Table of Contents

The History of East Pakistan from 1954 to 1970

In Brief

In 1954, the United Front was formed, and they achieved a landslide victory in the provincial elections of East Bengal, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with the central government. By 1955, East Bengal was renamed East Pakistan, marking a significant step in the evolving political landscape.

The first constitution of Pakistan was adopted in 1956, granting East Pakistan limited autonomy, but this was soon overshadowed by the declaration of martial law in 1958, when Ayub Khan seized power, curbing political freedoms. In 1962, a new constitution was implemented, which further centralized power in West Pakistan, though it offered some autonomy to East Pakistan.

However, dissatisfaction continued to grow, and in 1966, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, leader of the Awami League, presented his famous 6 Point Demands, advocating for greater autonomy for East Pakistan. In 1968, the government responded with the Agartala Conspiracy Case, accusing Sheikh Mujib and others of plotting against the state.

This led to widespread protests, culminating in the mass uprising of 1969, which forced the government to withdraw the case and release Sheikh Mujib. The movement for autonomy gained momentum, and in 1970, the Awami League won an overwhelming majority in the general elections, setting the stage for the eventual independence of Bangladesh.

The Government of the Jukto (United) Front in East Pakistan

A. K. Fazlul Huq, the leader of the Krishok Sromik Party, one of the allies of the Jukto (United) Front, took the oath as the Chief Minister on 3 April 1954. The Jukto Front remained in power for just 56 days. The Pakistan government could not accept the Jukto (United) Front government in East Bengal.

They started conspiring to topple the government. Golam Mohammad, the governor-general of Pakistan, dismissed the Jukto Front government on 30 May 1954 on a flimsy pretext of the riot between the Bengalis and the Non-Bengalis at the Adamjee Jute Mill and Karnaphuli.

It was found later that the riot was provoked by the Pakistan government. Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq was placed under house arrest, and Sheikh Mujib and 3 thousand other political leaders and supporters were arrested too.

The enmity and hatred of the Pakistani rulers were again expressed through this conspiratorial act. The despotic regime began in East Pakistan. The frequent changes of government in the centre and provinces increased unrest everywhere. Deviating from democracy, the government tried to save Pakistan for the last time by declaring Martial Law. The country passed under military rule.

The Martial Law and the subsequent political events in East Pakistan

As West Pakistan was grouping under the ominous reign of the Military and Civilian rulers, the parliament as well as the government could not play any effective role. The conniving groups were waiting for the chance to grab power.

In the Provincial Assembly, Deputy Speaker Shahed Ali was seriously injured and subsequently died in a hospital because of a brawl among the MLAs on a disputable issue. President Iskander Mirza declared Martial Law on 7 October 1958 on the pretext of this incident.

Post-1958 events
After assuming power, the decisions taken by Iskander Mirza were as follows:

Annulled the Constitution of 1956.
Dissolved the central and the provincial Assemblies.
Banned the political activities of the parties. Sheikh Mujib and some other leaders were arrested and sent to prison.
All fundamental rights were suspended.

Occupation of power by Ayub Khan
President Iskander Mirza was ousted from power in a military coup on 27 October 1958 and was forced to leave the country. General Ayub Khan, after assuming office as the President of Pakistan, took the following steps:

Declared himself the chief martial law administrator.
Postponed the general election of 1959 declared earlier.
Expressed his commitment to wipe out corruption and illegal trafficking of goods.
Continued the embargo on political parties.

Ayub Khan initiated a new system called basic democracy to extend the autocratic rule. In this system, an electoral panel would be formed with 80 thousand elected members of the union council from both West and East Pakistan.

They would reserve the right to elect the President and the members of both the central and provincial assemblies. It was an indirect election process. He was elected the President of Pakistan, getting 80 thousand votes of the union council members.

The administrative power was centralized in West Pakistan, and the discrimination between the two parts became blatant.

