Topic # 9 – Movements for Autonomy
1960s STUDENT MOVEMENT
Even though Ayyub Khan had initially promised a growth-oriented
economy and equality for East and West wings of Pakistan, nothing
was done to improve the economy, or the political stability of East
Pakistan and the resources were unfairly distributed more to the
West Pakistan wing only. The Head Quarters of the Pakistan Army,
Navy and Air Forces were in West Pakistan. Racist sentiments
towards Bengalis were spread throughout Pakistan. The average
income of East Pakistan was almost half of the average income in
West Pakistan and the government spending on East Pakistan was
less than one-third than that of West Pakistan. Political power was
mostly distributed between Punjab and West Pakistan. 2.6 billion
worth of resources were only sent to West Pakistan alone. West
Pakistan also tried to take away the culture from the people of East
Pakistan by taking away their language from them and forcefully
trying to impose Urdu as the state language of Pakistan. In 1959,
Ayyub Khan introduced a new system of administration, called the
“Basic Democracy”, which was just a copy of the British Colonial
Rule. Its main aim was to bring parliamentary regime under
bureaucratic control. While the military claimed that they were
being fair and equal, the people of East Pakistan saw it as autocratic
and violent. Monem Khan, who was elected as Governor of East
Pakistan by Ayyub Khan, showed no sympathy towards the demands
of greater autonomy of East Pakistan.
Like all the other sectors of East Pakistan, the education section of
East Pakistan was also deteriorating rapidly. Schools and
institutions were decreasing, the amount of dropouts per year were
alarmingly increasing in number, all because of the unfair policies
that were imposed by West Pakistan. In 1961, the number of
graduates in East Pakistan were 28,000, while in West Pakistan the
number was 54,000.
In 1959, former military dictator Ayyub Khan formed a commission,
led by SM Sharif, education secretary, to draft a national education
report which stated that education would not be equal for all. This
policy was infamously known as the SM Sharif Education policy and
was formed in 1962. This education policy excluded education for
anyone who did not belong to a high society and commercialized
education in general, resulting in a student movement rebelling
against this policy in East Pakistan. The Education Report stated that
1) Urdu will be the language of the people overall in Pakistan.
2) English will be made compulsory in schools from 4th grade.
3) Education shall not be offered at cheaper rates
4) Education will be considered as a site of investment.
Students and citizens throughout East Pakistan were outraged, and
this led to mass rebellion and anti-movements against the
education policy on the streets of East Pakistan. Committees and
groups were formed, and public meetings were organized to protest
this atrocious education policy.
On the morning of 17th September 1962, where students vehemently
protested on the streets against this discriminatory policy, for which
students also took bullets and at least 3 students were killed.
SIX POINTS DEMAND BY SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN
In 1965, Pakistan started a war with India over Kashmir. During the
time of the war, East Pakistan was left completely unarmed and
with any sort of defense. Ever since the India Pakistan Partition, the
central government of Pakistan in West Pakistan did not give any
importance to East Pakistan and its people, their needs and security,
and left the East wing of Pakistan completely unattended,
unprotected, and at high risk of invasion amidst the Indo-Pak war.
West Pakistan completely abandoned East Pakistan at the foot and
mercy of the Indian military.
This war ended with the Tashkent Treaty, which was an agreement
between both countries that they would pull back their forces and
neither would interfere in each other’s internal national matters.
However, even in the treaty, there was no importance or even
mention of any interests or about the security of East Pakistan. This
added injustice to the already ongoing economic disparity and
inequality East Pakistan was facing from West Pakistan. Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman was very vocal and clear about his protest and
anger about these issues. Post Tashkent Treaty, an all-party
national conference was held at Choudhary Rehmat Ali Khan’s
residence, along with then President Syed Muhammad Afzal, and all
the parties from East and West Pakistan, to discuss the Tashkent
Treaty and the future of this treaty.
