পূর্ব বাংলা ও পশ্চিম পাকিস্তানের মধ্যকার সমতার অধিকার নিয়ে বঙ্গবন্ধু
৩০ সেপ্টেম্বর ১৯৫৫
করাচী
The constituent assembly of Pakistan:
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: I say that this was programme and they should respect it. Now, Sir, about parity: we had accepted parity with West Pakistan though we are 56 per cent in East Bengal, we sacrificed 6 percent and accepted parity because we considered to be a good thing for Pakistan. But, we had expected parity in a respects. Now, in this Bill, my friends have not provided parity in the matter of services, defence and other matters. We had expected parity in financial allocations, parity in the matter of subjects I mean there should have been parity in all respects. West Pakistan consisted of five or six provinces, but now only one province. So, now the question of parity is between two Units East Bengal and West Pakistan – and it should be easy to have parity in all matters.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: I can finish my speech within 5 minutes, but with all these interruptions I do not know when I shall be able to finish my speech. Now, the position is that they have created this West Pakistan province without defining its powers. Our point is that there will be two Units – one West Pakistan Unit and the other East Pakistan – thay should give full regional autonomy to both these Units keeping only three subjects, Foreign Affairs, Currency and Defence, with the centre, all the other powers should go to the two Units. We wanted these powers to be given to West Pakistan and my friends have not accepted that in this Bill. I understand and I read it in the papers that Mr. Hamidul Huq and members of United Front party had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan and they said that unless and until he agrees to the grant of full regional autonomy, they are not going to lend their support to this One-Unit Bill. We understand that this Bill is going to be passed tonight. My friend Mr. Hamidul Huq Choudhury has also been taken in the Ministry and now he will issue a statement in Dacca that there was no such thing at all. Well, that is one thing which I wanted to bring to their notice, through you.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: In the Services, Defence Foreign Affairs and in the financial allotments, everywhere I say parity should be there. So, what I am saying is that there should be parity in all respects between the two wings of Pakistan; that is, East Bengal and West Pakistan, not only in numbers but in all respects.
Sir, how can we say that we are an independent country and we are fighting for democracy or to establish democracy in Pakistan when at the same care keeping these undemocratic Acts in force in Pakistan? Sir, in time of our election in East Bengal, one of the items was that all black laws, all preventive detention Acts must go from the soil of Pakistan for ever and forever. My friend of the Front, Mr. Fazlul Huq delivered speeches in hundreds of meetings and gave promises to the people for abolishing black Acts. Now how are the people going to keep faith in promises? The people of East Bengal in particular would naturally think that the leaders of the United Front have violated pledges and promises made to the people. After making all the promises, they have now come to this House, some of them have now become Ministers of the Government and vote with the Government Benches. I cannot understand how they would face the people again. I request them that please do not do it; accept the amendment of ours. But they did not pay heed to our request.
Then, Sir, I would draw your attention regarding the Services of West Pakistan. There was an amendment to this effect by Sardar Abdur Rashid which has not been accepted. What is the amendment? I would draw your attention to that. He wanted reservation for the minority provinces Sind and Frontier. There must be reservation in the services because they feel that they may not get justice as we are not getting, though the Government decided to give 40 per cent to East Bengal but we are getting only 2 per cent. If there is an impartial judge, he will see that this is the position. Now, Sardar Abdur Rashid out of fear has moved the amendment asking for reservation in the services for the people of Frontier and for the people of Sind minority areas and also in the subordinate services he said that you are going to make 11 divisions, so in the II divisions people should be recruited locally. That was the amendment of Sardar Abdur Rashid. We request Mr. Yusuf Haroon, We request Sardar Amir Azam Khan, We request Mr. Gurmani and other people to accept that amendment and to give some sort of reservation to them but, Sir. we are in a minority and they are in a majority in the House and they can pass anything but they will feel the consequences very soon. I can you that the people would resent and you must get consequences. There is no doubt about it. I do not like to discus it any further but I want to tell a whole.
It is the most reactionary Bill ever introduced in the of the world about the election, Sir, the member of the progressive Front in the United Front Mr. Abdus Sattar has moved for distribution of seats on a district-wise basis. Sir, we supported single transferable vote and proportional representation so that there will be at least some Opposition. Out of 310 seats the opposition may be able to get at the most 30 or 25 seats.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Sir, there were our amendments they are not accepting our amendments and I am telling you that we have told them that do not violate the principle of democracy and give at least due share to the Opposition, do not try to exclude all Opposition by your brute majority of that side. Unfortunately they have not accepted this and they have provided for districtwise election. I have never heard and I have never seen in the history of the world that districtwise election is held in the indirect election like that. Always indirect election is held by single transferable vote. That is the convention today. But I know, Sir, it is a question of loaves and fishes. Sir, 310 members cannot continue together for three or four or five months. How many people you will provide with Ministership and Ambassadorship? For how many people you can provide by sending them to foreign countries and foreign posts? Today or tomorrow when these will be fight among yourselves, there will be opposition and they will understand. Today you can feel that somebody is Governor and he will be having all the powers and he can do everything and anything in Pakistan but in eight years of the history of Pakistan the man who was very powerful and he could do everything and anything of politics, he is no more in politics, he has no power he is neglected by every-body not from our side but from their side. Sir, all the time they have utilized a particular man for their own purposes. Sir, I was saying that this Bill is a reactionary Bill and I appeal to them though in vain to withdraw this Bill, send to select Committee or send for referendum or for the opinion of the people and then pass it. We will also then support it but if you force it, you know there is some reaction to every action. So do not force it on the people. The British have not been able to keep India by force. Force is a very bad thing. You should appeal to the people, make them understand what is One Unit, get their support. It will be better for you, with these few words. Sir, I finish my speech.
Reference:
Iqbal, S. (1997) Sheikh Mujib in Parliament (1955-58), p. 65-78, Dhaka, Agami Prakashani