Why Bangladesh should remember 1971 before trusting Pakistan – Firstpost

The political tides in Dhaka are shifting. With the ouster of Sheikh Hasina and the rise of the Mohammed Yunus-led regime, a disconcerting pattern is emerging, one that appears to favour closer ties with Pakistan. This development raises critical questions about Bangladesh’s future and whether its leadership is choosing to forget the blood-stained history of 1971. For India, which has historically stood by Bangladesh as a steadfast ally, this pivot should be seen as a cause for concern, not just for regional geopolitics but for the very democratic fabric of Bangladesh.

The genocide of 1971

Pakistan’s brutal military crackdown on the people of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in March 1971 was one of the worst genocides of the 20th century. The Yahya Khan-led military junta, unwilling to accept the democratic verdict that gave Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League an electoral mandate, launched Operation Searchlight, a campaign of mass murder, rape, and forced disappearances that would claim the lives of an estimated 3 million Bangladeshis and leave millions more displaced. The Pakistani military, aided by local collaborators like the Jamaat-e-Islami, systematically targeted intellectuals, students, and Hindu minorities in an attempt to suppress the Bengali nationalist movement.

The trauma of this period is woven into the fabric of Bangladesh’s identity. The mass graves in Dhaka, the testimonies of rape survivors, and the countless families torn apart by Pakistan’s military brutality are not just historical footnotes, they are a reminder of why Bangladesh fought to break free from Pakistan’s oppressive grip. The question now is whether the new regime in Dhaka will betray the sacrifices of 1971 by cosying up to the very country that sought to erase Bangladesh’s existence.

Pakistan’s unapologetic stance

More than five decades later, Pakistan has neither apologised for its atrocities nor shown any willingness to acknowledge its historical crimes. Unlike Germany, which confronted its Nazi past and sought reconciliation with its victims, Pakistan has chosen denial. Successive Pakistani governments have dismissed the genocide as a fabricated narrative, further inflaming tensions.

Even when Bangladesh formally sought an apology, Pakistani leaders evaded responsibility. Instead, they glorify the very military officers who orchestrated the 1971 killings. The refusal to acknowledge past crimes is not just an affront to history but an indicator of Pakistan’s unchanged mindset, a mindset that still views Bangladesh with a sense of resentment rather than respect.

Despite this, the Yunus-led administration seems inclined to re-establish warm ties with Islamabad. This raises a fundamental question: If Pakistan has never repented for its crimes, how can Bangladesh expect it to be a trustworthy partner today?

Dangers of renewed engagement with Pakistan

Under Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh flourished as a rising economic powerhouse, cementing its place as one of South Asia’s fastest-growing economies. Her government’s strategic alliance with India provided Bangladesh with security, stability, and economic cooperation. The new regime’s overtures toward Pakistan, however, signal an impending realignment that could undermine these gains.

Pakistan’s attempts to court Bangladesh are not altruistic. It has long sought to erode India’s influence in South Asia by exploiting discontent in the region. If Bangladesh aligns itself with Pakistan, it risks destabilising its own security apparatus, as Islamabad has historically used proxy groups to create internal disturbances. The resurgence of extremist elements such as Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh, a group that sided with the Pakistani military in 1971, should be seen as a warning sign of where this renewed engagement could lead.

Pakistan’s continued subversion of Bangladesh’s interests

The betrayal of 1971 was not the first time Pakistan turned against the interests of the Bengali people, and it certainly wasn’t the last. Even after Bangladesh’s independence, Pakistan has actively worked against Dhaka’s interests. Pakistan’s economic sabotage became evident when it refused to hand over Bangladesh’s rightful share of financial assets following independence, creating significant early economic struggles for the new nation.

Furthermore, the terrorist nexus linked to Pakistan is equally alarming; the Pakistan-backed Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been implicated in multiple attempts to destabilise Bangladesh through radical Islamic groups. Notably, Pakistani intelligence supported the militant organisation Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI-B), which has played a role in fomenting unrest in the country. On the international stage, Pakistan has persistently demonstrated diplomatic disregard by attempting to block Bangladesh’s diplomatic initiatives, thereby undermining Dhaka’s sovereignty in multilateral forums. Given this history of deception, why should Bangladesh believe that Pakistan’s newfound interest in “brotherly relations” is genuine?

The India factor: A natural ally for Bangladesh

While the Yunus regime appears eager to reconnect with Pakistan, it must recognise the stark contrast between its historical adversary and its most reliable partner, India. India was the first country to recognise Bangladesh’s independence and provided military, economic, and diplomatic support during the Liberation War. Over the years, the Indo-Bangladeshi relationship has flourished, with India providing significant infrastructural aid, cross-border connectivity, and security assistance to Bangladesh.

From counterterrorism cooperation to energy trade, India and Bangladesh have built a mutually beneficial relationship. Any move to realign Dhaka’s foreign policy in favour of Pakistan would not only be a betrayal of history but also a self-destructive act that would weaken Bangladesh’s regional standing.

Don’t fall for Pakistan’s trap

The re-engagement with Pakistan under the Yunus administration is not just about diplomatic manoeuvring, it is about the ideological soul of Bangladesh. The rise of a regime willing to overlook the horrors of 1971 in favour of geopolitical expediency is a dangerous precedent. It has already led to the resurgence of Islamist extremism and the weakening of democratic institutions.

Pakistan, through its Islamist proxies and intelligence networks, has long sought to influence Bangladesh’s internal affairs. The newfound warmth between Dhaka and Islamabad may be the opening it needs to regain lost ground. If Bangladesh lets its guard down, it risks undoing the decades of progress that have made it an emerging power in South Asia.

History has a way of repeating itself when nations forget their past. Bangladesh must decide whether it wishes to remain a progressive, economically vibrant nation allied with its most steadfast partner, India, or whether it wants to gamble its future on a partnership with Pakistan, a country that has never respected its sovereignty, democracy, or sacrifices.

For the people of Bangladesh, the choice is clear. The memory of 1971 is not a relic of the past, it is a living, breathing testament to the resilience of the Bengali nation. Dhaka must not let the ghosts of history be forgotten in the name of political expediency. Trusting Pakistan would not only dishonour the martyrs of 1971 but would also imperil Bangladesh’s hard-won future.

Ashu Maan is an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies. He is currently pursuing his PhD from Amity University, Noida in Defence and Strategic Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.