Bangladesh Hindu Genecoid
1.
Although the two areas were united under the motto of religion, their
differences in the religious interpretation of Islam and very distinct
cultures were what subsequently separated them
Western Pakistanis viewed the Bengali Muslims’ reading of the Quran as inferior and impure and harboured an intention of turning them into ‘exemplary Muslims’ through alienating them from their Hindu background. Pakistan’s governmental headquarters were established in the Western Wing and were dominated by elite groups in West Pakistan, mainly the Punjabis.
2.
The Bengali population, despite forming the biggest ethnic population in the country did not have significant representation in the Government.
control over State-owned organizations, governmental mechanisms and the armed forces were in the hands of the dominant Punjabis
3.
Although, the number of Bengali speakers (56%) was higher than the number of Urdu speakers (7%), Urdu was considered the language of the elite.
Despite the fact that the West Pakistani authorities maintained the narrative that Bengali would remain part of the everyday life of the people from the Eastern Wing, on 24 March 1948, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan and the first Governor General, declared Urdu as an official language. The declaration provoked a widespread outrage and gave rise to the Bengali Language Movement
4.
demonstration on 21 February, 1952
to ensure the acknowledgment of Bengali as an official State language of Pakistan besides Urdu and English
5.
When a large group of students from Dhaka University alongside with numerous political activists brought out a procession in front of the Provincial Assembly appealing for the right of Bengali to be accepted as an official language, armed forces opened fire at the students. Five people were killed and since then, 21st of February is celebrated in Bangladesh as ‘Language Martyrs Day’.
6.
in recognition of the sacrifices rendered by Bengalis. After two years, on 7 May 1954, Bengali was finally granted an official status.
7.
In 1999, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) proclaimed 21st February as ‘International Mother Tongue Day’,
8.
Martial Law by General Ayub Khan in 1958
9.
two major triggers, led directly to the political crisis of 1971
was the failure of West Pakistan to react adequately and promptly to the devastating Bhola cyclone -resulted in massive floods and the extensive destruction of arable land
10.
Due to West Pakistani Government’s gross negligence to the crisis, malnourishment and famine rapidly spread
5,00,000 lives
one million acres of devastated crops, 780,000 lost cattle and poultry,
as many as 400,000 demolished houses, 3,500 damaged schools, and 65% of
the total fishing capacity – destroyed
11.
Marichjhapi massacre
Bengali Hindu refugees from Bangladesh being killed by the Left Front government in Bengal in 1979
One day, the police ordered the inhabitants to vacate the island, but they refused. The police besieged Marichjhapi, cutting off all access to and from the island.
fresh drinking water and grains which they had to fetch from nearby islands.
The siege led to their confinement in their own homes, with no access to clean water or food. Poison was mixed in the water of the only tubewell on the island.
Panchanan Mandal says he and others were lured to a location with the promise of food. But it was bullets, not food, that greeted them.
CPM leader Jyoti Basu was the Chief Minister of West Bengal then
source - https://www.efsas.org/publications/study-papers/bangladesh%E2%80%99s-genocide-debate;-a-conscientious-research/
European Foundation for South Asian Studies
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