Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan (despite the awkward geography) until the 1971 Liberation War. Many of our students are the proud daughters of Freedom Fighters. Prior to liberation, Bangladesh was East Pakistan, and today's Pakistan was West Pakistan. Despite the fact that East Pakistan was far more populous, West Pakistan maintained the majority of government power. When a Prime Minister from East Pakistan was elected, the government rejected his rule. They proposed a dual-minister situation, with East and West each having their own. This was not received well by East Pakistanis (the future Bangladeshis). The war erupted soon thereafter, and Bangladesh was born!
Additionally, there was the Mother Language Movement. In the 1950's, West Pakistan proclaimed Urdu as the national language, despite the fact that the majority of East Pakistan spoke Bengali. Protests followed. Although it preceded the Liberation War by a couple decades, the animosity between the two language groups surely contributed towards the Bangladeshi push for independence. Bangladesh, after all, means "land where they speak Bangla".
Additionally, there was the Mother Language Movement. In the 1950's, West Pakistan proclaimed Urdu as the national language, despite the fact that the majority of East Pakistan spoke Bengali. Protests followed. Although it preceded the Liberation War by a couple decades, the animosity between the two language groups surely contributed towards the Bangladeshi push for independence. Bangladesh, after all, means "land where they speak Bangla".
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I wondered what happened to East Pakistan. See what happens after high school and the countries/geographies change? Like there used to be "Burma" (it's next to you now with a different name) and Ceylon (I think that is Samoa or one of the S ones, where you went on a break, large island south of India.
ReplyDeleteAre you going to take your blog and pictures and put them all into a memory album? Qatar too?
It's winter here. Stay warm...
Love, Aunt J.