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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol 35 no. 14. 28 June 1972

A Short History

page 12

A Short History

Early 13th century: Hindu Sena dynasty overthrown by Pathan invaders under Muhammad-ibn-Bakhtiyar. Muslim rule begins in Bengal.

1757: The Battle of Plassey. British rule begins in Bengal. Rise of a Westernized Hindu landlord class. Withdrawal of the Bengali Muslims into isolation.

1905: To counter growing Hindu nationalism, the British partition Bengal into Hindu and Muslim majority areas. This sparks off the real beginning of India's struggle for independence. Partition welcomed by the slowly re-emerging Muslims.

1911: Partition revoked.

1919: Gandhi takes over and revitalizes India's independence movement. Alliance of Hindus and Muslims, which gradually fades.

1940: Bengal Muslim leader Fazl-ul-Huq proposes resolution at Muslim League conference in Lehore that the majority Muslim-majority areas of the Raj "should be grouped to form 'Independent States' in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign."

1946: British Government announces independence for India within 18 months.

1947: June: Jinnah and Nehru agree to partition India, creating an independent Muslim-majority nation, Pakistan, in its north-east and north-west. East Bengal to be East Pakistan.

1947: August: Pakistan and India become independent. Fighting soon breaks out between them in Kashmir.

1947-54: No free elections in Pakistan. Government runs from West Pakistan (56% of population being in East), though with participation by Bengali politicians. Civil service and armed forces 90% West Pakistani. Millions of refugees flee from India to Pakistan (and vice versa). Most settle in West Pakistan; 500,000 Biharis go to East Pakistan. Rapid industrialization in Karachi (West Pakistan).

1954: First free elections in East Pakistan. United front of opposition parties led by the Awami League win 90% of seats on programme of economic autonomy and radical social reform. Government formed dismissed by West-dominated Central Government before Parliament could meet.

1955: United Front becomes disunited. Government finally formed in Bengal with status-quoist policies.

1956: Awami League in power in East Pakistan, and then (in coalition) at central government as well. Pursues status-quoist policies.

1957: Split in Awami League. Left-wing breaks away to join West Pakistani leftists in the National Awami Party, under Bengali leader Maulana Bhashani.

1958: October: Army seizes power under General Ayub Khan, who becomes President. The Central Parliament which was never elected, is dissolved, together with all State parliaments. Martial law imposed to last nearly four years.

1959: Uprising in backward West Pakistani state of Buluchistan is brutally suppressed under Colonel Tikka Khan.

1960: Government figures show the per capita income gap between the two wings has increased from 10 to 32 per cent over the decade. Government announces "to priority" plans to bridge the gap. Massive agricultural development scheme along the Indus Valley (West Pakistan). Industrialization spreads in West Pakistani cities.

1960-69: President Ayub Khan announces system of rigged elections, calling it "basic democracy". Growth of millionaire class in West Pakistan — the notorious "22 families". Population explosion in both wings.

1966: In a brief period of liberty, Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announces "Six-Point Plan" for economic autonomy for East Pakistan. President Ayub says Six-Point Plan would "liquidate" the Central Government and Army. Mujib jailed. Government announces further "top priority" plans to bridge the income gap between East and West. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto sacked as Foreign Minister for trying to make Pakistan independent of the United States.

1968: October: Students in West Pakistan begin militant campaign for university reform.

1968: November: Bhutto supports students' campaign, which expands to become a demand for democracy. Bhutto jailed. Protest movement spreads throughout all classes in West Pakistan.

1968: December: Protest spreads to East Pakistan. Demand for Mujib's release. Demand for Bhutto's release, provincial autonomy, democracy, etc.

1969: Demand for Ayub's resignation, Mass arrests fail to stop momentum.

1969: February: Ayub frees Bhutto, Mujib etc, and announces he will retire in 1970. Begins talks with opposition leaders.

1969: March: Near-state of uprising in East Pakistan led by Bhashani Full-scale riots in both wings. Ayub resigns. Army takes over under General Yahya Khan, who becomes President. Yahya promises free elections, imposes martial law. Protest movement subsides.

1970: January: Free speech restored. Government figures show that the income between the two wings has increased from 32 to 61 per cent over the decade. (Independent economists estimate income gap at 100 per cent). Government announces new "top priority" plans to bridge the gap. Government figures show that three-quarters of Pakistani's industry, banking, and insurance is now owned by the "22 families". Yahya announces detailed plans for Pakistani's first free elections.

1970: November: Terrible cyclone in East Pakistan kills 300,000 Bengalis. Tens of thousands die because of slow reaction from West Pakistani bureaucrats (who knew the cyclone was coming, but forgot to tell everyone).

December: Awami League win 98% of Last Pakistan's seats, and an absolute majority in the National Assembly. Bhutto's People's Party wins 60% of West Pakistan's seats running on vague programme of "Islamic socialism". Pro-Moscow branch of National Awami Party under Khan Abdul Wali Kahn Kahn wins majorities in the western states of West Pakistan, and demands economic autonomy.

1971: January: Yahya holds talks in Dacca with Mujib, and names him the next Prime Minister. Mujib refuses Bhutto's demand that he water down the unfeasible Six-Point Plan.

1971: February: Bhutto announces that his party will not attend the National Assembly meeting (due on March 3) in protest against Six-Point Plan.

