কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের ব্যাপারে বিস্তারিত ভাষণ
৮ ফেব্রুয়ারি ১৯৫৬
করাচী
The constituent assembly of Pakistan:
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (East Bengal: Muslim): Sir, I want to say a few words in support of the amendment moved by my honourable friend, Mr. Zahiruddin. I want particularly, in doing so, to draw the attention of the House and the attention of the Honourable Interior Minister, Mr. A. K. Fazlul Huq, who happened to be the Leader of the United Front then, that he as well as other members of the United Front were elected to the provincial and Central Constituent Assembly on a pledge given to the people of East Bengal embodied in the 21 point programme. We at that time gave a pledge to the people if we come to power and we are to frame the Constitution of the country, then only three subjects will be given to the Centre, namely, Foreign Affairs, Currency and Defence, and the rest of the subjects will go to the East Bengal Province and West Pakistan province. It is with that particular purpose that the amendment of Mr. Zahiruddin has been moved and placed before the House. Sir, I do not like to discuss the details because they are known to everybody in this House. We have spoken on them so many times that it is no use repeating them.
Honourable Deputy Speaker: Are you speaking on the last amendment or on new clause 103A?
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: I am speaking on 103. You can see it is stated here: “Subject matter of Federal and provincial Laws – Not withstanding anything in the two succeeding clauses, Parliament shall have power to make laws in respect to (a) Defence of Pakistan and of every part there of and all acts and measures connected therewith: (b) Foreign Affairs; (c) Currency.” That is exactly my point that I am placing before the House. They are ready to give power to the Parliament to deal with only three subjects. Sir, this is the demand of the people of East Bengal and they had elected members of this Assembly on that basis. Even Mr. Hamidul Huq Choudhury was elected both directly and indirectly under that mandate. In the last general election in East Bengal we had told the people that if we come to power and if we frame the Constitution of the country, then only these three subjects will go to the Centre and other powers will go to the Provinces of East Bengal and West Pakistan. Unfortunately, Sir, I do not know what the Honourable Interior Minister will do – of course, he will not accept the amendment. But in his heart of hearts he is convinced that he should fulfil the pledges given to the people at the time of general election. I would request him, as well as the Honourable Law Minister and the Prime Minister of Pakistan that they should accept this amendment so that the pledges given to the people are fulfiled. I know that the Muslim Leaguers are not bound by the pledge to support this amendment; it is the United Front and the Awami League who are pledged to the people of East Bengal and they should support and try to influence their friends of the Muslim League with whom they have formed a coalition to support this amendment.
Sir, only the other day, Mr. Hamidul Huq Choudhury said here in this House that we have got 21-point Programme here in this document. Now is the time for him to prove that really 21-Point Programme is carried out in the Draft Constitution by accepting this amendment. If he accepts this amendment, we will know it, otherwise it is absolutely plain to us that they are only bluffing the people of East Bengal in order that they may vote for them again. I know they will not get the votes in the next election.
Sir, with these few words I support the amendment moved by my honourable friend, Mr. Zahiruddin, and I would request the Honourable Law Minister and the Interior Minister to influence their Partymen to accept this amendment, which will do great benefit to the people of East Bengal.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Supporting the amendment of my honourable friend, Mr. Abul Mansur Ahmad, I only wish to draw the attention of honourable members on the other side of the House to two or three things. I shall do that in two or three minutes Sir, definitely the Central Government and the Central Parliament should have some power so far as international matters are concerned; we have no objection for that and nobody should object to it. But, Sir, the Central Government can also make treaties in respect of some subjects included in the Provincial List. You see, Sir, there is the subject ‘Food and the subject ‘Salt’. Under both these subjects, the central Government may make treaties with any foreign country. My point is that they should, before entering into an agreement, consult the Provincial Government concerned. Sir, you are giving provincial autonomy with one hand and taking it away by the other because you are not going to consult the Provincial Government in the matter of subjects which have been given to them while you are entering into treaty with foreign countries. Of course, they have said here that they will consult the Governor. Why should they not consult the Government? They will consult the Governor and who is going to appoint the Governor? The President will appoint him and therefore he will be consulted. He will only agree to what the President will ask him because he has been appointed by the President or by him under instructions from the Central Government.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: So, Sir, my point is that this power should be given to the Government instead of the Governor and therefore, I feel that the suggestion of my honourable friend, Mr. Abul Mansur Ahmad, is a very good one and it should be accepted. Do not try to bluff the people of East Pakistan; they have seen through your game. You are giving provincial autonomy by one hand and taking it back by the other. You have got to be honest with the people.
