Happy New year in Bangladesh

Happy New Year :

In many countries Happy New Year is celebrated on 1^st January. But the preparation starts from 31^st December. People are eagerly waiting for a new day to be coming. New Year’s function is celebrated at evening social gatherings, where people dance and sing, eat some special food. New Year tradition and celebrations in Bangladesh is a very common tradition. There are some places where people celebrate in different ways which may feature concerts, late-night partying, sporting events, and fireworks. More often people like to celebrate New Year with family. Hotels & resorts are all decked up in anticipation of the terrorist influx. But the all of the celebration are only city based. Rural people don’t like to take part in this celebration, because there is another Bengali New Year in the Bengali calendar. But the New Year is really a happy occasion for Bangladeshi People.

History of Dhaka as Megacity

Capital of Bangladesh

Megacity:     

Megacity refers to those Metropolitan areas where the population is 1 Million or more then 10 Billion .According to the information of  UNICEF there are 21 Megacity in the whole world & Dhaka (Capital of Bangladesh) is elected as the “16^th Megacity” in the world. According to the “Bangladesh Constitution” section 5 (1), Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh. The present name of Dhaka was “Dacca”. It was named as “Dhaka” in 5^th October 1982 & it got validity by the 8^th correction of constitution in 1988. 

Establishment of capital “Dhaka” :-----

Dhaka City

According to the order of Emperor Jahangir the “Subedar of Bangla” Islam Khan Cishti transferred the capital of “Suba Bangla” from Rajmahal to Dhaka in 16^th July 1610 A.D. Then it was named “Jahangir Nagar” according to the name of Emperor Jahangir. This name remained until the death of Emperor Jahangir. The capital of “Suba Bangla” was changed in so many times. For instance in 1650 A.D. the second son of Emperor Sajahan named Prince Suja again transferred the capital to Rajmahal in Bihar. In 1660 A.D. Emperor Alamgir appointed Mir Jumla to the “Subedar” of Bangla and he brought back the capital to Dhaka. In 1717 A.D. Subedar Murshid Kuli Khan transferred the capital to Mursidabad. But in 1799 the British ruler selected Kalkata as the capital so the importance of Dhaka was gradually decreased. In 1905 Lord Karjon created the “Patition of Bengal” and “Dhaka” got dignity as the capital of newborn province “East Bengal & Asham”. In 1947 after the establish of Pakistan “Dhaka”  regained the dignity of provincial capital of East Pakistan. Finally in 16th December 1971 Dhaka was established as the capital of independent Bangladesh.

World largest human flag in Bangladesh

The Largest Human Flag In Bangladesh

It is a unique way of celebrating victory and freedom that befits the passions behind the 1971 Liberation War.Bangladesh on Monday attempted a world record creating the largest 'human flag' with its red-and-green on the 42nd Victory Day.The world record attempt, organised by mobile telecom operator Robi and the Bangladesh Army, drew in 27,117 persons at the National Parade Ground in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.Among the participants were army personnel who held up the red centre while students made up the green rectangle.Significantly the standing record was set by 24,200 youths in Pakistan, a country with which Bangladesh fought a bloody nine-month war to gain independence.Syed Talat Kamal, Robi’s vice president for Corporate Communication told that a team of Guinness officials were present during the attempt on Monday, when Bangladesh observed its 42nd Victory Day.Russians thrown back by this assembly. In July  2013 the 26,904 people who made human flag in Bhladibhastakera residents of Russia.

Activities of 16 December in Bangladesh

Celebration of  Victory Day 

The celebration of Victory Day has taken place since 1972. The Bangladesh Liberation War became a topic of great importance in cinema, literature, history lessons at school, the mass media, and the arts in Bangladesh. The ritual of the celebration gradually obtained a distinctive character with a number of similar elements: Military Parade by Bangladesh Armed Forces at the National Parade Ground, ceremonial meetings, speeches, lectures, receptions and fireworks. Victory Day in Bangladesh is a joyous celebration in which popular culture plays a great role.  The main streets are decorated with national flags. Different political parties and socioeconomic organizations undertake programs to mark the day in a befitting manner, including the paying of respects at "Jatiyo Smriti Soudho", the national memorial at Savar near Dhaka.

