Dhaka, Oct 20 (ANI): Post 1947, Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan and was known as East Pakistan. Soon after the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 following a 9 month long violent struggle against Pakistan, the father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman banned communal parties in the country and declared secularism and socialism to be the state principles. These steps were taken to stop the rise of Islamist forces; especially the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. This party was not in favour of breaking away with Muslim-majority Pakistan.
