Democracy in Bangladesh
Bangladesh was part of Pakistan from 1947 to 1971, formed from the partitioned areas of Bengal and Assam from British India. However, the people of this region grew increasingly resentful of the dominance of western Pakistan and the imposition of the Urdu language. Protests against these injustices began soon after partition, demanding fair representation and political autonomy. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman emerged as a leader in this struggle, advocating for autonomy for the eastern region.
In the 1970 elections, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujib, won all seats in East Pakistan and secured a majority in the proposed constituent assembly. However, the West Pakistani leadership refused to convene the assembly, leading to Sheikh Mujib’s arrest. Under General Yahya Khan’s military rule, the Pakistani army brutally suppressed the Bengali people’s movement, resulting in thousands of deaths and a large-scale migration into India.
In December 1971, India intervened in support of East Pakistan’s independence, leading to a war with Pakistan that ended in the creation of Bangladesh as an independent country. Bangladesh drafted a constitution affirming faith in secularism, democracy, and socialism. However, in 1975, Sheikh Mujib amended the constitution to shift to a presidential form of government, leading to conflicts and his subsequent assassination.
Subsequent years saw military rulers like Ziaur Rahman and H. M. Ershad, who faced popular protests demanding democracy. Student-led movements and mass public protests eventually forced Ershad to allow limited political activity. Elections were held in 1991, marking the beginning of representative democracy based on multi-party elections in Bangladesh.
Chapter 3 Contemporary South Asia| Class 12 Political Science Notes
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