ROAD TO BANGLADESH SERIES is designed to present published accounts of the background to the emergence of Bangladesh. The Series showcases such a collection that, when put together, achieves a well-rounded narrative of the events of 1971. Books in the series should be an invaluable collection for those interested in South Asian affairs, particularly students and scholars of politics, history, development and social transformation.
The disintegration of Pakistan and the emergence of Bangladesh in 1971 is the sad story of the Pakistan army generals, the misconceived role as ‘guardian angles’ of national interest. After twelve years of dictatorship their plan to transfer power to the elected representatives of the people was a dismal failure and resulted in the break-up of Pakistan. The main reason for the failure to transfer power to the elected majority was the stark insincerity of General Yahya Khan, his cohorts, and the abetment of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan People’s party. Together they connived not to submit to the will of the people reflected in the results of the 1970 general elections held in Pakistan. The people of East Pakistan were left with no other choice than to fight for their liberation against the war machine of Pakistan. From his unique personal experience, the late Professor Choudhury described and analyzed the internal and external developments from the day of resignation of Ayub Khan in March 1969 to the fall of Dhaka, and the Liberation of Bangladesh on December 16, 1971.
Contents:
1.The Rise of Bengali Sub-Nationalism: Conflict of the “Three Rs” / 2.The Fall of Ayub: a Personal Account / 3. Yahya Begins Anew / 4. The Abortive Scheme for the Transfer of Power / 5. The First and Last General Election / 6.Tripartite Political Negotiations before Confrontation / 7. The Decca Dialogue, March 16-24, 1971 / 8.The Civil War / 9. Dismemberment of Pakistan, 1971: Its International Implications / 10. End of an Era
