Bangladesh Liberation War Part One: Roots of a Revolution and How the War Began

The Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 remains one of the most significant struggles for independence in modern world history. It was not only a political movement but also a fight for identity, language, and dignity. To understand why millions of people in East Pakistan rose to demand an independent Bangladesh, it is essential to trace the roots of the conflict.

This first part of the three part series explores the background, political tensions, cultural differences, and early events that created the foundation for a full scale liberation movement.

A Country Divided at Birth

When British colonial rule in South Asia ended in 1947, the subcontinent was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Pakistan was created as a homeland for Muslims but it was geographically divided into two wings:

• West Pakistan, located northwest of India

• East Pakistan, located more than 1600 kilometers away on the opposite side of India

Although both wings were part of the same state, they differed drastically in culture, language, lifestyle, and economic realities.
West Pakistan had political dominance, while East Pakistan had the majority population. This unequal power structure planted the seeds of long term tension.

Language Becomes a Symbol of Identity

Shortly after partition, the government of Pakistan declared Urdu as the only state language.
For the people of East Pakistan, this decision was deeply unfair. The vast majority spoke Bengali, and they believed their language should be recognized equally.

This led to the historic Language Movement.
Students and citizens protested across Dhaka, demanding that Bengali be accepted as a state language. The peaceful movement took a tragic turn on 21 February 1952 when police opened fire on student demonstrators. Several young men, including Salam, Barkat, Rafiq and Jabbar, lost their lives.

The sacrifice strengthened Bengali identity and became a global symbol of the right to speak one’s own language. It also marked the beginning of a widening divide between East and West Pakistan.

Economic Disparities and Regional Inequality

Despite contributing a significant share of Pakistan’s exports through jute and agriculture, East Pakistan received a much smaller portion of national development spending.

Key problems included:

• Limited industrial investment in the eastern wing

• Low representation of Bengalis in the military and government

• Fewer educational and infrastructural opportunities

• Concentration of economic power among elites in West Pakistan

International economists later described this imbalance as one of the most striking examples of economic inequality inside a single nation. The people of East Pakistan increasingly felt like second class citizens in their own country.

Political Awakening

By the 1960s, political dissatisfaction in East Pakistan had grown. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a prominent leader of the Awami League, emerged as the strongest voice demanding fairness and autonomy.

In 1966, he introduced the Six Point Movement, a political framework that proposed greater autonomy for East Pakistan. These points called for:

• A federal structure

• Control over local taxation

• Separate currency or financial system

• Local control of trade and economic policy

• A militia for the eastern wing

• Limited central authority focused on defense and foreign affairs

The Six Points strengthened the independence movement and turned them into the face of Bengali aspirations. West Pakistan’s government considered the demands a threat and arrested him several times, further increasing his popularity.

Social Unrest and the Agartala Conspiracy Case

In 1968, the Pakistani government filed the Agartala Conspiracy Case, accusing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others of plotting to separate East Pakistan with the help of India.

The public saw the case as political repression. Massive protests erupted across the region, eventually forcing the government to withdraw the charges.

This victory marked a turning point. For millions of Bengalis, the idea of self determination was no longer just a dream; it was becoming a national demand.

Cyclone Bhola and the Failure of Relief Efforts

In November 1970, one of the deadliest natural disasters in world history struck East Pakistan.
Cyclone Bhola killed hundreds of thousands and devastated coastal districts.

The central government was criticized for its slow and inadequate response.
International observers noted that relief efforts were delayed and poorly organized, which intensified public anger. Many Bengalis felt that the lives of East Pakistanis were not valued by the ruling powers in West Pakistan.

This disaster added emotional fuel to the political fire.

The 1970 General Election: A Mandate Ignored

Pakistan held its first general election in 1970. The Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a landslide victory, securing an absolute majority in the National Assembly. Based on democratic principles, Mujib should have become the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

However, the military government and political leaders in West Pakistan refused to transfer power. The people of East Pakistan were outraged. For them, the election results represented the will of over seventy million Bengalis, yet their choice was denied.

This refusal marked one of the most critical turning points in the history of the subcontinent.

The Non Cooperation Movement and the Road to Conflict

In early 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for a peaceful Non Cooperation Movement.
For weeks, East Pakistan came to a near standstill. Government offices, schools, industries, and transport services largely shut down. The region was essentially functioning under the leadership of Mujib, not the central government.

During this period, tensions grew rapidly. The Pakistan military began moving additional troops into East Pakistan. Clashes between protesters and security forces became increasingly frequent.

The political negotiations repeatedly failed, and mistrust between the leaders of the two wings reached a breaking point.

Toward a Declaration of Freedom

As political pressure and military tension increased, the Bengali population became convinced that peaceful solutions were unlikely.

The growing violence, combined with the denial of democratic rights, prepared the ground for what would soon become a full scale war.