1970 (January 1):
Political activities in Pakistan are revived.
1970 (January 6):
Maulana Bhasani asks Yahya Khan to settle the issue of 'regional autonomy' before the election.
1970 (March 7):
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announces that he will launch a mass movement after the election to achieve the autonomy of East Pakistan.
1970 (March 21):
Jamaat-e-Islami Party chief Maulana Moududi asks Yahya Khan to give the autonomy to East Pakistan before the election.
1970 (August 2):
East Pakistan experiences severe floods over 15,000 square miles where about 10 million people are affected. Due to the flood situation, the government of Yahya Khan postpones the holding of the elections -- to December 7, 1970 for the National Assembly and December 19 for the provincial assemblies.
1970 (November 11):
A destructive cyclone with unusually high tidal waves hits the coastal areas of East Pakistan where more than a half-million people were dead, many more injured and houses, livestock and crops washed away. The response of the government of Yahya Khan was not only pathetically inadequate in relation to the needs, but it was slow and delayed. This apathy of the government alienated most of the East Pakistanis.
1970 (November 23):
In a public meeting, Maulana Bhasani, in a rage and anger, called for an "independent East Pakistan." He also announced that his party would not participate in the coming elections.
1970 (November 27):
At a press conference in Dhaka, General Yahya Khan announces: "East Pakistan must have maximum autonomy to run her own affairs within the overall framework of Pakistan." It should have "full charge of their destiny, planning and utilization of its resources within the concept of Pakistan."
1970 (December 7):
The free and fair election is held all over Pakistan. Even retired President Ayub Khan also attested to that. This election was held after 23 years! It should be noted that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, during his election campaigns, had openly advocated for political and economic autonmy of East Pakistan.
The Awami League, headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won 167 of the 313 seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan, whereas, Zulfiqur Ali Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) won only 88 seats. In East Pakistan, out of a total of 169 seats of the National Assembly, the Awami League won 167 seats. Out of the two remaining seats, former Chief Minister Nurul Amin won one, and the "Raja" of the Chakma tribe in the Chittagong Hill Tracts bagged the other. Bhutto's People's Party won only bare majority seats of the National Assembly in West Pakistan (88 out of the total of 144).
1970 (December 9):
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at a press conference, said that the people of East Pakistan treated the general election as "a referendum on the vital issue of full regional autonomy on the basis of the Six-Point/Eleven-Point Formula."
1970 (December 12):
The government of Pakistan and the leaders of the West Pakistani ruling class became really scared of the unprecedented landslide victory of the Awami League. It's the first time that they came to the realization that East Pakistan was slipping out of their grip.
Zulfiqur Ali Bhutto also strongly felt that he might be excluded from the new Central government, to be formed by the Awami League. In a speech in Lahore on this day, he threatened Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that his People's Party would not allow the new government to function without his cooperation.
1970 (December 17):
Provincial Assemblies' elections were held, but these were boycotted by Maulana Bhasani, the National Progressive League, and the Krishak Sramik Party. The Awami League in East Pakistan won 298 of the total 310 seats (including 10 women's seats). The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in West Pakistan won majority in the Punjab Assembly (113 of the 180 seats) and Sind Assembly (28 out of 60 seats).
1970 (December 20):
Bhutto proclaimed that "the PPP is not prepared to occupy the Opposition benches in the National Assembly." He wanted equal status in the new government to be formed. He said: "The authority at the Centre would have to be shared between the Awami League and the People's Party." This way, he was not only undemocratic in his behaviour, but also totally sabotaging, although Sheikh Mujib, with the absolute majority seats in the National Assembly, had the right to form the new government.
1966 (February 12):
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman launched his famous Six-Point Programme, for full regional autonomy of East Pakistan, in the All-Party meeting in Lahore, West Pakistan [where in 1940, Sher-e-Bangla Fazlul Huq had moved the historic 'Lahore Resolution' for a confederation of "independent" Muslim states].
1966 (March):
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Tajuddin Ahmed were elected President and General Secretary respectively of the Awami League party.
In the same month, General Ayub Khan comes to East Pakistan and launches his attack on the Six-Point Programme by saying that it "would spell disaster for the country and turn the people of East Pakistan into slaves."
