Separation of East Pakistan

1971

• Long-term Causes
• Short-term Causes
• Civil War and War With India
• Outcome
Long-Term Causes for the
Separation of East Pakistan
• In 1947, Bengalis in East Pakistan found themselves being
governed from Karachi, a city in West Pakistan, instead of
Bengal being an autonomous state centre.
• At the time of Partition, Bengalis also learned that Bengal
would be further partitioned into East and West Bengal.
West Bengal would be awarded to India, including the
major city of Calcutta with its port and important industry.
• There were further social, economic and political problems
which fueled the already existing tension in East Pakistan.
Social and Cultural Disparity Significance:
• Bengalis were offended
by this opposition as they
also had a different
culture from West
Pakistan.
Urdu was chosen as the • Ayub Khan also noted in
national language of
State Language Day held on Bengali only
21st February 1952 when his autobiography,
Pakistan even though only protests were banned but a recognised as an ‘Friends Not Masters: a
6% of the population spoke march was still held, resulting official language in Political Autobiography’
it whereas Bengali was in several deaths due to the use
of police force and tear gas to the 1956 that many in West
spoken by 56% of the Pakistan felt they were
population. break it up. Constitution.
culturally superior to
East Pakistan; this did not
go unnoticed.
• Even though Pakistan
was one nation, its
‘wings’ were divided by
a 1000 miles of hostile
territory and culture.
Economic Disparity
• East Pakistan was poorer than West Pakistan. Since 1947, trade with West
Bengal in India had been cut off and poverty was rife.
• Whenever the government took measures to boost the economy, they seemed
geared towards West Pakistan. More than twice as much foreign aid went to
West Pakistan than East Pakistan.
• Bengalis also believed that earnings from the trade in jute were being utilised in
West Pakistan.
• West Pakistanis were approximately 15% wealthier than East Pakistanis. By
1970, the gap had grown to 40%.
• Bengalis believed economic growth in the West was funded by the transfer of
resources from East to West Pakistan.
• The greatest spending by the government was on defence to protect the border
with India, most of which lay in West Pakistan. East Pakistan and India had no
major border dispute. So most of the money was being used to protect West
Pakistan.
Disparity in Health and
Education
• In 1948, there were only 200 doctors and
3000 hospital beds in all of East Pakistan.
• Between 1947-1958, the number of
primary schools in West Pakistan rose by
163% but in East Pakistan the increase
was only 38%.
Political Disparity
• Bengalis complained that Governor-Generals and Prime
Ministers were nearly always from West Pakistan even
though they were a majority in the Constituent
Assembly.
• The same criticism applied for appointment to senior
positions in the Armed Forces, to senior government
positions and posts in the civil service.
• Even high level posts in Dhaka were filled by West
Pakistanis or refugees from India who had become
Pakistani.
• Immediate Causes
The 1970 Cyclone
Results of the 1970 Election
The 1970 Cyclone – Cyclone
Bhola
• On 12th December 1970, the deadliest cyclone ever
recorded, hit East Pakistan, killing 500,000 people.
• The government in West Pakistan was slow to react.
Political leaders in the East accused the government of
“gross neglect, callous indifference and utter
indifference.”
• The government in West Pakistan also rejected aid
from India.
• The elections for the National Assembly were finally
held 3 weeks after the cyclone hit.
 The 1970 Elections

• Main parties:
1. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led by Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto – based in West Pakistan.
2. Awami League led by Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman –
based in East Pakistan.
• The Awami League won the elections on the basis of its
Six Point programme. It was consequently able to exploit
the sense of frustration East Pakistanis felt towards West
Pakistanis.
• Awami League had won seats in the National Assembly
Party flag of the Awami League. The 4 stars represent
the League’s 4 ideals: nationalism, secularism, by a huge margin.
socialism and democracy. The flag’s resemblance to
the Pakistani flag is indicative of East Bengal’s
previous status as East Pakistan.
Outcome
• Yahya Khan was not happy with the results of the first free and
democratic election in Pakistan as Awami League had won on
the basis of:
a. Political and economic independence from West Pakistan.
b. Greater power and autonomy to the provinces regarding
foreign exchange and trade. In turn, the funds and power of
the central government were greatly limited.
• Due to the large majority vote secured by the Awami League, it
didn’t just win in East Pakistan but in the country as a whole,
meaning they were now entitled to establish a government of
their own.
• Even though PPP had won an overwhelming victory in West
Pakistan, it could easily be excluded from the government unless
expressly invited to join by the Awami League.

