Remembering the Bangladesh Liberation War: The Struggle for Independence and the Atrocities of 1971.
Remembering the Bangladesh Liberation War: The Struggle for Independence and the Atrocities of 1971 . The Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 was a pivotal moment in the history of South Asia. The conflict was sparked by the refusal of the government of Pakistan to recognize the results of the 1970 elections in East Pakistan, where the Awami League, a Bengali nationalist party, had won a majority of seats. The Pakistan Army launched a military operation in East Pakistan, known as Operation Searchlight, in an attempt to suppress the Bengali nationalist movement and maintain control over the region. The military operation led to widespread atrocities, including mass killings, rape, and forced displacement. The Pakistan Army targeted civilians, particularly members of the Hindu minority, in a campaign of ethnic cleansing. The Bengali nationalist movement, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his Awami League party, organized resistance against the Pakistani military and formed a provisional g