United Front Election of 1954:
Jannatul Afrin Nimme
Course :Bangladesh Studies
World University of Bangladesh
Introduction
The United Front is a coalition formed by several opposition parties to contest
the 1954 elections against the Muslim League. On 4 December 1953, the Krishak-
Praja Party led by Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq, the Awami Muslim League led by
Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, the Nezame Islami led by Maulana Atahar
Ali and the Left Democratic Party led by Haji Danesh formed the United Front.
Background of the United Front:
Muslim League was the oldest and largest party among the political parties in
Bengal before the election of 1954. Besides, Muslim League was leading the
provincial government of east Bengal. As a result, the newly formed parties in the
East Pakistan planned to form coalition as a strategy to defeat Muslim League in
the election in 1954. Resultantly, the decision to form United Front Coalition was
taken at the council of Awami Muslim League in Mymensing on 14th November,
1953. The coalition consisted of four main opposition parties; Awami Muslim
League led by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Krishak-Praja Party led by
A K Fazlul Haque, Nezam-E-Islami of Maulana Atahar Ali and the leftist
Democratic Party of Hazi Danesh. The electoral symbol for the United Front
Coalition was 'Boat'. The coalition declared 21-point charter of election manifesto
by selecting the main demands made on the 42 point election manifesto of Awami
Muslim League. Abul Mansur Ahmed was the main person to write the 21-point
charter with the view to reflect the hopes and expectations from the mass people of
East Bengal.
Events of Election :
Bengali nation first united in an unprecedented way centring the 1952 Language
Movement, which ultimately paved the way for realizing the rights and protests
the exploitation of the Pakistani government. As young Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
assumed the general secretary of the then Awami Muslim League, he rose the
nation with the spirit of the language movement. He drew the world’s attention
by delivering a speech in Bangla at the World Peace Council in China in 1953.
Another renowned author Munoz Basu from West Bengal also gave his speech in
Bangla in the programme.
Regarding Bangabandhu’s effort to ensure the highest status of the Bangla
language, language movement veteran Gaziul Haque wrote that the first
procession to mark the first anniversary of the language movement in 1953 was
started with the arrival of Ataur Rahman Khan and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
among others in the university premises. The procession parading different
important streets of the capital ended in the Armanitola followed by a rally where
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman spoke on behalf of the Awami League. The rally
demanded immediate release of all language movement protesters and prayed
for the departed soul of the language martyrs. East Bengal witnessed a fresh
agitation for the state status of the Bangla language again from 1953. People
raised their voices for the demands and rights amid the social, economic and
political exploitation and discrimination of West Pakistan. Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman, who had just been Awami Muslim League’s general secretary after the
illness of Shamsul Haq, consequently became the torchbearer of the nation.
As the Pakistan government announced the schedule of the election in the East
Bengal Legislative Assembly, an alliance named Jukto Front (United Front) was
formed with Awami Muslim League, Krishak Sramik Party, Nezam-e-Islam and
Ganatantri Dal on December 4 in 1953. To counter the then party in power
Muslim League, the Front came up with the historic Twenty-One Point
Programme as the election manifesto giving priorities to the status of the Bangla
language and rights of the Bengali nation
21-Points Charter of United Front:
1. To Establish Bengali as one of the state language of Pakistan 2. To dissolute
the Zamidari System without compensation and distribute the surplus land
among the landless people 3. To nationalize the Jute Industry. 4. To
establish co-operative agricultural system to develop agriculture. 5. To set
up salt factory 6. To generate employment for the mohazer-artist-
technician class. 7. To eradicate flood and famine through digging canal and
arranging irrigation.Language Movements and Afterwards Political Episode
139 8. To make the country self dependent on food and industry 9. To
introduce free and mandatory primary education. 10. Education through
mother language, reduce the gap between government and private schools
and providing government assistance favoring every school. 11. To convert
the University of Dhaka and Rajshahi University as autonomous body. 12.
To reduce the administrative expenses. Ministers salary no to be more than
Taka one thousand. 13. To take necessary steps to control bribery,
corruption and nepotism. 14. To cancel the dark laws including Public
Protection Act and Ordnance. 15. To separate the Judicial Department from
the Administrative Department. 16. To make the chief minister's residence
'the Bardhawan House' as Bengali Language Research Center. 17. To
construct a monument commemorating the martyrs of 52's language
movement. 18. To declare 21 February as government holiday considering
it as Shahid Dibosh. 19. To provide full autonomy to East Bengal as per
1940-Lahore Resolution. 20. In no way the validity of Legislative Assembly is
extended. 21. If any seats in the Legislative Assembly become vacant, it
should be filled in within three months by giving by-election.
Results of the Election of 1954:
Election Victory: The United Front (Awami Muslim League 143, Krishak-Praja
Party 48, Nezame Islami 19, Left Democratic Party 13) won 223 out of 237 Muslim
seats in the provincial assembly elections and the Muslim League won only 10
seats. Besides, out of 72 non-Muslim seats, United Front got 13 seats. One of the
key leaders of the United Front, Sheikh Mujib rushed to villages after villages to
seek support for the 21-point programme. He held public rallies and delivered
fierce speeches to raise the Bengali nation. Young Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
defeated his opposition candidate Wahiduzzaman from Muslim League in his seat
in Tungipara and elected as a member of the legislative body.
In the elections held in March 1954, the United Front managed to bag only nine
seats whereas Awami Muslim League won 143 seats and Krishak Sramik Party 48
seats. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sown as the youngest minister in the cabinet. He
became the minister for agriculture, forest and cooperative ministry.
But the central government hatched a conspiracy and ran a riot at Adamjee Jute
Mills where approximately 500 Bengali were killed. The newly elected cabinet was
abolished, and the central government took over the power under section 92(A)
on May 9 in 1954 holding the Jukto Front cabinet responsible for the riots.
Iskander Mirza was also appointed as the governor for East Bengal on the same
day. Then, there started a massive crackdown on Jukto Front and Awami Muslim
League arresting thousands, including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. As AK Fazlul Huq
was in house arrest and Mawlana Bhashani and Suhrawardy were staying abroad,
there was no demonstration against the incidents.
Formation of government: The United Front Cabinet was formed on 3 April
1954 under the leadership of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq. On 15 May 1954,
the Awami Muslim League joined the cabinet and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was
appointed Minister of Agriculture, Cooperatives and Rural Development.
Importance and Significance of the election of 1954:
1. Bengali nationalism is strong. 2. A united public opinion was formed. 3. The
influence of the middle class increases. 4. Political awareness increases in
East Pakistan. 5. The boat gained recognition as a symbol of election. 6.
Non-communal politics developed. 7. It inspired the war of independence.
Reasons for the defeat of the Muslim League:
1. Formation of United Front and widespread support in East Pakistan 2.
Failure to formulate the constitution of the Muslim League 3. Lack of
competent leadership 4. Mass isolation of the Muslim League 5. Conflict of the
Muslim League 6. Boundless inequality between East and West Pakistan 7.
Boundless corruption and nepotism