Nobel Prize in Bangladesh

Dr. Muhammad Yunus ( born 28 June 1940 ) is the first Bangladeshi people who got the Nobel prize around the world. Dr. Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi banker, economist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient. As a professor of economics, he developed the concepts of microcredit and microfinance. These loans are given to entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans. In 2006 Yunus and Grameen Bank received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts through microcredit to create economic and social development from below.Yunus has received several other national and international honours. He was awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal in 2010,and presented with it at a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on 17 April 2013.

The Beautiful Note of the World

█████ BREAKING NEWS █████
Russia is an online outlet of entertainment in a vote for the world's finest selection of organized notes .They made a list of best notes according to the opinion of online reader around the world.  According to the list "Two Taka" note of  Bangladesh is selected as the finest note of the  world Rafi Uddin Ahmed from Jessor got the  responsibility to design the note in (1984-85).The  note released in the market in 29th December,1988.

<=== Two Taka Note of Bangladesh.

The Victory Day of Bangladesh

National Memorial at Savar.

Victory Day is a national holiday in Bangladesh celebrated on December 16 to commemorate the victory of the Allied forces High Command over the Pakistani forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.The Victory Day is celebrated with various activities and programmers of government and non-government organizations. This is a public holiday but the national flag is hoisted on the buildings of official installations, shopping centers and residential areas, Armed forces, BNCC, Rover Scout, Girl Guide and the students of schools and colleges gather for procession and parade. Literary and cultural organizations hold discussion, seminar and cultural show to mark the day. Radio and television telecast different programmers. Newspapers publish special supplement on the importance of the day. People of Bangladesh proved the fact, through their bloody struggle, that freedom is the birth right of man. The aspirations of the martyred heroes will be achieved only when Bangladesh will enjoy economic freedom. It is built with Concrete, but made of blood. It stands 150 feet tall, but every martyr it stands for stands so much taller. It is an achievement the dimensions of which can be measured but it stands for an achievement which is immeasurable. It stands upright for the millions of martyrs who laid their lives so that we may stand upright, in honor and dignity, amongst the nations of the world. Most prominently visible is the 150 feet tower that stands on a base measuring 130 feet wide. There is actually a series of 7 towers that rise by stages to a height of 150 feet. The foundation was laid on the first anniversary of the Victory day. There is actually a plan to build a huge complex in several phases. The entire complex will cover an area of 126 acres. The plan of this complex includes a mosque, a library and a museum. The relics of the liberation war will be kept museum. They will ever remind our countrymen and all who would come to visit the museum of the valiant struggle and supreme sacrifices of a freedom loving people. Here also will be clear warning to all oppressors that the weapons of freedom need not be very big. The will of people prevails, for man is born to be free. The most moving sight of the complex is the graves we bow down our heads in respect, as the towards soar symbolizing the loftiness of their sprit.

National Memorial of Bangladesh

History of Victory Day :

The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War was a war of independence, which resulted in the secession of East Pakistan from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and established the sovereign nation of Bangladesh. The war pitted East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan, and lasted over duration of nine months. One of the most violent wars of the 20th century, it witnessed large-scale atrocities, the exodus of 10 million refugees and the displacement of 30 million people. On 16 December 1971, Lieutenant General Amir Khan Niazi, CO of Pakistan Armed Forces located in East Pakistan signed the Instrument of Surrender. The Instrument of Surrender was a written agreement that enabled the surrender of the Pakistan Eastern Command in the Bangladesh Liberation War, and marked the end of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the Eastern Theater. The surrender took place at the Ramna Race Course in Dacca on December 16, 1971. Lieutenant General Amir Khan Niazi and Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, Joint Commander of Indian and Bangladesh Forces, signed the instrument amid thousands of cheering crowds at the race course. Air Commodore A. K. Khandker, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, and Lieutenant General J F R Jacob of the Indian Eastern Command, acted as witnesses to the surrender. Also present were Vice-Admiral Mohammad Shariff, commander of the Pakistani Naval Eastern Command and Air Vice-Marshal Patrick D. Callaghan of the Pakistan Air Force's Eastern Air Force Command, who signed the agreement. On behalf of Bangladesh, Air Commodore A. K. Khandker acted as witness to the surrender. Lieutenant General Jacob Rafael Jacob, Chief of Staff of the Indian Eastern Command, along with the other commanders of Indian naval and air forces, acted as witnesses on behalf of India. Aurora accepted the surrender without a word, while the crowd on the race course started shouting anti-Niazi and anti-Pakistan slogans.