300 delegates attended this conference, of which, only 21 were from
East Pakistan, which showed just how weak the political grounds of
East Pakistan were because of the injustice done by West Pakistan.
All 21 delegates were led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. During the
meeting of the subject committee on the day before the conference,
Sheikh Mujib, along with the top leaders of Awami League presented
the Six Points Demand of the people of East Pakistan and created
pressure about need to include the six points into the agenda of the
conference. However, his proposal was rejected.
The Six Points Programme demanded:
There should be one federal government, the federal government
should only be accountable for two matters: defense and foreign
affairs, separate but convertible currencies should be created for
both East and West Pakistan, the power of taxation and revenue
collection should be equal, two separate accounts should be
created for East and West Pakistan respectively for the foreign
exchange revenue, and separate militia force given to East
Pakistan.
The following day, the newspapers and media of West Pakistan
covered the Six Points Programme and portrayed Sheikh Mujib as a
separatist trying to divide Pakistan. Therefore, he left the
conference immediately. The West Pakistanis viewed Sheikh Mujib
as a threat, trying to create rift between Pakistan, they planned
several conspiracies against him. Throughout 1966 and 1967,
uncountable number of cases were filed against Sheikh Mujib, and
his other party workers and leaders, where he was arrested at least
8 times in the span of two months, while he was visiting East
Pakistan. In May 1966, Awami League asked for the support of the
public for the Six Points Demand and regulated a strike throughout
Dhaka city on June 7th. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s wife, Begum
Fazilatunnessa, carried out secret meetings with student
protestors, to give necessary instructions to them in the absence of
Sheikh Mujib, whenever he was in jail. People of East Pakistan
extended their complete support and cooperation for the Six Points
Demand. Subsequently, Ayyub Khan strictly told East Pakistan
Governor Monem Khan, to stop this movement and the strikes at any
cost.
AGARTALA CONSPIRACY CASE
One of the biggest scandals to be conspired against Sheikh Mujib
was the Agartala Conspiracy Case – widely known as the Agartala
Shorojontro Mamla. This was a plot constructed by the Pakistani
Government, to falsely frame Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his
people of the party, after the proposal of the six-point programme.
The case was based on the accusations that Sheikh Mujib, and 35
others of his people in Awami League were planning a conspiracy to
secede the Eastern Wing of Pakistan, with the help of the Indian
government. It also included that the planning of this conspiracy
against Pakistan took place in the Agartala city of Tripura, India.
hence the name of the case. This conspiracy case proved that it was
officially the state vs. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On 18th January 1968,
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was detained to Dhaka Kurmitola
Cantonment, where these false accusations were filed, and he was
made the prime accused in this case. This was an attempt by the
Pakistani Government to tarnish the reputation of Sheikh Mujib, by
falsely proving that he is an Indian Agent trying to divide Pakistan.
On the other hand, Ayyub Khan’s government started torturing and
oppressing the East Pakistan people. However, this move of the
Central Government further agitated the people of East Pakistan,
and they took to the streets, which resulted in a mass uprising and
public pressure to release Sheikh Mujib from the jail. On 22nd
February 1968, the mass agitation and public pressure forced the
government to withdraw the Agartala Case and release
Bangabandhu and all the accused, from jail unconditionally.
11 POINT PROGRAMME
Eleven Points Programme was a programme catered to demand
remedy for the economic disparity faced by East Pakistan. The 6point demand of the Awami League was included in the 11-point
manifesto formed by the Students Action Committee or the “Chatra
Shongram Porishod”. Some of the demands: to reduce the rate of
land revenue and taxes imposed upon the peasants, to exempt
arrear land tax and outstanding debt; to pay legitimate wage and
bonus to the laborers, to arrange for their education, housing,
medical treatment, to take steps towards flood control measures in
East Pakistan, to ensure overall utilization of water resources for
the Bengali middle class and the peasants and laborers, of the 11points programme was positively received by the mass public and
gained huge support in East Pakistan.
