History of Bangladesh since 1947 till present days.

1. Amazing Bangladesh 1947 to Present
Bangladesh
Mohammad Musfeq Iqfath

2. Topics
 The Partition (1947)
 Language movement (1952)
 East Bengal Legislative Assembly election (1954)
 Martial law in (1958)
 Six point movement (1966)
 Mass uprising in East Pakistan (1969)
 Bangladesh Liberation War and Genocide (1970)
 Bangladeshi Culture
 Bangladeshi Folk Songs
 Historical Place in Bangladesh
 Historical Architecture in Bangladesh
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3. The Partition (1947)
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4. The Partition of Bengal: In 1947 part of the Partition of India, divided the British Indian province of
Bengal based on the Radcliffe Line between India and Pakistan. Predominantly Hindu West Bengal became
a state of India, and predominantly Muslim East Bengal (now Bangladesh) became a province of Pakistan.
Partition of Bengal, 1947 latest major change in the political geography of Bengal. Myriad kingdoms and
principalities of ancient eastern India had been always changing in their extent and influences until a trans-
Bengal political unity was achieved by the Husain Shahi rulers under the imperial banner of 'Shah-i-
Bangala'. Under the Mughal and early British regimes, Bengal had also undergone frequent changes in its
territorial boundaries. But all these changes and transfigurations had aroused little public curiosity until the
partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon in 1905. The measure stirred so much public controversy that it had to
be annulled in 1911 in order to keep the imperial control undiminished. Within 36 years from the annulment
of the first partition of Bengal, in the year 1947 the province came to be divided into two halves along the
same geographical lines mainly on communal consideration. The carving up of India in line with Jinnah's
two-nation theory effected the second partition of Bengal. The Hindu-majority West Bengal became a part of
the Indian Union, with the Muslim-majority East Bengal a part of Pakistan. It may be noted that the Hindus
by and large opposed the 1905-partition and most Muslims rendered their support to it; but it was the
Hindus, especially the Hindu Mahasabha, who proposed the partition of Bengal in 1947 and Muslim
leadership first opposed and later accepted the proposal sullenly. The rapid change in the political mood of
the Hindus and Muslims of the province ought to be measured by the complex politics of communalities,
communalism, and imperialism of the time. HS Suhrawardy, chief minister of Bengal, made a last moment
attempt to transcend the limits and keep Bengal united with the status of an independent state. However, his
move for a United Independent Bengal floundered.
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5. Language movement (1952)
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6. Language movement (1952): Language Movement began in 1948 and reached its climax in the killing of 21
February 1952, and ended in the adoption of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan. The question as to
what would be the state language of Pakistan was raised immediately after its creation. The central leaders and the
Urdu-speaking intellectuals of Pakistan declared that URDU would be the state language of Pakistan, just as Hindi
was the state language of India. The students and intellectuals of East Pakistan, however, demanded that Bangla be
made one of the state languages. After a lot of controversy over the language issue, the final demand from East
Pakistan was that Bangla must be the official language and the medium of instruction in East Pakistan and for the
central government it would be one of the state languages along with Urdu. The Language Action Committee
decided to call a hartal and organize demonstrations and processions on February 21 throughout East Pakistan. As
preparations for demonstrations were underway, the government imposed Section 144 in the city of Dhaka,
banning all assemblies and demonstrations. A meeting of the Central Language Action Committee was held on 20
February under the chairmanship of ABUL HASHIM. Opinion was divided as to whether or not to violate Section
144. The students were determined to violate Section144 and held a student meeting at 11.00 am on 21 February
on the Dhaka University campus, then located close to the Medical College Hospital. When the meeting started,
the Vice-Chancellor, along with a few university teachers, came to the spot and requested the students not to
violate the ban on assembly. However, the students, under their leaders - Abdul Matin and GAZIUL HAQUE - were
adamant. Thousands of students from different schools and colleges of Dhaka assembled on the university campus
while armed police waited outside the gate. When the students emerged in groups, shouting slogans, the police
resorted to baton charge; even the female students were not spared.
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7. East Bengal Legislative Assembly election (1954)
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8. 8
United Front an alliance of the opposition parties to contest seats in the elections to the East Bengal
Legislative Assembly held between 8-12 March 1954. The result was a comprehensive victory for the alliance
or front composed mainly of four parties of East Bengal, namely AWAMI LEAGUE, Krishak Sramik Party,
Nizam-e-Islam and Ganatantri Dal. The Front campaigned on an election manifesto that incorporated a
package of TWENTY ONE POINT PROGRAMME adopted by the Front in November 1953. Several
postponements of the elections under various pretexts only proved malicious motives, organizational
weaknesses and vulnerability of the ruling party, MUSLIM LEAGUE. In fact, the United Front reflective of all
shades of political spectrum in the province emerged mainly due to the failure of the Muslim League as a
ruling party, and other historical, political and economic reasons. The decision to form a united front was
initially endorsed on 14 November 1953 at the historic council session of the Awami League held at
Mymensingh. Subsequently, the Front for a while dominated the political landscape of East Bengal and had its
usefulness as an effective political platform to unite diverse political groups. Although low by contemporary
international standards, the turnout seemed considerable in view of the inadequate communication facilities,
and the poor turnout of the women voters because of the prevailing conservative outlook in the society.

