What factors led to the creation of Bangladesh?

The creation of Bangladesh was primarily due to political discrimination, economic disparity, and the Bengali Language Movement.

The political discrimination against East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) by West Pakistan played a significant role in the creation of Bangladesh. After the partition of India in 1947, Pakistan was created with two geographically separate areas, East and West Pakistan. The political power was concentrated in West Pakistan, and the East was often overlooked in decision-making processes. This led to a sense of alienation and resentment among the Bengali-speaking majority in East Pakistan. The situation worsened when the military regime of Ayub Khan imposed martial law and further marginalised East Pakistan.

Economic disparity was another significant factor. Despite East Pakistan's contribution to the economy through the jute industry, it received less investment and development funds from the central government. The economic policies favoured West Pakistan, leading to economic deprivation in the East. The cyclone of 1970 and the subsequent inadequate response from the central government further highlighted this economic disparity and fuelled the desire for independence.

The Bengali Language Movement also played a crucial role in the creation of Bangladesh. In 1948, the government of Pakistan declared Urdu as the only national language, ignoring Bengali, the language spoken by the majority of the population in East Pakistan. This sparked widespread protests, known as the Bengali Language Movement, which eventually led to the recognition of Bengali as a national language. However, this movement also sowed the seeds of nationalism among the Bengalis, leading to the demand for an independent state.

The culmination of these factors was the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, which followed the refusal of the West Pakistani government to accept the electoral victory of the Awami League, a political party from East Pakistan. The brutal military crackdown on East Pakistan led to a mass uprising and a nine-month-long war, which ended with the creation of the independent nation of Bangladesh.