Bangladesh Liberation War facts for kids
The Bangladesh Liberation War (Bengali: মুক্তিযুদ্ধ Muktijuddho) was a revolutionary independence war in 1971 which established the republic of Bangladesh. The war pitted East Pakistan (later joined by India) against West Pakistan, and lasted over a duration of nine months. It witnessed large-scale atrocities, the exodus of 10 million refugees and the displacement of 30 million people.
The war started on 26 March 1971 and finished on 16 December, 1971. A category 3 cyclone also appeared during the war.
Ghulam Azam and Motiur Rahman Nizami were convicted for war crimes as a result of the liberation war. Azam died before a final hearing while Nizami was executed for his crimes in May 2016.
Images for kids
-
A map of the British Raj in 1909 showing Muslim majority areas in green, including modern-day Bangladesh in the east and Pakistan in the west.
-
The location of Bengali and Pakistani military units during Operation Searchlight, March 1971
-
An iconic poster by Quamrul Hassan on General Yahya Khan, representing the Pakistani military junta as demons.
-
An advertisement for former Beatle George Harrison's "Bangla Desh" single, released in July 1971 to raise international awareness and funds for the millions of Bangladeshi refugees.
-
Signing of Pakistani Instrument of Surrender by Pakistan's Lt.Gen. A. A. K. Niazi and Jagjit Singh Aurora on behalf of Indian and Bangladesh Forces in Dhaka on 16 Dec' 1971
-
Senator Ted Kennedy led US congressional support for Bangladeshi independence
-
The Nixon administration was widely criticised for its close ties with the military junta led by General Yahya Khan. American diplomats in East Pakistan expressed profound dissent in the Blood Telegram.
See also
In Spanish: Guerra de liberación de Bangladés para niños