Country: | East Pakistan |
Type: | Parliamentary |
Previous Election: | 1962 East Pakistan Provincial Assembly election |
Previous Year: | 1962 |
Election Date: | 17 December 1970 |
Next Election: | 1973 Bangladeshi general election |
Next Year: | 1973 |
Seats For Election: | 300 of the 310 seat in the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly |
Majority Seats: | 156 |
Registered: | 29,479,386 |
Turnout: | 57.68% |
Image1: | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1950.jpg |
Leader1: | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |
Party1: | Awami League |
Last Election1: | 143 |
Seats1: | 288 |
Seat Change1: | 145 |
Leader2: | Nurul Amin |
Last Election2: | New party |
Party2: | Pakistan Democratic Party |
Seats2: | 2 |
Seat Change2: | 2 |
Governor | |
Before Election: | Syed Mohammad Ahsan |
Before Party: | Military |
Posttitle: | President of Provisional Government-elect |
After Election: | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |
After Party: | Awami League |
Provincial elections were held in East Pakistan on 17 December 1970, ten days after general elections. A total of 1,850 candidates ran for the 300 seats in the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly.[1] The result was a landslide victory for the Awami League, which won 288 of the 300 seats.
In the previous provincial election in 1954, the Awami League, Krishak Sramik Party and other smaller parties formed an alliance called United Front (Jukto Front). The Jukto Front won a landslide victory by winning 223 of the 309 seats. The Muslim League, once the most popular party in the province, had its worst-ever defeat, with many provincial ministers, including the chief minister of East Bengal, losing their seats.[2]
In 1958, the military takeover by Field Marshal Ayub Khan overthrew all federal and provincial governments of Pakistan.[3]
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the leader of the Awami League in 1963 and became the strongest supporter of lifting martial law and restoring democracy. In the 1965 Presidential Election Sheikh Mujibur Rahman openly supported and launched campaign along with his party for Fatima Jinnah. Fatima Jinnah gained more votes in East Bengal than West Pakistan.[4]
On 18 March 1966, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman placed Six-point movement during a conference held in Lahore which demanded more autonomy for East Bengal. It was rejected by then political parties of both wings but got huge support from the people of East Bengal.[5] In April 1966, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman demanded to conduct a nationwide referendum on his six-point movement and said that military establishment is exploiting East Bengal by using all export revenue of jute to feed the army.[6]
He was arrested in April 1966 in Jessore but was bailed out soon. He was again arrested on the orders of Ayub Khan in May and sent to Sylhet jail where he was charged in the Agartala Conspiracy case along with 28 East Bengali military and government officials. After huge protests against the arrest of Sheikh Mujib Rahman across East Bengal all cases were withdrawn and he was released.[7]
