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The Liberation War Museum

5 Segun Bagicha
Dhaka -- 1000
Bangladesh

Tel: 880 2 955 9091
Fax: 880 2 955 9092
» send e-mail

Asian Sites of Conscience Network

What Happened Here?

In the backdrop of a national struggle against British colonial rule in India since the mid-40s, Hindu-Muslim communal tension lead to the partition of India and Pakistan, creating a separate homeland for Muslims in 1947. East Pakistan, inhabited by Bangalees with a distinct language, culture and tradition, was separated from West Pakistan by thousands of miles. From its very inception, Pakistani rulers denied democratic and national rights, declared itself as the Islamic Republic in 1956 and military rule was imposed from 1958. Rulers tried to subjugate Bangalees politically and economically, which resulted in a popular struggle for democracy and for upholding secular cultural values.

In the first-ever national election held in 1970, Bangalee nationalist forces, lead by Bangabondhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman, won a landslide victory. But the military regime refused to accept the popular verdict. On the tragic night of March 25th, 1971, the Pakistani government embarked upon “operation searchlight,” a military solution to the Bangalee problem. It was a systematic genocide that lead to the loss of an estimated three million Bangalees, the rape of over 200,000 women, and some 10 million fled to neighboring India. The Pakistani military received support from a handful of local religious fundamentalists during the mass killing and destruction.

Bangladeshi independence was declared and elected representatives from the 1970 national elections from East Pakistan formed the Bangladesh government on April 10th. Students and youth from all walks of life took on military training as Muktibahini (freedom fighters) and fought back occupation forces under the command of Sector commanders. International condemnation of Pakistani atrocities and solidarity with popular resistance came from governments, public leaders and the media. On December 4th, Indian armed forces joined Bangladeshi freedom fighters. On December 16th, Pakistani armed forces had to surrender to this allied command and independent Bangladesh was born as a democratic secular state.