9. Martial law in (1958)
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10. Khan, Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub (1908-1974) military ruler and President of Pakistan. Ayub Khan was
born at Abbottabad in the Northwest Frontier Province in 1908. He was educated at Aligarh Muslim University
and at Royal Military College, Sandhurst, UK. He joined the army in 1928. He was promoted to the rank of
Major General in December 1948 and was then appointed the General Officer Commanding (GOC) in the
province of East Bengal. He discharged the responsibility of Defense Minister of Pakistan between 1954 and
1956. In collusion with the then President Iskandar Mirza, army chief Ayub Khan imposed martial law in
Pakistan on 7 October 1958, and abrogated the Constitution. Ayub Khan was appointed the Chief Martial Law
Administrator by President Mirza on 8 October. But only after a few days, he ousted Iskandar Mirza from power
(27 October) and declared himself the President of Pakistan. Ayub Khan’s martial law regime was a form of
representational dictatorship, and he introduced a new political system in 1959 as BASIC DEMOCRACIES.. The
system of Basic democracies did not have time to take root or to fulfil Ayub Khan's intentions before he and the
system fell in 1969. When war broke out between Pakistan and India on 6 September 1965, Ayub Khan promoted
himself to the rank of Field Marshal. Then in 1966, he chose the path of repression of his political opponents
when the Six-point demand for autonomy of East Pakistan was raised by the AWAMI LEAGUE. The leaders of the
Awami League including party chief Bangabandhu SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN were arrested. In the backdrop
of an intense anti-Ayub movement during the period of 1966-68, Ayub Khan convened a round table conference
of opposition political leaders at Rawalpindi on 26 February 1969. But when the conference failed to resolve the
crisis, Ayub Khan handed over power to the army chief General AGA MOHAMMAD YAHY KHAN on 24 March
1969, and retired from politics. He died on 20 April 1974.
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11. Six point movement (1966)
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12. 12
Six-point movement a charter of demands enunciated by the AWAMI LEAGUE for removing disparity between the
two wings of Pakistan and to put an end to the internal colonial rule of West Pakistan in East Bengal. The Indo-
Pak War of 1965 ended with the execution of Taskent Treaty. To the old grievances of economic disparity added
the complain of negligence and indifference of central government towards the defense of East Pakistan.
Bangabandhu SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN was vocal on this issue.
Six-point movement
1. The Constitution should provide for a Federation of Pakistan in its true sense on the Lahore Resolution, and the parliamentary form of
government with supremacy of a Legislature directly elected on the basis of universal adult franchise.
2. The federal government should deal with only two subjects: Defense and Foreign Affairs, and all other residuary subjects shall be
vested in the federating states.
3. Two separate, but freely convertible currencies for two wings should be introduced; or if this is not feasible, there should be one
currency for the whole country, but effective constitutional provisions should be introduced to stop the flight of capital from East to
West Pakistan. Furthermore, a separate Banking Reserve should be established, and separate fiscal and monetary policy be adopted for
East Pakistan.
4. The power of taxation and revenue collection shall be vested in the federating units and the federal center will have no such power on
the issue. The federation will be entitled to a share in the state taxes to meet its expenditures.
5. There should be two separate accounts for the foreign exchange earnings of the two wings; the foreign exchange requirements of the
federal government should be met by the two wings equally or in a ratio to be fixed; indigenous products should move free of duty
between the two wings, and the Constitution should empower the units to establish trade links with foreign countries.
6. East Pakistan should have a separate militia or paramilitary force.

13. Mass uprising in East Pakistan (1969)
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14. Mass Upsurge, 1969' started with the student unrest of 1968 against the tyrannical rule of AYUB KHAN,
President of Pakistan. The movement soon engulfed the whole of the then East Pakistan, peasants, artisans,
workers joined the movement almost end masse. Due to continuous exaction of undue demands the
laboring class of the industrial belts and low and medium income groups soon turned the movement into a
struggle for economic emancipation. The racial repression and the deprivation of the Bengalis within the
frame work of Pakistan and, to the contrary, starting from the LANGUAGE MOVEMENT the feeling of
separate identity together with struggle for autonomy had direct influence on the mass upsurge of 1969.
