Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Introduction
Bangladesh is a state in an ancient land. It has been described by an American political scientist as "a
country challenged by contradictions". It is neither a distinct geographical entity, nor a well-defined
historical unit. Nevertheless, it is the homeland of one of the largest nation in the world whose gropings
for a political identity were protracted, intense and agonizing. The key to these apparent contradictions
lies in her history.
Historically, the word Bangladesh is derived from the cognate "Vanga" which was first mentioned in the
Hindu scripture Aitareya Aranyaka (composed between 500 B C and 500 A D). It is derived from: -
• The Tibetan word "Bans" which implies "wet and moist". According to this interpretation, Bangladesh
literally refers to a wetland.
• Bodo (aborigines of Assam) words "Bang" and "la" which connote "wide plains."
I have divided the history of Bengal in the three periods: -
1. Ancient Bengal (326 B.C. to 1204 A.D.)
2. Mediaeval Bengal (1204 to 1757)
3. British Rule in Bengal (1757 to 1947)
Political Dynamics in Ancient Bengal (326 B.C. TO 1204 A.D.)
The earliest historical reference to organized political life in the Bangladesh region is usually traced to
the writings on Alexander's invasion of India in 326 B.C. The evidence from various sources refers to the
rise and fall of a large number of principalities in the region. There are two schools of opinion regarding
the political evolution of ancient Bengal: -
1. According to one school, the Bangladesh region in the ancient period was an integral part of mighty
empires in north India. These historians maintain Gangaridai and Prasioi empires were succeeded by the
Mauryas (4th to 2nd century B.C.), the Guptas (4th-5th century A.D.), the empire of Sasanka (7th
century A.D.), the Pala Empire (750-1162 A.D.), and the Senas (1162-1223 A.D.).
2. The revisionist historians maintain that epigraphic evidence suggests that only some of the areas,
which now constitute Bangladesh, were occasionally incorporated in the larger empires of South Asia. In
their view, political fragmentation and not empire was the historical destiny of Bangladesh region in the
ancient times. Inscriptions attest to the existence of a succession of independent kingdoms in southern
and eastern Bengal. These local kingdoms included the realms of Vainyagupta (6th century), the
Faridpur kings (6th century), the Bhadra dynasty (circa 600-650 A D), Khadaga dynasty (circa 650-700
AD), Natha and Rata dynasty (750-800 A D), the rulers of Harikela (circa 800-900), Chandra dynasty (circa
900-1045 A D), Varman dynasty (circa 1080-1150 A D), and Pattikera dynasty (circa 1000-1100 A D).
The weakness of social, political and economic institutions provided a suitable environment for freedom
of religion. Throughout history, small kingdoms blossomed and withered like wild flowers in this region.
Contribution of Bangladesh to Ancient Civilization
Bangladesh is the frontier of South Asian civilization. It is the natural bridge between South and South
East Asia. Because of its location, Bangladesh was the intermediary in trade and commerce between the
South Asian sub-continent and the Far East. Bangladesh region also played a seminal role in
disseminating her beliefs, art and architecture in the wider world of Asia. Ancient Bangladesh also
witnessed the flowering of temple, stupas and monastic architecture as well as Buddhist art and
sculpture.
Evolution of Mediaeval Bengal (1204-1757)
The Middle age in Bengal coincided with the Muslim rule. Out of about 550 years of Muslim rule, Bengal
was effectively ruled by Delhi-based all India empires for only about two hundred years. For about 350
years Bengal remained virtually independent. The Muslim rule in Bengal is usually divided into three
phases: -
1. The first phase, which lasted from 1204 to 1342, witnessed the consolidation of Muslim rule in
Bengal. It was characterized by extreme political instability.
2. The second phase, which spanned the period 1342 to 1575, saw the emergence of independent local
dynasties such as the Ilyas Shahi dynasty (1342-1414), the dynasty of King Ganesha (1414-1442) and
Hussein Shahi dynasty (l493-1539).
3. The third phase, which lasted from 1575 to 1757, witnessed the emergence of a centralized
administration in Bengal within the framework of the Mughal Empire. The Mughal viceroys in Bengal
curbed the independence of powerful landlords and suppressed the Portuguese pirates who frequently
interfered with the flow of foreign trade.