Victory Day of Bangladesh

First Currency Museum in Bangladesh

Currency Museum

 A currency museum, first of its kind in Bangladesh, has been inaugurated to highlight the history of money and its evolution. A money tree has been placed on the wall of the entrance. A committee consisting of Asim Kumar Dasgupta, Image Artist Hashem Khan, historian Muntasir Mamun, architect Rabiul Hossain and Bangladesh Bank's executive director, are leading role in establishing the museum. Artist Hashem Khan was the head of the committee. Speaker of the Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury inaugurated the museum on the premises of Bangladesh Bank Training Academy (BBTA) in the city’s Mirpur suburb. The museum is equipped with digital singes, digital photo kiosk, LED monitors and 3-d televisions. Currency as ancient as from the time of Wari-Bateshwar to Sultan and Mughal empires to British era would be gathered in the museum. There would also be various currencies of modern times. Besides, the museum would have a separate corner for children where video and other games would help the future generation to be acquainted with the lifestyle, education, culture and various aspects of archaeological developments of human civilization through coins and currencies of various eras. A web portal launched to help people around the world to know about the museum’s collections including coins, paper money or barter practice maintained by people at the very beginning of the transactions in this part of the globe.

Paper notes are the main attractions of the museum. Paper notes in different countries around the world and at different times are stored in the museum such as-former Soviet Union, the former Czechoslovakia, the Japanese dollar, Italy, Germany, Afghanistan, China, Latin America, Hungary, Bulgaria, Vietnam and communist-era Polish bank notes, checks and bonds.

National flag of Bangladesh

National flag of Bangladesh (1971)

National flag is the symbol of independence of a nation. Every nation of the world has a national flag of its own. Bangladesh has also a national flag. A national flag is the pictogram of a country’s sovereignty and its own identity of being an independent nation. The national flag of Bangladesh was adopted officially on 17 January 1972. It consists of a red disc on top of a green field, offset slightly toward the hoist so that it appears centered when the flag is flying. The red disc represents the sun rising over Bengal, and also the blood of those who died for the independence of Bangladesh. The green field stands for the lushness of the land of Bangladesh. The first flag was designed by Student Leaders of Shawdhin Bangla Nucleus painter was Shib Narayan Das and was made from clothes donated by the owner of Apollo Tailors, Bazlur Rahman Lasker, of Dhaka's New Market. On 2 March 1971, the initial version of the flag was hoisted in Bangladesh for the first time at Dhaka University, as the Vice President of Dhaka University Students' Union (DUCSU), student leader A. S. M. Abdur Rab, raised the flag. The flag was conceived so as to exclude the crescent and the star considered as symbols of West Pakistan. According to CIA World Fact Book, the green used in the flag represent the lushness of the green landscape of the country. The flag is based on a similar flag used during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, which had a yellow map of the country inside the red disc. In 1972 this map was deleted from the flag. One reason given was the difficulty for rendering the map correctly on both sides of the flag. Painter Quamrul Hasan is the designer of our national flag. It is rectangular in shape. Its length and width ration are 10:6. The red circular disc with map of Bangladesh symbolizes blood of thousands of Bangalees killed by the Pakistanis since 1947.

The approximate color shades are:

Green: CMYK 100-0-70-40, Pantone 342c

Red: CMYK 0-100-80-5, no Pantone given.

