TERM PAPER

ON

Liberation war of Bangladesh

& International Community.
Course Name: Bangladesh studies
Course code: ENG 1002

Date of Submission: May 31, 2020

Bangladesh University of professionals

Submitted to
Dr. A.K.M. Jasim Uddin
Professor
Department of History
Jahangirnagar University

Submitted by
Rakibul Hasan
Batch no: 05
Roll no: 19151047
Department of English, BUP
 Table of Content

Topic Page No.

Abstract 02

Introduction 03

Research Problem 04

Objectives 04

Research Questions 04

Methodology 04

Informative portion 05-13

Conclusion 14

References 15
Abstract
The history of Bangladesh Liberation war is a long story to narrate. After the attack of 25 th
March many people started leaving the country. But there were about 60 million people in this
country without the freedom fighters and those who took shelter in India. The country was under
attacked by the Pakistani Army. People of Bangladesh fought for their lives and their
motherland. We achieved a independence nation not only for the people who lied down their
lives but also the foreign countries and communities helped us.

The goal of this paper is to focus on the action and contribution of other countries and
communities during the liberation war of Bangladesh.
Introduction
In 1947, being free from the British Bangladesh became a part of Pakistan named West Pakistan.
From 1947 to 1971 through many movement and action we recognized that Pakistan will not just
stop the absorption on us. Finally the war began in 1971. Though this fight began with an aim of
our freedom and happiness but that year really brought a lot of sorrow and misfortune for the
citizen. They had many obstructions to lead their life. The 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh
against Pakistan continues shaping the mindset of Bangladeshi people until present day. This
bloodstained historical event has constructed Bangladeshi sense of nationalism and has forged
their contemporary Constitution. The Bangladesh we see today is essentially the fruit of the
liberation war of 1971. In order to understand ongoing Bangladeshi politics and the socio-
economic sphere, it is required to analyse the history of Pakistani colonialism and the events
surrounding the 1971 liberation war that turned Bangladesh into an independent sovereign State.
I have selected this topic because when a country fells upon any war, there works many foreign
policy over the whole world and other countries of the world get the impact of the war. The other
countries play significant roles for the country which is having war. For the role of other
countries and international communities, Bangladesh had the changes in its basic political
conditions like economy, constitution, governance etc. during the liberation war. This is why I
took this topic as we can consider it as a root of war impact on Bangladesh.
Research Problems
Bangladesh was ruled by Pakistan. And they didn’t want to release us. So they attack us. So, this
paper will deal with how was the situation after the attack of Pakistan army.

Objective
General Objectives:
1. To figure out what happened during the war of 1971.
2. To find out the role of International Community during the war of 1971.

Specific Objective:
Finding out the positive and negative role of Super Powers, UN, and others during the liberation
war of Bangladesh.

Research Questions
1. How the unarmed Bengali people defeated the Pakistani army in 1971?
2. Who supported Bangladesh and who did the opposite?
3. How was the international politics in 1971?

Methodology
This paper is done by watching the interview of some the victims, freedom fighters, politicians
and foreign reporters. Also information was taken from several books and website etc. So, the
primary and secondary sources have been used to do it.
 INFORMATORY PORTION
The list of foreign countries and international communities names are given below
which had played role during the war of liberation-

Some of the countries were:

 India
 S. Russia
 England
 USA
 China

Some of the communities were:

 United Nation
 UNCHR
 UNICEF
 RED CROSS
 Media and press.

ROLE OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES

ROLE OF INDIA:
CONTRIBUTION OF PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT: The contribution of
Indian people, government and eventually armed forces are unforgettable fact of history. When
Bangladeshi mass people were murdered by the military of Pakistan, India intervened and sent
army to fight against Pakistani soldiers and supported freedom fighters. When American navy
came to help Pakistan, the Soviet Union assured full support to India by sending their navy. On
27 March 1971, the Prime Minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi, expressed full support of her
government to the Bangladeshi struggle for independence. The Bangladesh-India border was
opened to allow the Bangladeshi refugees safe shelter in India. The governments of West Bengal,
Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura established refugee camps along the border. Exiled
Bangladeshi army officers and voluntary workers from India immediately started using these
camps for the recruitment and training of Mukti Bahini guerrillas1.

