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Six Points Movement: Background & Aftermath

The document summarizes the background and key points of the Six Point Movement led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Awami League in 1966. The Six Point Movement called for greater autonomy and self-governance for East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) within a federated Pakistan. The six main points demanded separate currencies, foreign exchange control, taxation authority and paramilitary forces for East Pakistan. However, the movement faced backlash from West Pakistani political and military leaders who rejected the demands and arrested Sheikh Mujib, accusing him of separatism.

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1K views22 pages

Six Points Movement: Background & Aftermath

The document summarizes the background and key points of the Six Point Movement led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Awami League in 1966. The Six Point Movement called for greater autonomy and self-governance for East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) within a federated Pakistan. The six main points demanded separate currencies, foreign exchange control, taxation authority and paramilitary forces for East Pakistan. However, the movement faced backlash from West Pakistani political and military leaders who rejected the demands and arrested Sheikh Mujib, accusing him of separatism.

Uploaded by

abdullah islam
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Six points Movement

Background & Aftermath


Dr. Mohammad Humayun
Background of Six Points Movement

• Six Point Program was evolved through different phases of history.


• The Lahore Resolution
• The first Grand Convention of Awami League was held in Dhaka in
November, 1950 in which some prominent Awami League leaders
propagated the message of true federal states.
• Their constitutional proposals support the first report of the BPC (Basic
Principles Committee) provided for a 'United States of Pakistan' with only
defense and foreign affairs in the hands of the federal government.
Background of Six Points Movement
• On the subject of taxation, it was suggested by the Awami League Convention that
center only could impose taxes under some specified heads with the consent of the
province. It also said:
- (a) United States of Pakistan, consisting of the Eastern and Western regions with a
parliament elected under a joint electorate system;
- (b) Only Defence and Foreign Affairs to be the central subjects provided that (i) two
units of Defence Forces with two Regional General Officers Commanding in the East
and the West under Supreme Command at the Federal Capital; (ii) the Regional
Defense Force raised from and managed by the people of the respective regions, (iii) a
Regional Foreign Affairs office in the Eastern Region; and
- (c) the Federal Government to impose taxes only on some specified items; new items
for taxation could be added with the consent of the regions. The proposed
Constitution also called for the establishment of "a sovereign Socialist Republic” of
Bengalis and for the recognition of Bengali as a state language.
Background of Six Points Movement
• In the famous 21-Point Program of United Front, a full provincial autonomy on the
basis of the Lahore Resolution was demanded by giving center only defense and
foreign affairs. The demands in the Six Point Formula were, therefore, based on the
earlier proposals evolved through different phases in the history of East Pakistan.
• The demand of autonomy rightly reflected in the 21 points election manifesto of
United front in 1954. In the point 19, the United Front stated:
“East Bengal will get complete autonomy according to the Lahore Resolution. Our
defense, currency and foreign policy will be joint subjects with the Center. Army
headquarters will be in West Pakistan and Naval headquarters are to be set up in East
Pakistan, so that this wing can become strong to safeguard her freedom’‘

• The six points of Awami League (AL), which created Bangladesh in 1971 were more or
less the reformulation of this proposal.
Background of Six Points Movement
• The 1965 Indo-Pak war also contributed in formulating Six points Program.
The 1965 Indo-Pak War came as an eye-opener for the Bangalis because during
the War, East Pakistan became completely isolated from the rest of the world.
•Disparity
- Administrative Disparity
• Representation from East Pakistan was bare minimum from the highest level to
the lowest clerks. During Ayub regime there were 62 Ministers of whom only 22
were Bengalis. These ministers were given only low key ministries.
- Economic Disparity
• The Head-quarters of all the financial institutions were in West- Pakistan.
Hence all the capital were shifted there.
• East Pakistan contributed more to the exchequer than West Pakistan but got
less in return.
Background of Six Points Movement
• DISPARITY
- Disparity in Development Budget for example from 1960-65 East Pakistan
received 970 cores while for the same period West Pakistan received 2150
cores.
- Military service – all the head quarters of the three services were in West
Pakistan.
- Most military personnel were from WP
Six Points Program
• Opposition leaders in West Pakistan called for a national conference on February
6, 1966 to assess the trend of post-Tashkent politics.
• On February 4, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with some members of Awami
League, reached Lahore to attend the conference. The next day on February 5,
he placed six points before the meeting of subject committee and urged to
include the issue in the agenda of next day conference.
• The proposal was rejected and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was identified as
separatist. On February 6, Bangabandhu boycotted the conference and in a
Press Conference he declared his Six Point Program.
• On February 21, six points proposal was placed before the meeting of the
Working Committee of Awami League and the proposal was accepted
unanimously.
• On 18 and 19 March 1966 Council Meeting of Awami League adopted Six Point
Programme.
Six Points Program

Sheikh Mujib announcing the Six Points in Lahore


Six Points Program

• What is 6 Points program?

• The historic Six-Point Demand or the Six-Point Formula has been widely
credited as the "charter of freedom" in Bangladesh's struggle for
self-determination from West Pakistan's domination.

