Bangladesh at 50: Created in Violence and Still Bearing Scars of a Troubled Birth
The differences in language and political and economic inequities â laid the groundwork for Bangladeshâs independence struggle. This history continues to have an impact today.
Bangladesh s flag and parliament building. Photo: Gary Todd/Flickr, Public Domain
March 26 marks 50 years since the start of Bangladeshâs liberation war, a bloody nine-month campaign that culminated in the nationâs independence on December 16, 1971.
It was a violent birth, with some of its roots in the 1947 partition of India â when Pakistan was created as a separate nation.
Newly independent Pakistan comprised two separate geographical areas separated by over a thousand miles of Indian terrain. While both regions included significant Muslim populations, West Pakistan was made up largely of Punjabi, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Baloch and other smaller ethnic groups. In contrast, the population of East Pakistan
Highlights
The majority of the soldiers in the Bangladesh contingent comes from the most distinguished units of the Bangladesh Army, comprising of 1,2,3,4,8,9,10 & 11 East Bengal Regiments and 1,2 and 3 Field Artillery Regiments, who had fought during the 1971 Liberation War.
With Bangladesh in focus, a vintage Indian Air Force (IAF) Dakota will do a fly-past at India s Republic Day parade on January 26th. The Dakota will be part of the Rudra formation along with 2 MI 171V. Dakotas had played a key role in Bangladesh s war of liberation in 1971 and was used to airdrop troops. In fact, Bangladesh s air force began its journey with gifted Dakotas from IAF.