Archive · 18 Dec 2025
Bengalis Interned in Pakistan After 1971 War
After the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh, many Bengalis who were living in West Pakistan (now Pakistan) were rounded up and put into internment camps.
The Pakistani government did this to use them as leverage in negotiations for the return of Pakistani prisoners of war held by India.
These Bengalis, who included civil servants, military personnel, and their families, faced very difficult conditions in the camps.
It took several years for them to be repatriated to Bangladesh.
The book 'Citizens to Traitors: Bengali Internment in Pakistan, 1971-1974' by Ilyas Chatta tells their story, which has been largely forgotten.
The book explains how these Bengalis were treated badly and how their experiences were not acknowledged by either Pakistan or Bangladesh.
It also shows how the Pakistani government used the internment as a political tool.
The story highlights the struggles and resilience of these people during a very tough time.
Over 81,000 Bengalis were interned in Pakistan from 1971 to 1974 as leverage for Pakistani POWs.
The internment was a calculated political move by Pakistan, not just a logistical consequence of war.
Bengalis faced harsh conditions in camps and were treated as 'enemies within' by the Pakistani state.
Repatriation occurred in 1974 through a tripartite agreement involving Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.
Many repatriated Bengalis faced stigma and discrimination upon returning to Bangladesh.
- Who
- Bengalis in West Pakistan, including civil and military personnel and their families
- What
- Mass internment of Bengalis in Pakistan after the 1971 war
- When
- 1971-1974
- Where
- West Pakistan (now Pakistan)
- Why
- As leverage in the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners of war and for political and diplomatic reasons
- Number of Bengalis Interned
- 81,000
- Duration of Internment
- 1971-1974
- Repatriation Agreement
- August 1973
- Total Repatriated Bengalis
- 120,000
- Author of the Book
- Ilyas Chatta
- Book Title
- Citizens to Traitors: Bengali Internment in Pakistan, 1971-1974
- Publication Year
- 2025
- Repatriation Methods
- By Air, By Sea