The flag is hoisted everyday on top of our important government buildings and educational institutions. It is hoisted everywhere on the Independence Day and the victory day. Our national flag always inspire up to dedicate our lives for the greater interest of the country. The national flag of Bangladesh is our pride. Our heart swells up with joy when we see the flag upholds our country’s entity on the world map. Our glorious national flag was purchased at too great a price at the cost of a sea of blood.

National flag of Bangladesh

16th December Victory Day of Bangladesh

16th December, Victory Day of Bangladeshi Liberation War 

Victory Day is a national holiday in Bangladesh celebrated on December 16 to commemorate the victory of the Allied forces High Command over the Pakistani forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. The 16th of December, 1971 is a red letter day in our national history. It was on this day we were to snatch our independence after a life and death liberation war for long nine months. This victory is a win, right against wrong. It was a war of self-emancipation. Every year we observe this day in a colorful manner. This day reminds us of the supreme in the greatest manner.

Special Program for the day: Every year the Government, different organization and institutions take elaborate programs to celebrate the day on a befitting manner. The national flag is hosted in all important offices, buildings, institutions and shops. All important places are tastefully decorated. Meetings and seminars are held to explain the importance of the day. On this day we pay rich tributes to the memory of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the sake of our independence. 

The Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971

Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971

The Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 was for independence from

Pakistan. India and Pakistan got independence from the British rule in

1947. Pakistan was formed for the Muslims and India had a majority of

Hindus. Pakistan had two parts, East and West, which were separated by

about 1,000 miles. East Pakistan was mainly the eastern part of the

province of Bengal. The capital of Pakistan was Karachi in West Pakistan

and was moved to Islamabad in 1958. However, due to discrimination in

economy and ruling powers against them, the East Pakistanis vigorously

protested and declared independence on March 26, 1971 under the

leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. But during the year prior to that,

to suppress the unrest in East Pakistan, the Pakistani government sent

troops to East Pakistan and unleashed a massacre. And thus, the war for

liberation commenced.

The Reasons for war

Both East and West Pakistan remained united because of their religion,

Islam. West Pakistan had 97% Muslims and East Pakistanis had

85% Muslims. However, there were several significant reasons

that caused the East Pakistani people to fight for their

independence.

West Pakistan had four provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and

the North-West Frontier. The fifth province was East Pakistan. Having

control over the provinces, the West used up more resources than the

East. Between 1948 and 1960, East Pakistan made 70% of all of

Pakistan's exports, while it only received 25% of imported money. In

1948, East Pakistan had 11 fabric mills while the West had nine. In 1971,

the number of fabric mills in the West grew to 150 while the number in

the East went down to 26. About 2.6 billion dollars of resources were

also shifted over time from East Pakistan to West Pakistan.

Although East Pakistan had the largest population among all the

provinces, it had much less political power than West Pakistan. This

eventually made the people of East Pakistan rebel. Sheik Mujibur

Rahman, the leader of the Awami League in East Pakistan, explicitly

demanded more economic and political powers. The struggle finally

culminated into the war of independence.

There was also the language issue that kept East Pakistan and

West Pakistan in an uneasy status. In 1948, Mohammad Ali Jinnah stated

in Dhaka that Urdu was the official language for Pakistan. There was a

big argument about this because only the Muhajir in the West and the

Biharis in the East spoke Urdu. Most of the West Pakistanis spoke

Punjabi and Sindhi, while East Pakistanis spoke Bangla. East Pakistan

therefore disagreed; seven students were killed in a fierce protest on

February 21, 1952. This day has been remembered since then and is

observed each year to emphasize the importance of the Bengali

language. February 21st is now recognized as the International Mother

Language Day by the United Nations.

A devastating cyclone hit East Pakistan in 1970. It was called the

Bhola Cyclone. It killed about 500,000 people and made many more

homeless. It brought great shock and deep depression among the East

Pakistani people. But, the government did not provide enough relief to

alleviate the extremely miserable conditions wrought by the cyclone.

This caused enormous misery in East Pakistan.

