Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - 1970 Elections and Independence

1970 Elections and Independence

A major coastal cyclone struck East Pakistan in 1970, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. The subsequent period exposed extreme outrage and unrest over the perceived weak and ineffective response of the central government. Public opinion and political parties in East Pakistan blamed the governing authorities as intentionally negligent. The West Pakistani politicians attacked the Awami League for allegedly using the crisis for political gain. The dissatisfaction led to divisions within the civil services, police and Pakistani Armed Forces. In the elections held in December 1970, the Awami League under Mujib's leadership won a massive majority in the provincial legislature, and all but two of East Pakistan's quota of seats in the new National Assembly, thus forming a clear majority.

The election result revealed a polarization between the two wings of Pakistan, with the largest and most successful party in the West being the Pakistan Peoples Party of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was completely opposed to Mujib's demand for greater autonomy. Bhutto threatened to boycott the assembly and oppose the government if Mujib was invited by Yahya Khan (then president of Pakistan) to form the next government, demanding his party's inclusion. There was also widespread opposition in the Pakistani military and the Islamic political parties to Mujib becoming Pakistan's prime minister. And even though neither Mujib nor the League had explicitly advocated political independence for East Pakistan (openly at least), smaller nationalist groups were demanding independence for Bangladesh. Capitalization on West Pakistan and fearing East-Pakistani separatism, Bhutto feared civil war, therefore, Bhutto sent a secret message convened by his most trusted companion and lifelong friend dr. Mubashir Hassan, to Mujib and his inner circle. Hassan succeeded to meet with Mujib and convinced to form a coalition government with Bhutto. It was decided that Bhutto would served as President with Mujib as Prime minister. All of these development took place hidden from General Yahya Khan's watch, therefore none of Pakistan Armed Forces personnel were kept inform. Meanwhile, Bhutto increased the pressure on Yahya Khan to take a stance on whether who shall governed.