16th December 1971: From East Pakistan to Bangladesh

[Flynn Swagmire]

@abushaleh .. here its for you..

Jotil Pic LOL.

 

[FaujHistorian]

Mujib was not a US puppet, but he and US partnered or used each other (according to some) to get the 6 point movement going to bring down govt. of Ayub Khan. After the war was over, he used Indian support to make Bangladesh his personal fief. He was killed because of his misrule (40,000 people political opponents killed using Rakkhi Bahini, former Mujib Bahini, a RAW creation + 1 million people killed in man-made famine of 1974) became unbearable for Bangladeshi masses and specially for the freedom fighters in then Bangladesh Army as well as anti-India faction of AL led by Khondokar Mushtaq. We will cover details of this incident in this thread:
http://www.defence.pk/forums/bangla...75-coup-counter-coup-their-after-effects.html

US did have knowledge of the coup, but it has not been established if they had any active role.

Very balanced post. Thank you.

If we want to understand the politics of Mujib, Zulfi Bhutto, and others of the same period, we must go back to 1950s and 60s.

In those turbulant years, Pakistani politics was impacted by the following factors.

1. Cold war global politics
2. Jute politics/war drums between India and Pakistan
3. Urdu/Bangla language
4. Capitalism vs. Socialism internal fight (within Pakistani intellectual circles)
5. Religious fundoos trying to get a foothold in Pakistan even when most of them were anti Jinnah anti Pakistan
6. Famines and floods in the then E. Pakistan

Under those circumstances, USA/UK were supporting Pakistani Army. Pak army was the head of the American Hammer in the region. Peshawar was American Airbase, And the army was posted in different middle Eastern countries for the protection of American allies. CETO and CENTO (Asian version of NATO) were in fashion.

However civilian politicians and intellectuals (who were born in 1920s-1930s) were mostly socialist.


Perhaps that's the reason most of the big name politicians took socialist stance due to many reasons including the trends of time from India (nehru), China (Mao), and the Middle East (Gamal Nasir, Musadiq and the likes).

Thus Mujib, Zulfi Bhutto were left leaning admirers of leftist revolutionary forces around the globe. In these circumstances, one can say with certainty that Mujib was NOT supported by USA.

If Mujib or Bhutto were supported by Communist russia, that is a separate story.

Instead (in my limited knowledge)

Mujib it seems like was playing on factors #2, 3, and 6.

I didn't list #1, because we can only say that he was definitely not in USA camp. However it is not clear if we was squarely in Communist Russia camp because we do not see him turing like Cuba's Castro after the independence of BDesh.


After independence Mujib realized to his horror that jute income is not what he expected, and he faced enormous challenge to build up BDeshi economy, when the country was in teeters to begin with.

So he embarked on totalitarian approach and absolute control like Mao, Bhutto, Nasir, Castro etc. he used his personal militia to accomplish his goals, and that backfired due the following.

1. Economy remained bad
2. Social liberties that Bengali intellectuals had dreamed off, didn't materialize (in some case they lost what they had in the time of military rule)
3. Army saw Mujib's private militia as a direct threat to their established structure


So the man on the street lost hope, intellectuals ditched Mujib hoping to go back to the glory of military rule (from Pakistan days), and that provided Army to step in and end his short reign marked with economic and social decline.

However I still feel bad for the guy.

BDesh army should not have executed everyone in his family. I mean punish the guy, but don't kill innocent member of his family.

Well that sad thing happened, and only one daughter survived because she was out of the country at that time.


So this is a quick take on Mujib and global and local factors that impacted him.

peace

p.s. I don't have all my notes in front of me, so some of the facts and figures may be off. If that is the case forgive me and correct me. Thank you.

 

[kalu_miah]

Very balanced post. Thank you.

If we want to understand the politics of Mujib, Zulfi Bhutto, and others of the same period, we must go back to 1950s and 60s.

In those turbulant years, Pakistani politics was impacted by the following factors.

1. Cold war global politics
2. Jute politics/war drums between India and Pakistan
3. Urdu/Bangla language
4. Capitalism vs. Socialism internal fight (within Pakistani intellectual circles)
5. Religious fundoos trying to get a foothold in Pakistan even when most of them were anti Jinnah anti Pakistan
6. Famines and floods in the then E. Pakistan

Under those circumstances, USA/UK were supporting Pakistani Army. Pak army was the head of the American Hammer in the region. Peshawar was American Airbase, And the army was posted in different middle Eastern countries for the protection of American allies. CETO and CENTO (Asian version of NATO) were in fashion.

However civilian politicians and intellectuals (who were born in 1920s-1930s) were mostly socialist.


Perhaps that's the reason most of the big name politicians took socialist stance due to many reasons including the trends of time from India (nehru), China (Mao), and the Middle East (Gamal Nasir, Musadiq and the likes).

Thus Mujib, Zulfi Bhutto were left leaning admirers of leftist revolutionary forces around the globe. In these circumstances, one can say with certainty that Mujib was NOT supported by USA.

If Mujib or Bhutto were supported by Communist russia, that is a separate story.

Instead (in my limited knowledge)

Mujib it seems like was playing on factors #2, 3, and 6.