ROLE OF INDIRA GANDHI:

PERSONAL, POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES
The personal, political and diplomatic role of the former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in
the Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971 is inseparable from the country’s history2. From 24
October 1971 Indira Gandhi started travelling to the USA and Western Europe countries
(Belgium, German, France, and Great Britain) with a view to create world public opinion and
gain support. The US president Richard Nixon called Indians aggressors and ordered to support
Pakistan by the US troops deployed in Vietnam. On 9 August 1971, Indira Gandhi signed a
twenty-year treaty of friendship and co-operation with the Soviet Union. It was greatly shocking
for the United States, and decreasing the possibility, that China would become involved in the
conflict. The Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev assured that if the US or China attacked India, the
Soviet Union would take severe counter measure.Under the leadership of Indira Gandhi all out
supports were given by India to the struggling people of the East Pakistan (Bangladesh) during
the liberation wars.
ROLE OF INDIAN ARMED FORCES:
BSF, ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCE
Prior to the involvement of the Indian army, the BSF (Border Security Force) was primarily
responsible to provide support to Mukti Bahini (Freedom Fighter) units. They also assisted in the
training of Mukti Bahini (Freedom fighters)3. They also portrayed 69 Indian-sponsored insurgent
training camps bordering East Pakistan, with an estimated total of 30—50 thousand rebels in
training4. The BSF has established camps at which 10,000 Bengalis are reportedly receiving
training in guerrilla and sabotage tactics. Limited quantities of arms and ammunition provided to
the Bengali separatists and some Indian forces have infiltrated into East Bengal to provide
assistance and training to the separatists.

The role of Soviet Russia:

The response of Soviet Union to the 1971 crisis in East Pakistan was conditioned by the
general Soviet policy with regard to Asia in the 1960s. It was a policy of growing
involvement, initially undertaken to contain US influence in Asia, but increasingly
directed at stemming the diplomatic and military as well as ideological advance of China
which at that time was emerging as the Soviet Union's principal rival in the Third World.

The Soviet Union's close tie with India was vital in shaping the Soviet response towards
the East Pakistan crisis in 1971. The relatively high priority given by the Soviet policy
makers was the consequence of their perception of the contemporary world and Asia, and
the proper Soviet role in both the world and Asian dimensions as a great power. Thus
behind all that happened in the sub-continent over the 1971 Bangladesh struggle “was a
power struggle between China and the Soviet Union and a strategic conflict between
Moscow and Washington.” In South Asia during December 1971 the Soviet Union
seemed to have gained most from this three-cornered fight.
The role of US:
The US played a more complex and somewhat negative role in the 1971 war.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the US society's response was one of positive
support contradicting the state's negative role. In the pluralist and open society of the US,
influential and articulate segments stood solidly behind the cause of Bangladesh. As the
crisis developed, the American response went through several discernible phases.

The first phase of quiet non-involvement began on March 25 and lasted roughly until July
8, 1971. During this phase, the US posture was “neutral” and it described the problem in
East Bengal as Pakistan's “internal matter.”

The second phase started with the secret trip by President Nixon's National Security
Adviser Henry Kissinger to China during July 9-10, 1971. This marked the real
beginnings of the Sino-US detente and led indirectly to the formalisation of Indo-Soviet
alliance by a treaty in August. During this phase, which lasted until September, the US
pursued diplomacy of restraint, counselling India to desist from armed conflict with
Pakistan and privately pressing Pakistan to thrash out a “political settlement” of the East
Pakistan issue.

During the third phase, lasting from September until December 3, when the Indo-Pakistan
war over Bangladesh broke out, the US attempted to promote a constructive political
dialogue between the Pakistani military government and the Bengali nationalist leaders in
India, but in vain.

The fourth phase covered the period of the Indo-Pak war. During the 14-day sub-
continental war, the US backed Pakistan and blamed India for the escalation of hostilities,
and tried through the UN and other means to bring about a ceasefire and “save West
Pakistan” from possible Indian attempts to destroy it militarily.

President Nixon ordered a task force of eight naval ships, led by the nuclear aircraft
carrier Enterprise, to sail into the Bay of Bengal in a “show of force.” In response, On
December 13, Russia dispatched a nuclear-armed flotilla, the 10th Operative Battle Group
(Pacific Fleet) from Vladivostok. Russia deployed two task groups; in total two cruisers,
two destroyers, six submarines, and support vessels. A group of Il-38 ASW aircraft from
Aden air base in Yemen provided support.
The role of Britain:
During the Bangladesh Liberation War Britain offered shelter to diplomats and people who
escaped the conflict. The British government, politicians and media were also critical of the
atrocities committed in Bangladesh and some expressed sympathy for the Mukti Bahini. The
government, politicians and the media were also critical of the atrocities and shown empathy for
the Mukti Bahini. On February 4, 1972, Britain recognized Bangladesh, this eventually led to
recognition from other European and Commonwealth nations and Bangladesh's induction into
the Commonwealth on April 18, 1972. Britain holds the largest Bangladeshi diaspora in the
western world, now numbered at around 500,000, most of whom can trace their ties to the region
of Sylhet. The largest open-air Asian festival in Europe, Baishakhi Mela, is a Bangladeshi event
held in London. In 1971, hearing Ravi Shankar's distress, former Beatles lead guitarist George
Harrison helped organize the Concert for Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden. At that time,
Bangladesh was ravaged by floods, famine, and the Bangladesh Liberation War, which left 10
million people — mostly women and children — fleeing their homes. The Concert for
Bangladesh was one of the most ambitious humanitarian efforts in rock music history, and
focused global attention on the crisis in Bangladesh while raising new awareness of UNICEF and
its role in the developing world.

