How did Bangladesh achieve independence in 1971?

Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 through a nine-month long war against Pakistan, known as the Bangladesh Liberation War.

The roots of Bangladesh's independence lie in the partition of British India in 1947, which led to the creation of two separate nations: India and Pakistan. Pakistan was divided into two geographically and culturally distinct areas, West Pakistan and East Pakistan, with India in between. East Pakistan, later to become Bangladesh, was predominantly Bengali-speaking and felt marginalised by the political and military establishment, which was largely dominated by West Pakistan.

The situation escalated in 1970 when the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a landslide victory in the national elections. The party had campaigned on a platform of autonomy for East Pakistan. However, the West Pakistani establishment refused to hand over power, leading to widespread civil disobedience in East Pakistan. In response, the Pakistani military launched a brutal crackdown, known as Operation Searchlight, on 25 March 1971. This marked the beginning of the Bangladesh Liberation War.

The war was characterised by widespread atrocities committed by the Pakistani military, including mass killings and rapes. It is estimated that up to three million people were killed during the conflict. The violence led to a massive refugee crisis, with an estimated ten million people fleeing to neighbouring India.

India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, provided significant support to the Bangladeshi independence movement, including training and arming the Mukti Bahini, a guerrilla force made up of Bengali military, paramilitary and civilians. On 3 December 1971, India officially entered the war in support of Bangladesh.

The war ended on 16 December 1971, when the Pakistani military surrendered to the joint forces of the Indian military and the Mukti Bahini. This marked the birth of the new nation of Bangladesh. The war had a significant impact on the region, leading to a shift in power dynamics and setting a precedent for the successful secession of a territory through armed struggle.