Following were the major achievements of Muslim rule in the region: -
1. The political unification of Bengal was a gift of the Muslim rulers.
2. The political unity fashioned by the Muslim rulers also promoted linguistic homogeneity.
3. The gradual expansion of Islam in this region. The gradual process of conversion to Islam in Bengal
resulted in an intense interaction between Islam and Hinduism. At the folk level, however, there was
less confrontation and more interaction between Hinduism and Islam.
4. The share of Muslims in the total population was higher in areas remote from the seats of Muslim
rule.
5. Islam was propagated in the Bangladesh region by a large number of Muslim saints who were mostly
active from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries. Among these missionaries Hazrat Shah Jalal, Rasti
Shah, Khan Jahan Ali, Shaikh Sharafuddin Abu Tawamah, Shah Makhdoom Ruposh, Shaikh Baba Adam
Shahid, Shah Sultan Mahisawar, Shaikh Alauddin Alaul Huq, Shah Ali Bagdadi, etc. deserve special
mention.
6. Islam ultimately succeeded in penetrating deeply into Bengal because the social environment of this
region was congenial to the diffusion of a new religion.
7. The Muslims in Bengal were concentrated in the eastern areas and the share of Hindu population was
much higher in western areas.
8. The Muslim rule in Bengal contributed to economic polarization and cultural dichotomy.
The Glory that was Mediaeval Bengal
The Bangladesh region reached the peak of economic affluence during the mediaeval period. It was
known as one of the most prosperous lands in the world. The Moorish traveler Ibn-e-Batuta who visited
Bengal in the fourteenth century described Bengal as the wealthiest and cheapest land of the world and
states that it was known as "a hell full of bounties".
Because of its fertile land and abundance of seasonal rainfall, Bengal was a full of agricultural products.
Famines and scarcity were virtually unknown as compared to other areas of Asia. Bengal was the focal
point of free trade in the Indian Ocean since the 14th century. It was the virtual storehouse of silk and
cotton not only of India and neighboring countries but also of Europe. The Dhaka region used to produce
the finest cotton in the world. A very large quantity of cotton cloth was produced in different areas of
Bengal. Bangladesh also had extensive export of silk clothes. The Bangladesh region was also one of the
largest producers of sugar. The sugar from this region used to be exported to other parts of South Asia
and the Middle East.
British Rule in Bangladesh (1757-1947)
The greatest discontinuity in the history of Bengal region occurred on June 23, 1757 when the East India
Company - a mercantile company of England became the virtual ruler of Bengal by defeating Nawab
Siraj-ud-Daulah through conspiracy. Territorial rule by a trading company resulted in the
commercialization of power. It had never suffered from a system, which touched their trades, their
occupations, their lives so closely. The plunder of Bengal directly contributed to the industrial revolution
in England. The capital collected in Bengal was invested in British industries. Lack of capital and fall of
demand, on the other hand, resulted in de-industrialization in the Bangladesh region. In the long run,
the British rule in South Asia contributed to transformation of the traditional society in various ways: -
1. The introduction of British law, a modern bureaucracy, new modes of communication, the English
language and a modern education system, and the opening of the local market to international trade
opened new horizons for development in various spheres of life.
2. It also created a universal empire that brought different areas of the sub-continent closer to each
other.
3. The city-based Hindu middle classes became the fiery champions of all-India based nationalism.
4. The British rule brought to surface the rivalry between the Hindus and Muslims, which lay dormant
during the five hundred years of Muslim rule.
5. The rivalry between Muslim and Hindus first surfaced in the political arena, when the British
partitioned the province of Bengal in 1905 for administrative reasons. The Hindus viewed it as a sinister
design to weaken Bengal, which was the vanguard of struggle for independence. The partition of Bengal
ultimately turned out to be a defeat for all. The partition was annulled in 1911.
To the Muslims, the annulment of the partition was a major disappointment. It virtually shook their faith
in the British rulers. The communal problem was not unique to Bengal; it became the main issue in all
India politics.
The Road to Pakistan
The Pakistan Resolution of 1940 at Lahore was the outcome of the political confrontation between
Hindus and Muslims. The Lahore Resolution demanded that geographically contiguous units "be
demarcated into regions which should be constituted with such territorial readjustments as may be
necessary so that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority should be grouped to
constitute "Independent States" in which the constitutional units be autonomous and sovereign".