FALL OF AYYUB KHAN GOVERNMENT - RISE OF YAHYA KHAN.
The student Action Committee brought out procession for their 11
point demand on January 20, 1969. Police fired on procession.
Asaduzzaman, the president of Dhaka Hall student union and M.A
student of Department of History, Dhaka University was killed there.
His death unleashed a wave of outrage among students and the
nature of mass movement changed drastically to mass upsurge.
Thousands of students brought out mourning procession with the
blood-stained shirt of martyr Asaduzzaman. 22, 23, and 24 January
were observed as the “mourning period” and common people joined
this procession. The situation went out of control for Governor
Monem Khan. This mass movement and upsurge also created
pressure on the authorities to abandon Agartala conspiracy case
and to release all the accused people unconditionally. At last regime
released all the accused persons Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was given
honour in a huge public meeting on 23rd February. Upon his return,
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was given the title of “Bangabandhu” in the
public welcoming. After this, Mujib emerged as the most formidable
leader of East Pakistan. Following the public aggression, the Ayyub
Khan government collapsed in March 1969, and in this opportunity,
army chief Yahya Khan took over the power. General Yahia Khan, the
army Commander in-Chief acted as the Chief Martial Law
Administrator. On March 31, 1969, he proclaimed himself the
president of Pakistan. Yahia promised to give early elections to the
parliament which would draw up a new constitution and announced
that the political activities were to be allowed from early 1970. He
claimed to sought reconciliation rather than confrontation and tried
to bring the politicians back into the power equation in Pakistan.
TOPIC # 10 NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT
YAHYA KHAN GOVERNMENT
On March 30, 1970, Yahia arranged a legal framework order outlining the
transitional arrangements for the election rules of procedures for the
National Assembly. The order mentioned that within a specified period of
time, economic and all other disparities between both the wings were to be
diminished by taking necessary measures. It also mentioned that the
provinces shall have maximum autonomy, however it was a vague phrase,
and did not mention the six points or the special demand for East Pakistan’s
autonomy.
BHOLA CYCLONE 1970 - YAHYA GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
A cyclone hit the southern coastal region of East Pakistan on 12th November
1970, known as the Bhola Cyclone, which was registered as the deadliest
cyclone ever seen by this region. As the official figures state, 500,000 people
died overnight. The relief arrangement for the devastations caused by the
cyclone, were insufficient and slow. An estimated 70 countries and the United
Nations came forward to help for the relief of the Bhola Cyclone. However,
the mismanagement and carelessness of the Yahya Government delayed
relief, which resulted in spikes of death toll in the effected region. One of the
first countries to offer aid was India. However, Pakistan government refused
the supplied of India to be sent by air, and forced them to send it by road,
which took a lot of time. The Pakistan government also refused military
aircrafts, and boats which India offered to send from West Bengal, to assist
the relief of East Pakistan. Among other delayed responses of Yahya
government to the international aid were: the British amphibians who
arrived but were left to be parked in warehouses, the three days’ time it took
for the Yahya government to decide to ask for US helicopters, yet still
remained confused over who would fly them, and the medical help of West
Germany which the Yahya government refused because they did not have
sufficient funds to feed and provide residence for the nurses and doctors if
they arrived. These reactions and Yahya Khan’s careless attitude towards
East Pakistan Further angered the Bengalis.
GENERAL ELECTION, 1970.