I didn't list #1, because we can only say that he was definitely not in USA camp. However it is not clear if we was squarely in Communist Russia camp because we do not see him turing like Cuba's Castro after the independence of BDesh.


After independence Mujib realized to his horror that jute income is not what he expected, and he faced enormous challenge to build up BDeshi economy, when the country was in teeters to begin with.

So he embarked on totalitarian approach and absolute control like Mao, Bhutto, Nasir, Castro etc. he used his personal militia to accomplish his goals, and that backfired due the following.

1. Economy remained bad
2. Social liberties that Bengali intellectuals had dreamed off, didn't materialize (in some case they lost what they had in the time of military rule)
3. Army saw Mujib's private militia as a direct threat to their established structure


So the man on the street lost hope, intellectuals ditched Mujib hoping to go back to the glory of military rule (from Pakistan days), and that provided Army to step in and end his short reign marked with economic and social decline.

However I still feel bad for the guy.

BDesh army should not have executed everyone in his family. I mean punish the guy, but don't kill innocent member of his family.

Well that sad thing happened, and only one daughter survived because she was out of the country at that time.


So this is a quick take on Mujib and global and local factors that impacted him.

peace

p.s. I don't have all my notes in front of me, so some of the facts and figures may be off. If that is the case forgive me and correct me. Thank you.

Thanks for your input. The US angle was pointed out by some, it could be false.

My stands are based on limited information and they are only as good as the sources of information.

I am aware that socialism was in vogue at the time and looking at current global situation, it may even make a come back, in different incarnations of course.

Two of the daughters survived, the other daughter's name is Rehana.

 

[FaujHistorian]

Thanks for your input. The US angle was pointed out by some, it could be false.

My stands are based on limited information and they are only as good as the sources of information.

I am aware that socialism was in vogue at the time and looking at current global situation, it may even make a come back, in different incarnations of course.

Two of the daughters survived, the other daughter's name is Rehana.

Oh yes. Sh Rehana was in Germany as well. (I wonder what she is upto these days)

Thanks for the correction.

peace

 

[Zabaniyah]

Stop tagging mods!
http://www.defence.pk/forums/announcements/231130-forum-announcements.html

The report button is there for a reason.

 

[kalu_miah]

Stop tagging mods!
http://www.defence.pk/forums/announcements/231130-forum-announcements.html

The report button is there for a reason.

Ok, mod. Next time will use the report button. Thanks for cleaning up the thread.

 

[ShahidT]

A photograph that connects all three of us

 

[Skies]

http://www.defence.pk/forums/indian...rd-pakistan-army-not-involved-bangladesh.html

 

[animelive]

http://www.defence.pk/forums/indian...rd-pakistan-army-not-involved-bangladesh.html

I am not sure how true this is but way more credible than our history books

 

[Anubis]

 

[Anubis]

Rare interview with a Freedom Fighter!

 

[Assault Rifle]

A very useful link:
Newspaper Reports 1971 | December'1971

 

[asad71]

Rare interview with a Freedom Fighter!

1.There are two PA/BA officers here, both from E Bengal Regt. Col Shafat Jamil, who died last year, had commanded 3 E Bengal. He belonged to the 29th PMA Long Course. He was Commander, Dhaka when Sheikh was killed.

2.The other one wearing glasses is Lieut Col Ziauddin. He commanded 1 E Bengal during the war. Was also the Adj of this Bn during '65 War at Luliana, Lahore. Ziauddin was Commander Dhaka when Shafiullah became the Chief just after Osmani joined the cabinet. Because of his extreme but patriotic views and criticsm of the govt for too much India-friendliness, he was sacked. He joined the underground communist movement of Shiraj Shikdar, the Sharbohara Party, initially becoming its military chief. Once Shikdar was killed Ziauddin became the Party Chief. He surfaced during Ershad's reign refusing all offers of govt job or political position. He has now become the founding principal of a school in Chittagong. He has transformed into a very good Muslim offering even Tahazzid prayers every night. He is often invited to address waz mahfils.

 

[Al-zakir]

2.The other one wearing glasses is Lieut Col Ziauddin. He commanded 1 E Bengal during the war. Was also the Adj of this Bn during '65 War at Luliana, Lahore. Ziauddin was Commander Dhaka when Shafiullah became the Chief just after Osmani joined the cabinet. Because of his extreme but patriotic views and criticsm of the govt for too much India-friendliness, he was sacked. He joined the underground communist movement of Shiraj Shikdar, the Sharbohara Party, initially becoming its military chief. Once Shikdar was killed Ziauddin became the Party Chief. He surfaced during Ershad's reign refusing all offers of govt job or political position. He has now become the founding principal of a school in Chittagong. He has transformed into a very good Muslim offering even Tahazzid prayers every night. He is often invited to address waz mahfils.

Assad Sir, is this Ziauddin same as Ziauddin Ahmed. Here is a picture. He is an Awami leaguer/leftist and anti-Islamic bigot.

 

[asad71]

Assad Sir, is this Ziauddin same as Ziauddin Ahmed. Here is a picture. He is an Awami leaguer/leftist and anti-Islamic bigot.

No, this is a common mistake. This one is Maj Zia, BB of Pirojpur and Sundarban fame. An Arty officer much junior to Lieut Col Ziauddin, BU who belongs to Harbang, Chittagong.