The vernacular Muslim elites in Bengal maintained that from the constitutional point of view, the Lahore
Resolution asserted that South Asia consisted of many nations and not of two nations. It was, in effect, a
blueprint for the balkanization of South Asia and not merely for its partition into two units and that the
Lahore Resolution was legally a charter for a Muslim dominated independent and sovereign Bengal. The
partition of the South Asian sub-continent into two independent states in
Political Background (1947-1970)
Transition to Nationhood (1947-58)
Pakistan was born in bloodshed and came into existence on August 15, 1947, confronted by seemingly
insurmountable problems.
1. The rehabilitation of 12 million people involved in the mass transfer of population between the two
countries.
2. Pakistan's boundaries were established hastily and
3. The minimal requirements of a working central government were missing.
4. Until 1947 the East Wing of Pakistan, had been heavily dependent on Hindu management. After
partition people from West Pakistan took their place.
5. After partition, Muslim banking shifted from Bombay to Karachi.
6. Much of the investment in East Pakistan came from West Pakistani banks. Because of this the Bengalis
found themselves excluded from the managerial level and from skilled labor and West Pakistanis tended
to favor Urdu-speaking Biharis.
7. Pakistan had a severe shortage of trained administrative personnel. The Muslim Bengalis didn't have
any past administrative experience because of which high-level posts in Dhaka, were usually filled by
West Pakistanis or by refugees from India who had adopted Pakistani citizenship.
8. One of the most divisive issues was the question of what the official language of the new state was to
be. Every province was upset that their language will be a second-class language. In East Pakistan, the
dissatisfaction quickly turned to violence. The Bengalis constituted a majority (an estimated 54 percent)
of Pakistan's entire population. In 1954, the National Assembly designated "Urdu and Bengali and such
other languages as may be declared" to be the official languages of Pakistan.
The government machinery established at independence was similar to the viceregal system that had
prevailed in the pre-independence period. When Quaid-e-Azam died in September 1948, the seat of
power shifted from the governor general to the Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan. After the assassination
of Liaquat Ali Khan on October 16, 1951, Pakistan faced an unstable period that would be resolved by
military and civil service intervention in political affairs. The Constituent Assembly was an ineffective
body, which took almost nine years to draft a constitution, which for all practical purposes was never
put into effect.
A conservative Bengali, Governor General Khwaja Nazimuddin, succeeded Liaquat Ali Khan as Prime
Minister. Former finance minister Ghulam Mohammad, a Punjabi career civil servant, became governor
general.
In 1953 Ghulam Mohammad dismissed Prime Minister Nazimuddin, established martial law in Punjab,
and imposed governor's rule (direct rule by the central government) in East Pakistan.
In 1954 He appointed his own "cabinet of talents." Mohammad Ali Bogra, another conservative Bengali
and previously Pakistan's ambassador to the United States and the United Nations, was named prime
minister. Also In East Pakistan, the Muslim League was overwhelmingly defeated in the provincial
assembly elections by the United Front coalition of Bengali regional parties anchored by Fazlul Haq's,
Krishak Sramik, Samajbadi Dal (Peasants and Workers Socialist Party) and the Awami League (People's
League) led by Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy. Rejection of West Pakistan's dominance and the desire for
Bengali provincial autonomy were the main ingredients of the coalition's twenty-one-point platform.
In September-October 1954 Prime Minister Bogra tried to limit the powers of Governor General Ghulam
Mohammad. The governor general, however, enlisted the tacit support of the army and civil service,
dissolved the Constituent Assembly, and then formed a new cabinet. Bogra, a man without a personal
following, remained Prime Minister but without effective power. General Sikander Mirza, who had been
a soldier and civil servant, became minister of the interior; General Mohammad Ayub Khan, the army
commander, became minister of defense; and Choudhry Mohammad Ali, former head of the civil
service, remained minister of finance
In September, 1955 Bogra fell in August and was replaced by Choudhry; Ghulam Mohammad, plagued
by poor health, was succeeded as governor general in by Mirza.
In 1956 the four provinces of West Pakistan were amalgamated into one administrative unit. Provisions
were made for an Islamic state as embodied in its Directive of Principles of State Policy, which defined
methods of promoting Islamic morality. The national parliament was to comprise one house of 300
members with equal representation from both the west and east wings.
In September, 1956 Awami League's Suhrawardy succeeded Choudhry as Prime Minister in and formed
a coalition cabinet. He failed to secure significant support from West Pakistani power brokers.
Suhrawardy's thirteen months in office came to an end after he took a strong position against
abrogation of the existing "One Unit" government for all of West Pakistan.
