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1954 East Bengal Legislative Assembly election

December 15, 2023

Legislative elections were held in East Bengal between 8 and 12 March 1954, the first since Pakistan became an independent country in 1947.[1] The opposition United Front led by the Awami League and Krishak Sramik Party won a landslide victory with 223 of the 309 seats.[2] The Muslim League Chief Minister of East Pakistan Nurul Amin was defeated in his own constituency by Khaleque Nawaz Khan by over 7,000 votes, with all the Muslim League ministers losing their seats.[3]

1954 East Bengal Legislative Assembly election
← 1946 1954 1970 →
All 309 seats in the East Bengal Legislative Assembly
156 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader A. K. Fazlul Huq Rasaraj Mandal
Party United Front SCF
Seats won 223 27
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Nurul Amin
Party PNC Muslim League
Seats won 24 9

Background edit

The Bengal Assembly had been elected as part of the provincial elections in British India in 1946. Its term was extended several times, with around 34 seats left vacant as by-elections were not held.[4]

Electoral system edit

The East Bengal Legislative Assembly consisted of 309 seats, of which 228 were reserved for Muslims, 36 for scheduled castes, 12 for women (nine Muslims, one general and two scheduled caste), two for Buddhists and one for Christians.[5] There were also 30 general seats.[5]

A total of 19,541,563 voters were registered for the elections, of which 9,239,720 were women.[5] Of the total voters, 15,159,825 were able to vote in the Muslim seats, 2,303,578 in the scheduled caste seats, 2,095,355 in the general seats, 136,417 in the Buddhist seats and 43,911 for the Christian seat.[5]

Campaign edit

The Muslim League published its manifesto on 13 December 1953, calling for Bengali to be made an official state language, reform in agricultural and education and improvements in healthcare,[6] and began its campaign in January 1954.[7] The Awami League published a 41-point manifesto focusing on autonomy, political reform and nationalisation.[8] The Communists published a 22-point manifesto on 2 December, calling for them to be the leading party in a united front against the Muslim League, as well as promoting autonomy and the recognition of Bengali.[9]

Several opposition parties called for a creation of an opposition front, with agreement reached between the Awami League and the Krishak Sramik Party on 4 December.[10] The Front was later joined by the Nizam-e-Islam Party and Ganatantri Dal.[11]

A total of 1,285 candidates contested the elections; 986 for the 228 Muslim seats, 151 for the 36 scheduled caste seats, 103 for the 30 general seats, 37 for the women's seats and twelve for the two Buddhist seats. The Christian seat had only one candidate, as did the Women's general and one of the scheduled caste seats. Two general seats also had one candidate who was returned unopposed.[5] The Muslim League and United Front ran candidates in all 237 Muslim seats.[12]

Results edit

The results of 1954 elections in East Pakistan were conclusive. The United Front won 223 of the 237 Muslim seats in the provincial assembly and obtained nearly 64% of the votes. In contrast the Muslim League won only 9 seats and secured less than 27% of the votes polled in the contested constituencies. Among the most exciting aspects of the election was the defeat of several ministers including Nurul Amin, the Muslim League Chief Minister.[13] A. K. Fazlul Huq was elected in two constituencies,[2] forcing a by-election in one of them.

Party or allianceVotes%Seats
United FrontAwami League143
Krishak Sramik Party48
Nizam-e-Islam Party19
Ganatantri Dal13
Muslim League9
Khilafat-e-Robbani Party1
Independents4
Muslim seats5,760,17978.43237
Scheduled Caste Federation27
Pakistan National Congress24
Minority United Front10
Communist Party4
Ganatantri Dal3
Buddhists2
Christian1
Independent Hindu1
Non-Muslim seats1,584,03721.5772
Total7,344,216100.00309
Total votes7,344,216–
Registered voters/turnout19,541,56337.58
Source: Nair

Cabinet edit

The United Front cabinet was formed on 15 May 1954 under the leadership of Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq.[14]

Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party Ref
Chief Minister3 April 195429 May 1954 KSP[14]
Minister of Civil Supplies15 May 195429 May 1954 Awami League (Pakistan)[14]
Minister of Finance15 May 195429 May 1954 KSP[14]
Minister of Law and Justice15 May 195429 May 1954 KSP[14]
Minister of Public Health15 May 195429 May 1954 Awami League (Pakistan)[14]
Minister of Education15 May 195429 May 1954 KSP[14]
Minister of Industries and Labour15 May 195429 May 1954 Awami League (Pakistan)[14]
Minister of Rural Development and Co-operatives15 May 195429 May 1954 Awami League (Pakistan)[14]
Minister of Revenue and Land Reform15 May 195429 May 1954 [14]
Minister of State Acquisition
Moazzam Uddin Hussain
15 May 195429 May 1954 [14]
Minister of Commerce and Power Development
Hamid Uddin
15 May 195429 May 1954 [14]
Minister of Agriculture, Forest and Jute15 May 195429 May 1954 KSP[14]
Minister of Medical and Jail15 May 195429 May 1954 KSP[14]
Minister of Roads and Housing15 May 195429 May 1954 BNIP[14]

Aftermath edit

Following the elections, independent Assembly member Fazlal Qadir Chowdhury joined the Muslim League to give them ten seats, allowing the party to form a parliamentary group.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ M Bhaskaran Nair (1990) Politics in Bangladesh: A Study of Awami League, 1949-58 2017-09-17 at the Wayback Machine, Northern Book Centre, p137
  2. ^ a b Nair, p165
  3. ^ a b Nair, p167
  4. ^ Nair, p136
  5. ^ a b c d e Nair, p166
  6. ^ Nair, pp137–138
  7. ^ Nair, p156
  8. ^ Nair, p139
  9. ^ Nair, p145
  10. ^ Nair, p148
  11. ^ Nair, p149
  12. ^ Nair, p155
  13. ^ Rashiduzzaman, M. (1970). The Awami League in the political development of Pakistan. Asian Survey, 10(7), 574-587.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Trivedi, Rabindra Nath, বাংলাদেশের ঐতিহাসিক সংগ্রাম ও মুক্তিযুদ্ধঃ প্রাসঙ্গিক দলিলপত্র (in Bengali)