A month before elections the deadliest tropical storm hit East Bengal which claimed lives of at least half a million people.[8] Poor response from then government of Pakistan skyrocketed popularity of anti-establishment party Awami League. Military dictator and then president Yahya Khan was strongly criticized by international media due to its poor disaster governance.[9]
The Awami League won a landslide victory of 288 seats. After claiming all ten seats reserved for women, it held 298 seats.[10]
Constituency | Member | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
Rangpur-1 | Abdur Rahman Chaudhuri | ||
Rangpur-2 | Mohammad Amin | ||
Rangpur-3 | Azharul Islam | ||
Rangpur-4 | Dr. Zikrul Haq | ||
Rangpur-5 | Abid Ali | ||
Rangpur-6 | Karimuddin Ahmed | ||
Rangpur-7 | Elahi Baksh Sarkar | ||
Rangpur-8 | Mohammad Siddiq Hossain | ||
Rangpur-9 | Shah Abdur Razzak | ||
Rangpur-10 | Mohammad Hamiduzzaman Sarkar | ||
Rangpur-11 | Mohammad Gazi Rahman | ||
Rangpur-12 | Shamshul Haq Chaudhuri | ||
Rangpur-13 | Abdul Hakim | ||
Rangpur-14 | Abul Hossain | ||
Rangpur-15 | Abdullah Suhrawardi | ||
Rangpur-16 | Nurul Islam | ||
Rangpur-17 | Shamshul Hossain | ||
Rangpur-18 | M. A. Taleb Mia | ||
Rangpur-19 | Mohammad Waliur Rahman | ||
Rangpur-20 | Dr. Mafizur Rahman | ||
Rangpur-21 | Jamalur Rahman Pradhan | ||
Rangpur-22 | Azizur Rahman | ||
Dinajpur-1 | Kamruddin Ahmed | ||
Dinajpur-2 | Advocate Sirajul Islam | ||
Dinajpur-3 | Mohammad Fazlur Karim | ||
Dinajpur-4 | Ekramul Haq | ||
Dinajpur-5 | Mohammad Golam Rahman | ||
Dinajpur-6 | S. M. Yusuf | ||
Dinajpur-7 | Mohammad Abdur Rahim | ||
Dinajpur-8 | Mohammad Khatibur Rahman | ||
Dinajpur-9 | Sadar Mosharraf Hossain | ||
Dinajpur-10 | Kazi Abdul Majid Chaudhuri | ||
Bogra-1 | Saidur Rahman | ||
Bogra-2 | Qasimuddin Ahmed | ||
Bogra-3 | Sheikh Abul Hasnat Chaudhuri | ||
Bogra-4 | Muzaffar Hossain | ||
Bogra-5 | Hassain Ali Sarkar | ||
Bogra-6 | Taherul Islam Khan | ||
Bogra-7 | Dr. Mohammad Golam Sarwar | ||
Bogra-8 | Mohammad Abdur Rahman Fakir | ||
Bogra-9 | Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan Khan | ||
Rajshahi-1 | Dr. Moinuddin Ahmed | ||
Rajshahi-2 | N. A. Hamidur Rahman | ||
Rajshahi-3 | Dr. A. A. S. Misbahul Haq | ||
Rajshahi-4 | Dr. Mohammad Bashirul Haq | ||
Rajshahi-5 | Kazimdar Wasimuddin Ahmed | ||
Rajshahi-6 | Captain Ismail Hossain Chaudhuri | ||
Rajshahi-7 | Imazuddin Pramanik | ||
Rajshahi-8 | Ghiyasuddin Sardar | ||
Rajshahi-9 | Mohammad Azizul Islam Khan | ||
Rajshahi-10 | Riyazuddin Ahmed | ||
Rajshahi-11 | Abdul Hadi | ||
Rajshahi-12 | Sardar Amjad Hossain | ||
Rajshahi-13 | Dr. Mohammad Alauddin | ||
Rajshahi-14 | Zillur Rahman | ||
Rajshahi-15 | Shankar Gobinda Chaudhuri | ||
Rajshahi-16 | Ashraful Islam Mia | ||
Rajshahi-17 | Mohammad Abdus Salam | ||
Pabna-1 | M. Mansur Ali | ||
Pabna-2 | Syed Hyder Ali | ||
Pabna-3 | Rowshanul Haq | ||
Pabna-4 | |||
Pabna-5 | K. B. M. Abu Hena | ||
Pabna-6 | A. B. M. Mahbulul Islam | ||
Pabna-7 | Abdur Rahman | ||
Pabna-8 | Mohammad Rafiq | ||
Pabna-9 | Tafizuddin Ahmed | ||
Pabna-10 | Mohammad Mozammel Haq | ||
Pabna-11 | Amin Uddin | ||
Pabna-12 | Mohammad Abdur Rab | ||
