1970 East Pakistan Provincial Assembly election
17 December 1970
300 of the 310 seat in the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly
156 seats needed for a majority
Registered29,479,386
Turnout57.68%
  First party Second party
 
Leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Nurul Amin
Party AL PDP
Last election 143 New party
Seats won 288 2
Seat change Increase 145 Increase 2
Governor before election

Syed Mohammad Ahsan
Military

 President of Provisional Government-elect

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
AL

Provincial elections were held in East Pakistan on 17 December 1970, ten days after general elections. A total of 1,850 candidates ran for the 300 seats in the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly.[1] The result was a landslide victory for the Awami League, which won 288 of the 300 seats.

Background

In the previous provincial election in 1954, the Awami League, Krishak Sramik Party and other smaller parties formed an alliance called United Front (Jukto Front). The Jukto Front won a landslide victory by winning 223 of the 309 seats. The Muslim League, once the most popular party in the province, had its worst-ever defeat, with many provincial ministers, including the Chief Minister of East Bengal, losing their seats.[2]

In 1958 After military takeover of Field Marshal Ayub Khan all Federal and Provincial Governments of Pakistan were overthrown.[3]

Sheikh Mujibur Rehman became the leader of Awami league in 1963 and became the strongest supporter of lifting up Martial Law and restoring Democracy. In 1965 Presidential Election Sheikh Mujibur Rehman openly supported and launched campaign along with his Party for Fatima Jinnah. Fatima Jinnah gained more votes in East Bengal than West Pakistan.[4]

on 18 March 1966 Sheikh Mujibur Rehman placed Six-point movement during a conference held in Lahore which demanded more autonomy for East Bengal. It was rejected by then political parties of both wings but got huge support from the people of East Bengal.[5] In April 1966 Sheikh Mujibur Rehman demanded to conduct a Nationwide Referendum on his six-point movement and said that Military establishment is exploiting East Bengal by using all export revenue of Jute to feed the Army.[6]

He was arrested in April 1966 in Jessore but was bailed out soon. He was again arrested on the orders of Ayub Khan in May and sent to Sylhet jail where he was charged with Agartala Conspiracy case along with 28 East Bengali Military and Government officials. after huge protests against sheikh Mujib arrest across East Bengal all cases were withdrawn and Sheikh Mujibur Rehman was released.[7]

A month before elections the deadliest tropical storm hit East Bengal which claimed lives of at least half a million people.[8] Poor response from then Government of Pakistan skyrocketed popularity of anti-establishment party Awami League. Military Dictator and then President Yahya Khan was strongly criticized by International Media due to its poor disaster governance.[9]

Results

The Awami League won a landslide victory of 288 seats. After claiming all ten seats reserved for women, it held 298 seats.[10]

PartyVotes%Seats
GeneralWomenTotal
Awami League28810298
Pakistan Democratic Party202
National Awami Party (Wali)101
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan101
Nizam-e-Islam Party101
Other parties and independents707
Total30010310
Registered voters/turnout29,479,386–
Source: Baxter, Jhotpot Info, Banglapedia

Aftermath

After getting a landslide victory and clear mandate. Yahya Khan and People's Party didn't wanted majority from East Bengal rule Pakistan. Bhutto's quoted "udhar tum, idhar hum" (you rule East, we rule West)[11] and threatened PPP Members of Parliament by saying that he will break legs of those who will go to Dhaka to attend National Assembly Session called on March 3, 1971, just because of blocking Sheikh Mujib to become Prime Minister of Pakistan.[12] After National Assembly Session was cancelled by President Yahya Khan on March 1. Sheikh Mujibur Rehman gave a famous Speech on March 7 to a huge crowd at Ramna Course Ground in Dhaka and demanded uplifting of Martial Law, withdrawal of army to their barracks and transfer of power to the elected representatives by the people before 25 March National Assembly Session.[13] On March 26, 1971, Pakistan Military Launched Operation Searchlight against East Bengali people to curb Bengali Nationalist Movement in East Bengal.[14]Sheikh Mujibur Rehman declared Proclamation of Independence of Bangladesh on 26 March 1971. This led to start of 9 month long Bangladesh Liberation War which led to Surrender of Pakistani forces in East Bengal and Independence of Bangladesh.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "The Vangaurd of the Islamic Revolution". publishing.cdlib.org. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  2. ↑ Paracha, Nadeem F. (2017-01-26). "The Muslim League: A factional history". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  3. ↑ "Military Rule - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  4. ↑ "Rahman, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  5. ↑ "The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 725". archive.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  6. ↑ "Six-point Programme - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  7. ↑ Bokhari, Hassaan (2021-11-13). "The Agartala conspiracy and the resultant deification of Sheikh Mujib in East Pakistan". Global Village Space. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  8. ↑ "Remembering the great Bhola cyclone". Dhaka Tribune. 2019-11-08. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  9. ↑ Biswas, Sravani; Daly, Patrick (July 2021). "'Cyclone Not Above Politics' : East Pakistan, disaster politics, and the 1970 Bhola Cyclone". Modern Asian Studies. 55 (4): 1382–1410. doi:10.1017/S0026749X20000293. hdl:10356/154579. ISSN 0026-749X. S2CID 224892294.
  10. ↑ League, Bangladesh Awami. "Bangladesh: Awami League's Glorious Achievement on its Journey so far". www.albd.org. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  11. ↑ Desk, EurAsian Times (2018-12-19). "Why Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Actually Wanted India To Annex Bangladesh in 1971 War? Inside Story". Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  12. ↑ Partner, The Media Group | Publishing (2017-09-23). "Special report: The Breakup of Pakistan 1969-1971". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  13. ↑ "Seventh March Address - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  14. ↑ Khan, Ayaz Muhammad (2021-12-18). "The tragedy of East Pakistan: Operation searchlight, myth or reality?". Global Village Space. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  15. ↑ "War of Liberation, The - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
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