In 1957 the president used his considerable influence to out Suhrawardy from the office of Prime
Minister. The drift toward economic decline and political chaos continued.
From 1954 to Ayub's assumption of power in 1958, the Krishak Sramik and the Awami League waged a
ceaseless battle for control of East Pakistan's provincial government.
The Revolution of Ayub Khan (1958-66)
Because of the ongoing condition on October 7, 1958, Mirza issued a proclamation that abolished
political parties, abrogated the two-year -old constitution, and placed the country under martial law. On
October 27, he swore in a twelve-member cabinet that included four generals in ministerial positions
and the eight civilians. Until 1962, martial law continued and Ayub purged a number of politicians and
civil servants from the government and replaced them with army officers.
The new constitution promulgated by Ayub in March 1962 has following features: -
1. All executive authority of the republic lies with the president.
2. As chief executive, the president could appoint ministers without approval by the legislature.
3. There was no provision for a Prime Minister.
4. There was a provision for a National Assembly and two provincial assemblies, whose members were
to be chosen by the "Basic Democrats.
5. Pakistan was declared a republic (without being specifically an Islamic republic) but, in deference to
the religious scholars.
6. The president was required to be a Muslim, and no law could be passed that was contrary to the
tenets of Islam.
The 1962 constitution made few concessions to Bengalis. Throughout the Ayub years, East Pakistan and
West Pakistan grew farther apart. The death of the Awami League's Suhrawardy in 1963 gave the
mercurial Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the leadership of East Pakistan's dominant party. Mujib, who as early
as 1956 had advocated the "liberation" of East Pakistan and had been jailed in 1958 during the military
coup, quickly and successfully brought the issue of East Pakistan's movement for autonomy to the
forefront of the nation's politics. During the years between 1960 and 1965: -
1. The annual rate of growth of the gross domestic product per capita was 4.4 percent in West Pakistan
versus a poor 2.6 percent in East Pakistan.
2. Bengali politicians complained that much of Pakistan's export earnings were generated in East
Pakistan by the export of Bengali jute and tea.
3. As late as 1960, approximately 70 percent of Pakistan's export earnings originated in the East Wing.
4. By the mid-1960s, the East Wing was accounting for less than 60 percent of the nation's export
earnings, and by the time of Bangladesh's independence in 1971, this percentage had dipped below 50
percent. Mujib demanded in 1966 that separate foreign exchange accounts be kept and that separate
trade offices be opened overseas. Also West Pakistan was benefiting from Ayub's "Decade of Progress,"
with its successful "green revolution" in wheat, and from the expansion of markets for West Pakistani
textiles, while the East Pakistani standard of living remained at an abysmally low level. Bengalis were
also upset that West Pakistan, because it was the seat of government, was the major beneficiary of
foreign aid.
Emerging Discontent (1966-70)
In 1966 Mujib announced his controversial six-point political and economic program for East Pakistani
provincial autonomy. He demanded: -
1. The government be federal and parliamentary in nature, its members to be elected with legislative
representation on the basis of population
2. The federal government have principal responsibility for foreign affairs and defense only
3. Each wing have its own currency and separate fiscal accounts
4. Taxation would occur at the provincial level, with a federal government funded by constitutionally
guaranteed grants
5. Each federal unit could control its own earning of foreign exchange; and
6. Each unit could raise its own militia or paramilitary forces.
Mujib's six points ran directly counter to President Ayub's plan for greater national integration.
In January 1968 the government arrested Mujib.
On 1968 Ayub suffered a number of setbacks in. His health was poor, and he was almost assassinated at
a ceremony marking ten years of his rule.
On February 21, 1969, Ayub announced that he would not run in the next presidential election in 1970.
A state of near anarchy reigned with protests and strikes throughout the country.
On March 25,1969, Ayub resigned and handed over the administration to the commander in chief,
General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan. Yahya announced that he considered himself to be a transitional
leader whose task would be to restore order and to conduct free elections for a new constituent
assembly, which would then draft a new constitution.
On August 1969 Appointment of a largely civilian cabinet.
On November 12, 1970, a cyclone devastated an area of almost 8,000 square kilometers of East
Pakistan's mid-coastal lowlands and its outlying islands in the Bay of Bengal.