1966 (May 9):
Police arrest Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under the Public Safety Act. During a general strike in the main cities and towns of East Pakistan, 10 people were killed and many injured in police firing.
1966:
Sometime in this year, the government of Monaem Khan in East Pakistan banns the import of books, newspapers, magazines and movies from Calcutta, India. Rabindra Sangeet (Bangla songs of Nobel-laureate Rabindranath Tagore) is also banned from all East Pakistani stations of the Radio Pakistan. The government does not want that the mind of the Muslims of East Pakistan get contaminated with the Hindu and "alien" ideas and influences!
1968 (January 6):
The military regime of General Ayub Khan (including the 'stooge' Governor Monaem Khan) wants to take revenge on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his group for demanding regional autonomy through the Six-Point Programme. For this purpose, the government set up a case, famously known as Agortola Shorojontro Mamla (Agortola Conspiracy Case).
On this day, the government issue a statement that 28 people have been arrested on the charge of conspiring to secede East Pakistan from Pakistan with the help of Indian agents.
On June 19, 1968, a Special Tribunal in Dhaka Cantonment starts the trial of 35 persons, including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the main accused. He was first released from Dhaka Central Jail on January 18 and immediately rearrested and confined to the Cantonment for the trial.
1968 (November 8):
In support of the accused and in protest against the conspiracy case, there were continuous strikes and rioting that had serious effects on the public services, education, commerce and industry. In February, 1969, the government was forced to withdraw the conspiracy case and release all the accused, including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
1969 (February 21):
East Pakistanis were extremely active politically due to the Agortola Conspiracy Case, repressive measures of the government, and police shooting and killing. People realized well that the ruling class would never honour their wishes and rights, but trample them on any excuse.
So the Ekushey February of this year was not only the observance of the Martyrs' Day, but also their stronger determination for securing their rights. Black flags were hoisted on house-tops.
After 10 years, the government declared this day a public holiday for government and non-government offices and educational institutions. Special programmes were in the only state-run Radio and Television stations. Artists and painters had their special arts exhibits.
1969 (March 11):
To ease the political situation, Ayub Khan calls for a Round Table Conference of all political parties in Rawalpindi, where Sheikh Mujibur Rahman demanded the implementation of the Six-Point Programme. Maulana Moududi of Jamaat-e-Islami party opposes Sheikh Mujib. On March 13, Ayub Khan announced that he would accept the principle of parliamentary form of government and direct elections but he refused to consider the autonomy of East Pakistan or to restore the four provinces of West Pakistan.
1969 (March 17):
The Pakistan government confirms reports that "ships loaded with troops, tanks and armaments" sailed from Karachi for East Pakistan.
1969 (March 25):
After the Round Table Conference of All Parties, Ayub Khan asked the Army Chief General Yahya Khan to take steps as he thought fit. Yahya Khan advised him to declare the Martial Law and hand him the power.
On this day, President Ayub Khan announced his resignation in a broadcast. Governor Monaem Khan, too, resigned. General Yahya Khan then declares Martial Law and takes over the power of the Chief Martial Law Administrator. The Constitution was abrogated and the Central and Provincial Assemblies dissolved, and the offices of the President, the Central and Provincial Ministers, and the Provincial Governors were removed. The Constitution of 1962 was revived under an "ordinance of continuance."
1969 (July 28):
An Election Commission was formed, headed by a Bangali Supreme Court Judge.
1969 (November 28):
Yahya Khan announces the country-wide election to be held on October 5, 1970 on the basis of adult franchise. He also mentions that West Pakistan would have its former provinces restored.
1964 (February 21):
The Ekushey was observed with much enthusiasm. The Dhaka Centre of Radio Pakistan for the first time in 12 years broadcast programmes on the Ekushey February. At the foot of the Shaheed Minar thousands gathered in the morning and Maulana Bhasani and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman addressed them. Some politicl demands made in the meeting were: all kinds of black laws of Ayub Khan and Governor Monaem Khan must be repealed; full regional autonomy must be granted to East Pakistan for unhindered development of the Bangla langauge, culture and economy; and the gross inequality in the economic development between the two wings of Pakistan must be eradicated. The meeting also resolved that a national anthem be written in Bangla and Bangla be used in the national insignia. The Ekushey was also properly observed in other cities and towns of East Pakistan.