Kushtia-1 | Zahrul Haq | ||
Kushtia-2 | Abdur Rab Chaudhuri | ||
Kushtia-3 | Ahsan Ullah | ||
Kushtia-4 | Golam Kibria | ||
Kushtia-5 | Nurul Haq | ||
Kushtia-6 | Dr. Ahsanul Haq | ||
Kushtia-7 | Yunus Ali | ||
Jessore-1 | Kazi Khademul Islam | ||
Jessore-2 | A. B. M. Golam Majid | ||
Jessore-3 | General K. M. A. Aziz | ||
Jessore-4 | Mohammad Muinuddin | ||
Jessore-5 | Mohammad Tabibur Rahman Sardar | ||
Jessore-6 | Mohammad Abu Islam | ||
Jessore-7 | Mohammad Nurul Islam | ||
Jessore-8 | |||
Jessore-9 | Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain | ||
Jessore-10 | Asaduzzaman | ||
Jessore-11 | |||
Jessore-12 | Shahid Ali Khan | ||
Jessore-13 | S. M. Matiur Rahman | ||
Khulna-1 | Sheikh Ali Ahmed | ||
Khulna-2 | Abdur Rahman Sheikh | ||
Khulna-3 | Mir Shaukat Ali | ||
Khulna-4 | Abdul Latif Khan | ||
Khulna-5 | Kuber Chandra Biswas | ||
Khulna-6 | Habibur Rahman Khan | ||
Khulna-7 | Dr. Mansur Ali | ||
Khulna-8 | Enayet Ali Sana | ||
Khulna-9 | Momin Uddin Ahmed | ||
Khulna-10 | Mohammad Syed | ||
Khulna-11 | Fazlul Haq Sardar | ||
Khulna-12 | Mohammad Khairul Alam | ||
Khulna-13 | Mamtaz Ahmed Sardar | ||
Khulna-14 | S. M. Alauddin | ||
Patuakhali-1 | Mohammad Rostam Ali Khan | ||
Patuakhali-2 | Shahzada Abdul Malek Khan | ||
Patuakhali-3 | A. K. M. Nurul Haq | ||
Patuakhali-4 | |||
Patuakhali-5 | Syed Mohammed Abul Hashem | ||
Patuakhali-6 | Abdul Aziz Khondokar | ||
Patuakhali-7 | Abdur Barek | ||
Bakerganj-1 | Mosharraf Hossain Mia | ||
Bakerganj-2 | Mohammad Nazrul Islam | ||
Bakerganj-3 | Mohammad Motahar Uddin | ||
Bakerganj-4 | Riyaz Ikrima Chaudhuri | ||
Bakerganj-5 | Mozammel Hossain | ||
Bakerganj-6 | Kabir Uddin Ahmed | ||
Bakerganj-7 | A. K. S. Ismail Mia | ||
Bakerganj-8 | Mohammad Amir Hossain | ||
Bakerganj-9 | Fazlul Haq Talukdar | ||
Bakerganj-10 | |||
Bakerganj-11 | |||
Bakerganj-12 | Haranath Byne | ||
Bakerganj-13 | Abdul Karim Sardar | ||
Bakerganj-14 | Dr. Shah Mazhar Uddin | ||
Bakerganj-15 | |||
Bakerganj-16 | Dr. Abdul Hyee | ||
Bakerganj-17 | Nurul Islam | ||
Bakerganj-18 | Shaukatul Alam Sagir | ||
Tangail-1 | Dr. Sheikh Nizamul Islam | ||
Tangail-2 | Badiuzzaman Khan | ||
Tangail-3 | M.A. Bashid Siddiqi | ||
Tangail-4 | Abdul Latif Siddiqi | ||
Tangail-5 | Mohammad Insan Ali Mokhtar | ||
Tangail-6 | Mirza Tofail Hossain Mukul | ||
Tangail-7 | Sitab Ali Khan | ||
Tangail-8 | Fazlur Rahman Khan | ||
Tangail-9 | Mohammad Shamshuddin Ahmed | ||
Mymensingh-1 | Mohammad Ashraf Hossain | ||
Mymensingh-2 | Mohammad Rashid Mosharraf | ||
Mymensingh-3 | Mohammad Abdul Hyee | ||
Mymensingh-4 | Abdul Malek | ||
Mymensingh-5 | Akhtaruzzaman | ||
Mymensingh-6 | Nizam Uddin Ahmed | ||
Mymensingh-7 | Dr. Nasiruzzaman Khan | ||
Mymensingh-8 | Mohammad Abdul Halim | ||
Mymensingh-9 | Kudrut Ullah | ||
Mymensingh-10 | Shamshul Haq | ||
Mymensingh-11 | Hatim Ali Mia | ||
Mymensingh-12 | Mohammad Abdul Matin Bhunia | ||
Mymensingh-13 | A. K. Mosharraf Hossain | ||
Mymensingh-14 | Mohammad Inam Ali Mia | ||
Mymensingh-15 | Khondokar Abdul Malek Shahidullah | ||
Mymensingh-16 | Mohammad Muslim Uddin | ||
Mymensingh-17 | Abul Mansur Ahmed | ||
Mymensingh-18 | Mustafa M. A. Matin | ||
Mymensingh-19 | Mohammad Abdul Hashem | ||