The role of China:

China had a zigzag relationship, in her early days of independence. In Communist revolution
Nehru was their comrade in arms. UN seat was with National Chinese Government, which had
just Taiwan. West supported them against Communist China, as internal struggle had not yet
fully ended. Nehru supported Peoples Republic of China (PRC). China supported India on
Kashmir. China did not recognize McMahon line between Tibet and India, and China made
Dalai Lama to flee Tibet. Indian asylum to Dalai Lama and Border problems put China and India
at cross paths- resulting in 1962 war. Pakistan was US ally in early USSR- USA power blocks.
Kissinger Secretary of State, to President Nixon, made inroads to China, with Pakistani
assistance. Pakistan was dear therefore to both US and China. China used veto against
Bangladesh UN membership to satisfy Pakistan. However 2 years afterwards, China did not
oppose Bangladesh entry in UN. China has not made frequent use of Veto, they recently
opposed our attempt in UN for restrictions on Lakhvi, mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attack.

ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES:-

1. UN: In the year 1971, U Thant, Secretary-General of the United Nations, wrote to the
President of the Security Council, saying, “The happenings in East Pakistan constitute one of the
most tragic episodes in human history. Of course, it is for future historians to gather facts and
make their own evaluations, but it has been a very terrible blot on a page of human history”.
However, the UN engagement on East Pakistan, then, was driven by humanitarian, not human
rights, issues. But the Security Council never took the hint of U Thant and did not explicitly
consider the situation on the subcontinent until an outright international conflict was on its hands
in December, when India joined the war in favour of Mukti Bahini (Bangalee freedom fighters).
It was successive Soviet vetoes that enabled the combined forces of India and Mukti Bahini to
bring the perpetrators of the crimes to their knees resulting in the birth of Bangladesh, thereby
bringing an end to the genocide. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
(CERD) met in April and September of 1971 but did not seriously consider the genocide in
Bangladesh either. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) did not even issue a
statement of concern and condemnation under the pretext that its role did not extend to 'internal
questions' of a member country. An exasperated Indira Gandhi tried unsuccessfully to rebut the
'internal question' arguing, “It is not just a small part of the country that is asking for rights. It
happens to be the majority of the country, not a small part wanting to go away.”

2. UNHCR: In late March 1971, the former East Pakistan declared independence from West
Pakistan. During the ensuing violence and repression, some 10 million civilians fled into
neighboring India and a massive relief operation was launched.
UNHCR was, for the first time in a humanitarian crisis, chosen to act as general coordinator for
all UN assistance. As “focal point,” the refugee agency’s tasks included mobilization of
international support and funds, procurement and delivery of relief supplies to India, and
coordination with the Indian government, which organized the distribution of these supplies. It
was a pivotal moment in UNHCR’s history.

3. UNICEF: Ten million people flee to India during the War of Liberation against Pakistan.
UNICEF works with other UN agencies in Kolkata to provide shelter, food, sanitation supplies,
safe water and cooking utensils to the refugees. UNICEF supports supplementary food
distribution for 650,000 children in the refugee camps. On 1 August, George Harrison’s Concert
for Bangladesh directs global attention at the unfolding humanitarian crisis and raises funds for
UNICEF’s work with the refugees. The concert was the first of its kind and is recognised as the
inspiration behind more recent humanitarian fundraising events. Album and film sales continue
to raise awareness and money for the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF. Bangladesh wins
independence on 16 December. The war leaves a ravaged economy and a deep scar in the
nation's psyche.
4. RED CROSS: It is 30 years since war broke out in Bangladesh, at the time the province
of East Pakistan. At the instigation of Awami League Nationalists, the separatist movement
declared independence on 26 March 1971. The conflict that ensued was particularly bloodthirsty
and degenerated in December 1971 into an 11-day war between Pakistan and India. The fighting
triggered a mass exodus of some 10 million people, mainly to India and then to Pakistan.
The humanitarian response matched the enormous needs and gave rise to a joint emergency
operation combining the ICRC, the then League of Red Cross Societies and numerous National
Society medical teams. The staff focused mainly on the protection of prisoners of war, tracing
missing people, food relief and medical assistance for displaced people and refugees. Jean-
Jacques Kurz was in Bangladesh on his first mission for the ICRC. He captured these images at
the time and now shares his recollections with Red Cross, Red Crescent.

