Before it became Bangladesh, the region was known as East Bengal. This name originated during the British colonial period when the British ruled over the Indian subcontinent. Bengal, a region located in the northeastern part of the Indian subcontinent, was divided into two parts: West Bengal and East Bengal.
During the partition of India in 1947, when India gained independence from British rule, the region of Bengal was also divided. West Bengal became a part of India, while East Bengal became a part of Pakistan. At that time, East Bengal was known as the Pakistani province of East Bengal.
It is important to note that East Bengal was not directly connected to the other provinces of Pakistan. It was geographically separated from the rest of Pakistan by a vast stretch of Indian territory, spanning approximately 1,100 miles (1,800 km). This geographical separation posed various challenges for the governance and administration of East Bengal and led to a sense of isolation from the rest of Pakistan.
In 1955, the Pakistani government implemented a new system of governance known as the One Unit scheme, which merged the four western provinces of Pakistan into a single administrative unit. This further exacerbated the feelings of neglect and marginalization among the people of East Bengal.
The cultural, linguistic, and economic differences between East Bengal and the rest of Pakistan also contributed to a growing sense of discontent and demands for greater autonomy. The people of East Bengal primarily spoke Bengali and had a distinct cultural identity.
The struggle for self-determination and recognition of Bengali identity eventually culminated in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. The war, fought between East Pakistan (supported by India) and West Pakistan, resulted in the emergence of an independent country in December 1971. This new country was named Bangladesh, with its capital at Dhaka.
The name “Bangladesh” reflects the linguistic and cultural heritage of the region, as “Bangla” refers to the Bengali language and “desh” means “country” in Bengali. The independence of Bangladesh marked a significant turning point in the history of the region, as it achieved self-governance and the recognition of its distinct identity.
Before it became Bangladesh, the region was known as East Bengal, which was a part of Pakistan after the partition of India. The struggles and aspirations of the people of East Bengal led to the emergence of an independent Bangladesh in 1971.