East Pakistan witnessed the rise of Bengali self determination calls led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Maulana Bhashani in the 1960s . Rahman launched the Six point movement for autonomy in 1966 . After the 1970 national election , Rahman 's party , the Awami League , had emerged as the largest party in Pakistan 's parliament . The erstwhile Pakistani military junta refused to accept election results which triggered civil disobedience across East Pakistan . The Pakistani military responded by launching a genocide that caused the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 . The first Government of Bangladesh and the Mukti Bahini waged a guerrilla campaign with support from neighboring India , which hosted millions of war refugees . Global support for the independence of East Pakistan increased due to the conflict 's humanitarian crisis , with the Indian Armed Forces intervening in support of the Bangladesh Forces in the final two weeks of the war and ensuring Pakistan 's surrender
genocide
1971 Bangladesh genocide
Bengal