Discriminating Attitudes towards the People of East Pakistan

Before the establishment of Pakistan, East Bengal was in a better position in economic, social, educational, and other sectors in comparison with West Pakistan. However, East Pakistan started lagging behind due to the oppressive rule of West Pakistan established in 1947. Discrimination between the two parts was looming large since then.

Discrimination in the economic sector

West Pakistan was in a better position in comparison with East Pakistan due to the discriminatory policy of the Pakistan government. For example, East Pakistan received taka 113 crore, 3 lakh, and 80 thousand in budget allocation from 1955-56 to 1959-60, while West Pakistan got taka 500 crore in the same period.

Taka 6,480 million was allocated for East Pakistan from 1960-61 to 1964-65, while West Pakistan received taka 22,230 million in the same period. The foreign exchange earned through the export of jute, tea, hide, etc., was used for the development of West Pakistan. As a result, East Pakistan started lagging behind in the fields of trade and commerce, industry and agriculture, and economy.

Group work: Identify the fields of discrimination done to East Pakistan by East Pakistan.

Answer:

Here are the fields of discrimination faced by East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from West Pakistan:

1. Economic Discrimination

Budget Allocation: East Pakistan received significantly less financial investment compared to West Pakistan, which hindered economic development.
Resource Exploitation: Natural resources from East Pakistan, such as jute, were heavily exploited, with profits primarily benefiting West Pakistan.
Trade Imbalances: East Pakistan faced trade disadvantages, with restrictions on exports and unfair taxation on local industries.

2. Political Discrimination

Limited Political Representation: Political power was concentrated in West Pakistan, leading to underrepresentation of East Pakistanis in national decision-making bodies.
Centralized Authority: Policies were often made without considering the interests of East Pakistan, leading to feelings of alienation and neglect.

3. Cultural and Linguistic Discrimination

Language Policy: The imposition of Urdu as the sole national language marginalized Bengali speakers, leading to the Language Movement, which demanded recognition of Bengali as an official language.
Cultural Suppression: The cultural identity of East Pakistanis was often overshadowed by the dominance of West Pakistani culture, leading to a loss of cultural heritage.

4. Military Discrimination

Disproportionate Military Presence: The military and police forces were predominantly composed of West Pakistanis, which led to distrust and resentment among the East Pakistani population.
Recruitment Bias: East Pakistanis were largely underrepresented in the military and higher ranks of law enforcement.

5. Social Discrimination

Educational Disparities: Educational institutions in East Pakistan were underfunded, leading to lower literacy rates and fewer opportunities for higher education compared to West Pakistan.
Health Care Access: Public health facilities in East Pakistan were less developed, resulting in poorer health outcomes for the population.

These fields of discrimination contributed to growing tensions and ultimately played a significant role in the push for independence in 1971.

Discrimination in the administrative sector

East Pakistan was prevented from playing any effective roles in the administration of Pakistan. The discrimination was very blatant. A comparative study of discriminatory administration of Pakistan in 1966 is shown below:

Nos.	Heads	The Bengalis	The West Pakistanis
1.	In the secretariat of the President	19%	81%
2.	Defence	8.1%	91.9%
3.	Industry	25.7%	74.3%
4.	Home	22.7%	71.3%
5.	Information	20.1%	79.9%
6.	Education	27.3%	72.7%
7.	Health	19%	81%
8.	Law	35%	65%
9.	Agriculture	21%	79%

Discrimination in the defense sector:

The Bengalis would often experience discrimination in recruitment and promotion in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Only 5% of officers, 4% of general soldiers, 19% of high officials in the Navy, 9% of lower officials, 11% of pilots in the Air Force, and 1.7% of technicians belonged to the Bengali community.

Discrimination in the education sector:

East Bengal was far ahead of West Pakistan in primary and secondary education before the establishment of Pakistan, but after its birth, the situation changed completely. West Pakistan started receiving more than double the allocation of funds in the annual budget every year. As a result, many new educational institutions were established at the primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels in West Pakistan.

