Causes

of the separation of East Pakistan

Introduction:
Separation of East Pakistan was an unbearable tragedy and a tremendous loss. It was the outcome of
the failure of the ruling generals and greedy politicians to arrive at a political settlement. The cracks in
the federation of Pakistan started to appear right from 1948, after the death of the father of the Nation.
By 1970, the sentiments for national unity had weakened in East Pakistan to the extent that constant
conflicts between the two wings erupted into mass civil disorder. This tragically resulted in the
separation, and brutal separation of Pakistan’s Eastern wing. There are multi-dimensional causes for
the breakup of Pakistan. The important ones are as follows.

1. Geographical distance:
The two wings of Pakistan were peculiarly situated, and were non-contiguous territories, 100
miles apart. In between them laid the hostile India. Due to this distance, there was no interaction
and contact between the two branches. The absence of this essential factor weakened the bond
of unity and so was the feeling of belonging to a single nation.
2. Political factor:
Pakistan started as parliamentary democracy. But due to the dictatorial trends of some leaders,
this experience was a failure. The failure to have a new constitution in its early years gave the
dictators a chance to act upon their wishes. The ruling class was mostly composed of senior
bureaucrats, most of whom were West Pakistanis.
Secondly, the civil military leadership at will installed and dismissed governments at the center
and in the provinces. The dismissal of the government of Khwaja Nazim-ud-din, M. A. Bogra and
Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy convinced the people of East Pakistan that an East Pakistani was
not tolerated as head of state (or government) by West Pakistani leadership.
3. Representation factor:
East Pakistan often bitterly complained that there were few East Pakistani officers at the highest
level of civil services. The representation of Bengalis in the armed forces was also very low,
comparing it with their 56% strength of the entire population of Pakistan.
Keeping this in view, their share in the government was 15%, and it was little more than 20% in
the armed forces. The East Pakistanis also wanted representation in the parliament on the basis
of population, which entitled them to greater representation in the parliament than entire West
Pakistan provinces. The demand was never met and instead the ‘parity proposal’ was imposed
on them. The grievance of low representation coupled with the arrogant attitude of West
Pakistan’s politicians, military men and civil servants, created much bitterness among the people
of East Pakistan.
4. Distinct culture:
It is said that there was nothing common between the people of West Pakistan and East
Pakistan, except that they had the same religion, and they struggled in common to achieve a
separate homeland, and the culture, tradition, civilization, dress, cuisine and language all
separated the Eastern branch from the Western branch. Their love for Bengali language, the
consequent struggle of Bengalis to get it declared as an official language and initial resistance of
West Pakistani leadership to it also created much bitterness.
5. Economic factors:
The situation was much aggravated by a sense of economic depravation on the part of Bengalis.
One of the main grievances of the Bengalis was that money and resources had been
systematically transferred from East to West, and development of West Pakistan has been at the
expense of East Pakistan. The industrial development took place at a faster rate in the Western
wing than in the Eastern wing. The deficit in the balance of trade faced by West Pakistan was
financed by East Pakistan’s surplus money. The economic disparity increased between the two
wings during Ayub’s decade of development.


6. Mujib’s 6 points:
The extent to which the feelings for a federation had weakened was shown by Mujib’s 6 points
that he gave in 1966. These points were aimed at giving all powers to the provinces except for
defense and foreign affairs.
• A parliament to be directly elected by people.
• Federal government to have control over defense and foreign affairs, all other powers to
be given to provinces.
• Each wing of Pakistan to have its own financial policies and separate currency.
• Taxes were to be collected by the provinces.
• Each wing to keep its own financial revenue and have its own trade policies.
• Each state to have its own military and police.
These points if implemented were to divide the Pakistani nation, and to almost break the country.
But East Pakistanis stood behind these points in the elections of 1970, and voted for Mujib’s Awami
League.

General elections of 1970, and military action in East Pakistan:
In general elections, Sheikh Mujib’s Awami League emerged as the majority party, but transferring
over power to Awami League was delayed.
Just before elections, East Pakistan was struck by devastating cyclones and floods. A hundred
thousand people were killed. But Yahya’s apparent lack of interest in the miseries of Bengalis also
turned them against West Pakistanis.
After elections, the delay of transfer of power resulted in demonstrations and opposition to the
government in East Pakistan. There was chaos in East Pakistan because of the activities of anti-
Pakistani elements. To crush these elements, military was called in. At the same time, war started
between Pakistan and India, which was supporting to rebel of Mukti Bahini. The war ultimately
ended in the separation of the Eastern wing of Pakistan.

Events:
− Ayub gives way to Yahya Khan in March 1969.
− Yahya Khan
o Ended one unit scheme and
o Called for general elections
− Elections held in December 1970. 162 seats were allocated to East Pakistan out of a total of
300 seats in the National Assembly. 138 seats for West Pakistan.
− Awami League won 160 seats, all from East Pakistan.
− PPP won most seats in West Pakistan.
− March 1971, National Assembly session postponed.
− August 1971, friendship treaty between India and Soviet Union.
− 1971 war starts in December 1971 (3rd December – 16th December).
− 16th December Pakistan surrenders.