The War

The Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a

landslide victory in the national elections in 1971 and demanded

autonomy for East Pakistan. The party won a 160 seats and a majority in

the national assembly. This victory also gave it the right to form a

government, but Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Chairman of the Pakistan

People’s Party refused to let the Sheikh become the Prime Minister of

Pakistan. This initiated the war. The Sheik gave a speech on March 7,

1971 when he urged the people to turn all their homes into a fort of

fight. He demanded transfer of power to the elected representative

before the assembly meeting on March 25.

Tikka Khan, a West Pakistani general, flew to Dhaka to become

the Governor of East Bengal. But, the East Pakistani judges denied him

entry. Thereafter, on the night of March 25, the Pakistani army tried to

violently crush the Bengali’s opposition. Residence halls of the Dhaka

University were viciously attacked. On March 26, the Pakistani forces

arrested Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On the same day, he signed an official

declaration for the independence of Bangladesh. M. A. Hannan, an

Awami league leader, is said to have been the first person to read and

announce the Declaration of

Independence over the

radio.

Political events

approached a climax. The

war between the Pakistan Army and the Bengali freedom fighters, the

Mukti Bahini, began. The head of the Mukti Bahini was General

Muhammad Osmani. The Mukti Bahini were trained like guerillas. India

gave shelter to the refugees and trained the Mukti Bahini. India also

helped with ammunition and its own soldiers. They attacked the

Pakistani army. During the training period of the Mukti Bahini, the

Pakistani Army encouraged Razakars, the Bengalis who did not want

Bangladesh to become an independent country, to suppress the

rebellion. The Pakistani Army faced problems as the monsoon came.

This helped Mukti Bahini because they could counter the moves of the

Pakistanis.

India assumed an active role. Indira Gandhi ordered air and

ground attacks. India, having superior equipment and forces, mounted a

three-pronged movement on Dhaka from the Indian province West

Bengal, Assam, and Tripura. The Indian soldiers, Air Force, and Navy

defeated the Pakistani army, while the Bangladeshi Navy helped India.

On the ground, three groups of Mukti Bahini and Indian forces fought the

Pakistanis. The Pakistanis tried to fight back, but failed to resist them.

The Victory

On December 16th, 1971, Dhaka fell to the Mitro Bahini, the elite

forces of the Mukti Bahini and the Indian army. An “Instrument of

Surrender” was signed by the defeated Pakistani General Niazi and by

the Indian commander General Aurora at 16:31 Indian Standard Time.

This is how Bangladesh became liberated and independent. December

16th is recognized as the Victory Day in Bangladesh, while March 26 is

recognized as the Independence Day. With sovereignty, Bangladesh is

progressing in all aspects.

National anthem lyrics of Bangladesh

The National Anthem of Bangladesh
BANGLA LYRICS
Ciradin tomar akas, tomar batas, amar prané
Oma amar prané, bajay basi.
Sonar Bangla, Ami tomay bhalobashi.
O ma, Fagune tor amer bane ghrane pagal kare,
mari hay, hay re O ma, Fagune tor amer bane ghrane pagal kare,
O ma, aghrane tor bhara ksete ki dekhechi ami ki dekhechi madhur hasi
Sonar Bangla ami tomay bhalo basi,
ki sobha, ki chaay go ki sneha, ki maya go ki acal bichayecha bater mule, nadir kule kule.
Ma, tor mukher bani amar kane lage,
suhar mato, mari hay hay re Ma, tor mukher bani amar kane lage, suhar mato,
Ma, tor badankhani malin hale, ami nayan
O ma, ami nayanjalé bhasi,
Sonar Bangla ami tomay bhalo basi"
Bangladesh_anthem.pdf

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

My Bengal of gold, I love you Forever your skies, your air set my heart in tune As if it were a flute. In spring, O mother mine, the fragrance from your mango groves Makes mewild with joy- Ah, what a thrill! In autumn, O mother mine, In the full-blossomed paddy fields, I have seen spread all over - sweet smiles! Ah, what a beauty,
what shades, what an affection And what a tenderness!
What a quilt have you spread at the feet of banyan trees And along the banks of rivers!
Oh mother mine, words from your lips Are like nectar to my ears! Ah, what a thrill!
If sadness, Oh mother mine, casts a gloom on your face, My eyes are filled with tears!

