Bangladesh Achieves Independence (Victory Day)
Bangladesh Achieves Independence, commemorated annually on December 16 as Victory Day, marks the transition of East Pakistan into the independent nation of Bangladesh in 1971. This day recognizes the culmination of a struggle for autonomy, which escalated after East Pakistan’s declaration of independence on March 26, 1971, amidst dissatisfaction over governance from West Pakistan. With significant support from India, the conflict led to military intervention that ultimately resulted in the surrender of West Pakistani forces, granting Bangladesh its independence.
Located in South Asia, Bangladesh is characterized by its dense population of approximately 130 million people, predominantly ethnic Bengalis and Muslims. The day is celebrated with various events, including parades, artillery salutes, tributes to war heroes, and speeches by political leaders. Victory Day reflects not only national pride but also a collective remembrance of the sacrifices made during the independence movement. This observance plays a significant role in the cultural and historical identity of Bangladesh, emphasizing themes of resilience and unity.
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Bangladesh Achieves Independence (Victory Day)
Bangladesh Achieves Independence (Victory Day)
On December 16, 1971, the former state of East Pakistan became the modern, independent nation of Bangladesh. In honor of this event, December 16 of every year is celebrated in that country as Victory Day.
Bangladesh is a small south Asian country, located to the east of India along the Bay of Bengal. Although it is less than 60,000 square miles in size, it is densely populated. Today the country has approximately 130 million people, most of whom are ethnic Bengalis, part of the same ethnic group which also populates the Indian state of West Bengal which Bangladesh borders. The population of Bangladesh is nearly 90 percent Muslim. The British Empire began to establish a major presence in the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century. Their domains were greatly expanded in the 19th century, when the British and the Russians competed to increase their respective possessions in central Asia, with the British moving up from the south and the Russians moving down from the north. By the 20th century British India was a vast colony, comprising modern-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
With the partitioning of India and Pakistan on August 15, 1947, the two nations gained independence, and the nation of Pakistan, located to the west of India, included a small piece of territory known as East Pakistan, on the eastern border of India. Although they were geographically separated by an entire country which lay between them, East Pakistan was ruled from West Pakistan, which governed the Bengalis with a heavy hand. Therefore, with India's support, on March 26, 1971, East Pakistan declared independence and took the name Bangladesh, which means “Bengal nation” in the Bengali language. India intervened militarily to assist the independence movement, and Bangladesh achieved autonomy on December 16, 1971, when the West Pakistani forces stationed there were forced to surrender. Today this event, Victory Day, is celebrated with parades and marches, an artillery salute at dawn, tributes to the fallen soldiers of the war for independence by laying wreaths at places such as the National Mausoleum, speeches by political leaders, special prayers at mosques and other places of worship, and so forth.