THE BIRTH OF BANGLADESH

India’s role in liberation of Bangladesh
{mosimage}The seeds of second armed conflict between India and Pakistan was sown on the soils of present day Bangladesh. In 1971, Awami league or the earstwhile East Pakistan won a simple majority in the general election held for the Pakistani parliament. The then President Yahya Khan & Prime Minister ZA Bhutto refused to hand over to Sheikh Mujibur Rehamn the reins and form a government.

The Army General (army of Pakistan mainly had West Pakistanies on their roles) ordered mass arrests of the East Pakistani political leaders and India on its part pledged a full support to East Pakistan. India set up relief camps in the eastern states bordering Bangladesh.

The United States of America a strong ally of Pakistan continued its support in terms of finance and military supplies. India too helped Bangladesh with buildup of its forces on the borders and supply of arms and ammunition. India on its part wanted the winter to set in on the far eastern borders so they would get more hard surfaced lands to invade and help Bangladesh than the moist soft marshy fields on the Bangladesh borders. As soon as winter set in the war seemed to the only answer, as Pakistan opened with air attacks on the western borders of India. Pakistan has assumed that the sudden attack would take India unprepaed but India had foreseen the circumstances and was fully prepared. The first air attacks did not do much damage. The Indian army not only stopped Pakistan in its tracks on the western border but also marched into the Pakistany territory caputirng parts of Punjab and and Kshmir which were later returned to Pakistan under the Shimla accord.

The US support to the Pakistan efforts were fuelled by their fears of Soviet spread in the subcontinent as India had already signed a treaty with erstwile USSR. US provided both monetray and military support in terms of latest arms and ammunition.

The Pakistan army was at a loss as the access to East Pakistan was stunted due to the distances involved and the vast streth of land lying between the two war locations. The East Pakistan army was starved of back up supplies and manpower needed to repulse or stop the fast rolling Indian Army juggernaugt. Eventuallyt East Pakistan unconditionally surrendered to the Indian army. Lt. General JS Arora and Lt Gen Ayub Khan signed the surrender on their countries behalf bringing an end to most emphatic victory of India over Pakistan. The blow to Pakistan army was very crushing in terms of morale and resources.

A new nation was born. Bangladesh a farmer dominated country of mainly Bengali muslims gained its independence from the cluthes of iron fisted Pakistani rulers. Shiekh Mujibur Rehman took over as its first president and Aawami league formed the first ever government of independent Bangladesh.

The Indians not only helped Bangladesh become independent but also helped in caring for the injured and rebuilding th destruction left behind by the war. Mukti Wahini was one of prime organistions catering to the needs of the civilian casulaties of the war.

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