Bangladesh: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:50, 13 February 2006

Revision as of 02:11, 13 February 2006

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== History ==

{{main|History of Bangladesh}}

Remnants of [[civilization]] in the greater [[Bengal]] region date back three millenia when the region was settled by [[Dravidian people|Dravidians]] and [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burmans]]. It mostly fractured into unaffiliated units, ruled by various foreign and domestic kingdoms and empires. After the arrival of [[Indo-Aryans]], the region came under the influence of the Hindu [[Gupta Empire]] from the [[4th century|4th]] through [[6th century|6th]] centuries [[Common Era|CE]]. Then, a dynamic Bengali [[Shashanka]] erected an impressive but short-lived kingdom. With the launch of the [[Buddhist]] [[Pala dynasty]] in the 8th century the region reached its most ascendent moment, but retreated during the 12th century [[Sena dynasty]].

[[Islam]] was introduced to Bengal in the 12th century by [[Sufi]] missionaries. Later occasional Muslim invadersconquerors reinforced the process of conversion. Bengal was conquered by the [[Mughal]] empire in the 16th century. [[Dhaka]] became an important provincial center of Mughal administration as the seat of the [[Nawab]]. The Bengali ethnic and linguistic identity probably crystallized during this period, since the whole of Bengal was united for the first time under an able and long-lasting administration. Furthermore, its inhabitants had sufficient autonomy to cultivate their own customs and literature.

[[Portugal|Portugese]], [[Netherlands|Dutch]], [[France|French]], [[Ireland|Irish]] and [[Britain|British]] traders began to arrive in late 15th century and by late 18th century the [[British East India Company]] gained control of Bengal following the [[Battle of Plassey]] in 1757. A series of futher engagements ultimately expelled other European competitors, defeated the Mughals and consolidated the subcontinent under the corporationcompany. Scandals and the bloody rebellion known as the [[CalcuttaSepoy Mutiny]] (nowadaysprompted the British government to intervene and transfer authority to the [[KolkataBritish Crown| crown]]), onwith thea British [[Hooghly Riverviceroy]] becamerunning athe administration. A pattern of economic exploitation continued as famine racked the subcontinent many times, including at least two major tradingfamines portin forBengal. [[muslin]]The Raj was politically organized into 17 Provinces, of which Bengal was one of the most significant, headed by a Governor. Between 1905 and 1911, an abortive attempt was made to divide Bengal into two zones, with [[juteDhaka]]. being the capital of the eastern zone.

Scandals and the bloody rebellion known as the [[Sepoy Mutiny]] prompted the British government to intervene and transfer authority to the [[British Crown| crown]]. Rule of India was organized under a [[viceroy]]. A pattern of economic exploitation continued as famine racked the subcontinent many times, including at least two major famines in Bengal. The Raj was politically organized into 17 Provinces, of which Bengal was one of the most significant, headed by a Governor. For a brief period in the early 20th century, an abortive attempt was made to divide Bengal into two zones, with [[Dhaka]] being the capital of the eastern zone.

When the British government decided to leave the subcontinent, it decided to partition it along religious lines. A referendum in each Province and [[List of Indian Princely States|Princely State]] decided whether it would join [[Pakistan]] or [[India]]. The two exceptions were [[Punjab region|Punjab]] and Bengal, which would be dissected along religious lines. The Bengali portion of Pakistan was organized as a province called [[East Bengal (province)|East Bengal]] with its capital in [[Dhaka]]. In 1950, land reform was accomplished in East Bengal through the abolition of the feudal [[zamindari]] system.

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[[Image:TIMEfreedomofBangladesh.jpg|left|thumb|A ''[[TIME magazine|TIME]]'' magazine issue covering the newly independent Bangladesh.]]

Tensions came to a head during 1971 in the face of two disasters: one natural and one political. A massive [[1970 Bhola cyclone|cyclone]] devasted coastal East Pakistan, and the central government's responded poorly. The anger was compounded when [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]], whose [[Awami League]] fairly won a majority in Parliament in the 1970 elections, was blocked from taking office. Mujib is still remembered for his delivery of an electrifying speech [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/S_0223.HTM] on [[7 March]], [[1971]], at a racetrack in Dhaka and became known as ''Bôngobondhu'' or "Friend of the Bengali". After staging compromise talks with Mujib, President Yahya Khan arrested him and on [[March 25th25]],[[1971]]m launched an all-out [[Operation Searchlight|military assault]] on East Pakistan.

Yahya's methods were extremely bloody, as he intended to intimidate the Bengalis into total submission. His slaughter of unarmed innocents was one of the worst [[genocides]] in world history, similar in scale to that of [[Khmer Rouge]] in [[Cambodia]] [http://www.gendercide.org/case_bangladesh.html]. Chief targets included [[intellectual]]s and Hindus. Ten million [[refugee]]s fled to neighbouring India. Rough estimates of those massacred range from several hundred thousand to 3 million [http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat2.htm#Bangladesh],