Consequently, on the basis of the Six-Point Programme, the first fair election
in Pakistan was held in 1970. On 5th December 1970, Bangabandhu
announced that the name of East Pakistan would be “Bangladesh”.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman emerged victorious by a landslide win - out of 300
seats in all of Pakistan, where 162 seats were allotted to East Pakistan, Mujib
won 160 seats. These results baffled West Pakistan. However, Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto was not too keen about this and did not give power over to Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman even after his rightful victory. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto came to
Dhaka, to seize power from the Bengali, and amidst his ploy to retain power,
the National Assembly was postponed indefinitely after his arrival. Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman leader of Awami League confidently assumed that his party
will from the cabinet in National Assembly. Bhutto demanded share of power
which Bangabandhu rejected. Therefore, Bhutto announced that his party
would boycott the first session of National Assembly, which will be held on
3rd March 1971, following which Bhutto asked Yahya Khan to postpone the
session. Obliging to Bhutto’s request, on 1st March 1971, Yahya Khan declared
that the National Assembly was postponed for an indefinite period. Following
the 7th of March 1971 iconic speech of Bangabandhu, he declared it to the
people that it was time to fight for their freedom as the central government
of Pakistan were continuously oppressing the Bengalis, in one way or
another, and it was time to fight back.
NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT
At the same time Bangabandhu launched non-violent movement and noncooperation to the government which was an instant success. It successfully
paralyzed the East Pakistan administration and the whole situation of the
province came under the control of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,
who became an unquestioned leader of the Bengalis after landslide electoral
victory of Awami League in the election. During that time, Yahya Khan came
in East Pakistan and talked with Bangabandhu for political solution. Sheikh
Mujib presented a draft proclamation on Regional Autonomy to Yahya on 23
March. He also warned that this issue must be issued and resolved within the
upcoming forty-eight hours, otherwise East Pakistan will be out of control. In
the meantime students and activists were carrying new flag of Bangladesh.
TOPIC # 11 – OPERATION SEARCHLIGHT AND DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE
OPERATION SEARCHLIGHT
On the horror filled night of 25th March, from 11:30pm onwards, Pakistani
Military launched Operation Searchlight - a crackdown genocide mission on
the innocent unarmed people of East Pakistan, to destroy the movement and
sentiments of freedom loving Bengalis, against the autocratic rule of
Pakistan, and this was the last limit that West Pakistan crossed. In one single
night, 300,000 – 3,000,000 people were brutally murdered. Systematical
genocidal rape was commenced on 300 – 400,000 young women, mostly
Hindu. On the face of this genocide, 10million people were forced to flee to
India. Pakistan’s government mercilessly hunted down all the academics and
Hindus of East Pakistan. These acts were also the influence of their
implement of fascist sentiments. The political elite of Pakistan, mainly west
Pakistani, could not believe the people of East Bengal. They would think them
as conspirator. Pakistan state was a fascist state. Most of the time it had seen
military and autocratic regime. The state would enforce censorship on
newspapers, books and on free thinking. It also tortured political leaders,
particularly communist and nationalist leaders.
Operation Searchlight scheduled the following measures:
1) The operation will commence simultaneously in the entire East Pakistan.
2) Most possible numbers of students, activists, politicians will be arrested.
3) The operation must be made a 100 percent success. Dhaka University will
be captured until the operation succeeds indefinitely.
4) Security of the cantonment must be made sure of.
5) All sorts of international and domestic communications must be disrupted;
complete blackout of these communications must be carried out.
6) The soldiers of the EPR will be disarmed and West Pakistan soldiers will
replace them on duty.
7) The first phase of the operation will be carried out in Dhaka, Khulna,
Chittagong, Comilla, Jessore, Rangpur, Syedpur and Sylhet; if needed,
operations will be carried by air in Chittagong, Sylhet, and Jessore.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
On 26th March 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh as an
independent country and urged his people to continue fighting for freedom.
TOPIC # 12 LIBERATION WAR
FORMATION OF MUKTI BAHINI
The Mukti Bahini consisted of 325,000 people, attributed as Mukti Joddha –
Freedom Fighters. President of India – Indira Gandhi expressed full support
of her government for Bangladesh for their fight in the struggle to freedom.