Sir, with these words, I support the amendment moved by Mr. Abul Mansur Ahmad and request my honourable friends on the other side of the House, at least, to accept this pure and simple amendment which will give some safeguards to the Provinces. Sir, I support the amendments of Mr. Zahiruddin and oppose the clause as a whole. Sir, in a federal constitution I have not seen such a provision. It is a new clause for a new country. It is a new clause because of the fact that West Pakistan and East Pakistan are separated by 1,000 miles. What is the motive behind this clause? When I went to East Bengal with this Draft constitution I had conversation with people of all shades of opinion. The intelligentsia remarked that formerly East Bengal was a colony and by this constitution they want to make East Bengal still greater colony and a market of the industrially developed areas of West Pakistan. All this may not be a fact but you know that there is salt industry in Karachi. You cannot say that salt industry cannot be developed in East Pakistan; we have resources there and yet we have suffered. You may recollect that salt shortage when it was sold at Rs. 16 per seer in East Bengal whereas in Karachi it was being sold at four pice per seer: the same Pakistan, the same People. What is the cause? It is the bad Policy of the Government, the Government will not allow the People of East Bengal to prepare salt. Salt is a big cottage Industry of East Bengal and if they give Rs. 10 Lakhs, within five years, East Bengal will be self-sufficient in salt. But they would not allow. I do not blame my friends of West Pakistan. I blame all the administrators who for eight years have been connected with the Central Government. You cannot say that there were no Bengalis in the administration. There were hundreds of Bengalis who were in-charge but like Mr. Hamidul Huq Choudhury they forget East Pakistan when they come here. Like Mr. Ghayasuddin Pathan he is thinking because he cannot go to East Bengal. This is the position. This is the suspicion in the minds of the people of East Pakistan. It may be possible that you cannot export Gur’ from East Pakistan without the permission of the Central Government to other foreign countries but if this provision is accepted then the Central Government can interfere with all things and can say this cannot go here and this cannot go there.
In the matter of industry due attention should be paid to East Pakistan where there are 800 people per square mile. Here you can construct many barrages and provide employment. If Industry is not developed in East Pakistan, people will suffer and die. When the people do not get food they can be up to anything. If you help them they have a chance of serving their country in their humble way. If my children suffer I can turn into a thief and a dacoit I do not know what will be the consequences. I appeal that this particular clause may be omitted. I request my friend in-charge, who is one of my best friends, to omit this clause. That will be better for the Constitution, for the country and for all.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Sir, I support this amendment. Sir, you are treasurer of the United Front and you were directly connected with that directive, whenever we see anything about directive, we feel that something is ahead of us. Sir, is this autonomy that we have been granted according to Mr. Hamidul Huq Choudhury and my friends of the United Front to the people of East Bengal? Sir, is it defined when the Pakistan Government will have the right to interfere in the provincial matters. Sir, this happens everywhere in the world. Two or three political parties hold meeting and they clash. The Provincial Governments are also representatives of the people as is the Federal Government. They are responsible for the administration of that area; they are responsible for the law and order of that area.
Sir, You know you mentioned Adamjee Jute Mill that was the very day you remember …….
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: You know in connection with the trouble at the Adamjee Jute Mills and in connection with other things, the Provincial Government of East Bengal should have applied to the Central Government and had asked for the Prime Minister to come to East Pakistan to look into the matter himself and to see for himself as to what was being done, but instead of that the Chief Minister of East Bengal was called here. He had meetings here with the Prime Minister, the Governor General and with other Ministers and about 50 M.L. As, of the United front were arrested, Sir, if every now and then in every matter the Federal Government has to intervene then what is the necessity of having a Provincial Government. Why have a Federal Government. Why not have a unitary from of Government? What is being done at present is that, directions are being given where by Powers are indirectly being placed in the hands of the Central Government to interfere in every aspect of provincial matters. Even if there is a riot, at that time they can interfere and impose their power, which is there. They can act under section 93 or they can dismiss the Government; they can dissolve the Assembly: by these things they have got powers of interference. So, Sir, this amendment should be accepted and this power should not be vested in the Central Government.
Reference:
Iqbal, S. (1997) Sheikh Mujib in Parliament (1955-58), p. 170-177, Dhaka, Agami Prakashani