December 15, 2023
1954, east, bengal, legislative, assembly, election, legislative, elections, were, held, east, bengal, between, march, 1954, first, since, pakistan, became, independent, country, 1947, opposition, united, front, awami, league, krishak, sramik, party, landslide. Legislative elections were held in East Bengal between 8 and 12 March 1954 the first since Pakistan became an independent country in 1947 1 The opposition United Front led by the Awami League and Krishak Sramik Party won a landslide victory with 223 of the 309 seats 2 The Muslim League Chief Minister of East Pakistan Nurul Amin was defeated in his own constituency by Khaleque Nawaz Khan by over 7 000 votes with all the Muslim League ministers losing their seats 3 1954 East Bengal Legislative Assembly election 1946 1954 1970 All 309 seats in the East Bengal Legislative Assembly156 seats needed for a majority First party Second party Leader A K Fazlul Huq Rasaraj MandalParty United Front SCFSeats won 223 27 Third party Fourth party Leader Nurul AminParty PNC Muslim LeagueSeats won 24 9Chief Minister before electionGovernor RuleMuslim League Elected Chief Minister A K Fazlul HuqUnited Front Contents 1 Background 2 Electoral system 3 Campaign 4 Results 4 1 Cabinet 5 Aftermath 6 ReferencesBackground editThe Bengal Assembly had been elected as part of the provincial elections in British India in 1946 Its term was extended several times with around 34 seats left vacant as by elections were not held 4 Electoral system editThe East Bengal Legislative Assembly consisted of 309 seats of which 228 were reserved for Muslims 36 for scheduled castes 12 for women nine Muslims one general and two scheduled caste two for Buddhists and one for Christians 5 There were also 30 general seats 5 A total of 19 541 563 voters were registered for the elections of which 9 239 720 were women 5 Of the total voters 15 159 825 were able to vote in the Muslim seats 2 303 578 in the scheduled caste seats 2 095 355 in the general seats 136 417 in the Buddhist seats and 43 911 for the Christian seat 5 Campaign editThe Muslim League published its manifesto on 13 December 1953 calling for Bengali to be made an official state language reform in agricultural and education and improvements in healthcare 6 and began its campaign in January 1954 7 The Awami League published a 41 point manifesto focusing on autonomy political reform and nationalisation 8 The Communists published a 22 point manifesto on 2 December calling for them to be the leading party in a united front against the Muslim League as well as promoting autonomy and the recognition of Bengali 9 Several opposition parties called for a creation of an opposition front with agreement reached between the Awami League and the Krishak Sramik Party on 4 December 10 The Front was later joined by the Nizam e Islam Party and Ganatantri Dal 11 A total of 1 285 candidates contested the elections 986 for the 228 Muslim seats 151 for the 36 scheduled caste seats 103 for the 30 general seats 37 for the women s seats and twelve for the two Buddhist seats The Christian seat had only one candidate as did the Women s general and one of the scheduled caste seats Two general seats also had one candidate who was returned unopposed 5 The Muslim League and United Front ran candidates in all 237 Muslim seats 12 Results editThe results of 1954 elections in East Pakistan were conclusive The United Front won 223 of the 237 Muslim seats in the provincial assembly and obtained nearly 64 of the votes In contrast the Muslim League won only 9 seats and secured less than 27 of the votes polled in the contested constituencies Among the most exciting aspects of the election was the defeat of several ministers including Nurul Amin the Muslim League Chief Minister 13 A K Fazlul Huq was elected in two constituencies 2 forcing a by election in one of them Party or allianceVotes SeatsUnited FrontAwami League143Krishak Sramik Party48Nizam e Islam Party19Ganatantri Dal13Muslim League9Khilafat e Robbani Party1Independents4Muslim seats5 760 17978 43237Scheduled Caste Federation27Pakistan National Congress24Minority United Front10Communist Party4Ganatantri Dal3Buddhists2Christian1Independent Hindu1Non Muslim seats1 584 03721 5772Total7 344 216100 00309Total votes7 344 216 Registered voters turnout19 541 56337 58Source NairCabinet edit The United Front cabinet was formed on 15 May 1954 under the leadership of Sher e Bangla A K Fazlul Huq 14 Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party RefChief MinisterSher e BanglaAbul Kasem Fazlul Huq3 April 195429 May 1954 KSP 14 Minister of Civil SuppliesAtaur Rahman Khan15 May 195429 May 1954 Awami League Pakistan 14 Minister of FinanceAbu Hussain Sarkar15 May 195429 May 1954 KSP 14 Minister of Law and JusticeKafiluddin Chowdhury15 May 195429 May 1954 KSP 14 Minister of Public HealthAbul Mansur Ahmad15 May 195429 May 1954 Awami League Pakistan 14 Minister of EducationSyed Azizul Huq15 May 195429 May 1954 KSP 14 Minister of Industries and LabourAbdus Salam Khan15 May 195429 May 1954 Awami League Pakistan 14 Minister of Rural Development and Co operativesSheikh Mujibur Rahman15 May 195429 May 1954 Awami League Pakistan 14 Minister of Revenue and Land ReformAbdul Latif Biswas15 May 195429 May 1954 14 Minister of State AcquisitionMoazzam Uddin Hussain15 May 195429 May 1954 14 Minister of Commerce and Power DevelopmentHamid Uddin15 May 195429 May 1954 14 Minister of Agriculture Forest and JuteYusuf Ali Chowdhury15 May 195429 May 1954 KSP 14 Minister of Medical and JailRazzaqul Haider Chowdhury15 May 195429 May 1954 KSP 14 Minister of Roads and HousingAshrafuddin Chowdhury15 May 195429 May 1954 BNIP 14 Aftermath editFollowing the elections independent Assembly member Fazlal Qadir Chowdhury joined the Muslim League to give them ten seats allowing the party to form a parliamentary group 3 References edit M Bhaskaran Nair 1990 Politics in Bangladesh A Study of Awami League 1949 58 Archived 2017 09 17 at the Wayback Machine Northern Book Centre p137 a b Nair p165 a b Nair p167 Nair p136 a b c d e Nair p166 Nair pp137 138 Nair p156 Nair p139 Nair p145 Nair p148 Nair p149 Nair p155 Rashiduzzaman M 1970 The Awami League in the political development of Pakistan Asian Survey 10 7 574 587 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Trivedi Rabindra Nath ব ল দ শ র ঐত হ স ক স গ র ম ও ম ক ত য দ ধ প র সঙ গ ক দল লপত র in Bengali Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1954 East Bengal Legislative Assembly election amp oldid 1188559701, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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