lieutenant GENERAL AMIR ABDULLAH

KHAN NIAIZI signed instrument of surrender at
4:31 p.m. on 16 December ,1971.handed over the
control of PAKISTAN eastern province to its
bitterest enemy .

PAKISTAN DISMEMBERED

AFTER EFFECTS OF WAR

The sudden realization on 16 December that

country which the Quaid e Azam carved out and
that it has been dismembered cast a pall of gloom
throughout the country.
But gradually wounds began to heel the new
Pakistan not only remained but began to rise like
a phoenix from ashes.
The Islamic summit in lahore put Pakistan again
in limelight again.

Pakistan economy despite of having cut to size

grow and expand GDP of $19.7 billion rose to
49billion in 1991.
Per capita income increased.
Foreing exchange reserves crossed $12billion
mark.
Sophisticated weapons and nuclear technology
acquired