The India Bangladesh borders were opened so that the tortured and needy
people could go to India for safety. Besides Mukti Bahini, many other Bahinis
were formed in all places inside Bangladesh to fight and resist the Pakistani
army. These Bahinis were formed locally, on personal trainings and
strengths, as a contribution towards the Liberation War. Mukti Bahini
consisted of regular and irregular groups of fighters who were mostly local,
joining together to fight for freedom of their motherland. The regular forces
were known as Niomito Bahini and the irregular forces were known as Gono
Bahini. The regular forces were ERP troops. The irregular forces consisted of
local people of the country who joined the war with their own strengths, such
as students, activists, labors, workers, political activists, etc.
On 3rd December 1971, India joined hands with Bangladesh and contributed to
the war effort. India trained young refugees into military combat, and the
youth of East Pakistan was trained by East Pakistan’s Bengali Officers.
MUJIBNAGAR GOVERNMENT
The Mujibnagar government was formed at Mujibnagar, on 10th April 1971, to
conduct the Liberation War of Bangladesh, after the declaration of
independence on 26th March 1971. This was also known as the in-exile
government, as the activities conducted by this government were done from
outside Bangladesh mostly. The oath taking ceremony of Mujibnagar
Government was held in Baidyanathtaala of Meherpur. The ceremony was
hosted by Abdul Mannan and the proclamation of Independence was recited
by Professor Mohammad Yusuf Ali.
The Mujibnagar Government consisted of:
1) Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – President
2) Syed Nazrul Islam – Vice President
3) Tajuddin Ahmed – Prime Minister
4) Khandakar Mostaq Ahmed – Minister of Foreign Affairs
5) M Mansur Ali – Minister of Finance
6) AHM Qamaruzzaman – Home Minister
GUERRILLA WARFARE- LIBERATION WAR
Guerrilla warfare denotes to the type of fast paced, irregular movement
consisted unorthodox ways of fighting a war, against systematic approach of
trained armies.
Three Indian corp Armed Forced were backed by three forces of Mukti Bahini
and the Bengali Guerrilla Army. Alongside male guerilla warriors, women
served huge contributions during the liberation war. Many female soldiers,
warriors and battalion were trained by the Mukti Bahini for guerrilla warfare.
TOPIC # 13 – GENOCIDE
PRE-PLANNING
At a ducking shooting trip in Larkana, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Yahya Khan
plotted about the planned mass genocide which took place in the night of 25th
March 1971. Their meeting was schedule to devise a scheme which would
refrain power to go to hands of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who, at that time,
won the 1970 elections by a landslide win. In their perspective, which was
also the common perspective of the West Pakistanis, the ‘lowly’ Bengalis
having power was just unacceptable, and they had to stop this from
happening anyhow, even if it was the people’s wishes.
This planning and plotting of the 25th of March systematic genocide is also
known as the Larkana Conspiracy.
In General Abdullah Khan Niazi’s book “The Betrayal of East Pakistan”, he
mentions that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was not willing to lose to Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman and started behaving as if he and his party had majority votes in the
elections and were preparing to form government. However, with the
landslide win and the support of his people, Bangabandhu was firm in his
quest to attain power.
On 12th January, Yahya Khan held a discussion with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,
to convince him that he wanted to stay as President even after Sheikh Mujib
ascended to power. However, Bangabandhu did not agree to this idea, and
Yahya Khan went back to meet Bhutto, and conspired the genocide of 25th
March at Larkana. A military operation named Operation Blitz was devised on
22nd February, by Yahya Khan and military leaders. However, by 27th
February, they knew plan was not going to come to fruition as Bangabandhu
had held nonstop general strike all throughout the country, which paralyzed
the country. Therefore, they decided to take more time and scheme a plan to
annihilate all the Bengali population of East Pakistan as a whole. As part of
the plan, Yahya Khan would pretend to come to negotiations through
discussion with Bangabandhu, while on the other hand, the military force
became prepared to strike for the planned genocide. Anyone in the military
who was against the idea of genocide, was replaced by people who supported
it, like “doves” being replaced by “hawks”.
