The East Pakistan (Bengali: পূর্ব পাকিস্তানPurbo Pakistan, Urdu: مشرقی پاکستانMashriqī Pākistān), formally called East Pakistan, was a provincial state of Pakistan established in August 14, 1947. The provincial state existed until 16th December, 1971, and it is now the independent nation of Bangladesh. East Pakistan was created from Bengal Province based on the 'Mountbatten Plan' in what was then British India in 1947. Eastern Bengal was given to the Dominion of Pakistan and became a province of Pakistan by the name East Bengal. East Bengal was renamed East Pakistan in 1956 and later became the country of Bangladesh after the bloody Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, which took place after the General Elections of 1970.
The East Pakistan had an area of 147,570 km2 (56,977 mi2), bordering India on all three sides (East, North, and West) and Bay of Bengal from South. East Pakistan was one of the largest provincial state of Pakistan, with largest population and shared a largest economic share. In 1971, a violent Liberation war ended the writ of Pakistan, and Pakistan was divided as a result of Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Finally, on 15th December 1971, East Pakistan was officially disestablished and became an independent state of Bangladesh.
The tension between East and West Pakistan reached a climax in 1970 when the Awami League, the largest East Pakistani political party, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a landslide victory in the national elections in East Pakistan. The party won 167 of the 169 seats allotted to East Pakistan, and thus a majority of the 300 seats in the National Assembly. This gave the Awami League the constitutional right to form a government. However, Yahya Khan, the leader of Pakistan, refused to allow Rahman to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan. This increased agitation for greater autonomy in the East.
On 26 March 1971, the day after the military crackdown on civilians in East Pakistan, Sk. Mujibur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh just after midnight of March 25, 1971 before he was arrested by Pakistan army. All major Awami League leaders including elected leaders of national Assembly and Provincial Assembly fled to neighboring India and an exile government was formed headed by Sk. Mujibur Rahman. While he was in Pakistan Prison, Syed Nazrul Islam was the acting President with Tazuddin Ahmed as the Prime Minister. The exile government took oath on April 17, 1971 at Mujib Nagar, within East Pakistan territory of Kustia district and formally formed the government. Col (retd) MAG Osmani was appointed the commander in chief of liberation forces and whole East Pakistan was divided into eleven sectors headed by eleven sector commanders. All sector commanders were Bengali officers from Pakistan army. This started the Bangladesh Liberation War in which the freedom fighters, joined in December 1971 by 400,000 Indian soldiers, faced the Pakistani Army of 100,000 plus paramilitary and collaborationist forces. An additional approximately 25,000 ill-equipped civilian volunteers and police forces also sided with the Pakistan army. On 16 December 1971, the Pakistani Army surrendered to the joint liberation forces of Bangladesh freedom fighters and Indian army Headed by Lt. Gen Jagjit Singh Arora. Air Vice Marshall AK Khondoker represented the Bangladesh freedom fighters. Pakistan General AAK Niazi signed the surrender letter. Bangladesh quickly gained recognition from most countries and with the signing of the Shimla Accord, most of the countries accepted the new state. Bangladesh joined the United Nations in 1974. Sk. Mujib returned to free Bangladesh on January 10, 1972. Upon his request, India withdrew all of its forces. 40,000 Pakistan soldiers and 45,000 civilians were transferred to India as prisoners of war.[citation needed]
Government
On 14 October 1955, the last governor of East Bengal (Amiruddin Ahmad) became the first Governor of East Pakistan. At the same time the last Chief Minister of East Bengal became the first Chief Minister of East Pakistan. This system lasted until the military coup of 1958 when the post of Chief Minister was abolished in both East Pakistan and West Pakistan. From 1958 to 1971 the administration was largely in the hands of the President of Pakistan and the Governor of East Pakistan who at times held the title of Martial Law Administrator.
Since its unification with Pakistan, the East Pakistan had only consisted of only 1 infantry brigade, which was made up of 2 battalions, the 1st East Bengal Regiment and the 1/14 or 3/8 Punjab Regiment in 1948. Between them these two battalions boasted only 5 rifle companies (a single battalion normally had 5 companies).[1] This weak brigade, under the command of Brigadier Ayub Khan (local rank Major General – GOC 14 Division), and a few EPR wings, was tasked with defending East Pakistan during the Kashmir War of 1947.[2] The Pakistan Air Force and Navy had little presence in the region. Only one Combatant Squadron No. 14 Tail Choppers was active in East Pakistan which was commanded by a Squadron Leader or Major. The Navy had only 4 gunboats, inadequate to function in deep water. The Marines were also presented tasked to carried out the shoreline and riverine operations. All these services operated under one single high command, the Eastern Military High Command, commanded by a 3 star officer who is designated as its unified commander.
Bangladesh
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