One important event of this Ekushey February was that a number of Urdu-speaking people of Dhaka, for the first time, participated on this day's programmes and placed wreaths at the martyrs' memorial on behalf of their organization, Anzuman-e-Tariqy.
1965 (February 21):
This Martyr's Day was observed with usual solemnity in Dhaka and elsewhere. Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television broadcast programmes without referring to the Martyrs' Day. Special publications came out on this occasion: Raktaswakhhar published by Sreejani Lekhak Goshti, Bikkhove by East Pakistan Students' Union, Raktalekha by the Medical College unit of Students' Union, and reprint of Ekushey February (it was first published in 1953 and edited by Hasan Hafizur Rahman).
1965 (September):
There was the India-Pakistan war, when it was nakedly proven that West Pakistan was heavily armed and defended whereas East Pakistan was unabashedly neglected. During this war, East Pakistan was totally cut off from West Pakistan for 17 days from any military help reaching from
that wing.
After the war, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at a press conference, stated: "The question of autonomy appears to be more important after the war. Time has come for making East Pakistan self-sufficient in all aspects."
1959 (January 29 - 30):
Writers from both the wings meet in a convention in Karachi where they form the Pakistan Writers' Guild. Out of 250 delegates there only 30 were from East Pakistan. Even before the convention debate had started in the country whether both Urdu and Bangla could be written in Roman alphabets. There was a resistance against this in Karachi and similar opposition also started in East Pakistan.
1959 (February 21):
As under Martial Law orders more than five persons could not gather in one place, there were no Ekushey February processions or public meetings. The University of Dhaka, of course, declared the day a public holiday for its workers and students. The Central Students' Union of the university organized discussion meetings at the university campus where Bangla language and culture were dealt with and a strong opposition was expressed against using Roman alphabet for writing Bangla.
1961 (February 21):
There were spontaneous procesions in the city. For the first time, there was the largest number of women's participation in the Ekushey February processions and gatherings. Flags and banners with various slogans were also carried in the processions. At the foot of the under-construction Shaheed Minar there was a public gathering and a letter, addressed to students, written by martyr Abul Barkat's parents was read aloud. There were also demands for declaring February 21 as the Shaheed Dibosh (Martyrs' Day) as well as a public holiday and using Bangla as the medium of instruction at all levels. In other discussion meetings, organized by student and cultural organizations, condemnation was expressed against use of Roman alphabet for writing Bangla.
1962 (February 21):
More than 5,000 people joined the Probhat Feri (dawn processions) to the incomplete martyrs' memorial. At the public meeting at the foot of the memorial, demands were made to make February 21 a national holiday. There was also a demand for building the memorial in its proper place and according to the original plan of 1958. Requests were made to the traders and businessmen to put up signboards of shops, establishments and factories in Bangla. In a discussion meeting of Bangla Academy, Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah demanded that primary education be declared compulsory.
1962 (March 23):
The Martial Law Administrator (General Ayub Khan) promulgates a new Constitution that provided for indirectly elected National and Provincial Assemblies with limited legislative powers and an indirectly elected President with extensive executive powers.
1962 (June 8):
The new Constitution of Pakistan came into effect with the withdrawal of the martial law after 44 months. The language provisions of the constitution were as follows:
- The national languages of Pakistan are Bengali and Urdu, but this article shall not be construed as preventing the use of any other langauge and in particular, the English langauge, may be used for official and other purposes until arrangements for its replacement are made.
- In the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy two, the President shall constitute a commission to report on the question of the replacement of the English language for official purposes.
1962 (June 25):
An anti-Ayub Khan movement started when nine leaders of the Awami League, the Krishak Sramik Party and the Muslim League rejected the new constitution of Ayub Khan and issued a statement demanding the framing of a new Constitution based on parliamentary democracy and universal adult franchise.
1962 (October 25):
Monaem Khan is appointed the Governor of East Pakistan. He diligently toed the repressive policies of the Central Government. From 1962 to 1968, he ruled East Pakistan with a ruthless hand on behalf of Ayub Khan.
