Bengalis in Pakistan

Bengalis in Pakistan
Regions with significant populations
Karachi
Languages
Bengali · Urdu · English (Pakistani English)
Religion
Islam

Pakistani Bengalis (Urdu: پاکستانی بنگالی ‎) are those Pakistani citizens, who migrated from East Pakistan, later Bangladesh, and settled mainly in Karachi.

Migration from East Pakistan

Many of the people are migrants from East Pakistan, settled in the present day West Pakistan, and remained loyal to Pakistan, while others immigrated from Bangladesh later. Much of the Bangladeshi-origin population also includes the thousands of stateless Biharis, Stranded Pakistanis, who were allowed resettlement in Pakistan. Surur Hoda was actively involved in issues relating to Bihari refugees in Bangladesh. Surur Hoda organised a delegation, headed by Ennals and Ben Whitaker, which contributed to nearly 200,000 refugees returning to Pakistan.[1]

Suppression under Bhutto's Rule

By 1995 however, continuous migration led it to cross the 2,500,000 mark. During the administration of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, some top advisers became concerned with the large Bangladeshi migrant population, afraid they could become second largest group in Karachi after Urdu-speaking Muhajir people and disturb sensitive demographics. Accordingly, Bhutto ordered a crackdown and deportation on Bangladeshi immigrants. Benazir Bhutto action strained and created tensions in Bangladesh–Pakistan relations, with Khaleda Zia, who was in power in Dhaka during the time, refusing to accept the deportees and reportedly sending two planeloads back towards Pakistan and Muslim political parties in Pakistan also criticised Bhutto and dubbing the crackdown as anti-Islamic. She was ultimately forced to abandon the order.[2]

Bengali colonies

As of 2012 there are 2 million illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Pakistan.[3] Shaikh Muhammad Feroze, the chairman of the Pakistani Bengali Action Committee, claimed that there were 200 settlements of Bengali-speaking people in Pakistan, of which 132 are in Karachi. They are found in various areas of Pakistan such as Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Tando Adam and Lahore.[4] There are numerous Bengali colonies in Karachi, often called "Mini Bangladesh" (or East Pakistan Colony, in memorandum),[5] such as Machar Colony, Musa Colony and Chittagong Colony.

The Bengali communities in Pakistan are also adopting Urdu and are assimilating with Muhajirs. When one walks through these colonies, one can see the colorful Bengali signboards, Bhashani caps, lungis and kurtas.[5] The Chittagong Colony has a bazaar, which was famous throughout Pakistan as the center for Dhaka cloth.[6] In more recent times, the Bengali population has seen a decline as the perilous journey from Bangladesh has been fraught with danger and tense borders. Furthermore, given the tense ethnic rivalries and lack of social welcome in Pakistan Bengalis have now been traveling elsewhere.

Culture and education

University of Karachi offers Bachelor's and Masters courses in Bengali.[7]

Karachi was also the headquarters of the local Bengali language newspaper Daily Qaumi Bandhan.[5]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ McRobie, George (30 June 2003). "Surur Hoda". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
  2. ↑ INDO-BANGLADESH STANDOFF Archived 18 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "Five million illegal immigrants residing in Pakistan". January 16, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Fringe Pakistan: Bengali-speaking Pakistanis demand right to vote". March 10, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Tohid, Owais; Mahmud, Arshad (29 November 1995). "Homeless In Karachi". Outlook. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  6. ↑ Naqvi, Abbas (17 December 2006). "Falling back". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "Official Website of Department of Bengali". University of Karachi. Retrieved 2014-01-22.

External links

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