Journey to Sovereignty: The Road to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
An undergraduate research paper for HIST428J at the University of Maryland tracing the historical factors behind the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War: the 1952 Language Movement, economic disparities between East and West Pakistan, the Six-Point Movement, the 1970 Bhola Cyclone and general election, the interests of foreign powers, and Operation Searchlight.
The research was presented in class and graded A. The written evaluation of that presentation, included here, calls it “one of the most polished and well-rounded research presentations I’ve ever heard from an undergraduate.”
From grievance to war
Two decades of grievance, then just over a year from election to independence
Roots · 1948–1969
- 1948Urdu declared the sole state language Language
- 1952Students killed protesting for Bengali: the Language Movement Language
- 1955–6067% of the plan budget to West Pakistan, despite the East's larger population Economic
- 1958Military coup favouring West Pakistan Political
- 1966Six-Point Movement demands autonomy Political
- 1969Second military coup Political
Spark to sovereignty · 1970–1971
- 13 Nov 1970Bhola Cyclone: 300,000–500,000 dead; the President visits a week later Disaster
- 7 Dec 1970Awami League wins 160 of East Pakistan's 162 National Assembly seats Election
- Mar 1971Assembly session set for 3 March postponed: mass protest and non-cooperation Election
- 25 Mar 1971Operation Searchlight War
- 16 Dec 1971Instrument of Surrender in Dhaka, after nine months and 10 million refugees War
The mandate denied: 160 of 162 East Pakistan seats, December 1970