Indeed, this mass upsurge was the greatest mass awakening ever since the creation of Pakistan.
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15. Bangladesh Liberation War and Genocide (1970)
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16. 16
War of Liberation, The began on 26 March 1971 and ended with the liberation of Bangladesh on 16
December 1971. The armed struggle was the culmination of a series of events, situations and issues
contributing to the progressively deteriorating relations between East and West Pakistan. The questions of
land reforms, state language, inter-wing economic and administrative disparities, provincial autonomy, the
defense of East Pakistan and many other consequential questions had been straining the relations between
the two wings of Pakistan ever since independence of the country from Britain in 1947. The general
elections of 1970 had made Bangabandhu SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN, chief of AWAMI LEAGUE which
bagged 167 seats out of 169, the sole spokesman of the people of East Pakistan and majority leader in the
Pakistan National Assembly. But the Pakistan civil and military ruling clique had refused to transfer power
to the majority leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his party. Sheikh Mujib also refused to yield to the
pressure put on him for undue accommodation. Sheikh Mujib's historic address on 7 March 1971 made this
point quite clear to the Pakistani military junta. Then began the civil disobedience movement. Meanwhile
talks started between Sheikh Mujib and President Yahya Khan to resolve the outstanding issues. While
holding talks, the Pakistani military junta was bringing more troops to Bangladesh, and at the same time
wantonly killing innocent civilians all over the country. This clearly showed that they were totally insincere
about handing over power to the elected representatives of East Pakistan. No sooner the talks failed,
the GENOCIDE began with the Pakistan army's crackdown on the people of East Pakistan on the midnight of
25 March 1971. The Bangali soldiers serving in the then Pakistan Armed Forces and para militia forces
declared instantly their solidarity with the people's liberation war.

17. Bangladeshi Culture
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18. The people of Bangladesh have a rich fictional legacy, with the first available form of literature being over a
thousand years old. Bengali literature developed considerably during the medieval period with the rise of
popular poets such as Chandi Das, Daulat Kazi an Alaol.
 The traditional music of Bangladesh is very much the same as that of the Indian sub-continent. The
music in Bangladesh can be divided into three main categories: classical, modern and folk. Both vocal
and instrumental classical music is enjoyed in Bangladesh. Ustad Ayet Ali Khan and Ustad Alauddin are
two famous classical instrumental players that are internationally known. Modern music is becoming
more popular and is practiced widely. Contemporary, pop songs and bands are also enjoying more
widespread fame, but are mainly popular in the regions of Dhaka City.
 Tribal dances are very popular among the Bangalees. The countryside girls are in the habit of dancing
to popular folk music. Their dances require no regulations as such, just a small amount of courage and a
big amount of rhythm. Popular songs like Shari and Jari are presented with the accompanying dance of
both male and female performers.
 Drama and theatre is an old tradition that is very popular in Bangladesh. More than a dozen theater
groups in Dhaka City have been regularly staging locally written plays for hundreds of years. Many
have also started adopted some plays from European writers. Baily Road in Dhaka is known as “Natak
Para” and this is one location where drama shows are regularly held. Many shows are also held at the
Dhaka University.
 Another important aspect of the culture of Bangladesh is clothing. Bangladeshi woman usually wear
Saris, made of the world famous and expensive, finely embroidered quilted patchwork cloth produced
by the village woman. Woman will traditionally wear their hair in a twisted bun, which is called the
“Beni style”. Hindus will traditionally wear Dhuty for religious purposes. These days most men of
Bangladesh wear shirts and pants.
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19. Bangladeshi Folk Songs
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20. Folk music may be described as that type of ancient music which springs from the heart of a community,
based on their natural style of expression uninfluenced by the rules of classical music and modern popular
songs. Any mode or form created by the combination of tune, voice and dance may be described as music.
Thus, the combination of folk song, folk dance, and folk tune may be called folk music. For
example, BAUL songs are a combination of tune, music and dance.
 Baul: mainly inspired by Lalon and almost exclusively performed by Baul mystics.
 Bhandari: Devotional music from the South (mainly Chittagong).
 Bhatiali: Music of fishermen and boatman, almost always tied by a common ragas sung solo.
 Jari: songs involving musical battle between two groups
 Jatra Pala: songs associated exclusively with plays (performed on-stage). Usually involves colorful
presentations of historical themes.
 Kirtan: devotional song depicting love to Hindu God Krishna and his (best-known) wife, Radha.
 Lalon: best known of all folk songs and the most important subgenre of Baul songs, almost entirely
attributed to spiritual writer and composer, Lalon Fokir of Kushtia. He is known to all in West Bengal of
India too.(Western Bangladesh, near the border with West Bengal).
