বঙ্গবন্ধুর ভাষণসমগ্র | ২৫ আগস্ট ১৯৫৫ করাচী
পশ্চিম পাকিস্তানে পূর্ব পাকিস্তানের অর্থ ব্যয় হওয়া ও কেন্দ্রীয় রাজধানীর ব্যাপারে বঙ্গবন্ধু
২৫ আগস্ট ১৯৫৫
করাচী
The constituent assembly of Pakistan:
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: I am saying what the ruling clique is doing now. They want that Karachi should be included in One-Unit whether the people want it or not. Sir, it is the right of the people of East Bengal also over this city and they must be consulted before including Karachi in one-Unit. This city has been developed not by the money of the people of this wing only but also by the money of the people of East Bengal.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: I know, Sir, up to this time more than two hundred and sixty-six crores have been spent in the development of Karachi. This money has not been spent by West Pakistan alone but by East Bengal also. Then, Sir, we are being told that we will shift the Capital from Karachi to 20 to 25 miles north-east. Sir, you know here you have developed Airport; you have developed the industrial areas in Karachi. Now they want that all these things must go to West Pakistan. But have you consulted the people of East Bengal in this respect, who can equally claim it to be their Capital, whether they are ready to give it to West Pakistan Unit or not. I know, Sir, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I know that the small ruling clique whenever they want to do anything, they create some artificial issues to divert the actual issue from the minds of the people and then they Mobilize public opinion in favour of that thing. Sir, what isopening now? So far as the Punjab is concerned, everybody claimed that all the Punjabis are in favour of One-Unit. My friend, honourable Mr. Bari, who is sitting on the front bench will remember what happened in the last Punjab elections. He was in the opposition against the Muslim League. He might remember how the power had been misused; how officers had interfered with the fair and free elections. They say that the people of Frontier, Sind and other provinces want One-Unit. But how have they come to know their wishes? Probably they have known it through their Intelligence Branches. In order to force the people to accept their wishes, they have introduced the Safety Act to send people to jail without any trial. What has happened in East Bengal? You know that 92-A was imposed. What public opinion was there? There were statements in praise of Governor’s 92-A. You know 1,500 workers had been arrested and detained without trial. Still about 250workers are in jail. The Bengal Muslim League claimed that the Bengal Muslim League was very powerful, Awami League and United Front were nothing before it. In the elections they claimed that they had popular support and the West Pakistan people declared that the Muslim League Organisation of Bengal was very powerful but in the last election you have seen. Your ex-prime Minister Mr. Mohammed Ali went there, big leaders from West Pakistan went there, all the hired Maulanas went there and said, “Islam Khatre men hai, Pakistan barbad ho jaega, Pakistan khatam ho raha hai?” but still what they have got. They got 3 percent votes. 97 percent people have voted for the United Front and the Awami League. Now, that is the people’s opinion. For seven years these people have ruled. They say people are behind us and in the same way you are saying about West Pakistan. Why do you object to plebiscite? You must be definite. There must be free and fair election, not like the Punjab election or like Khuro election of Sind where just when the election is to take place, that man who wants to contest is arrested even before filing the nomination papers.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Even the Quaid-e-Azam had to contest in Bombay and Mr. Khuro is elected uncontested. Even Mr. Fazlul Huq had to fight against Mr. Afzal and Mr. Afzal got 5,000 votes. For God’s sake do not make a mockery with the people’s sentiments. There will be very bad repercussions Sir, another seat has been captured by Begum Khuro. We are the unfortunate citizens of the fortunate country. Begum Khuro was elected unopposed. Everyone will be elected uncontested so long as Khuro is there, don’t do like that. I appeal to you, don’t try to impose on the people. The repercussions will be very bad. The British Government imposed and they had to go away. Don’t think that you have got the divine right to rule. We have seen Mr. Khuro, we have seen Mr. Daultana, we have seen Mr. Nurul Amin and so many friends of ours. They were in power. They have been ousted, they were charged of subversive activities and then they became the friends of the Central clique against the honest men and then they say they are the lovers of Pakistan and they are the most honest people of Pakistan. You must take the opinion of the people. I appeal to you in the name of Pakistan, in the name of Quaid-e-Azam, in the name of democracy, don’t destroy Pakistan, don’t ruin Pakistan for your personal interests or the interests of the ruling clique. Don’t impose on the frontier people; do you think they will tolerate it? Let the United Front Vote for you that Karachi will be under One-Unit. They will not be able to go back to East Bengal. The people of East Bengal will not tolerate if the United Front leaders vote for One-Unit. They will not be able to show their faces in East Bengal and their fate will be like the fate of Muslim League in the year 1954.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Sir, about the other question also my friend Sardar Fazlul Karim has given the history. Mr. Fazlur Rahman has given the history and I do not like to quote details and I appeal to the people who are now in power, who have got absolute power in their hands, I think sometimes they are more powerful than Allah because I think ….
Mr. Speaker: The Honourable Member should withdraw that.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: But who is offended? Is Allah offended? If He is offended, well He will punish me.
Mr. Speaker: I think it is rather sacrilegious and it would injure the feelings of God-fearing men.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: I am God-fearing. I am a Muslim. My name is Mujibur Rahman. I believe in “La ilaha-il-lal Lah.” I am a Muslim.
Mian Muhammad Iftikharuddin (Punjab: Muslim): If we say that Allah is more powerful than these people then it will be sacrilegious to them and they are more near us.
Mr. Speaker: I would ask the Honourable Member to withdraw that word.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: I can say that they sometimes feel that they are more powerful than Allah.
Mr. Speaker: This charge is against the Honourable Members of this House. It is an unwarranted charge against them.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: You are the Speaker of the House and you are not the representative of the Muslim League. These people have not uttered a single word. Why are you defending them?
Mr. Speaker: I am here to maintain the dignity of the House and jealously guard the cause of the Honourable Members who may be unwarrantedly charged.
Mr. H. S. Suhrawardy (East Bengali: Muslim): May I intervene? I would request my good friend Mr. Mujibur Rahman to withdraw that remark in which he compared the members of theGovernment with Allah. I think it is not a proper remark to make in this House or before Muslims and I hope he will withdraw it in this case but Sir, may I say that it is not a charge against any Honourable Member of this House. I think on another ground namely, that it is unseemly I think it should be withdrawn. I do hope that my friend will withdraw it.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: I withdraw it.
The Honourable Mr. M. A. Khuro: On a point of order Thoughout, the Honourable Member has made most undignified speech and has lowered the prestige of the House in the eyes of the public and has made false statements and he has absolutely run amuck. Are you going to allow the debates of the House to be lowered to that level? In the interest of the dignity of the House I appeal that this Honourable Member should be put in his proper place.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: He has used the word “false”.
Mr. Speaker: Honourable Mr. Khuro has used the word “false”. I think he should withdraw that word.
The Honourable Mr. M. A. Khuro: He has made an irrelevant speech.
Mr. Speaker: I will allow Honourable Mr. Khuro to give personal explanation, a full say, if he wants to speak after the Honourable Member has finished his speech.
Reference:
Iqbal, S. (1997) Sheikh Mujib in Parliament (1955-58), p. 1-13, Dhaka, Agami Prakashani