Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A former province of Pakistan: "East Pakistan" was the name for the eastern province of Pakistan from 1947 until 1971. It was geographically separated from West Pakistan by India.
   • The historical predecessor of Bangladesh: "East Pakistan" achieved independence in 1971 after a war of liberation and became the sovereign nation of Bangladesh.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The capital of East Pakistan was Dhaka.
  • The language movement in East Pakistan was a key event in its history.
  • East Pakistan and West Pakistan were known as the two wings of Pakistan.

Advanced Usage

• Historical context: The term "East Pakistan" is used primarily in historical and political contexts to refer to the region during the period from 1947 to 1971.
  • The political tensions between East Pakistan and West Pakistan eventually led to civil war.

Variants and Related Words

• Bangladesh (proper noun): The modern sovereign country that was formerly East Pakistan.
  • Dhaka is now the capital of Bangladesh.
• Bengal (proper noun): The larger historical and geographical region encompassing the area.
  • The Bay of Bengal borders the region.

Synonyms

• Bangladesh (in its pre-1971 political context).
• East Bengal (a historical name for the region).

Related Phrases

• The independence of East Pakistan: Refers to the 1971 Liberation War and the creation of Bangladesh.
  • The independence of East Pakistan was declared on March 26, 1971.

Noun

1. a Muslim republic in southern Asia bordered by India to the north and west and east and the Bay of Bengal to the south; formerly part of India and then part of Pakistan; it achieved independence in 1971