HIS 103: Emergence of Bangladesh - Six-Point Program

Emergence of Bangladesh: Six-Point Program of Bangabandhu (1966)

• The Six-Point Program was a charter of freedom for Bangladesh's struggle for self-determination from West Pakistan's domination.

Background

• The Awami League Council meeting in February 1966 adopted the Six-Point Formula for autonomy of East Pakistan.
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was elected as the President of the Awami League.
• The Six-Point Formula was presented publicly in Lahore on February 5-6, 1966, before an all-political parties meeting.

Key Proponents

• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the main proponent of the Six-Point Formula, assisted by Tajuddin Ahmed.
• A segment of people believe that the six points were a joint production of intellectuals, including economics and political science professors of Dhaka University, with the help of some Bengali CSP officers.

Government Response

• The government-controlled press initially provided prominent coverage to the Six Points Programme.
• The government sought to discredit Punjabi opposition leaders by highlighting the nationalist trend represented by Sheikh Mujib.

Reaction of Other Political Parties

• The Council of Muslim League (CML) described the six points as a demand for confederation, not federation.
• Jama'at-i-Islami branded it as a separatist design.
• Nizam-i-Islam rejected it as a unilateral, dictatorial move on Mujib's part.
• National Awami Party (NAP) dismissed it as parochial and not including measures to free East Pakistan from imperialist agents.

Consequences

• The Awami League propagated the Six Points Programme amongst the people, inspiring a mass movement.
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested on 18 April 1966 and placed in detention.
• A special protest day was observed on 7 June 1966, in support of the Six Points movement.

Six-Point Formula

Point 5

• There shall be two separate accounts for the foreign exchange earnings of the two wings.
• The earnings of East Pakistan shall be under the control of the East Pakistan government.
• The foreign exchange requirement of the federal government shall be met by the two wings either equally or in a ratio to be fixed.

Point 6

• The federating provinces shall be able to raise para-militia or para-military forces for their own defenses.
• Ammunition manufacturing units and the Naval headquarters should be located in East Pakistan.

Ayub's Reaction

• General Ayub labelled Bangabandhu as the 'Number One Enemy of Pakistan.'
• He labelled the Programme a scheme for secession and declared that he would respond to it 'with the language of weapons.'
• Ayub's government moved to suppress the movement with force, leading to demonstrations, arrests, and deaths.