Geo-Political Economy of Bangladesh

under Historical Perspective

Indus Valley Civilization

Harrapa (Punjab region) and Mohenjo-Daro (mouth of Indus

River) civilization was developed by original indians.
Discovery from ruins of Harappa and Mohenjodaro testifies a
high level of social and cultural development in a Bronze Age
type civilization until 1500 B.C,
Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were surrounded by smaller cities,
towns, and villages. Mohenjo-daro was spread over 500 miles
along the river valley
Harappan civilization was dependent on agriculture and grew a
variety of crops. Trade was limited with Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Harappan achievements included writing system, city planning
and art.
Perhaps natural disasters caused the civilization to collapse.
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Mohenjo-daro view

Harappan achievements
Developed Indias first writing system
Writing System

Scholars cannot read this system.

Must rely on other clues to study Harappan society
Skilled engineers

City Planning

Towering fortresses were built near each city.

Streets were lined with market stalls and houses.
Built extensive sewer systems

Artistic
Achievements

Skilled artisans
Sturdy pottery vessels, jewelry, and ivory objects
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Aryan Invasion
Aryans were indo-europeans
Halted their migration and settled down in different areas thick
jungle to the south of Ganges
Economy were characterized as pastoral and agrarian
Aryan implantation was challenged by the Dravidian resulting
fighting and transformation clan society in to a tribe

Aryan Invasion (cont)

War encouraged them to improve weapons and organized army and

kingdom

Aryans mainly settled downed from Afghanistan to Orrissa and to the

deltaic region of the Ganges.

Kingdom was led by Raja who had the supreme power

Cast system was practiced through division of labor

Economy was agrarian and pastoral

They were skilled in craftsmanship

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Maurya Dynasty
The region to which Bangladesh belongs had fallen into a subcontinental pattern as early as in the Maurya period dating back into
4th century
Mauryan empire lasted from 322 to 187 BC
Little changes in the means of production. The plough and the
bullock were used with little modification.
The unit of administration was known as Janapada. Janapada lands
were two types: (i) Rastra Land and (ii) Sita Land
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Maurya Dynasty (cont)

Rastra land was fixed at one sixth of the harvest. In addition, there were
taxes for army, water works , orchards and compensation for damage
Village was the basic unit of all tenure and revenue arrangement
Taxes on Sita Land was fixed at between one-third to one-fifth of the
produce
Share cropping arrangement was introduced during this period
There was a system of hired labor usually engaged in state farms which
were managed by the kings officials
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Saltanat Period
No improvement of the peasant class
Feudalism became more visible
During the region of Alauddin Khilji land revenue
was fixed at half of the produce
Their administrative system was known as Ikta
system.
The living standard of the upper class was certainly
high but the mass of the population were worse-off
than Europe
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Moghul Period
The mogul rule was established in India by Emperor Babur in 1526
They introduced Jaigirdari system which was similar to Ikta system
The mogul administrators were known as (i) Subahdars, (ii) Mansabdars, (iii)
Jagirdar and (iv) Zamindar. Administrators were respectively responsible for
revenue collections of their respective areas
During Akbars time. Land classified in terms of soil condition
Land revenue was estimated in cash or kind on the basis of the valuation of
one third of the peasants produce
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Moghul Period (continued)

Tenancy rights were granted to the peasant class
Options were provided to pay land rent either in cash or in kind
Tax burden and appropriation of agricultural surplus in different
ways were much higher during this period as compared to the European
standard.
The peasant class to Bengal and Orissa were having a low standard of
living
Islam religion spreades but Hindu-Muslim would lived in peace side by
side
The Muslim successors were corrupted due to extravagant expenditure and
the European came in power.
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British Rule in Sub-continent

Phase One

British rule was established in subcontinent in 1757 and lasted in

1947. Nabwab Siraj-ud-dollah who was the ruler of Bengal, Orissa
and Bihar was defeated by Lord Robert Claive in 1757. Subcontinent was extremely exploited during the British rule.

The British started massive looting, killing and raping in subcontinent

A terrible famine was occurred in 1769 due to British rule. One third
of the total population of the sub-continent died due to starvation.
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British Rule in Sub-continent (cont)

In 1793, Permanent Settlement Act was introduced by Lord

Cornwallis which radically changed the land-man relations and
opened an avenue to new way of exploitation

Permanents land rights were given to elite class known as

Zaminders who were the close allies of British ruler. Apart from
being loyal to the locality, Zamindars played a vital role in
sustaining colonial rule and sucking out wealth without any head to
the national economy.

Peasant class lost their ownership of land due to this act. Peasants,
previously owner of lands, became tenants and they completely
depended on the mercy of the Zamindars. Peasants became slave!!!
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British Rule in Sub-continent (cont)

Phase Three:
The last phase of exploitation started when British capitalism

penetrated into Indian economy

British policy was inimical to the growth of independent capital in

India and they abstain from taking any initiative to invest the same in
any sector till the first half of the 19th century.
Railroads were established in the sub-continent by the British ruler for

their own sake. The purposes of establishing railroads were to

facilitate the movement of the British army to suppress any activities
by the locals against the British rule and to assist shipment of raw
materials from various parts of India to Britain.

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British Rule in Sub-continent (cont)

British realized the export potential of items like indigo; tea,

coffee and rubber that developed in plantation agriculture and
their investment in the above sectors were substantial.
In the field of industry and mining British capitalism penetrated
mainly into jute and coal.
Participation of Indian national capital in the above fields was
negligible. Local investment took place primarily in the cotton
textile, iron and steel industries.

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Genesis of Bangladesh
Invasion of Aryans and many other tribes created a mixed type of society
comprising of different race religion and cultural diversity in the Indian
sub-continent
Bengal was captured by Bakhtiar Khilgi in 1201 virtually no resistance
from the ruler Lakhan Sen.
Muslim rulers maintained close alliance with the Hindus. Both Muslim and
Hindus maintained their distant cultural diversity and religious practice
East India company involved themselves in the conspiracy with the
commander in chief of Nawab Siraj-ud-dollah and took the control over the
state of Bengal in 1757
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Genesis of Bangladesh (cont)

During Muslim rule Bengali language was substantially enriched.
The geo-political history of Bengal was greatly influenced in the
following years
1201: Bengal was captured by Bakhtiar Khilgi
1757: Bengal lost her freedom to Bristish
1857: Massive armed revaluation known as Shipahi Biplob against
the British rule
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Genesis of Bangladesh (cont)

1945: Riot between Hindu and Muslim
1947:Sub-continent was divided into two counties; India and Pakistan
1952: Language movement
1966: Six-point movement
1969: Mass movement against General Ayubs rule
1970: General Election in Pakistan
1971: Independence of Bangladesh
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