ICC Wrold Twenty20 in Bangladesh

The 2014 ICC World Twenty20
will be the fifth ICC World Twenty20 competition, an international Twenty20 cricket tournament that is scheduled to take place in Bangladesh from 16 March to 6 April 2014.It will be played in three cities — Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.Bangladesh will host the tournament as announced by the International Cricket Council in 2010. It will be second and consecutive time that an Asian country will host this event, as Sri Lanka hosted the previous tournament in 2012.
For ticket click here... Bangladesh

History Of Bangladesh Cricket

The Bangladesh national cricket team is a national cricket team representing Bangladesh. The team is administered by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Bangladesh is a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with Test and One Day International (ODI) status. It played its first Test match in 2000 against India in Dhaka, becoming the tenth Test cricket playing nation.Bangladesh's first official foray into international cricket came in the 1979 ICC Trophy in England, leaving the tournament with 2 wins and 2 defeats.Bangladesh made debut in international cricket through Asia cup in 1986.On 31 March 1986, Bangladesh played in its first ODI match against Pakistan in the 1986 Asia Cup. Cricket has gradually become very popular in urban areas of the country. Although football was the most popular game for a long time, cricket gained momentum and soon surpassed football, especially after Bangladesh won the 1997 ICC Trophy in Malaysia. By winning the tournament, Bangladesh qualified for the 1999 Cricket World Cup for the first time, where they defeated Pakistan, creating one of the biggest upsets in their cricketing history and also defeated Scotland. In 1997, Bangladesh became a regular ICC member with the right to play ODIs. It attained the status of a Test playing nation on 26 June 2000.Bangladesh holds the record for most consecutive losses in Tests (21, between 1999 and 2002) and ODIs (23, between 2001 and 2004). After gaining full member status with the ICC, Bangladesh had to wait until 2004 for its first ODI win since the 1999 World Cup. The team on the losing side on that occasion was Zimbabwe, who also participated in Bangladesh's maiden Test victory in 2005; by securing a draw in the second match, Bangladesh won their first Test series. In 2009 Bangladesh toured the West Indies for two Tests and by winning both secured their first overseas series victory.As of 12 April 2013, Bangladesh has played 77 Tests, winni ng only 3.Its first victory was against a young and inexperienced Zimbabwe team, which was hit by a player crisis and the other two were against a West Indian team crippled by a players' strike. Of the 66 matches it has lost, 35 were by an innings.The lack of a first-class tournament in the country before it was granted Test status has been cited as one of the reasons for the side's struggle to adapt to the longest form of the game, and Bangladesh's performance has led to repeated calls for it to lose its Test status. The team has been slightly more successful in ODIs, having won 76 of its 270 matches, and has also played 28 Twenty20 Internationals, winning eight.

Short flim about the War in 1971

Documentary clip

BANGLADESH appeared on the world map as an independent country in 1971 after a nine-month war of liberation in which nearly one million people died. The civil war in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) started when the Pakistani army launched a military offensive against the protesting Bengali people in March 1971. The war and subsequent independence of East Pakistan was the direct result of the policies adopted by the establishment based in West Pakistan and the treatment it meted out to the Bengali population.

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After independence

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SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN was a national hero, immensely popular among the masses. He became prime minister of independent Bangladesh after his release from a Pakistani prison. Rahman made many promises to the masses during the course of the 1970 election campaign. There were high hopes that everything would improve quickly. Rahman’s administration introduced reforms, including nationalisation. A new constitution was adopted on the basic principles of nationalism, socialism, secularism and democracy.More than a third of Bangladesh had been destroyed by civil war or the devastating cyclone. The rebuilding process began but proceeded at a very slow pace. The new government failed to control rising food prices. Serious allegations were made of rampant corruption against cabinet members and senior state officials. Corruption, nepotism and mismanagement were rife. Rahman tried to appease the people by sacking a few ministers but this half-hearted move failed to pacify the mounting anger and discontent.The first parliamentary elections were held in March 1973, with the Awami League winning a massive majority, 307 out of 315 national assembly seats. But it was losing popularity in the army, with only 20% of the vote in the military areas. In December 1974, in the face of continuing economic deterioration and mounting civil disorder, Rahman proclaimed a state of emergency, limited the powers of the legislative and judicial branches, and banned all newspapers except four government-supported papers. He introduced a one-party system, banning all the other parties.Rahman’s government tried to silence every dissenting voice. The opposition was crushed. But he had not delivered what he had promised to the masses. The project of nation building on a capitalist basis failed. Support from the army was evaporating rapidly with a strong and rising resentment among middle-ranking officers at the increasing influence of the Indian security forces.

