Partition of East Pakistan (Reasons)

 

Partition of East Pakistan (Reasons)

Q. Explain about the reasons of separation of East and West Pakistan. Which one was most important reason?

A. East Pakistan was much smaller than West Pakistan but it had a larger population. Although religion united the two Wings, there were many economic, social and language issues that divided them and kept them apart. East Pakistani’s spoke Bengali but Urdu was chosen as the national language. They protested that Urdu being the mother language of only 6% of the whole of Pakistan was made national language. A ‘state language day’ in 1952 resulted in Bengali being recognized as one of the official languages of Pakistan in 1956. It was a big hurdle in treating solidarity and unity in the Pakistani nation. Even the cultures and traditions of East Pakistan were also different from West Pakistan which lead to separation of Pakistan.

They also complained about less representation of East Pakistan in the National Assembly. With a larger population than West Pakistan, they had equal number of seats according to the ratio of their population. As political party was in the West Wing, there were always more ministers from the West Wing and they felt deprived of proper power sharing in the government. Above all the results of 1970 elections were not honored properly and Mujibur Rahman was not allowed to become the Prime minister of Pakistan, which increasingly devastated the Bengalis. Wide range of processions started in East Pakistan and Mujibur Rahman was arrested which further deteriorated the situation.

They also resented against the faster development in the Western Wing because more fund were given to it. Moreover, the transfer of capital caused them to suffer the expense of transport for trade which enraged them. That continued transfer of capital from East to West Pakistan resulted in economic growth of West Wing. Most of the banks, insurance companies and big commercial firms had their head offices at Karachi, so for every decision they had to depend on the West Wing. The hateful and humiliating attitude of West Pakistanis became unbearable and thus resulted in the separation of East Pakistan.

Indian military intervention became a very important factor in 1971 as an immediate reason of separation. Indian army invaded and attacked Eastern Pakistan from many sides in November 1971. If Indian army had not intervened, perhaps East Pakistan could have been the part of Pakistan till now.

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