1971: March 1: Yahya postpones National Assembly meeting in support of Bhutto Massive demonstrations and general strike all over East Pakistan. Hundreds killed by police and army firing. March 7: Mujib announces non-co-operation programme. East Pakistan economy and government immediately come to a standstill. Judges strike in support of Mujib. General Tikka Khan appointed Governor of East Pakistan. Yahya announces National Assembly will meet on March 25. March 15: Yahya arrives in Dacca for talks with Mujib who is now the effective ruler of East Pakistan. More killings by Army, police, Biharis, and Bengalis. Bhutto joins talks. Crowds haul down Pakistan flag, replace it by new flag of Bangladesh. Growing demand for total independence for Bangladesh (East Pakistan).

1971: March 25: Yahya returns to Islamabad. At midnight, Pakistan Army reappears on the streets to begin an orgy of arson, killings, rape and looting in Hindu and Bengali nationalist strongholds, (but only vaguely discriminating). Mujib arrested, flown to West Pakistan. Resistance starts up immediately among poorly-armed, undisciplined Bengali patriots. Mujib's associates declare Bangladesh independent. Fierce fighting throughout the towns and countryside for three weeks leaves Army in control again. Brutal reign of terror begins, lasts till December. Refugees stream across the Indian border (Mayl: 867,000. June 1: 4,000,000. July 1: 6,500,000). Foreign governments, excepting India, pretend not to notice. India sets up refugee camps, provides training and facilities for Bengali guerrilla force (Mukti Bahini).*

1971: May-October: Mukti Bahini gradually extend control of border areas and activities inside Bangladesh. Reprisals by Pakistan Army, Biharis, and Muslim fanatics wreak havoc on the people and the land of Bangladesh. Number of refugees reaches nine million by October. Yahya Khan continually threatens war on India. Mrs Gandhi continually appeals for world assistance. World pretends not to notice. Pakistan masses troops along the Indian border on both East and West frontiers. India follows suit. United States and Middle East countries send arms to Pakistan. India signs defence pact with Soviet Union, receives Soviet arms. Soviet Union slowly takes sides for India and Bangladesh. Increasing firing across India-Bangladesh border. Indian troops begin raids across the border in late October.

1971: November Three-week visit to Europe and the U.S. by Mrs Gandhi produces no results. India steps up assistance to Mukti Bahini, who now control Bangladesh wherever the Pakistan Army is absent. Indian troops with heavy equipment croas the border in late November.

1971: December 3: Pakistani jets bomb India, and Pakistan declares a state of war. Large-scale war breaks out between India and Pakistan. Indian troops stream into Bangladesh, and conquer it within 13 days. India makes significant advances into West Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir, while her jeta and navy wreak havoc on Karachi. The United States and China declare support for Pakistan. The Soviet Union and its satellites support India. Other countries remain neutral. Bengalis greet Indian troops joyfully as liberators. India recognises Bangladesh.

1971: December 16: Pakistani troops in Bangladesh surrender to "joint command" of Indian and Bangladesh forces. The following day a ceasfire is called on the Western front. India is left with 93,000 Pakistani prisoners-of-war, Pakistani with 600 Indians. Yahya resigns as President, and is replaced by Bhutto. Bangladesh government under Tajuddin Ahmed takes office in Dacca amid chaos and euphoria. Bhutto holds talks in Lahore with Mujib.

1972: January: Bhotto releases Mijib, who flies to Dacca, takes power and declares that the two countries can never be reunited. East Europe recognises Bangladesh, followed by Western Europe and Australia. The United States sulks. China continues propaganda tirade against Bengali demand for vengeance. United Nations begins urgent surveys of the enormous damage done to the Bangladesh economy, and appeals for $500 million immediate cash aid from the rich nations to prevent another disaster. The rich nations pretend not to notice. Millions of refugees begin returning home from India.

1972: February: Indian army gradually withdraws from Bangladesh, leaving behind a terrified Bihari population of one million. Gangs of thugs run wild in Bangladesh countryside and towns, as no adequate police force or unified army exists. Young guerrillas hide thousands of guns left behind by the Pakistanis. Civil service begins to function with Indian assistance. Almost all refugees return from India, but to find their homes destroyed, isolated food shortages, lack of transport and communications, and no jobs.

1972: March: Position continues to stagnate. On the diplomatic front, India holds Pakistani prisoners-of-war hostage for its border claims against Pakistan in Kashmir. Bangladesh announces its intention to try hundreds of them as war criminals. Bhutto refuses talks with India until it releases the prisoners-of-war. United Nations sends out more desperate pleas for help before the monsoon begins in June. The worlds pretends not to notice. The United States cancels an outstanding promise of $90 million aid on the grounds that it's "no longer needed". Mujib threatens to expel the United States mission in Dacca. The United States recognises Bangladesh and increases its promises of aid.

1972: April: Drastic nationalizations announced by Bangladesh government go into cold storage because of shortage of people to run them. Food aid finally begins to come from other countries. Soviet Union and India begin sizeable aid programmes. Observers in Dacca fear the help is too little, too late. Mujib's government faces ultimatums from power-hungry ex-guerrillas while chaos predominates. Bhutto refuses Bangladesh and U.N. appeals for a "population swap" of the Biharis for the 500,000 Bengalis still in Pakistab. India and Pakistan announce agreement on a summit meeting between Bhutto and Mrs Gandhi. Bhashani announces himself "Opposition Leader" of Bangladesh.

* Bangladesh government-in-exile formed in Calcutta under Tzjuddin Ahmed.