Bengalis in Pakistan

Bengalis in Pakistan are ethnic Bengali people who had lived in either West Pakistan or East Pakistan prior to 1971 or live in present-day Pakistan.[2] Most Pakistani Bengalis, are bilingual speaking both Urdu and Bengali and are mainly settled in Karachi. Bengalis that arrived in Pakistan before 1971 have now assimilated with the Urdu-speaking people in Karachi.

Bengalis in Pakistan
পাকিস্তানেব় বাঙালি
پاکستان میں بنگالی
পাকিস্তানি বাঙালি
Total population
2,000,000 (2021)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Mainly in Karachi
Languages
Bengali (native) · Sindhi (provincial/native), Urdu (national) · English (Pakistani English)
Religion
Predominantly Sunni Islam

On the 18th January 2022, Nadra issued CNICs card to Pakistani Bengalis as Pakistani citizens, making them legal Pakistanis.

Despite the historical fact that Bangladesh was formerly East Pakistan, the term 'Pakistani Bengali' has become almost unimaginable. However, it is a reality that the majority of Bengali residents in Pakistan are denied the right to vote, effectively excluding them from local politics. Consequently, local leaders often overlook their basic needs. The absence of robust communication between the two nations prevents them from visiting relatives in Bangladesh or sending gifts or financial support. These individuals serve as a consistent source of inexpensive labor in Karachi's economy. Their lack of citizenship documentation makes them vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous employers. Additionally, the absence of a birth registration certificate (referred to as a B-form) has obstructed the education of many and, without a Computerized National ID Card (CNIC), barred them from pursuing high-paying job opportunities.[3]

History

Pre-1947

The founding members of the Pakistani Bengali community were early migrants from East Bengal who arrived in Sindh during the early 20th century. This community of early Bengali settlers assimilated into Pakistani culture and adopted Urdu or became bilingual Bengali speakers.

1947-1971

After Pakistan's independence in 1947, a large influx of Bengalis arrived in Karachi from East Pakistan to West Pakistan. In 1971, some Bengalis opted to return to the newly independent Bangladesh while others opted to remain in Pakistan.

Post-1971

Thousands of East Pakistan Bengalis were living in West Pakistan before the 1971 war and Bangladeshi immigrants arrived in Pakistan right after their war against the same country. These people were Pakistan loving but they were not socially welcomed and still today they are not considered citizens of Pakistan.[4] By 1995, continuous migration of Bangladeshis crossed 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 the second largest group in Karachi after the Muhajir people and disturb sensitive demographics. Accordingly, Bhutto ordered a crackdown and deportation of Bangladeshi immigrants. Benazir Bhutto's 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 criticizing Bhutto and dubbing the crackdown as anti-Islamic. She was ultimately forced to abandon the order.[5][6]

In 2021, it was reported that over two million Bangladeshis illegally resided in Pakistan. The Bangladeshi government refused to take them back because it's policy is not to take back citizens who left the country illegally. Some local employees preferred hiring Bangladeshis because their charges for work were lower than local Pakistanis.[7]

Demographics

According to Shaikh Muhammad Feroze, chairman of the Pakistani Bengali Action Committee, over 200 settlements of Bengali-speaking people exist in Pakistan (mainly in Sindh) of which 132 are in Karachi while other smaller communities exist in Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Tando Adam and Lahore.[8] There are numerous Bengali colonies in Karachi, often called "Mini Bangladesh" (or East Pakistan Colony in memorandum),[9] such as Machar Colony, Musa Colony and Chittagong Colony. Colorful Bengali signboards, Bhashani caps, lungis and kurtas are often seen in these areas of Karachi and remain unique.[9] The Chittagong Colony has a bazaar, which is famous throughout Pakistan as the center for Dhaka cloth.[10] 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.[11][12] Furthermore, given the tense ethnic rivalries and lack of social welcome in Pakistan, Bengalis have now been traveling elsewhere.[12]

Notable people


See also

References
  1. "Stateless and helpless: The plight of ethnic Bengalis in Pakistan - Al Jazeera". 29 September 2021. Ethnic Bengalis in Pakistan – an estimated two million – are the most discriminated ethnic community
  2. Karim, Naimul (6 July 2018). "The struggle to return home". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021. It's difficult to state exactly how many Bengalis reside in Pakistan. Various reports however suggest that the figure can vary from around 7 to 20 lakhs, with most of them living in Karachi. Many of these Bangladeshis had found their way into Pakistan in the mid-80s looking for work.
  3. Hasan, Rakib Al. "Bengalis in Pakistan: A neglected community crying for recognition". South Asia Monitor. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  4. "Bangladeshi immigrants in Pakistan find it hard to go home". Nikkei Asian Review.
  5. Rahman, B. (4 February 2003). "Indo-Bangladesh Standoff". South Asia Analysis Group. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012.
  6. "Five million illegal immigrants residing in Pakistan". The Express Tribune. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  7. https://migration.ucdavis.edu/mn/more.php?id=679
  8. "Fringe Pakistan: Bengali-speaking Pakistanis demand right to vote". The Express Tribune. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2016. Shaikh Muhammad Feroze, the chairman of the committee, said during a press conference on Friday that political parties and the government should acknowledge the sacrifices of their ancestors. 'We live in Sindh and feel proud to be called Sindhis rather than Bengalis. We appeal to Sindhi nationalists and Sindhis to help us in our struggle,' he added. He said that Bengali-speaking people were not given educational rights as they did not possess national identity cards. 'Our children can't get an education after matriculation because colleges ask for the identity cards but the National Database Registration Authority has never accepted us as Pakistani citizens.' Shaikh said that over three million Bengalis and Biharis were grateful to the government for accepting them as Pakistani citizens. 'We postponed a hunger strike planned for 25 March after the government made decisions,' he added. 'We can go on a hunger strike, if our rights are not given.' He claimed that there were 200 settlements of Bengali-speaking people across the country, including 132 in Karachi. They populate different parts of Pakistan, including Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Tando Adam and Lahore.
  9. Tohid, Owais; Mahmud, Arshad (29 November 1995). "Homeless in Karachi". Outlook. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  10. Naqvi, Abbas (17 December 2006). "Falling back". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
  11. Bloch, Hannah (25 September 2000). "You Can't Get There From Here". Time Asia.
  12. Refugee Review Tribunal, Australia. "RRT Research Response" (PDF). Refworld.org.
  13. "Renowned music composer Robin Ghosh passes away".
  14. "Shabnam biography, complete biography of Actresses Shabnam". pak101.com.

Further reading
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