Mujib-ur-Rehman addressing a large crowd at a

political rally
Contd.

• Yahya Khan refused to allow the Six Points to be put

into action. He was afraid their implementation would
cost:
1. A weaker central government
2. Lead to the overall weakening of Pakistan
• A weaker Pakistan would consequently be in a tougher
position regarding relations with India.
Constitutional Crisis of 1970-71
• Yahya Khan hoped to reach a compromise with Mujib-
ur-Rehman and urge him not to form the next
government or use the National Assembly to come up
with a Constitution based on the 6 points.
• On the other hand, East Bengalis urged Mujib-ur-
Rehman to hold firm on his demands.
• February 1971 – Bhutto refused to take up the PPP’s
seats in the National Assembly until power sharing was
guaranteed.
• 1st March 1971 – Yahya Khan postponed the
Assembly’s meeting without setting a new date.
Reaction

• East Pakistanis immediately began a campaign

of mass protest by engaging in civil disorder
and refusing to pay taxes.
• Power of the central government in West
Pakistan had broken down East Pakistan.
• Yahya recalled the provincial governor from
East Bengal.
• General Tikka Khan was appointed as the
third CMLA in Pakistan’s history by Yahya
Khan.
General Tikka Khan at a gathering of the Armed
Forces in Punjab
Yahya Khan’s Efforts to Prevent a
Cessation from East Pakistan

• 15th March 1971 – Yahya Khan and Bhutto visit Dhaka

to hold negotiations with Mujib-ur-Rahman. These fail.
General Tikka Khan brought in reinforcements to Dhaka.
• Yahya Khan then banned political activity and attempted
to arrest Mujib-ur-Rahman.
• As this led to increased protests and violence in East
Pakistan, Yahya Khan launched Operation Searchlight.
• Mukti Bahini were formed as a rebel Bengali army.
East Bengalis fled to India to avoid a potentially looming
war.
National flag of the newly created state of
• On 26th March 1971, in a secret broadcast, the formation Bangladesh
of the Sovereign People’s Republic of Bangladesh was
announced.
Role of India

• India had opposed the partition of Bengal

in 1947 so when the 1971 crisis gave it an
opportunity to intervene, it took it.
• India’s reasons for Supporting East
Bengalis:
1. It could help bring about the separation
of East and West Pakistan.
2. It could weaken Pakistan’s central
government.
3. It would have a pro-India ‘Bangladesh
at its border.
Contd.
• On 31st March 1971 India declared its support for ‘the
people of Bengal’ and began training the Mukti Bahini.
• 3rd December 1971 – war broke out.
• Strengths and Weaknesses of India and Pakistan:
- The Indian army was much larger.
- Pakistan’s allies like the USA and other Western allies
did not offer their support.
- India could rely on support from the Soviet Union as
they had signed a Treaty of Peace
• The United Nations passed a resolution calling for a
ceasefire.
Outcome

• 16th December 1971 – Yahya Khan approved of an

agreement to stop fighting as he knew West Pakistan
could not win.
• 20th December 1971 – Yahya Khan resigned and was
replaced by Bhutto.
• 21st December 1971 – Republic of Bangladesh
officially came into being and 2 weeks later, Mujib-ur-
Rehman was released from prison by Bhutto.
• 10th January 1972 – Mujib-ur-Rehman became the
first Prime Minister of Bangladesh.