KILLINGS AND DISPLACEMENT
Rural and urban areas across East Pakistan saw extensive military
operations and air strikes to suppress the tide of civil disobedience that
formed following the 1970 election stalemate. Sectarian violence broke out
between Bengalis and Urdu-speaking immigrants. The Pakistan Army, which
had the backing of Islamists, created radical religious militias — the
Rajakars, Al-Badr and Al-Shams — to assist it during raids on the local
populace. [ Urdu-speaking Biharis in Bangladesh (an ethnic minority) were
also in support of Pakistani military. Members of the Pakistani military and
supporting militias engaged in mass murder, deportation, and genocidal
rape. The capital Dhaka was the scene of numerous massacres, including
Operation Searchlight and the Dhaka University massacre. During the ninemonth-long Bangladesh Liberation War, members of the Pakistan Armed
Forces and supporting pro-Pakistani Islamist militias from Jamat Islam
killed between 300,000 and 3,000,000 people. An estimated 10 million
Bengali refugees fled to neighboring India, while 30 million were internally
displaced.
RAPES AND VIOLATIONS AGAINST WOMEN DURING THE LIBERATION
WAR
Members of the Pakistani military and Rajakars raped between 200,000 and
400,000 Bengali women and girls in a systematic campaign of genocidal
rape. Most of the rape victims of the Pakistani Army and its allies were Hindu
women. Some of these women died in captivity or committed suicide while
others moved to India. Imams and Muslim religious leaders declared the
women "war booty”. The activists and leaders of Islamic parties are also
accused to be involved in the rapes and abduction of women. The Pakistani
elite believed that Hindus were behind the revolt and that as soon as there
was a solution to the "Hindu problem" the conflict would resolve. For
Pakistanis, the violence against Hindus was a strategic policy. Muslim
Pakistani men believed the sacrifice of Hindu women was needed to fix the
national malaise. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Imams and Mullahs
supported the rapes by the Pakistani Army and issued fatwas declaring the
women war booty. A fatwa from West Pakistan during the war asserted that
women taken from Bengali Hindus could be considered war booty. Those
rapes apparently caused thousands of pregnancies, births of war babies,
abortions, infanticide, suicide, and Ostracism of the victims. Recognized as
one of the major occurrences of war crimes anywhere, the atrocities ended
after surrender of the Pakistani military and supporting Rajakars militias.
Initially India claimed its support for the Mukti Bahini and later intervention
was on humanitarian grounds, but after the UN rejected this argument, India
claimed intervention was needed to protect its own security.
TOPIC # 14 – REFUGEE CRISIS
REFUGEES
During the Bangladesh liberation war with West Pakistan, an estimated 10
million people of East Pakistan fled the country and took refuge in India
particularly in the Indian states of West Bengal and Indian Northeast region,
especially Tripura and Assam. Hindu refugees escaped systematic mass
killings, rapes, lootings, and arson. It is estimated that around 10 million East
Bengali refugees entered India during the early months of the war, of whom
1.5 million may have stayed back after Bangladesh became independent.
SOLUTIONS AND AID FOR THE REFUGEES
The UNHCR provided life-saving aid to 10 million refugees during the 1971 war
of independence from Pakistan. UNHCR described it as the highest number of
refugees in the short time after the 2nd World War. These refugees sheltered
mainly in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya. India also
hosted this huge number of refugees cordially and helped them in many
ways. But the number was so high that being a developing country it was not
easy for India to treat them with all they needed for solvent living. Even only
giving shelter was not a mere contribution from Indian side because it at
least helped these massive number of people to be spared from becoming
victim of genocide committed by West Pakistani soldiers in the then East
Pakistan. There were also some international supports to help refugees, but
all these could not fully stop the sufferings and the death pole in the refugee
camps. Hence, this paper is an attempt to explore the ruthless condition of
refugees sheltered in India from Bangladesh in 1971.
