Bengal UnfoldedA Bilingual Gazette
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Battle of Plassey, 1757
1757 · Plassey
Language Movement, 1952
1952 · Language
Liberation War, 1971
1971 · Liberation
Partition of Bengal and Swadeshi movement, 1905
1905 · Partition
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Discover Bengal · Unfolded

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1971 — Old Dhaka Killings

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Urban mass violence in Dhaka during the Liberation War.

Old Dhaka experienced targeted killings and mass violence during the 1971 crackdown and war. Including this event helps represent urban civilian suffering within the broader military history of the conflict.[1][2]Evidence: Medium

Est. 1947 · Bengal✺A Bilingual Archive

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Urban mass violence in Dhaka during the Liberation War.

Importance: HighPakistan Period and National AwakeningMovement: Language, autonomy, and liberationPlace: Bengal RegionSensitive content

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Content warnings: armed violence, civilian casualties

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Old Dhaka experienced targeted killings and mass violence during the 1971 crackdown and war. Including this event helps represent urban civilian suffering within the broader military history of the conflict.[1][2]Evidence: Medium

Topic Hub: Explore related topics - Liberation War 1971

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1971

Operation Searchlight Crackdown

Historical Relationships

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Background chapters

1971

Operation Searchlight Crackdown

On the night of 25 March 1971, the Pakistan Army launched Operation Searchlight in East Pakistan to suppress Bengali political mobilization. The operation targeted Dhaka and other urban centers, including students, political activists, and civilian neighborhoods, and became a decisive trigger for the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Timeline

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Key Figures

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Yahya Khan

LeaderPerson

President of Pakistan and Martial Law Administrator

He oversaw the 1970 election under a population-based representation system but then failed to transfer power to the Awami League's majority, deepening the crisis between East and West Pakistan.

Pakistan's military state during the final prewar phase, 1969-1971.

His rule connected electoral opening, constitutional deadlock, and the eventual military crackdown that pushed East Pakistan toward independence.

1971liberation-warpolitical-leadership
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Tikka Khan

LeaderPerson

Pakistan Army general

Tikka Khan was an important figure in the political and historical trajectory of Bengal and Bangladesh.

South Asian political and intellectual history in the Bengal region.

Their legacy remains relevant to understanding state, society, and memory in Bengal/Bangladesh history.

1971liberation-warmilitary-commandpolitical-leadership
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Claim-level citations

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Old Dhaka experienced targeted killings and mass violence during the 1971 crackdown and war. Including this event helps represent urban civilian suffering within the broader military history of the conflict.

[1][2]Evidence: Medium

Old Dhaka adds an urban civilian-violence chapter to the Liberation WarAn armed and political struggle for national independence. timeline.

[1][2]Evidence: Medium

Why This Event Matters Today

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Old Dhaka adds an urban civilian-violence chapter to the Liberation WarAn armed and political struggle for national independence. timeline.[1][2]Evidence: Medium