1963:
According to the suggestion of the National Education Commission of 1959, a Central Board for the Development of Bengali, also called Bangla Unnayon Board, was set up this year. The aims and objectives of this Board were: "to develop Bengali langauge and literature; to remove the existing difficulties in Bengali, particularly in the field on Natural and Social Sciences as well as in technologies in order that it becomes the medium of instruction at the higher educational level; and to coordinate the work of other organizations engaged in promoting literary and scientific effort in Bengali." One important achievement of this Board was the development of a modern keyboard for the Bengali typewriter, called Munier Optima, and the manufacture of the machine with foreign collaboration.
1963 (April):
The Bangla Academy in Dhaka appointed a committee to reform Bengali grammar and writing system, using more Arabic-Farsi words rather than existing Sanskrit-based words. The committee gave its report and recommendations after a few years. If implemented, the recommendations of this committee would drastically change the nature of the language that would not only have severed ties with the past traditions of the Bengali literature, but also with that of the Bengali literature of West Bengal.
1957 (February 7):
The Awami Muslim League organized the historic Kagmari Conference, presided by Maulana Bhasani and attended, among others, by Prime Minister Suhrawarthy. The main themes were regional autonomy and foreign policy. Suhrawarthy was complacent about the autonomy, but Maulana Bhasani was very explicit: "If you [West Pakistan] carry on your exploitation in East Pakistan, if you do not accept full autonomy for East Pakistan, the ruling class of Pakistan should know one thing -- assalamu alaikum -- you go in your way and we will go in our way." The regional autonomy, that was mentioned in the 1940 Lahore Resolution, gained renewed momentum after the February 21, 1952 death of the language martyrs and resurgence of Bangalee nationalism.
1957 (April 3):
The East Pakistan Assembly passed the following unanimous resolution on the issue of full autonomy: "This assembly is of the opinion that government of East Pakistan should represent to the government of Pakistan for taking suitable steps for providing full regional autonomy for East Pakistan, leaving the following subjects only to the concern of the Centre: Currency, Foreign Affairs, and Defence." The motion was moved by Muzaffar Ahmed and supported by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of the Awami League and Abu Hossain Sarker of the Krishak Sramik Party.
1958 (February 1):
After newspapers published reports on the delay and unfinished work of the Shaheed Minar, the work on the construction restarted on this day after a break of two years. The completion deadline was August, 1958.
1958 (February 21):
The Ekushey was observed throughout the country with due solemnity. Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah mentioned in a public meeting in Rajshahi that he would recommend Bangla to be used in all transactions of the university.
1958 (October 7):
President Iskander Mirza of Pakistan, in collusion with Army Chief General Ayub Khan, proclaimed martial law throughout East and West Pakistan. Ayub Khan becomes the Chief Martial Law Administrator. The Constitution of Pakistan is abrogated, national and provincial assemblies are dissolved and central and provincial governments are dismissed.
1958 (October 27):
General Ayub Khan, after forcing Iskander Mirza resign from Presidency and leave the country, takes over the administrative charge of Pakistan. Under his care all types of repressive measures come into effect in the political, economic, educational and cultural arena until his resignation from power in 1969 under country-wide public fury and agitation.
1956 (February 20):
The East Pakistan government in the meantime selects the site of the present-day Shaheed Minar (Martyrs' Memorial) and in the evening of this day six-year-old Basirun, daughter of rickshaw-puller Awal, a lesser known language martyr of 1952, lays the foundation stone.
1956 (February 21):
In the morning, East Pakistan Chief Minister Abu Hossain Sarker (of the Krishak Sramik Party), Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani (President of East Pakistan Awami Muslim League), and Hasin Begum (mother of language Martyr Abul Barkat) formally lay the foundation stone of the Shaheed Minar. It is noteworthy that this small memorial was under construction for long seven years (1956 to 1962)!
1956 (February 29):
The first Constitution of Pakistan was passed in the Pakistan Constituent Assembly.
1956 (March 23):
The new Constitution of Pakistan comes into effect from today.
