Pakistan Period 

I dreamt a dream; I dreamt freedom

Hundreds of people are shelter less in the city, 80% of the total population that makes 120 million still live in villages deprived of most basic human rights. Is this the free country we dreamt of? And the freedom fighter who dreamt for a place to call their own now live in rehabilitation centers.

Since the British had left in 1947 and Pakistan and India got their independence. Pakistan had majority of Muslims and India had Majority of Hindus. Pakistan had two parts, East and West and they were separated by 1000 miles. Eastern part was mainly the province of Bengal. And this is the Bengal that got it’s independence in 1971 and became Bangladesh.  The time (1947-1971),the history is alive in thousands of pages of text books, in the nights of the writers, in the eyes of the Birangona (women of war), in the tears of ignored veterans and inscribed in the walls of Dhaka.

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Bangladesh_War_of_Independence

There were several reasons for Bengal to fight and seek their independence. Religion Islam was the primary reason to hold the is two country as one though they were far away. West Pakistan had 97% Muslims and East Pakistan (Bangladesh) had 87%. East Pakistan (Bengal) was one the five main provinces of Pakistan and used to do the majority of exports and business. Though Bengal dealt with 70% of the exports it did not get any benefits from that. Bengal was deprived of political power, opportunities, quality education and was oppressed. Despite of being deprived of most basic human rights Bengal was surviving. Then people of Bengal were faced with the language problem. Most of the people in wast Pakistan and some Biharis in eastern side used to speak in Urdu and Panjabi; but East Pakistan (Bengal) used Bangla as their language. In 1948 when Mohammed Ali Jinnah declared that ‘Urdu and only Urdu shall be the state language’ Bangalies started their protest. This protest was carried until 1952 when several students of the Bengal was died and finally Bangla was established as the East’s main language. After many small attempts to establish it’s own identity the students of East Bengal finally took a major step. That day, 21st February 1952, students from all over the country fought, they shed blood and many died for the sake of their language, Bangla. it was the fight of one’s right to speak in his own language. Only if they were alive now to see what their sacrifice has achieved. Now the whole world recognize them. 21st February now is celebrated as the International Mother Language Day, declared by United Nations.   In1970 a deadly cyclone, Bhola, hit east Pakistan and killed about 500,000 people. Without any help from the main government sitting in Wast Pakistan the condition kept going miserable. In the mean time a political group named Awami League was formed in Bengal by it’s leader Sheikh Muzivar Rahman. In 1971 in the nation’s election Awami league took part and own victory by 160 seats and majority of national assembly. But the chairman of Pakistan People’s Party refused to let Sheikh be the Prime Minister. This initiated the nine months war. After the nine months war Bangladesh got it’s Victory on 16th December, 1971. And the independence is celebrated on 26th March.