Human rights in East Pakistan is about human rights in East Pakistan before the creation of Bangladesh.
Language movement
editThe Bengali language movement began in 1948 after the independence of Pakistan. Many Bengalis demanded that Bengali be made a national language of Pakistan, while Pakistani national leaders wanted Urdu to be the national language. On 21 February 1952, the police of East Bengal fired at a crowd of demonstrators, killing four people. The next day, Pakistan army and police attacked demonstrations again resulting in a number of deaths and injuries.[1]
Religious minorities
editThe government and military elites of Pakistan viewed the Hindu minority in East Pakistan as a fifth column. They blamed the Hindus for the economic backwardness of East Pakistan. The 1970 election held under the joint electorate only got to minority member elected to the National assembly. During the Bangladesh War of Independence, Hindus were targeted by the Pakistan Army and local collaborators supporting them.[2][better source needed]
War in East Pakistan and Bangladesh War of Independence
editGenocide
editThe genocide refers to the selective mass killing in East Pakistan by Pakistani security establishments during the Bangladesh War of Independence. The University of Dhaka was attacked resulting in the death of students and staff. Newspaper offices and Hindu neighbourhoods were shelled by Pakistan Army in Dhaka.[3]
Attacks on Bihari and Non-Bengali community
editBiharis and Non-Bengalis were also attacked in the war, Thousands of Biharis were killed in ethnic violence in different areas of East Pakistan.[4] In one such incident in Santahar, thousands of non-Bengalis were killed and massacred by miscreants affiliated with the Mukti Bahini.[5]
Killings of intellectuals
editThe Pakistani security forces and collaborators tried to eliminate Bengali nationalism through the killing of Bengali intellectuals. It resulted in the killing of over a thousand intellectuals including doctors, educationists, lawyers, engineers, etc. On 14 December 1971, two days before the surrender of Pakistani forces, 200 intellectuals were abducted from their home and killed.[6]
References
edit- ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Language Movement". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ Ispahani, Farahnaz (10 December 2015). Purifying the Land of the Pure: Pakistan's Religious Minorities. HarperCollins Publishers India. ISBN 9789351775539.
- ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Genocide, 1971". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Controversial book accuses Bengalis of 1971 war crimes". BBC News. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ "Fall of Dhaka: How Mukti Bahini 'cleansed' Santahar town of non-Bengalis". The Express Tribune. December 16, 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Killing of Intellectuals". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 28 November 2024.