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HistoryofBengal

TheLiberationWar
Md Rabiul Haque
UniversityofDhaka

TheLiberationWar
Whyitwasunavoidable

ThedisparitiesbetweentheEastandWestPakistan
p

EconomicDisparity
CulturalDisparity
ReligiousDisparity
PoliticalDisparity

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THELIBERATIONWAR
EventsonMarch,1971
On 1 March 1971, just two days before it was due to meet, Yayha
postponed the opening of the Assembly, without setting a new date.
In his historic address on 7 March,
March Sheikh Mujib called on those present to
prepare for a Liberation War and announced an action Programme of non
violent noncooperation which was to be followed throughout Bangladesh.
Yahya Khan was forced to announce that the National Assembly session
would be held on 25 March. Lt. General Tikka Khan was appointed Martial
Law Administrator and Governor of East Pakistan.
On 15 March Yahya and Bhutto met Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhaka for
further talks to resolve the situation.
On 25
O 5 March
a c Yahya
a ya flew
e bac
back to Islamabad
s a abad
That night, Mujib was arrested and the army of Tikka Khan massacred on
the followers of Mujib in Dhaka
Mujib declared independence of Bangladesh before his arrest in the
midnight
The declaration of independence was proclaimed by Maor Zia on 27 march
through Swadhin Bangla Betar

THELIBERATIONWAR
TheMujibNagar Government
On17April1971,inthevillageofVaidyanathtala intheMeherpur
district,Bangladeshformeditsfirstgovernment,withMujibnagar as
the became the capital of the Provisional Government. Sheikh Mujibur
thebecamethecapitaloftheProvisionalGovernment.SheikhMujibur
Rahman waselectedPresident,butashewasinaPakistanijail, Vice
PresidentSyed Nazrul Islam becameActingPresident.Otherimportant
membersofthegovernmentwere:
PrimeMinister: Tajuddin Ahmed
ForeignMinister: Khandakar Mushtaq Ahmed
FinanceMinister: Captain(Retd.)MansurAli
HomeMinister: A.H.M.Qamruzzaman
ColonelMuhammed Ataul Ghani Osmani becameCommanderin
ChiefoftheMukti Bahini.
ProfessorYusufAli,Awami LeaguememberofNationalAssembly,read
outastatementdeclaring26March1971asIndependenceDay.
ActingPresidentSyed Nazrul IslamandPrimeMinisterTajuddin Ahmed
appealedtoothercountriestorecognizeBangladeshsindependence.

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THELIBERATIONWAR
TheLiberationWar
The first task of the Provisional Government was to lead the people in the
Liberation War.
It formed a regular armed Battalion,
Battalion consisting of the Bengali members of the then
East Pakistan Regiment and Bengali soldiers and officers of the Pakistani Army.
The Muktibahini, formed with the members of Police, EPR and Army was devieded
into 11 sectors. Later on, three brigades were formed known as K Force, S Force
and Z Force consisting of the members of the regular armed battalion.
Students, youths, peasants, workers and people from other professions helped
form a guerilla force of Freedom Fighter which played a very important role in the
Liberation War.
There were a few collaborators, known as Rajakars, AlBadr and AlShams, who
aided the Pakistani army in their killing and oppression.
But the vast majority of Bengalis found a way to support the Provisional
Government, either by fighting or more indirect methods, such as providing
information.

THELIBERATIONWAR
Theresponseoftheworld
The first country to support Bangladesh in the War of Liberation was
India.
Around ten million Bengalis were forced to seek refuge in India when
Pakistani forces started their genocide campaign.
The government of Indira Gandhi and the people of India extended
support to all who took refuge in India.
The Soviet Union also supported Bangladesh and in August 1971 signed a
Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Commerce with India.
The Soviet Union also used its veto in the United Nations to prevent
opposition to the Liberation War. With Soviet support, came assistance
from other Eastern European countries.
countries
The governments of USA and China, did not support Bangladesh in the
Liberation War, but the common people of many countries sympathised
with the hardships of the people of Bangladesh and provided them with
practical assistance.
Bhutan was the first country to recognise Bangladesh as an independent
sovereign country, closely followed by India.

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THELIBERATIONWAR
TheSurrenderofthePakistaniArmy
IndianforcesandtheMukti Bahini jointlyformedcombined
forces and directed attacks within East Pakistan. At the same
forcesanddirectedattackswithinEastPakistan.Atthesame
time,Indianairforcesandthefreedomfightersconductedair
raidsonimportantPakistaniinstallations.TheIndianNavyalso
joinedinthisoperation.
Duetotheintensiveattackofthecombinedforces,thePakistani
invadingforceswerecompelledtosurrenderunconditionally.On
16December,, Lt.GeneralNiazi,Commanderoftheoccupation
, p
forces,surrenderedattheSuhrawardy Uddyan tothecombined
forcesalongwith93thousandsoldiersandweapons.
TheLiberationWarhadbeenwonandanewcountryestablished
thesovereignandindependentstateofBangladesh.

GroupTask
Cover Page
Title on Top
Write all group members name in ascending order based on student ID.
Cover page should be very simpleNo Design
Content
EachGroupwillsubmitoneAssignment
Assignment will be limited within 2000 words 10% excluding
reference.
Times New Roman, Font12 and 1 inch margin in all sides with no header
and footer.
Submission date: 6th February during class.
Directlycopyingfromhandoutwillnotbeallowed

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AssignmentTopic

TheBirthofBangladeshasanIndependentNation
FromMughal EmpiretoEastPakistan