• Indeed, the six-point movement in 1966 was the turning point in our
quest for independence.
Six Points Program
Point 1:
•The constitution should provide for a federation of Pakistan in the
true sense on the basis of the Lahore Resolution and for a
Parliamentary form of government based on the supremacy of a duly
elected legislature on the basis of universal adult franchise.
Six Points Program
Point 2:

• The federal government should deal with only two subjects: Defense and
Foreign Affairs, and all other residuary subjects shall be vested in the
federating states.
Six Points Program
Point 3:
• There shall be two separate but easily convertible currencies for the two
wings of Pakistan. Or alternatively, there may by a single currency with the
provision that the Federal Bank shall take adequate measures to stop the
siphoning off from East Pakistan to West Pakistan.
Six Points Program
Point 4:
• Separate accounts shall be maintained for the foreign exchange earnings
of the two wings. The foreign exchange earned from foreign trade shall be
under the control of the respective wings. The federation will be entitled
to share the Foreign earning from the state to meet its expenditures.
Six Points Program
Point 5:
• There will be no taxation on internal trade. The federating units shall be
independent in conducting trades with foreign countries.
Six Points Program
Point 6:
• The federating provinces shall be able to raise para-militia or para-military
forces for their own defenses. Ammunition manufacturing units as well as
the Naval headquarter should be located in the East Pakistan.
Six Points Program
• In the press conference at Lahore, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said that since the
proposed six-point demand was not at all designed to harm the common
people of West Pakistan, the question of demanding a genuine "provincial
autonomy" for East Pakistan based on the six-point formula "should not be
misconstrued or dismissed as provincialism."
- He pointed out that the 17-day war between Pakistan and India in September
1965 had made it crystal clear to the "East Pakistanis" that the defense of East
Pakistan couldn't be contingent upon the mercy or courtesy of West Pakistan.
- He said that instead of relying on West Pakistan for its protection, East
Pakistan a land located one thousand miles away should be made
self-sufficient for defending itself from external aggression.
Six Points Program
• The mainstream political leaders of the opposition parties in Pakistan were
not even willing to discuss the merits or demerits of the proposed six-point
formula for ensuring greater provincial autonomy for the eastern province of
Pakistan. It is also really appalling to recall that the non-Awami League
delegates from the then East Pakistan did not endorse the six-point demand
initially.

• Instead of endorsing or discussing the six-point formula, the self-declared


champions of restoration of democracy in the then Pakistan had deliberately
launched a hateful propaganda campaign against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the
chief sponsor and proponent of the six-point plan.
Reaction to Six Points Program
In her celebrated book, Pakistan: Failure in National Integration, Dr. Rounaq
Jahan concisely summarized the hostile reactions of other political parties to the
six-point formula-
Reaction of The Political Party
• The CML (Council of Muslim League) described the six points as a demand for
confederation, not federation;
• The Jama'at-i-Islami branded it as a separatist design;
• The Nizam-i-Islam rejected it as a unilateral, dictatorial move on Mujib's part;
and
• The NAP (National Awami Party) dismissed it on the grounds that it was
parochial and did not include any measures to free East Pakistan from
imperialists agents."
Reaction to Six Points Program
Reaction of the Ruling Elite
• The Ayub government projected Sheikh Mujib as a separatist and later instituted
the Agartala conspiracy case against him. He was arrested and put on trial.
President Ayub remarked that it is the conspiracy for establishing a Hindu-dominated
United Bengal. On 15 March he observed that it is intended to destroy Pakistan.
• The press in West Pakistan described it as secessionist agenda.
• However, the ruling circle of Pakistan was not at all interested in dealing or negotiating
with the Awami League on the issue of provincial autonomy even though Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman had publicly stated that he was willing to negotiate his six-point plan
with anyone in good faith, provided a meaningful autonomy was ensured for East
Pakistan.
• Monaem Khan, the infamous governor of East Pakistan, had publicly stated that "as
long as I remain as the governor of this province, I will see to it that Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman remains in chains."
• Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had openly challenged Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to a public debate
at Paltan Maidan in Dhaka on the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed six-point
formula.
Reaction to Six Points Program
• Reaction of the East Pakistani People
• The People of East Pakistan welcomed the Six Points Program whole heartedly and it
gained immense kind of support for a variety of reasons.
• Firstly, it challenged the political and economic monopoly of West Pakistan.
• Secondly, the East Pakistan’s export earnings would no longer be exploited and
manipulated for the growth of the industrialization of West Pakistan.
• Thirdly, foreign aid would no longer be monopolized for West Pakistan only.
• Fourthly, the East Pakistan would no longer remain an inferior and sub-ordinate
market for West Pakistani products.
• Finally, the end of Economic priorities determined for the advantage of West Pakistan
only.
Significance to Six Points Program
• On June 7 in 1966 the Awami League called a countrywide hartal in the then
East Pakistan to press the government to their six-point demands. Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman along with many others was arrested. Since then 7th June
is observed as the historic six-point day.
Significance to Six Points Program
Thunderous expression against oppression
Final expression of Bengali nationalism
Demand for autonomy
Expression to become self-reliant
Total opposition and final movement against Government of Pakistan.
Awareness of the value of democracy
Increased the popularity of Awami League
Impact upon the 1970 Election
Seed to the eventual independence of Bangladesh

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