Bangladesh Liberation War
In 1971 East Pakistan fought a war of independence against the Pakistani military that ended with the creation of Bangladesh.
Overview
The Awami League under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won a majority in the 1970 Pakistani elections on a platform of autonomy for East Pakistan, but the military government refused to transfer power. On 25 March 1971 the Pakistani army launched Operation Searchlight, a crackdown in Dhaka and beyond, and independence was declared. Bengali guerrillas of the Mukti Bahini fought the army, while millions of refugees fled to India. Mass killings and widespread atrocities against civilians occurred during the conflict. India entered the war in December 1971, and Pakistani forces in the east surrendered in Dhaka on 16 December, now celebrated as Victory Day in Bangladesh.
Related Topics
Taiping Rebellion
Hong, a failed examination candidate, taught from visions that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ. His Taiping Heavenly Ki...
Xinhai Revolution
Railway nationalization protests in Sichuan in 1911 spiraled into national crisis. The accidental uprising at Wuchang on 10 Octobe...
Chinese Communist Revolution
The party survived near annihilation on the Long March of 1934 to 1935, building rural base areas on peasant land hunger and tax g...
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Grievances over taxation, annexation, and perceived interference in religion had primied the Bengal army. Rifle cartridges rumored...