Social Discrimination:

The growth of the middle class in East Pakistan was hindered by the discriminatory policies of West Pakistan. The Bengalis became financially fragile, and the disparity between the two regions increased. People began to demonstrate and organize movements.

The Anti-Martial Law Movement in East Pakistan

Agitation started in East Pakistan against the autocratic regime of Ayub Khan in 1961. It intensified when Hossain Shahid Suhrawardi, a favorite leader of the Bengalis and former Prime Minister, was arrested in January 1962. Subsequently, Sheikh Mujib was arrested in February, and the people of East Pakistan launched a movement demanding his unconditional release along with that of other political detainees.

The students became vocal against the form of government proposed by Ayub Khan and declared 15-point demands. Various professional groups extended their support to the movement on the issue of education policy. Besides, Jatiyo Ganotantric Front (The National Democratic Front) was formed to reinstate the constitutional government.

The front orchestrated agitation against the despotic regime of Ayub Khan. The political parties got the opportunity to connect with the masses with their political agenda against military rule while campaigning for the Presidential election in 1965.

Indo-Pak War in East Pakistan and West Pakistan

The Indo-Pak war broke out on 6 September 1965 and continued for 17 days. East Pakistan was totally unprotected during the war. The government did not think of the safety of the people in this region. Though Pakistan was defeated in the war, the ruling elite of West Pakistan continued their anti-India campaign.

During this time, they described the songs of Rabindranath as Hindu culture and criticized the songs of Nazrul for bearing Hindu influences, attempting to stop their practice and terming them as anti-Islam.

As a result, the people of East Pakistan reiterated the demand for provincial autonomy to defend their own culture, history, tradition, and political rights. People increasingly felt the need for a secular Bengali nationalism.

The 6-Point Demands: East Pakistan’s charter of freedom

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the proponent of the historic 6-point programme. The long movement against the Pakistan government’s discriminatory policies and indifferent attitude towards the people of East Pakistan took a deep and clear shape in the 6-point demands.

Awami League president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman participated in a conference of opposition leaders on 5-6 February 1966 in Lahore. He presented the 6-point charter in a press conference to defend the rights of the people. The points are as follows:

In Pakistan, there will be a parliamentary form of government under a federal system. Polling will be held under the general electoral system, and adult voters will enfranchise.
The central government will keep two ministries in their hands: defense and foreign affairs. The states will have full autonomy in other areas.
Two different but convertible types of currency should be introduced in the country, or a single currency might be used under certain terms and conditions.
The state government will have the right to impose taxes, and a part of the collected revenue will be deposited in the treasury of the central government.
The states will be the owners of the foreign currency they earn, and a portion of it will be deposited in the treasury of the central government.
The states will have the power to form a militia force for their regional security.

Importance: The 6 points included the economic, political, military, and other rights of the people of East Pakistan. The Ayub regime termed it a separatist movement. The demands reflected the national spirit of the Bengalis. Although independence was not explicitly demanded, the charter inspired the Bengalis with the spirit of independence, eventually becoming the national charter for liberation. For his 6-point programme, the Pakistani regime labeled Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a secessionist and an enemy of Pakistan.

The Historic Agartala Case (State vs. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Others)

The ultimate goal of the politics of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation, was to achieve the independence of Bangladesh, and he believed that freedom would not be achieved without an armed struggle. He gave consent to the revolutionary wing formed secretly to achieve the independence of Bangladesh to go for armed struggle as per the plan.

The revolutionary wing planned to attack all the cantonments divided into different groups on a specific date at night in the commando style to snatch arms and ammunition from the Pakistani forces and hold them captive. Later they would declare independence under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. With this plan in mind, Sheikh Mujib once visited Agartala, the capital of Tripura, India.

As the plan was disclosed before being materialized, the historic Agartala (State vs. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Others) case was lodged. The ruling clique termed it a conspiracy case. A charge was framed against a total of 35 persons, including political leaders, civil servants, in-service and retired army officers, and other civilians.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was named the number one defendant. They were accused under Section 121-A and 131 of the Pakistan Penal Code for conspiring to make East Pakistan a sovereign and independent state through armed struggle. The hearing of the case started on 19 June 1968 in a special tribunal at the Dhaka Cantonment. As the trial began, a fierce movement was launched by the people to withdraw the case.