On December 7, 1970 Yahya announced plans for a national election. The elections were the first in the
history of Pakistan in which voters were able to elect members of the National Assembly directly. In the
election that followed, the Awami League won a triumphant victory. The misfortune however was that
the Awami League did not won a single seat in West Pakistan. Similarly, the Pakistan People's Party did
not have a single seat in eastern wing. At the Bengal Assembly elections, the results were as follows:
Parties Seats
Awami League 298
Other Parties 5
Independents 7
TOTAL 310
At the National Assembly elections, the Awami emerged as the majority party, as the table shows:
Parties Seats
Awami League 167
Pakistan People's Party 88
Other Parties 5
Independents 7
TOTAL 310
The Awami League's electoral victory promised it control of the government, with Mujib as the country's
prime minister, but the inaugural assembly never met.
Political Events of 1971
The military, bureaucracy, and business, all West Pakistani-dominated, were shocked at the results
because they faced the prospect that the central government's power would be passed away to the
Bengalis, if the Awami League were allowed to shape the constitution and form a government. The
results of the election gave the Awami League the possibility of framing the constitution according to its
6-point program. The election put the Pakistani ruling elite in such a position that, if it allowed the
democratic process to continue, then it would be unable to stop the Awami League from framing a
constitution that would protect the Bengali interests.
The month of December passed and yet there was no sign of the calling of the assembly.
On the 3rd of January 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called a mammoth public meeting in which he
administered an oath to the persons who had been elected to the national and provincial assemblies by
which they swore allegiance to the party's programme for provincial autonomy. Between the election
results and this meeting apparently no effort was made by General Yahya khan to bring the leaders
together for consultations, though later when he made such efforts the Sheikh adopted hard attitude.
By and large most of the parties in the west did openly oppose the six points programme. It has been
alleged that Pakistan people's party alone did not. On the 7th of January 1971 with this background
General Yahya went to East Pakistan. The evidence suggest that at this stage the presidential team did
not have a copy of the six points programme and no serious efforts were done to convince Sheikh on his
six points. Accordingly the meeting was held. Mujib presented his six pints and asked General Yahya: -
"Sir you know what the six points programme is, please tell me what objections you have to this
programme."
General Yahya said that he himself had nothing against the programme but the west Pakistanis does
have some problems. However, the meeting ended with the reference from General Yahya to the Sheikh
as his future prime minister.
From Dacca the president came to Karachi and on 17th January 1971 went o Larkana to pay a visit to Mr.
Bhutto. After this visit Mr. Bhutto went with some other members of his party to Dacca where he met
the Sheikh on the 27th of January 1971. Mr. Bhutto returned from Dacca really having failed in his
mission.
Mr. Bhutto met General Yahya at Rawalpindi on the 11th February 1971, and reported to him the result
of the discussions After this meeting, General Yahya announced that the assembly will met on the 3rd of
march 1971.
On the 15th of February, Mr. Bhutto called a press conference in Peshawar and said that the date has
come as total surprise to him. On the 21st February, a convention of the party took an oath to abide by
the party decision not to attend the assembly on the 3rd of March 1971.
On the 22nd of February 1971, the president convened a meeting of the governors and martial law
administrators at, which were present also, some high ranking military and civilian officers. He gave a
review of current situation and the stand of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It is also a fact that the president
took the decision to postpone the national assembly as early as the 22nd February.
On the 1st of March General Yahya announced the postponement of the national assembly meeting.
The East Pakistanis reacted violently to the postponement and the immediate results were the violent
demonstrations and disturbances in Dacca. The army was called to cope with this situation. Also, on that
day Yahya named General Tikka Khan, as East Pakistan's military governor.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the 7th of March 1971 announced a weeklong programme to continue non-
cooperation movement starting on March 2nd.
General Yahya reached Dacca on 15th march and met Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the same date. The
proposals of Sheikh were: -
1. Martial Law is lifted.
2. National Assembly will start functioning both as a Constituent assembly and the legislature.
3. Power transferred both at national and provincial levels.
The second and third rounds were held on the 17th and 21st of March 1971 respectively. Mr. Bhutto on
an invitation from Dacca on the 19th reached Dacca on the afternoon of the 21st and met the president.
The next three days were occupied with discussions of president aides with the Pakistan People's Party
and the Awami League separately.
On the 23rd March 1971, General Yahya summoned a conference of the leaders at Dacca for the 10th.
Again, Mujib refused to attend and there after General Yahya fixed the 25th for the meeting of the
assembly. Bengalis following Mujib's lead defiantly celebrated "Resistance Day" in East Pakistan instead
of the traditional all-Pakistan "Republic Day." The new flag of Bangladesh was hoisted on all government
and private buildings.