Mymensingh-20 | Abdul Majid Tara Mia | ||
Mymensingh-21 | Najmul Huda | ||
Mymensingh-22 | |||
Mymensingh-23 | Abbas Ali Khan | ||
Mymensingh-24 | Hafiz Uddin Chaudhuri | ||
Mymensingh-25 | Abdul Khaleq | ||
Mymensingh-26 | A. K. M. Shamshul Haq | ||
Mymensingh-27 | Mustafizur Rahman Khan | ||
Mymensingh-28 | M.A. Sattar | ||
Mymensingh-29 | M. A. Quddus | ||
Mymensingh-30 | Abdul Qader | ||
Mymensingh-31 | Manzur Ahmed | ||
Mymensingh-32 | Syed Badruzzaman | ||
Dhaka-1 | Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman | ||
Dhaka-2 | Akhtaruddin Biswas | ||
Dhaka-3 | Khondokar Mazharul Haq | ||
Dhaka-4 | Mir Abdul Khair | ||
Dhaka-5 | Shah Muazzam Hossain | ||
Dhaka-6 | Jamal Uddin Chaudhuri | ||
Dhaka-7 | Mohammad Shamshul Haq Mia | ||
Dhaka-8 | A. K. M. Shamshul Huda | ||
Dhaka-9 | Rafiuddin Ahmed | ||
Dhaka-10 | Abu Mohammad Subid Ali | ||
Dhaka-11 | Hamidur Rahman | ||
Dhaka-12 | Mohammad Sirajul Islam | ||
Dhaka-13 | Gazi Golam Mustafa | ||
Dhaka-14 | Dr. Mosharraf Hossain | ||
Dhaka-15 | Hedayetullah Islam | ||
Dhaka-16 | Shafir Uddin | ||
Dhaka-17 | Abdul Hakim Master | ||
Dhaka-18 | Mohammad Anwar Jang | ||
Dhaka-19 | Mohammad Jamal Uddin | ||
Dhaka-20 | Fakir Shahabuddin Ahmad | ||
Dhaka-21 | Mohammad Muiz Uddin | ||
Dhaka-22 | Gazi Fazlur Rahman | ||
Dhaka-23 | Shamshuddin Bhunia | ||
Dhaka-24 | Raziuddin Ahmad | ||
Dhaka-25 | Maslehuddin Bhunia | ||
Dhaka-26 | Kazi Shahabuddin | ||
Dhaka-27 | Dr. Sadat Ali Sikdar | ||
Dhaka-28 | Shajat Ali Mokhtar | ||
Dhaka-29 | Afzal Hossain | ||
Dhaka-30 | S. A. Sattar Bhunia | ||
Faridpur-1 | Kazi Hedayet Hossain | ||
Faridpur-2 | Mohammad Muslim Uddin Mridha | ||
Faridpur-3 | Gaur Chandra Bala | ||
Faridpur-4 | Dr. Aftabuddin Molla | ||
Faridpur-5 | |||
Faridpur-6 | Mosharraf Hossain | ||
Faridpur-7 | A. Y. Amin Uddin Ahmad | ||
Faridpur-8 | Syed Hyder Hossain | ||
Faridpur-9 | Kazi Abdur Rashid | ||
Faridpur-10 | Akhtar Uddin Mia | ||
Faridpur-11 | Sheikh Mosharraf Hossain | ||
Faridpur-12 | Satish Chandra Haldar | ||
Faridpur-13 | |||
Faridpur-14 | |||
Faridpur-15 | Aminul Islam | ||
Faridpur-16 | Mohammad Matiur Rahman | ||
Faridpur-17 | |||
Faridpur-18 | Mohammad Abdur Razzak | ||
Faridpur-19 | Phani Bhushan Majumdar | ||
Sylhet-1 | Abdul Hakim Chaudhuri | ||
Sylhet-2 | Suranjit Sengupta | ||
Sylhet-3 | Abdur Rais | ||
Sylhet-4 | Shamsul Mia | ||
Sylhet-5 | M. A. Jahur | ||
Sylhet-6 | Lutfar Rahman | ||
Sylhet-7 | Kazi Sirajuddin Ahmad | ||
Sylhet-8 | Dr. A. Malik | ||
Sylhet-9 | Habibur Rahman | ||
Sylhet-10 | Mohammad Abdul Latif | ||
Sylhet-11 | Masud Ahmed Chaudhuri | ||
Sylhet-12 | Taimuz Alam | ||
Sylhet-13 | Nawab Ali Khan | ||
Sylhet-14 | |||
Sylhet-15 | Altafur Rahman Chaudhuri | ||
Sylhet-16 | Azizur Rahman | ||
Sylhet-17 | Enamul Haq | ||
Sylhet-18 | Asad Ali | ||
Sylhet-19 | Dr. Abul Hashem | ||
Sylhet-20 | Gopal Krishna Maharatna | ||
Sylhet-21 | Abdul Aziz Chaudhuri | ||
Comilla-1 | Mozammel Haq | ||
Comilla-2 | Syed Sirajul Islam | ||
Comilla-3 | Lutful Hyee | ||
Comilla-4 | Syed Imdadul Bari | ||
Comilla-5 | Ahmed Ali | ||
Comilla-6 | Kazi Akbar Uddin Ahmad | ||
Comilla-7 | Maulvi Mahiuddin | ||
Comilla-8 | Muzaffar Ali | ||
Comilla-9 | Abdur Rashid | ||