The farmers, laborers, students, and general people spontaneously joined the agitation on the 11-point demands of the students. The political movement, based on the 6 and 11-point demands, took root among the masses, and the subsequent ‘Historic Agartala Case’ eventually encouraged the people to move for independence.

The Mass Uprising in 1969 in East Pakistan

The most important movement against the Pakistani rulers was launched in 1969 with full participation by the people from all walks of life. It was termed in history as Unoshotturer Gano Abhuthan (The Mass Uprising of Sixty-nine). It took a revolutionary turn. All democratic parties, professionals, and mass people spontaneously took part in the movement.

Asaduzzaman Asad, a student of the University of Dhaka, and Dr. Shamsuzzoha, a professor at the University of Rajshahi, became the victims of brutal killings by the Pakistani Junta. People, regardless of professions, took to the streets everywhere in East Pakistan to protest against the autocrat, and in the end, Ayub Khan was forced to release Sheikh Mujib unconditionally on 22 February 1969.

Similarly, the other political detainees were released too. The Agartala case was withdrawn. Chatra Sangram Parishad gave a warm reception to Sheikh Mujib at the Racecourse (now Suhrawardy Udyan) on 23 February, and he was awarded the title ‘Bangabandhu’ in the reception meeting. The then DUCSU V-P, Mr. Tofail Ahmed, moved the motion.

The Historical Influence of the Mass Uprising in East Pakistan

Pakistani Junta Ayub Khan was forced to resign as a consequence of the mass uprising in 1969, and before his resignation, he withdrew the Agartala Case. The new military government of General Yahya was forced to declare the general election in 1970.

The nationalist ideals started germinating in the minds of the people of East Bengal for the successful uprising in 1969. They realized the importance of greater unity based on Bengali nationalism. The mass uprising of 1969 had an influence on the polling of 1970 and the liberation war of 1971, and the achievements were made possible due to the spark of Bengali nationalism in the people’s minds.

The Election of 1970 and Aftermath in East Pakistan

President Ayub Khan resigned from his post on 25 March 1969. Yahya Khan succeeded him as the next dictator. In a statement on 28 March, he promised to hold a general election, but there was confusion because, previously, no general election had been held so far.

Nor were there any election rules yet. Finally, on 7 December 1970, the general election was held for the first time in Pakistan on the basis of ‘one person, one vote.’ The Awami League, the NAP (Wali), the Muslim League (Kayum), the Muslim League (Convention), the Pakistan People’s Party, the Democratic Party, Jamat-e-Islami, and some other political parties took part in the election.

The Awami League termed this election a ‘referendum’ in favor of the 6-point demands. 3 crore and 22 lakh out of 5 crore and 64 lakh voters belonged to East Pakistan. In the central parliament election of 1970, the Awami League bagged 167 seats (with 7 female seats) out of 169 seats reserved for East Pakistan. In the Provincial Assembly election held on 17 December, the Awami League got 298 out of 300 seats and won an absolute majority. The landslide victory of the Awami League in the election was unprecedented. They got the people’s verdict in favor of the 6-point demands and for the formation of a government.

Importance of the Election of 1970

The Awami League achieved a landslide victory in the National and Provincial Assemblies. So, it was authenticated that the people supported the 6 and 11-point demands. The Bengali nationalism marked a political victory. On the other hand, it was a big blow to the Pakistani rulers. So, they started hatching a new plot against the Bengalis to avoid handing over power to the elected body.

The people of East Pakistan stood firmly against the dictatorship of West Pakistan. The significance of the election in emerging an independent Bangladesh in 1971 became clear. It also played a vital role in transforming the spirit of nationalism into the spirit of freedom. As a result, a new country named Bangladesh emerged.

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