Liberation war

The Bangladesh Liberation War was a revolutionary war of independence in 1971 which established the sovereign nation of Bangladesh.The war pitted East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan, and lasted over a duration of nine months. It witnessed large-scale atrocities, the exodus of 10 million refugees and the displacement of 30 million people.The war broke out on 26 March 1971, when the Pakistan Army launched a military operation called Operation Searchlight against Bengali civilians, students, intelligentsia and armed personnel, who were demanding that the Pakistani military junta accept the results of the 1970 first democratic elections of Pakistan, which were won by an eastern party, or to allow separation between East and West Pakistan. Bengali politicians and army officers announced the declaration of Bangladesh's independence in response to Operation Searchlight. Bengali military, paramilitary and civilians formed the Mukti Bahini,which engaged in guerrilla warfare against Pakistani forces. The Pakistan Army, in collusion with religious extremist militias (the Razakars, Al-Badr and Al-Shams), engaged in the systematic genocide and atrocities of Bengali civilians, particularly nationalists, intellectuals, youth and religious minorities.Neighbouring India provided economic, military and diplomatic support to Bengali nationalists, and the Bangladesh government-in-exile was set up in Calcutta.India entered the war on 3 December 1971, after Pakistan launched pre-emptive air strikes on northern India. Overwhelmed by two war fronts, Pakistani defences soon collapsed. On 16 December, the Allied Forces of Bangladesh and India defeated Pakistan in the east. The subsequent surrender resulted in the largest number of prisoners-of-war since World War II.

Indian intervention

THE WAR LED to a sea of refugees – estimated at the time to be about ten million – flooding into the eastern Indian provinces of Assam and West Bengal. Facing a mounting humanitarian and economic crisis – and seeking to keep influence over an increasingly radicalized liberation movement – India started to actively aid and organize the Mukti Bahini, and sent in troops in December 1971.West Pakistan’s ruling elite correctly feared that India’s entry into the war spelled certain defeat. So it launched a pre-emptive strike on Indian air force bases on 3 December – modelled on the Israeli air force’s Operation Focus during the 1967 six-day war – which was intended to neutralise Indian planes on the ground. The plan failed to achieve the desired effect since India had anticipated such an action. It was seen by India, however, as an open act of unprovoked aggression and marked the official start of the Indo-Pakistan war.Pakistan’s regime made urgent appeals to the United Nations to intervene and force India to agree to a ceasefire. The UN Security Council assembled on 4 December 1971 to discuss the situation. After lengthy discussions, on 7 December, the United States put forward a resolution for an "immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of troops". Stalinist Russia vetoed the resolution twice. In light of the Pakistani atrocities, Britain and France abstained.Three Indian corps were involved in the invasion of East Pakistan. They were supported by nearly three brigades of Mukti Bahini, with many more fighting irregularly. This was far superior to Pakistan’s 90,000 troops. India’s external intelligence agency, RAW, mobilized the largest covert operation in the history of South Asia, providing crucial logistical support to the Mukti Bahini during the initial stages of the war.The Indian army quickly overran the country, selectively engaging or bypassing heavily defended strongholds. Pakistani forces were unable to effectively counter the onslaught, as they had been deployed in small units around the border to counter guerrilla attacks by the Mukti Bahini. Unable to defend Dhaka, the Pakistanis surrendered on 16 December 1971, the largest surrender since the second world war. Bangladesh sought admission to the UN with most voting in its favor, but China vetoed this as Pakistan was its key ally, as was the United States, which was one of the last nations to accord Bangladesh recognition.