Comilla-10 | Mohammad Hashem | ||
Comilla-11 | Haji Ramizuddin | ||
Comilla-12 | Abdul Aziz Khan | ||
Comilla-13 | Abdul Hakim | ||
Comilla-14 | Amir Hossain | ||
Comilla-15 | Mohammad Abdul Malek | ||
Comilla-16 | Ali Akbar Majumdar | ||
Comilla-17 | Mir Hossain Chaudhuri | ||
Comilla-18 | Abdul Awal | ||
Comilla-19 | Jalal Ahmed | ||
Comilla-20 | Sikandar Ali | ||
Comilla-21 | Abdus Sattar | ||
Comilla-22 | A. B. Siddiq Sarkar | ||
Comilla-23 | Golam Mushid | ||
Comilla-24 | Abdul Karim Bepari | ||
Comilla-25 | Sirajul Islam Patwari | ||
Comilla-26 | Mohammad Raja Mia | ||
Noakhali-1 | A. F. K. Safdar | ||
Noakhali-2 | Maulvi Khair Uddin | ||
Noakhali-3 | A. B. M. Taleb Ali | ||
Noakhali-4 | |||
Noakhali-5 | |||
Noakhali-6 | Master Rafiqullah Mia | ||
Noakhali-7 | Mohammad Shaukat Ullah | ||
Noakhali-8 | Nurul Ahmed Chaudhuri | ||
Noakhali-9 | Advocate Mohammad Ullah | ||
Noakhali-10 | Bismillah Mia | ||
Noakhali-11 | Mohammad Abdul Mohaimen | ||
Noakhali-12 | Shahiduddin Iskandar | ||
Noakhali-13 | Sirajul Islam | ||
Noakhali-14 | Amirul Islam | ||
Chittagong-1 | Mosharraf Hossain | ||
Chittagong-2 | Professor Shamshul Haq | ||
Chittagong-3 | Maulvi Obaidul Haq | ||
Chittagong-4 | Mirza Abu Mansur | ||
Chittagong-5 | Abdul Wahab | ||
Chittagong-6 | Abdullah Al Harun | ||
Chittagong-7 | Mohammad Ishaq | ||
Chittagong-8 | Zahur Ahmed Chaudhuri | ||
Chittagong-9 | Dr. M. A. Mannan | ||
Chittagong-10 | Dr. Abul Qasim | ||
Chittagong-11 | Sultan Ahmed | ||
Chittagong-12 | Akhtaruzzaman Chaudhuri Babu | ||
Chittagong-13 | Dr. B. M. Faizur Rahman | ||
Chittagong-14 | Sirajul Islam Chaudhuri | ||
Chittagong-15 | Ahmed Sagir Shahzada | ||
Chittagong-16 | Zahirul Islam | ||
Chittagong-17 | Moshtaq Ahmed Chaudhuri | ||
Chittagong-18 | |||
Chittagong Hills-1 | |||
Chittagong Hills-2 | Chai Thowai Rowaza |
Despite the Awami League's landslide victory and clear mandate. Yahya Khan and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) didn't want the majority from East Bengal to rule Pakistan. Bhutto said "udhar tum, idhar hum" (you rule East, we rule West)[13] and threatened PPP members of parliament by saying that he will break legs of those who will go to Dhaka to attend the National Assembly session called on March 3, 1971, because he wanted to block Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from becoming Prime Minister of Pakistan.[14] After the National Assembly session was cancelled by President Yahya Khan on March 1. Sheikh Mujibur Rehman gave his famous speech on March 7 to a huge crowd at Ramna Course Ground in Dhaka and demanded lifting of martial law, withdrawal of army to their barracks and transfer of power to the elected representatives by the people before the 25 March National Assembly session.[15] On March 26, 1971, the Pakistan military launched Operation Searchlight against the East Bengali people to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in East Bengal.[16] Sheikh Mujibur Rehman declared the independence of Bangladesh on 26 March 1971. This led to start of 9 month long Bangladesh Liberation War which led to the surrender of Pakistani forces in East Bengal and the independence of Bangladesh.[17]