Bangladesh’s independence is declared as the war of liberation begins

Fiji became independent from Britain after a constitutional settlement between political leaders. The colonial economy had relied on sugar and indentured Indian labor, while colonial policies...

The UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations. Newly independent states had pushed the UN to address sovereignty, non-intervention,...

The Awami League won a majority in Pakistan’s National Assembly, based on strong support in East Pakistan. The result gave Bengali voters a mandate for autonomy under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Six-Point...

Before a huge gathering in Dhaka, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for resistance and outlined a civil-disobedience program after the elected majority was denied power. The speech stopped short of a...

Pakistani forces launched a military crackdown in Dhaka and other cities after the political crisis over the 1970 election. The operation targeted civilians, students, political organizers, and...

Pakistani forces in East Pakistan surrendered to the joint command of Bangladeshi and Indian forces. The surrender ended the nine-month liberation war and established Bangladesh as an independent...

The Bahamian archipelago became an independent state after a constitutional process led by the Progressive Liberal Party. Independence followed a long struggle over racial equality, labor rights,...

Grenada became independent after British rule. The transition followed organizing by workers, trade unions, and political movements in a plantation society shaped by slavery and colonial...

The Armed Forces Movement overthrew Portugal’s Estado Novo dictatorship. Portugal’s prolonged and increasingly costly wars against African liberation movements were a major cause of the coup. The...

The General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order. Newly independent states argued that political independence without control over trade,...