2. Joint Front Election 1954
• The formation and election of the United Front in 1954 was an
important chapter in the political history of Bengal.
• Political parties like Awami Muslim League, Krishak-Shramik Party,
East Pakistan Communist Party, Nezam-e-Islami, Pakistan National
Congress etc. Were born.
• Although the East Pakistan Provincial Council elections were
scheduled to be held in 1951, the Muslim League government
repeatedly postponed the date of the election due to the fear of
defeat.
• Finally, the government fixed the date of the provincial council
elections in East Bengal on March 8, 1954.
3. The 1954 East Bengal cabinet formed by the United
Front
4. Background of formation of United Front and
21 point programme
• In 1954 Muslim League was the oldest and largest party.
• The newly established political parties plan to hold elections in alliance as a strategy to
defeat the Muslim League.
• On November 14, 1953, the Awami Muslim League Council held in Mymensingh decided
to form 'United Front’.
• The United Front was originally composed of four opposition political parties.
• 1. Awami Muslim League led by Maulana Bhasani,
• 2. Shere Bangla AK Fazlul Haque Farmer-Labor Party,
• 3. Maulana Atahar Ali’s Nezam-e-Islami Party and
• 4. Left Democratic Party of Haji Danesh.
• The symbol of United Front in the election was ‘boat’.
• The 21-point election manifesto of the United Front was announced with the main
demands of the 42-point election program of the Awami Muslim League.
5. Twenty One Point Programme
1. To recognise Bangla as one of the State Languages of Pakistan;
2. To abolish without compensation zamindari and all rent receiving
interest in land, and to distribute the surplus lands amongst the
cultivators;
3. To nationalise the jute trade and bring it under the direct control of
the government of East Bengal,
6. 4. To introduce co-operative farming in agriculture
5. To start salt industry
6. To rehabilitate immediately all the poor refugees
belonging to the artisan and technician class;
7. To protect the country from flood and famine by
means of digging canals
8. To make the country self-sufficient by modernising
the method of cultivation and industrialisation
7. 9. To introduce free and compulsory primary education
throughout the country
10. To restructure the entire education system, introduce
mother tongue as the medium of instruction, remove
discrimination between government and private schools and
to turn all the schools into government aided institutions;
11. Making Dhaka and Rajshahi universities into autonomous
institutions.
12. Reducing governance costs.
8. 13. Taking effective measures to stop bribery, corruption and nepotism.
14. Repeal of public safety laws and ordinances etc.
15. Separation of judiciary from administrative department.
16. Converting the chief minister’s residence ‘Burdwan House’ into a
Bengali language laboratory.
17. Construction of Shahid Minar in memory of the heroic martyrs of
the language movement of ‘52.
9. 16. Converting the chief minister’s residence ‘Burdwan House’ into a Bengali language
laboratory.
17. Construction of Shahid Minar in memory of the heroic martyrs of the language movement
of ‘52.
18. Declare February 1 as Martyr’s Day as a public holiday.
19. Pursuant to the Lahore Resolution of 1940, full autonomy was granted to East Bengal.
20. Not to extend the term of the Legislative Council in any way.
21. If the legislative council seat is vacant, it should be filled by by-election within three
months.
10. • Result
37.19 percent of voters voted in the election. Election results were
officially announced on April 2. United Front won 223 seats out of total
309 seats. The ruling Muslim League got only 9 seats.
• Significance of election
The 1954 election was a united protest of Bengalis against the unjust,
discriminatory and failed rule of the Muslim League. The Bengali nation
through this election made the Muslim League understand that they no
longer want the Muslim League in East Bengal.
12. • Dissolution of United Front government
• However, within weeks of assuming power, the newly elected
provincial legislature was dismissed by Governor-
General Ghulam Muhammad, upon accusations against A K
Fazlul Huq of attempting secession.
• Last for only 56 days
• Reference
1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Front_(East_Pakistan)
2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371731848_United_
Front_election_of_1954_The_Struggle_for_Democracy
3. https://www.studocu.com/row
