WE recently observed the 47th anniversary of secession of East Pakistan with a note of melancholy. The fall of Dhaka is the most tragic chapter of our national history and this wound can never heel.

The day reminds us of our faults, provides an opportunity for self-accountability and we ask question, what did we learn from the fall of Dhaka?

It was common thinking in the eastern wing that injustice was being done in distribution of economic resources and government jobs.

This was true to some extent because a majority of government officials deputed in the eastern wing belonged to Wes Pakistan.

The feeling of deprivation was so severe that when the principle of parity was adopted in 1956 constitution, Bengalis were overjoyed that they were recognised equal to people of the West Pakistan.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s role in the secession of East Pakistan cannot be ignored. He preferred personal interests more than the country’s and boycotted the assembly session which was to be held in Dhaka on March 3, 1971. This step gave a negative message to Bengalis.

On March 23, when Pakistan Day was being celebrated Bengalis observed a black day and hoisted the flag of Bangladesh in Dahka.

The army used power to deal with the rebels. India took advantage of this situation and gave guerrilla training and provided weapons to Bengali youth to fight against Pakistan Army. As no army in the world can win a battle against its own people the same happened in East Pakistan.

Gen Yahya Khan’s desire to extend his tenure while Mujibur Rahman’s egoistic attitude also played a role in disintegrating Pakistan. Hundreds of thousands of people who were against the creation of Bangladesh were killed while thousands of them are still living in Bangladesh as stranded Pakistanis.

This tragedy teaches lessons that a country cannot remain united by disrespecting people’s mandate.

Asim Iqbal
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2018