In a chronicle of the bizarre and historically reckless, Colonel (Retired) Hasinur’s recent YouTube rant—titled *“Pakistanis saved East Bengal”—*earns its place at the top. This isn’t simply opinion—not even history; it’s an affront to memory, logic, and the very idea of truth.
Let’s not mince words: His claim is patently absurd, historically untenable, and, worst of all, malicious. It seeks not education, but provocation. What follows is my uncompromising rebuttal to this blatant distortion.
1. False Equivalence: “Saving” vs. Aggression
Saying that “Pakistanis saved East Bengal” is akin to claiming a mugger saved his victim by standing still while punching them. From 1947 to 1971, the ruling elite of West Pakistan inflicted unprecedented economic, political, and cultural oppression upon East Bengal (later Bangladesh). Far from saving, they exploited the region.
In the 1947–1971 era, East Bengal endured:
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Economic neglect—receiving only a fraction of development funds despite housing half the population.
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Linguistic tyranny—when the mother tongue, Bangla, was harshly suppressed.
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Political betrayal—the 1948–1954 regime systematically crushed East Pakistani aspirations for parity and recognition in governance.
To say Pakistan “saved” us smacks of delusional euphemism and willful amnesia.
2. Bangladesh’s Liberation: A Sacrificial Triumph
Bangladesh’s independence wasn’t handed over by a distant benefactor—it was won through sheer grit, blood, and unity.
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The 1970 Election: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League won a landslide in East Pakistan, commanding a democratic majority—an achievement routinely ignored by the West Pakistani leadership.
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Operation Searchlight (March 25, 1971): A brutal military crackdown, dubbed the “Operation Searchlight,” brutally suppressed Bengali resistance. Estimates suggest over 300,000 civilians were massacred within weeks—a horrific act of state-sanctioned terror.
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The Liberation War: From March to December 1971, the Bangladeshi Mukti Bahini—backed indirectly by millions of civilians—fought for their birthright. Almost 3 million people died, and 10 million fled as refugees to India.
Equating that self-sacrificial resistance with “being saved” by the oppressor is ludicrous; it’s like crediting a tyrant for dismantling his own prison.
3. The Fallen Heroes of 1971 Deserve Better
Let’s name some guardians of our identity:
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Sheikh Mujibur Rahman—the architect of our nation’s independence. He didn’t await Karachi’s mercy; he declared independence and rallied his people.
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The millions of martyrs sacrificed their lives for Bangladesh.
Their bravery was in resistance, in defiance and insistence on self-determination—not in toeing orders from Islamabad.
4. The Insult of Historical Distortion
This kind of revisionism isn’t just wrong; it’s criminally ignorant:
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It erases the dignity of those who fought, died, were raped, or fled.
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It glorifies oppression, deftly shifting blame from tyrants onto the very people they oppressed.
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It undermines national unity, inviting confusion, division, and ideological sabotage.
To say Pakistan “saved” East Bengal is not just false—it’s treacherous.
5. Refuting Misinformation with Facts
Let’s counter the claims with cold, unyielding facts:
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Economics: East Pakistan consistently lagged in GDP per capita, industrial investment, and infrastructure development under Pakistani rule.
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Cultural Suppression: The Language Movement of 1952 was a direct response to the imposition of Urdu—Bangla students died for their right to speak their language.
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1970 Election Disregarded: Despite democratic success, West Pakistani generals nullified the result and postponed the power transition—an act of anti-democratic farce.
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Genocide & Crackdown: Operation Searchlight was not liberation—it was annihilation. Paramilitaries targeted intellectuals, professionals, and civilians in a campaign of terror.
Facts don’t lie, but revisionists often do.
6. Silence Empowers the Lies
If we fail to challenge such absurdities—if we leave them unscathed—what follows? More denial. More insult to wounded memory.
We owe it to our martyrs, to survivors, to future generations: Do not let revisionism stand unchallenged. Show them the light of truth. Obscure shadows can only thrive in silence.
Conclusion: A Rallying Cry
Colonel Hasinur’s video isn’t just wrong—it’s dangerous cultural subversion cloaked in seniority and respect. We must call it what it is: A betrayal of our liberation, an insult to our identity, and a shameless excuse for oppression.
No, Pakistan did not save East Bengal—it invaded, exploited, and starved our spirit until resistance was the only path left. Let’s honour our history, reclaim our narrative, and reject the lies.