 Pala Gaan: folk ballad also known as Pat.
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21. Historical Place in Bangladesh
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22. Due to Mughal Empire and British East India Company reign, Bangladesh is full of rich history and
resources. The Partition of Bengal and later the Independence from Pakistan has left Bangladesh
with diverse culture, awakening and rebellious nation.
 Lalbagh Fort: The 17th century Mughal fort which stands by the Buriganga River is one of the oldest
architecture of Bangladesh. It was built by the then Mughal Subahdar Muhammad Azam Shah, son of
Emperor Aurangzeb. It is believed that the construction of the fort was never completed.
 Ahsan Manzil: Initially, it was a vacation house for a Zamindar of Jamalpur district, Sheikh Enayet
Ullah. After his death, his son sold this property to the French traders in 1740. They dug a pond in front
of the building where fresh water could be fetched. After having a great business in the subcontinent for
almost a century, they surrendered under the full British power and sold all of their properties. So, in
1830, Khwaja Alimullah – an established man in Dhaka bought the property. He added a mosque in this
compound. After his death, his son Khwaja Abdul Gani made some progressive look to the property and
named it “Ahsan Manzil”.
 Panam City: The city is located in Sonargaon of Narayanganj, just beside the capital, Dhaka. The
ancient architecture of Mughal period is found here. Baro-Bhuiyans used to rule here. It was within the
capital in that time. As a capital, Sonargaon was enriched with architectural beauties. Numerous British
Colonial monuments and forts are seen across this 20km area.
 Mahansthangarh: This place lies in a village of Bogra district called ‘Mahasthan.’ ‘Garh’ means fort,
so ‘Mahasthangarh’ means fort of Mahasthan. Francis Buchanan Hamilton, a Physician, first discovered
this place in 1808. However, he made some significant contributions as a Geographer during his stay in
Indian subcontinent. It is the last remaining piece of a village ‘Pundranagara’of that time.
 Mainamati: It is the extinct Buddhist religious site in the district of Comilla. It serves a beautiful
colonial cemetery as Comilla Cantonment is nearby. The Mainamati Cemetery is a historical memorial
with about thousands of graves from Second World War.Mainamati was the name of a Chandra Queen,
mother of Govindachandra who was a ruler of Chandra dynasty.
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23. Historical Architecture in Bangladesh
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24. Bangladesh has been a new force in the architectural scene over the past few decades. We have derivatives of several historical
architectural establishments in this country. Some of which that trace back to the Mughal and the British periods. Getting inspired
by such rich architectural history and pride, Bangladeshi architects have been tearing apart and analyzing the forms, matters,
materials, spiritual and aesthetic integration of the science of construction since the 1950s. The architecture in Bangladesh is our
national pride.
 National Parliament House: National Parliament House is the house of the Parliament of Bangladesh, located at Sher-e-
Bangla Nagar in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. Designed while the country was still part of Pakistan by architect Louis
Kahn, the complex is one of the largest legislative complexes in the world, comprising 200 acres (800,000 m2).
 National Martyrs' Memorial: National Martyrs' Memorial is the national monument of Bangladesh, set up in the memory of
those who died in the Bangladesh War of Independence of 1971, which brought independence and separated Bangladesh
from Pakistan. Plans for the monument were initiated in 1976. Following the site selection, road and land development, a
nationwide design competition was held in June,1978. Following evaluation of the 57 submissions, Syed Mainul Hossain's
design was chosen. The main structure and the artificial lake and other facilities were completed in 1982. It was Inaugurated at
16 December 1982
 Shaheed Minar: Shaheed Minar is a national monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh, established to commemorate those killed
during the Bengali Language Movement demonstrations of 1952 in then East Pakistan. On 21 and 22 February 1952, students
from Dhaka University and Dhaka Medical College and political activists were killed when the Pakistani police force opened
fire on Bengali protesters who were demanding official status for their native tongue, Bengali. The massacre occurred
near Dhaka Medical College and Ramna Park in Dhaka. To commemorate the dead, the Shaheed Minar was designed and built
by Bangladeshi sculptors Hamidur Rahman in collaboration with Novera Ahmed.
 The Sixty Dome Mosque: The Sixty Dome Mosque is a mosque in Bangladesh. It is part of the Mosque City of Bagerhat,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest mosque in Bangladesh from the sultanate period (1204-1576). It was built
during the Bengal Sultanate by Ulugh Khan Jahan, the governor of the Sundarbans. It has been described as "one of the most
impressive Muslim monuments in the whole of the Indian subcontinent.
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25. THANK YOU
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