Which factors did lead to the emergence of Bangladesh, according to you?

Answer:

The creation of Bangladesh in 1971 was the combination of interrelated political,

economic, cultural, and social factors. These factors led the people of the then East Pakistan to
have a strong feeling of national identity and to strive for self determination. The following are
the key factors of the emergence of Bangladesh:

1. Linguistic and Cultural Differences:

By passing the State Language Act in 1952, the leaders of West Pakistan established Urdu
as the only official language of Pakistan. Which resulted in serious turmoil in the then East
Pakistan, because Bengali was the majority . Following this chaos, the Bengali Language
Movement that took place in the early 1950s raised awareness about the linguistic and cultural
differences between the two parts of Pakistan. Although the 1956 state language recognition of
Bengali was only a partial success, the campaign had already planted the roots of a unique
Bengali identity.
https://elearn.daffodilvarsity.edu.bd/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=732375

2. Economic Disparities:
East Pakistan outperformed West Pakistan economically in 1947, but after the division
the discriminatory policies in all areas of the economy caused East Pakistan's economy to grow
significantly slower than that of the united Pakistan. Bangladesh was exploited by West
Pakistanis during its 25 years of occupation as a part of Pakistan, in a manner that was nearly
identical to that of the British. Resentment was stoked by the ongoing economic inequality,
which also encouraged calls for greater autonomy and equitable resource distribution.
https://thekootneeti.in/2020/01/10/sea-of-difference-between-east-and-west-pakistan-op-
ed-dr-rajkumar-singh/

3. Political Discontent:
 The Western Wing served as the location for the government's headquarters. In addition,
there were inequalities in the political representation of various ethnic groups within the Central
Government. West Pakistani elite groups, particularly the Punjabis, dominated it. Ethnic
minorities, like the Bengali community, had a small presence in the government. As such, the
dominant ethnic group held authority over state-owned companies, political institutions, and the
armed forces. After Ayub Khan's downfall, Yahiya Khan made a vow to call Pakistan's first
general elections, which he eventually carried out in 1970. Yahiya’s hopes of bringing peace and
collaboration back between the Eastern and Western wings were soon destroyed. Because the
Awami League, a powerful political party from the Eastern Wing, won the 1970 elections, the
results were devastating for the political elites of the Western Wing. The Awami League secured
160 of the 300 available seats in the Eastern Wing. However, the Western Wing political elite did
not find this to be in their best interests, and so a conspiracy was planned. Ultimately, political
tensions increased as the national assembly was announced to be canceled on March 1, 1971.
https://www.efsas.org/publications/research-dossiers/1971-liberation-war,-birth-of-
bangladesh-and-comparison-with-present-day-pakistan/

4. Social Mobilization:
In East Pakistan, universities and intellectual circles developed, became hubs for political
agitation. Particularly when it came to planning protests and outlining the demands for rights and
autonomy, students were essential. The independence struggle was aided in mobilizing popular
support by the involvement of intellectuals and students. However, the development of
widespread support for independence was greatly aided by local activism and large-scale
movements. Protests and demonstrations were attended by members of a variety of social
backgrounds, including workers, urban middle classes, and peasants. These various groups of
protestors (students, peasants, workers, and intellectuals) symbolized the broader
movement for a systemic change.

https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/pakistani-students-workers-and-peasants-
bring-down-dictator-1968-1969

5. Military Repression and Violence:

One prime example of military violence among others, was Operation Searchlight. It was
the planned genocide against the Eastern Wing residents that was carried out on March 25, 1971,
by the West Pakistani government. The success of Sheikh Mujib's party in the 1970 Pakistani
general election brought this crisis . General Yahiya Khan, developed a plan of genocide as
retaliation against the East Pakistani people for refusing to obey the government of West
Pakistan. He organized a military operation that was to take place late at night on March 25,
1971, with the intention of driving out Bengali nationalism from Pakistan. The goal of this
massacre was to eliminate all military and political opponents of Bengali nationalism in less than
a month. The plan was to seize complete command of all major cities under the Nationalist
insurgents' influence. During the crackdown, the Pakistani military violated many human rights,
which highlighted the crucial need for a resolution. Eventually the world became aware of the
atrocities, massacres, and refugee crises, which increased sympathy for the Bengali cause.
https://www.efsas.org/publications/research-dossiers/1971-liberation-war,-birth-of-
bangladesh-and-comparison-with-present-day-pakistan/

6. International Factors:
Since the beginning of the Liberation War, India has consistently helped us, by providing
moral support. In order to prevent any UN Security Council resolutions that would have
benefited Pakistan, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France provided assistance to
Indira Gandhi, the prime minister of India at the time. China and the US, on the other hand,
provided assistance to Pakistan. China offered moral advocacy, while the United States supplied
munitions. Pakistan did not have a great chance of winning the war, though America supported
them, because the Soviet Union coordinated with the enemy to undermine American efforts. On
December 3, 1971, when West Pakistan began attacking India, the Indian military teamed forces
with Bangladeshi guerrillas to counter the West Pakistani military. Though they expected
military assistance from China and the United States, but both nations did not get any backing at
this critical phase of the war. In reality, the conflict made the whole community—major nations
and international organizations more aware of the situation in East Pakistan. The sufferings of
Bengali people and the necessity of a conflict resolution were brought to light through diplomatic
initiatives, media attention, and international campaigning.
https://www.efsas.org/publications/research-dossiers/1971-liberation-war,-birth-of-
bangladesh-and-comparison-with-present-day-pakistan/

7. Liberation War & Independence:

After the massacre on March 25, 1971, Bengalis began using all of their resources to
fight back against the Pakistani military. To ensure Bangladesh's independence, common
Bengalis, particularly the youth, risked their own and their families' lives despite lacking the
skills and experience needed to fight in a war. The horrors committed by the Pakistani military
escalated after the events of the 25th March, which is also known as "Black Night." The entire
territory of East Pakistan was included in the operation. The Bengali Nationalists organized
"Mukti Bahini," or "The Force of Independence," a weak and inexperienced military
organization. The military actions of the Bengali nationalists were taken over by East Pakistan's
Bengali military officers. Following the creation of Bengali guerrilla Force, they split up East
Pakistan into eleven sectors in order to launch guerrilla attacks against the military of West
Pakistan. Meanwhile, certain East Pakistani political figures established the Provisional
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh at Mujibnagar. Bangladesh's prime minister,
Tajuddin Ahmed, was appointed prime minister, and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a prisoner of the
West Pakistani government at the moment, became president. Bangladesh's official proclamation
of independence followed this development.
https://www.efsas.org/publications/research-dossiers/1971-liberation-war,-birth-of-
bangladesh-and-comparison-with-present-day-pakistan/

In summary, Bangladesh's formation was the result of the combination of long-standing

linguistic, cultural, economic, and political concerns, as well as urgent catalysts such as the
military crackdown and the refusal to transfer political authority. The Bengali people's
perseverance and determination, the strategic leadership of the Awami League, and essential
Indian assistance all played important roles in attaining independence. The establishment of
Bangladesh represented the end of a long fight for self-determination and the emergence of a
new nation molded through war trials and the desire for a distinct national identity.