On the 24th and 25th march, Mr. Bhutto met the president to discuss the proposals of Awami League.
On the evening of the 25th the Pakistan's People's Party was informed about the final proposals of
Awami League. At about midnight between the 25th and 26th Dacca was awakened to the nose of
gunfire; military crackdown has started. General Yahya had already left Dacca.
On the 28th June 1971, General Yahya made a broad cast to the nation again in which he spoke with
sorrow of the recent happenings and emphasized once again that his aim had been to restore
democracy in the country.
Unfortunately due to the preplanned rebellious act of the Awami League situation as existed
immediately after the military action was as follows: -
1. Major portion of the territory of East Pakistan was in rebels hands.
2. Civil servants were also actively associated with Awami League. A large fled to India or had left their
work place.
3. Communications had been badly disrupted due to sabotage by the rebels.
4. Educational Institutions were the main centers of agitation and resistance.
5. It was difficult to apply normal laws of the country.
Military Aspect
The military aspect of the Indo-Pakistan war is naturally the most important part of my report.
THE Military Concept of National Defence
In the war Directive No 4 issued by Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan on 9th August 1967 the
National Aim is: -
"To preserve national security, integrity and the sovereignty of Pakistan, while promoting prosperity and
well being of its people so as to enable the country to find an honorable place on the comity of nations.
Within the context of this main aim and without prejudice to it, continue efforts to secure the rights of
self determination for the people of Kashmir."
The directive lays down that the mission of the armed forces would be: -
"On commencement of hostilities or as soon as favorable conditions are created or offered, offensive
operations will be undertaken to capture and hold as much enemy territory as possible whilst containing
and neutralizing the enemy forces elsewhere by all means at our disposal in the west. In the East contain
and neutralize as many enemy troops as possible, inflicting maximum casualties without running the risk
of annihilation."
Since the commencement of the political crises and the military action in East Pakistan in March 1971,
certain significant changes had taken place: -
1. India had entered into a military alliance with the Soviet Union, thus ensuring substantial supplies of
sophisticated weapons in all fields, and decisively tilting the military balance against Pakistan.
2. The prolonged military action in East Pakistan had completely alienated the local population, with the
result that the Pakistan army was faced not only with external aggression, but also with the constant
threat of internal subversion.
3. India has openly started training forty to fifty thousand guerillas for infiltration into East Pakistan.
4. By the month of October and November 1971, India had concentrated on the border of East Pakistan
a force equivalent to nearly twelve divisions.
5. The declare objective of India at this juncture was the establishment of Bangladesh by overrunning
the capturing part, if not the whole of East Pakistan.
6. The Pakistan Army was stretched in penny-pockets all along the East Pakistan border wit India.
In view of these facts and circumstances, the concept that "the defence of East Pakistan lies in West
Pakistan" needed a serious fresh look by those responsible for the formulation of our defence policy.
The first important task was to hold out in East Pakistan as long as possible so as to enable International
community to intervene effectively. General Yahya and most of his commanders are of the view that
allocation of more forces to East Pakistan could not have produced any different results, as East Pakistan
could not be held in any case.
Area Distribution
The area was divided into three sectors namely: -
1. Eastern sector consisting of Narsinghdi- Ghorosal- Demra- Narayanganj.
2. Northern Sector comprised of area Kaliakair- Rajendrapur- Joydevpur- Tunji
3. Western Sector consisted of Damrai- Savar- Mirpur
The southern sector lying between Padma and Buri Ganga was left unprotected because natural
obstacles covered that area.
