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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