Separation of East Pakistan from West Pakistan

Pakistan came into being on 14^th August, 1947. It had two parts, i.e. East Pakistan and West Pakistan. These two parts remained together for 24 years. In 1970; former president of Pakistan, organized Pakistan's first federal general election. The Awami League emerged as the single largest party, followed by the Pakistan People’s Party. The military junta stalled in accepting the results, leading to civil disobedience, the Bangladesh Liberation War and the 1971 Bangladesh genocide. As a result East Pakistan became separated from West Pakistan in 1971 and it became an independent country named as “Bangladesh”. The separation of East Pakistan from West Pakistan was in favor of both countries; Pakistan & Bangladesh. The advantages include Political Advantages, Social Advantages, Economical Advantage and Constitutional advantages.

The revenue ratio from East Pakistan was higher as compared to the West Pakistan. But more part of this revenue was given to the West Pakistan on the basis of its population. It was an injustice with East Pakistan because their fair part was given to West Pakistan. Therefore, by the separation, East Pakistan began to get their part justly & now they were free to use their revenue & resources for themselves.

Through separation Bengalis got a sense of identity. Before separation, they always wanted to have their own army, their own constitutional points, their own currency and their own rules & regulations. They wanted to have a dependent government system or the separate state, where they can live according to their own way. Therefore, by separation they got this autonomy. They developed their own separate state, Government system, constitution & many more things.

Due to extraordinary majority of Bengali Population, it was not possible for any province of West Pakistan to become equivalent to that majority any time in future, and it was certain that representatives of Provinces of West Pakistan will always remain in opposition in assemblies as per modern time democracy principles. This was really a frightening situation and the People of Pakistan were going to be ruled by any ethnocentric Bengali Leader or by any Bengali Military dictator forever.

With the separation of Bengal flow of population from densely populated Bangladesh to parts of West Pakistan stopped, which was a good development for the culture and social set up of West Pakistan. Furthermore, due to two national languages, Cultural evolution of the people of West Pakistan was stopped and their local languages were dying. With the separation of Bangladesh, that process was stopped. After separation of Bangladesh, huge jobs opportunities were raised for people of different provinces of West Pakistan in both Federal and Provincial Governments due to elimination of share of people of Bangladesh in civilian Jobs. This also resulted in an increase in participation of local population in the affairs of country. By this their sense of deprivation was minimized.

By summing up all of the above mentioned points, we can conclude that the separation of East Pakistan from West Pakistan was beneficial for both Pakistan and Bangladesh. Bangladesh developed a good economic system by getting their equal part of revenue and they also got a sense of identity by getting a separate state and the autonomy to govern it. On the other side, Pakistan got Political benefit by getting rid of the opposition done by Bengali Leaders. Pakistan also had social advantages by preserving their culture by separating Bengali culture away and by getting more employment opportunities which were formerly given to Bengalis, before separation. In this way the separation proved to be benignant for both countries.