Why did East Pakistan feel discriminated against by west Pakistan

East Pakistan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Pakistan
During the years between 1960 and 1965, the annual rate of growth of the gross domestic product per capita was 4.4% in the West Pakistan versus 2.6% in East ...
Geographical history - Political history - Foreign affairs - Military

West Pakistan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Pakistan
West Pakistan emerged as one of South Asia's largest economies and military powers. West ... East Pakistan, Balochistan, and the North-West Frontier Province experienced little difficulty, but Southern Pakistani ..... "Punjab vs other provinces".
Political history - Foreign history - Domestic affairs - Government

Divided Pakistan
http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzeastpakistan.htm
In 1947, the British left South Asia and divided their territory into the independent countries of India and Pakistan. Muslim regions that were on the east and west ...

Pakistan and Bangladesh
http://www.mrdowling.com/612-pakistan.html
Pakistan consisted of two regions – West Pakistan and East Pakistan – separated by 1,100 miles of Indian territory. East Pakistan seceded from the nation, ...

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The feeling of discrimination by East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) towards West Pakistan (now Pakistan) can be attributed to several factors:

1. Economic Exploitation: East Pakistan was historically an economically prosperous region, known for its production of jute and tea. However, most of the country's industries and infrastructure were mainly located in West Pakistan. This resulted in a significant disparity in resource allocation, with East Pakistan feeling that their economic contributions were not being adequately recognized or invested back into their region.

2. Language and Culture: Language played a crucial role in creating a sense of discrimination. In 1948, the Government of Pakistan declared Urdu as the sole national language, despite it being the native language of only a small portion of the population. This decision marginalized the Bengali language, which was primarily spoken in East Pakistan. This led to protests and ignited a strong cultural and linguistic divide between the two regions.

3. Political Power Imbalance: The central government in West Pakistan had a dominant role in decision-making, often ignoring the interests and concerns of East Pakistan. Power was concentrated in the hands of the West Pakistani ruling elite who marginalized the political representation of East Pakistan. This further intensified feelings of discrimination and neglect.

4. Military Crackdown: In 1970, during the general elections, the Awami League, primarily representing East Pakistan, won a clear majority. However, the military junta in West Pakistan refused to transfer power to the elected representatives and launched a brutal military crackdown, targeting the Bengali population. This violent suppression by the West Pakistani military added to the sense of discrimination and fueled demands for autonomy in East Pakistan.

To understand the complex issue of discrimination felt by East Pakistan, it is important to analyze historical events, political dynamics, economic disparities, and cultural factors. By examining these factors, it becomes clearer why East Pakistan felt marginalized and discriminated against by West Pakistan.