In 1971, the Bangladeshi liberation struggle against Pakistan was led by secular leaders and secularists hailed the Bangladeshi victory as the triumph of secular Bengali nationalism over religion-centred Pakistani nationalism. While Pakistan’s government strives for an Islamic state, Bangladesh was established secular.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a thirteen-day-long war fought between India and Pakistan. The war was caused by the Bangladesh independence movement; at the time, Bangladesh was part of Pakistan and known as the province of East Pakistan. This war was a major victory for India and a humiliating defeat for Pakistan.

Remembering the war of 1971 in East Pakistan
Bangladesh, India and Pakistan each have created a very distinct memory of what happened 48 years ago.

Uniformed East Pakistan rebel forces with armed civilians patrol a street in Jessore, East Pakistan on April 2, 1971 after West Pakistan forces withdrew [AP]
Forty-eight years after the 1971 war, which led to the independence of Bangladesh, each country involved in the conflict has institutionalised a distinct memory of the events of that year. In Bangladesh, the war is remembered as the Bengali people’s struggle against an oppressive Pakistan army.

In India and Pakistan, the war is often remembered as the third Indo-Pakistan war. This representation is resented by many Bangladeshis, who feel it erases their role in what they see as a liberation war.

However, disagreement on who played the central role in the war is not the only point of contention between the three countries. Today, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India have their own closely held war stories, with 1971 taking on unique meanings across the subcontinent.”