3. Democracy in Bangladesh

DEMOCRACY IN BANGLADESH

• Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan from 1947 to 1971.
• It consisted partitioned areas of Bengal and Assam from British India.
• The people here resented over the domination of wester Pakistan and the imposition of the Urdu language.
• After the partition people started protesting against the unfair treatment towards Bengali culture and language.
• They demanded fair representation in administration and a fair share in political power.
• Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman led the popular struggle again the West Pakistani domination, he demanded autonomy for eastern regions. He demanded complete autonomy for eastern regions.
• In 1970, elections were held in Pakistan. The Awami League led by Sheikh Mujib won all seats in East Pakistan and secured a majority in constituent assembly.
• But the West Pakistan leadership refused to convene the assembly.
• Sheikh Mujib was arrested.
• Yahaya Khan, the Pakistani army tried to supress Bengali mass movement of people.
• Thousands were killed and there was wide scale migration to India.
• Government of India supported East Pakistan and helped them financially and militarily.
• Which led to war between India and Pakistan in December 1971, Pakistan army surrendered and the formation of Bangladesh as an independent country was successful.
• Bangladesh after independence from West Pakistan:
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1. Bangladesh drafted its constitution in declaring its faith in secularism, democracy and socialism.
2. In 1975, Sheikh Mujib got the constitution amended to shift from the parliamentary to presidential form of government.
3. He abolished all the parties except its own the Awami League. He was assassinated in a military uprising in August 1975.
4. The new military ruler, Ziaur Rahman, formed his own Bangladesh National Party and won the elections in 1979.
5. He was assassinated which was then followed by another military takeover by Lt Gen H.M.Ershad.
6. The people of Bangladesh rose in favour for democracy, and the students were in forefront and Ershad allowed political activity on a limited scale.
7. Ershad was later elected as president for 5 years, followed by mass public protests he had to step down in 1990.

Elections were held in 1991, and thereafter democracy based on multi-party system has been working in Bangladesh.