There was always Bangla or “Banga” in references to the concept of a Bangalee’s affinity with Bangladesh. It did not matter that the name was never formally applied, prior to 1971, to the geographical entity that had been Bengal
Condemning the people who capitalise on religion to serve their interests, Prime Minister's ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy has said that the religion card, as history suggests, cannot be played on Bengalis for long.
When Pakistan unleashed a coordinated military attack in Dhaka and Chittagong on March 25-26, 1971, there were 20,000 West Pakistani troops throughout East Pakistan.