Sector No. Sector Name Responsibility
1 Jessore 9th division
2 Area- Rajshahi- Dinajpur-Rangpur- Bogra 16th division
3 Jamalpur-Mymensingh- Dacca 14th division
4 Sylhet- Moulvi Bazaar- Brahmanbaria 14th division
5 Comilla- Laksham- Chittagong Area 14th division
Fact Sheet
In this there I have tried to show some facts throughout the history of Pakistan. The province of Bengal
had a greater population than all the other provinces of Pakistan combined, as the following table
shows:
Province Population in millions
1951 1961 1971
East Pakistan 41.9 50.8 70
West Pakistan 33.7 42.9 60
East Pakistan was the world's largest producer of raw jute (a fiber), which was Pakistan's main foreign
exchange earner. The foreign trade statistics in its first decade for Pakistan were as follows:
Foreign Trade Figures (millions of rupees)
5 Year Period East Pakistan West Pakistan
Exports Imports Exports Imports
1947-52 4582 2129 3786 4769
1952-57 3969 2159 3440 5105
In financial year 1948-49, the allocation for provincial development expenditure was as the following
table indicates:
Province Amount Allocated (millions Rs)
East Pakistan 40
Punjab 50
Sind 25
NWFP 5
The Basic Principle Committee (BPC) of the National Constitutional Assembly published its report in
February 1950. It called for the reorganization of Pakistan's provinces into two units: West Pakistan and
East Pakistan. The legislature was to have two houses. In the upper house there would be equal
numbers of members from the two constituting units, while the Lower House would be elected on the
basis of population. Initially, it did not specify the number of seats in the houses. Later, the proposed
distribution of seats were as follows:
Province Upper House Lower House Total
East Pakistan 10 165 175
Punjab 10 75 85
NWFP 10 24 34
Sind 10 20 30
Baluchistan 10 16 26
Total 50 300 500
The upper house was to be indirectly elected. The governmental mechanism would be a combination of
presidential and parliamentary systems, with a substantial executive power and the choice of selecting
the Prime Minister being retained with the President. The following tables reveal the distribution of
civilian and military posts on the basis of nationalities.
Central Government Civil Service (1955)
Position East Pakistan West Pakistan
Secretary 0 19
Joint Secretary 3 38
Deputy Secretary 10 123
Assistant Secretary 38 510
The following table provides a breakdown of the development expenditure of the two wings.
Development Outlay for Pakistan from 1947-48 to 1960-61
East Pakistan West Pakistan
In millions of Rupees
Government Investment 1720 4300
Government Loans 184 2240
Aid 76 1010
The center's development expenditure was concentrated on the further advancing of economic
infrastructure of West Pakistan. The table below demonstrates the increase in the disparity of Per Capita
Income between the two wings:
Years The Per Capita Income Distribution in Pakistan [In Rupees]
East Pakistan West Pakistan Difference
1959-60 269 355 32%
1964-65 285.5 419 46.7%
1968-69 291 473.4 62.6%
From 1948-60 East Pakistan's export earnings had been 70%, but its share of import earnings was only
25%.
• A sizable net transfer of resources had taken place from East to West Pakistan. The report states that,
if allowance is made for the under valuation of foreign exchange in terms of Pakistan's domestic
currency, the total transfer from East to West Pakistan over the period 1948/49-1968/69 was Rs
31,000,000,000 [1971 terms]. Using the then exchange rate of Rs 11.90 to the dollar, this worked out to
2.6 thousand million dollars in 1971 terms.
SOME CONSEQUENCES
• In 1948 there were 11 textile mills in the East and only 9 in the West.
• In 1971 there were 26 in the East as opposed to 150 in the West.
• East Pakistan's economy transformed from a surplus one to a deficit one.
Conclusion
In the end of the report this is the summary of conclusions on the causes of surrender of East Pakistan. I
think that the defeat suffered by the armed forces of Pakistan was not merely the result of military
factors alone but had been brought about as the cumulative result of political, international, moral and
military factors.
1. The direct and devastating effects of political situation during the military regime itself were the
prolonged involvement of army in counter insurgency measures throughout the province and forces
deployment along the borders. Due to these factors the army was fighting a losing battle from the very
start.
2. The major role in the 1971 disaster had been that of the ground forces and the strategic concept
required revision in the light of the situation but the army high command did not carried out the in-
depth analysis.
3. The planning was hopelessly defective and there was no plan for some important areas like Dacca.
4. There was no order to surrender but that in view of the desperate picture painted by the commander
eastern command the higher authorities only gave him permission to surrender.
5. The responsibility of these failures lies with the commander eastern command the GHQ cannot
escape its responsibility as the plan had been approved by it. It was also the responsibility of the GHQ to
correct the mistakes of the eastern command.
6. There was a lack of moral character and courage in the senior army commanders.
The surrender in East Pakistan has indeed been a tragic blow to the nation. By the act of surrender the
image of Pakistan army as an efficient and excellent fighting force stood shattered. The situation that
resulted in the movement for independence was also responsible i-e the economic exploitation of East
Pakistan in the hands of West. I can only hope that the nation has learnt the necessary lessons from
these tragic events.