The borders of modern Bangladesh were established with the separation of Bengal and India in August 1947, when the region became East-Pakistan as a part of the newly formed state of Pakistan following the end of British rule in the Indian subcontinent.
Paradigm Shift after 1947:
Almost 400 years ago the British came to the Indian
subcontinent for trade, but after a while, they conquer the subcontinent and
ruled the region for nearly 200 years. The British East India Company started
their journey in India by establishing a factory in Mauslipatnam in 1611. The
company acquired the ruling power of Bengal by defeating Nawab Sirajuddaula in
the battle of Palassey in 1775 and the company rule ended in 1858 when its
administrative and taxing power along with its possessions and armed forces
were taken over by the British crown. Then, in 1947, the separation of India
finally concluded the British dominance in the Indian Subcontinent.
At the time of Crown ruling in this region, the
socio-political condition was based on the tenant-land owner relationship. The
landlord system was running at that time. During this session, tax dependent
state system was introduced and the general people were used to this ruling pattern.
But when some movements like Civil Disobedience, Quit India, and the creation
of the Indian National Army led to the independence of India and Pakistan, a
paradigm shift could be seen. The whole ruling system went through massive
change. Two different states were created with new ideologies and it continues
until 1971 when Pakistan broke apart. ( Palestine conflict)
Paradigm Shift after 1971:
During the Pakistan regime, the country went through
economic, political and social reformation. People of East-Pakistan, present
Bangladesh, was provided with a new political platform for their own
development. They started to feel free from the oppressing ruling of the
British Empire. But soon things started to change because of the dominating
West-Pakistani rules. Later on, A.K Fazlul Haque was elected as the Prime
Minister of East-Pakistan in the 1954 United Front Election. But he was not
given the authority as Marshall Law was declared. Firstly Ayub Khan declared it
and then Yahiya khan established Martial Law in Pakistan.
After getting relieved from British rule the people of East
Pakistan found themselves in a ruling system full of imbalance and
discrimination towards them. This discriminatory ruling and exploitation made
people anxious and lured them to revolt. In 1966, the six-point movement was
introduced by Sheik Muzibur Rahman which was regarded as the base of economic
and political freedom for the people of East Pakistan.
Though in the 1970 election Awami-league led by Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman achieved a landslide victory, he was not given the ruling
power. As a result, he declared the Civil Disobedience movement on 1st March in
1971, which was overwhelmingly celebrated by the mass people of East Pakistan.
Later on 26th March in the same year, he declared the independence of
Bangladesh and the Liberation War started. After 9 months of bloody war,
Bangladesh achieved victory and a new paradigm was established lead by the
father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Muzibur Rahman.
After released from the Pakistani jail, Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman returned to Bangladesh on 10th January 1972. Soon after coming
to his own country, he started to reform the state and rebuild the nation from
destruction. But discord arose between bureaucrats and military personnel who
returned from Pakistan after independence and who took part in the liberation
war. This in turn reduces the strength of the state structure and bureaucracy.
Military personnel returning from Pakistan was given low priority and assigned
to less important tasks, moreover, the paramilitary force was bigger than the
military force, 26500 and 29000 respectively. As a result, disappointment arose
among the military and they went through moral degradation. They feel that they
were discriminated against by the government and they became offended towards
the government.
On the other hand, to reduce internal corruption and power
competition Bangabandhu declared the extinction of all political parties and
introduce a one-party system by creating Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League
also known as BAKSAL. He thought this system would develop the country’s
economy and reduce political instability. In the meantime, a military coup was
started and he was murdered along with his family on 15th August 1975. By the
murder of Bangabandhu, military rule was about to establish in Bangladesh.
Paradigm Shift after 1990:
General Zia took the power in 1977 and he was elected as the
President of Bangladesh by a controversial “yes” “No” vote arranged by himself
in 1977. Then he created his own
political party in 1978 called BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party). In 1981he
was assassinated by a failed military coup in Chittagong. In 1983, Hussain
Muhammad Ershad was came to the power. Ershad regime (1983-1990) is known as a
military dictatorship. On 19 November 1990, BNP, Awami League and Jamat Islami
united to revolt against the Ershad regime. And they compelled to resign him by
6 December 1990. Later in 1991 election was held and this election id recognize
as the fairest election in the history of Bangladesh, thus democracy was
established
Post a Comment