TOPIC # 15 - GLOBAL ROLE AND RESPONSES
INDIA
India was one of the first countries to recognize Bangladesh as a separate
and independent state and established diplomatic relations with the country
immediately after its independence in December 1971. India also aided
Bangladesh during the war effort and also during the refugee crisis of the
Liberation War 1971.
USA
The United States supported Pakistan both politically and materially. US
President Richard Nixon denied getting involved in the situation, saying that
it was an internal matter of Pakistan, but when Pakistan's defeat seemed
certain, Nixon sent the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal, a
move deemed by the Indians as a nuclear threat. The United States delayed
recognition of Bangladesh as a country for some months, before according it
on 8 April 1972.
However, Senator Ted Kennedy led congressional support for the liberation
of Bangladesh.
USSR
The Soviet Union supported Bangladesh and Indian armies, as well as the
Mukti Bahini during the war, recognizing that the independence of
Bangladesh would weaken the position of its rivals – the United States and
China. It gave assurances to India that if a confrontation with the United
States or China developed, the USSR would take countermeasures. This was
enshrined in the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty signed in August 1971. The
Soviets also sent a nuclear submarine to ward off the threat posed by USS
Enterprise in the Indian Ocean.
At the end of the war, the Warsaw Pact countries were among the first to
recognize Bangladesh. The Soviet Union accorded recognition to Bangladesh
on 25 January 1972.
UN – UNITED NATIONS
Though the United Nations condemned the human rights violations during
and following Operation Searchlight, it failed to defuse the situation
politically before the start of the war. Following Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's
declaration of independence in March 1971, India undertook a worldwide
campaign to drum up political, democratic, and humanitarian support for the
people of Bangladesh for their liberation struggle. Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi toured many countries in a bid to create awareness of the Pakistani
atrocities against Bengalis.
Following India's entry into the war, Pakistan, fearing certain defeat, made
urgent appeals to the United Nations to intervene and force India to agree to a
cease fire. The UN Security Council assembled on 4 December 1971 to discuss
the hostilities in South Asia. After lengthy discussions on 7 December, the
United States made a resolution for "immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of
troops". While supported by the majority, the USSR vetoed the resolution
twice and the United Kingdom and France abstained on the resolution. Most
UN member nations were quick to recognize Bangladesh within months of its
independence.
TOPIC # 16 – BEYOND THE BATTLEFIELD
ROLE OF STUDENTS AND ACTIVISTS DURING LIBERATION WAR
Jahanara Imam lived near Dhaka University during the years preceding and
during the war, and both her son and daughter were student activists on the
campus. Rumi, her son, was killed in the war. Her memoir, Ekatturer Dinguli
(The Days of Seventy-One) is perhaps the most widely circulated and read
account of the war period from the campus perspective. In her entry for 2
March 1971, she describes the flurry of activity in the wake of the
postponement. Dhaka University students of all of the major student
organizations held a public meeting on 6 March with the express purpose of
convincing Mujib to escalate the situation and declare an independent
Bangladesh (as the name had come to be rumored) the next day at his
planned speech at the racecourse. The students urged Mujib to set up a
provisional government and appealed to the international community to
recognize that their movement was for justice and freedom. Bangabandhu
had been pushed by the radical students to move toward independence or if
he still believed a united solution based on autonomy was possible and added
the threat to appease the demands of students, the political influence of
students is clear.
GENOCIDE AND THE RESISTENCE OF DHAKA UNIVERSITY
The concentration of violence on the night of 25 March was particularly
focused at Dhaka University and the students. As the Army moved to make a
statement of force, the recognition of the symbolic importance of the campus
as a space of contentious politics is clear. Although the campus had been
closed officially for several weeks due to the continued political unrest, and
many students had gone from the campus to their village homes, there were
still many students remaining, particularly the most radical of activists,
many of whom had been training militarily and arming themselves for just
such an invasion. Just as Mujib had advised them to “make every home [a]
fortress,” students had erected barricades at all the entrances to the
campus. As troops crossed the campus barricades, the reality of what
military warfare really meant hit home for the students.