1956 - 1958:
These years saw volatile political situation in the country. There were quite a few political reversals both at the Centre and the provinces of Pakistan. This uncertainty also adversely affected the observance of the Ekushey February in East Pakistan.
1952 (February 24):
The police and army are fully authorized to bring the volatile Dhaka situation back to normal in 48 hours. Most of the student and political leaders involved with the language movement are arrested within that period.
1952 (February 25):
The provincial government closes down the University of Dhaka for an unspecified period. Due to these government pressure tactics, the language movement becomes weakened in Dhaka city, but it gains momentum in other district cities and towns of East Pakistan. Students and people there mourn the dead, raise up temporary shaheed minars and keep the language movement alive for quite some time.
1952 (February 26):
The armed police demolish the first Shaheed Minar that was built by Dhaka Medical College Students on the spot of the first shooting in Dhaka on February 21.
1953 (June):
The University of Dhaka Court (later renamed Senate) strongly recommended to the then Muslim League government that a National Research Institute be established for the development and culture of Bengali language. (Two years later it was established and named the Bangla Academy).
1953 (December):
Main opposition parties (East Pakistan Awami Muslim League, Krishak-Praja Party, Nizam-e-Islam Party, and Ganatrantrik Dal) formed a united front against the ruling Muslim League party. In keeping with the 21st February, Shaheed Day, the pro-Bangla United Front came up with the manifesto containing 21 points. Most of the intellectuals of the province gave their support to the 21 points.
The provincial election was supposed to be in February, 1954, but Nurul Amin, the Chief Minister, postponed it to March. This gave an added time and impetus to the United Front to canvass and influence people to their causes.
In case of their victory and formation of the provincial government, the United Front pledged the following:
- Bengali (Bangla) will be made one of the state languages of Pakistan.
- Arrangements will be made to impart education through the mother tongue only.
- The United Front will change the residence (Burwan House) of the Chief Minister (incumbent Nurul Amin who had authorized the police shootings of February 21, 1952) and convert it into a centre for research for Bengali langauge and literature.
- In memory of those killed on February 21, a befitting martyrs' column will be erected on the spot of the killing and the families of the dead would receive compensation.
- The February 21 would be declared the Shaheed Dibosh (Martyrs' Day) and it would be a public holiday.
1954 (March 10):
In the first-ever general election in East Pakistan, the United Front (called Jukta Front in Bangla), defeating the incumbent Muslim League party, won 223 seats out of a total of 237 and formed the provincial government with Sher-e-Bangla Fazlul Haque as its Chief Minister. The new cabinet was sworn in on April 2. They kept their promise of declaring February 21 as the Shaheed Dibosh and also a public holiday.
1954 (April 20-23):
A four-day East Pakistan literary conference was held at the Burdwan House (former Chief Minister's House -- now the Bangla Academy building) with 108 literateurs and artists. They condemned the West Pakistani rulers and Muslim League government for their conspiracy against Bangla language and culture. An exhibition of photographs and paintings on the language movement was also held there.
1954 (May 29):
The Central Government of Pakistan arbitrarily and unjustly dismissed the United Front Ministry and East Pakistan was placed under the Central Govt. rule. Repressive measures were introduced. The observance of Ekushey February and declaration of public holiday were cancelled. Ban was placed on processions and demonstrations in the month of February.
1955 (February 21):
There was no Shaheed Minar, and nobody was allowed to visit Azimpur graveyard for paying homage to the martyrs. In protest, students remained barefooted from February 19 to 21. On February 21, 215 students including 19 girls were arrested. The following day, 10 more students, including three girls, were taken into custody. In other cities and towns there were also lathicharge (beating with wooden or cane sticks), tear-gassing and arrests.
One important tradition developed from this February is that of going barefooted on each February 21 processions for paying homage to the language martyrs.
1955 (December 3):
Bangla Academy, a national research institute, comes into being for research and development of Bengali (Bangla) language. Gradually it became a powerful publishing house, with several thousand books to its credit. It also gets books of world literature in Bangla translations, in addition to getting Bangla literary works translated into English. It publishes several journals on creative literature, research, science, juvenile literature and folklore. Since 1972, it has been facilitating the month-long national Boi Mela (book fair) on its premises in each February in honour of the language martyrs.