The Role of International Media:

The Liberation War was fought not only by the brave “Mukti Bahini” within Bangladesh
but also supported through the coverage it received in the international media and artists.
Journalists brought home to the people of the world the stories of the trials and sacrifices
of the heroic people of Bangladesh, and the tribulations they were facing under the
insensitive and brutal military administration of the occupying armed forces of Pakistan.

On March 25, 1971, the Pakistani military forcibly confined all foreign reporters to the
Hotel Intercontinental (currently the Rupashi Bangla) in Dhaka, the night the military
launched its genocide campaign. The reporters were able to see the tank and artillery
attacks on civilians through the windows.

Two days later, as Dhaka burned the reporters were expelled from the country – their
notes and tapes were confiscated. One of the expelled reporters was Sidney Schanberg of
the New York Times. He would return to Dhaka in June 1971 to report on the massacres
in towns and villages. He would again be expelled by the Pakistan military at the end of
June.

Two foreign reporters escaped the roundup on March 25. One of them was Simon Dring
of the Daily Telegraph. He evaded capture by hiding on the roof of the Hotel
Intercontinental. Dring was able to extensively tour Dhaka the next day and witness first-
hand the slaughter that was taking place. Days later he was able to leave East Pakistan
with his reporter’s notes. On March 30, 1971, the Daily Telegraph published Simon
Dring’s front page story of the slaughter in Dhaka that the army perpetrated in the name
of “God and a united Pakistan.”

In April 1971, the Pakistan Army flew in eight Pakistani reporters from West Pakistan for
guided tours with the military. Their mission was to tell the story of normalcy. The
reporters went back to West Pakistan after their tour and dutifully filed stories declaring
all was normal in East Pakistan. However, one of the reporters had a crisis of conscience.
This reporter was Anthony Mascarenhas, the assistant editor of West Pakistani newspaper
Morning News.

On May 18, 1971, Mascarenhas flew to London and walked into the offices of the Sunday
Times offering to write the true story of what he had witnessed in East Pakistan. After
getting agreement from the Sunday Times, he went back to Pakistan to retrieve his
family. On June 13, with Mascarenhas and his family safely out of Pakistan, the Sunday
Times published a front page and centre page story entitled “Genocide.” It was the first
detailed eyewitness account of the genocide published in a western newspaper.

In June 1971, under pressure and in need of economic assistance, Pakistan allowed a
World Bank team to visit East Pakistan. The World Bank team reported back that East
Pakistan lay in ruins. One member of the team reported that the East Pakistani town of
Kushtia looked “like a World War II German town having undergone strategic bombing
attacks” as a result of the Pakistani army’s “punitive action” on the town. He also
reported that the army “terrorises the population, particularly aiming at the Hindus and
suspected members of the Awami League.” The Word Bank president, Robert McNamara,
suppressed the public release of the report. The report was leaked to the New York
Times.

Despite the Pakistani military’s best efforts at hiding the truth about their genocide
campaign against Bengalis, reports filtered out of East Pakistan to the outside world –
thanks in part to the efforts of determined foreign news reporters. Following are the
foreign newspaper reports from the beginning of the genocide in March 1971 to its end.
They chronicle the bloody birth of Bangladesh.

Conclusion:
West Pakistani never regarded East Pakistani as their brother. So there was huge dissimilarity
between the two portions. The people of East Pakistan were highly neglected in every sector.
This make them stand for a war and through that Bangladesh and Bengali became free from the
WEST Pakistani rule. But the war was hard for us. We Bengali People had to go through many
extreme situations. Most of the people were in great sufferings but they all struggled. People of
all class of life struggled only for their mother land. People suffered a lot during that nine
months. They had to sacrifice almost everything for their country. Finally, the Bengali people
achieved their victory and Bangladesh became independence in 16th December, 1971.

In the war Bangladesh had both negative and positive impact from international communities
and foreign countries during liberation war in 1971. But she we can see UNHCR, UNICEF, RED
CROSS and Media-press played the vital and positive role in liberation war. The countries-
Soviet Union. India, Britain, really helped us in liberation war to emancipation. We officially
feel very grateful to them. But USA, KSA, UN, China played huge negative role toward
Bangladesh in this war. They supported Pakistan, even they supplied arm forced instrumental
stuffs to Pakistan. After all our pride, Bangladesh has earned its emancipation by sacrificing an
ocean of blood in the long nine months bloody liberation war.

Reference:
Newspapers
Books
Online articles
Internet
Link :
http://www.asthabharati.org/Dia_Oct%2008/sal.htm (accessed: 12.09.2016)