1

INTRODUCTION ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2

UNITED FRONT ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

ELECTION OF 1954 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 5

Twenty-One Point Program ----------------------------------------------------- 5

Parties and Electoral system ---------------------------------------------------- 8

Results ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9

UNITED FRONT CABINET ----------------------------------------------------------10

THE REASON FOR THE COLLAPSE OF THE UNITED FRONT GOVERNMENT ----12

Impose Section 92(Ka) & Dissolution of United Front Cabinet ----------14

CONCLUSION -----------------------------------------------------------------------15
 2

Introduction
A significant period in the history of the battle for independence in East Bengal is the election of
1954 and the creation of the United Front. This election served as a "ballot revolution" against the
Muslim League leadership's actions against the Bengali people, their language, culture, and
history, as well as against the six years of Pakistani authorities' abuse of them. Even after creating
the government, the United Front was unable to hold onto power due to the plots and anti-
democratic actions of Pakistan's ruling class. Despite this government's failure, the 1954 elections
gave political parties a chance to gauge public support. Consequently, this election will have a
significant impact on Pakistan's national politics.1 The government of the United Front in Pakistan
faced failure primarily due to internal discord and conflicting ideologies among its coalition
partners. The alliance comprised various political parties with divergent agendas and interests,
leading to a lack of unity and coordination in governance. Infighting, power struggles, and inability
to reach consensus on key policy decisions further weakened the government. Additionally,
external pressures and interference from military and intelligence agencies hindered the United
Front's ability to govern effectively, ultimately contributing to its downfall. In addition to internal
discord and external pressures, the failure of the United Front government in Pakistan can also be
attributed to economic challenges, mismanagement, and a lack of leadership cohesion. The
coalition government struggled to address pressing economic issues such as inflation,
unemployment, and foreign debt, leading to widespread discontent among the populace. Moreover,
the absence of a coherent vision and unified direction among the coalition partners resulted in
inconsistent policies and governance decisions, further eroding public trust and confidence in the
government. These multifaceted factors collectively undermined the stability and viability of the
United Front government, ultimately culminating in its failure to effectively govern Pakistan.

1
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371731848_United_Front_election_of_1954_The_Struggle_for_Democra
cy/
 3

United Front
United Front an alliance of the opposition parties to contest seats in the elections to the East Bengal
Legislative Assembly held between 8-12 March 1954. The result was a comprehensive victory for
the alliance or front composed mainly of four parties of East Bengal, namely AWAMI LEAGUE,
Krishak Sramik Party, Nizam-e-Islam and Ganatantri Dal.2

The formation of the United Front to face the Muslim League in the elections of 1954 was a historic
event. The United Front was formed with the main opposition parties. The East Pakistan Awami
Muslim League, the main opposition party and a popular political party, was the initiator of the
formation of the United Front.3 In May 1953, at the special council session of the East Pakistan
Awami Muslim League held in Mymensingh city, it was decided to form a united front. As a result,
the United Front was formed on 4 December 1953 as an electoral alliance consisting of several
opposition parties. The parties included in the United Front were (1) East Pakistan Awami Muslim
League led by Suhrawardy on language, (2) Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq's Krishak Praja Party,
(3) Nezami Islami led by Maulana Athar Ali and (4) Ganatantri Dal led by Haji Danesh.4,5

Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq, Huseyn Shaheed
Suhrawardy and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were the foremost leaders of the United
Front. The main office of the United Front was at Simson Road in Sadarghat. He contested the
election with the boat symbol.

The Front campaigned on an election manifesto that incorporated a package of TWENTY ONE POINT
PROGRAMME adopted by the Front in November 1953.6 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

2
https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/United_Front
3
Dr. Md. Shaukat Ali Khan, History of the Emergence of Independent Bangladesh, opcit, p-199.
4
Dr. Haroon-or-Rashid, Bangladesh politics Government and Regime Devolopment, optic, p-186.
5
Rounaq Jahan, Pakistan Failure in National Integration, optic, p-45
6
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Front_(East_Pakistan)
 4

Rahman defeated his opposition candidate Wahiduzzaman from Muslim League in his seat in
Tungipara and elected as a member of the legislative body.7,8

In addition to full regional autonomy, the manifesto demanded that the central government should
delegate to the eastern province all subjects except defence, foreign affairs and currency. It also
called for recognition of Bangla as a state language, release of political prisoners, transformation
of the then official residence (Burdwan House) of the chief minister of East Bengal into Bangla
Academy, construction of Shaheed Minar at the site of the police firing in 1952, declaration of 21
February as a public holiday, more autonomy for Dhaka and Rajshahi universities, introduction of
economic and social rights for industrial workers in keeping with the principles of ILO,
nationalisation of jute, guarantee of fair prices for commodities, and public support for
cooperatives and cottage industries.9

During the early period of Pakistan, economic disparity, poor representation of Bangalis in
government, and politico-cultural repression pursued by the ruling elite of Pakistan accentuated
political problems in East Bengal. Most importantly, the deprivation of Banglis from due
participation in the decision-making process gave rise to the politics of regionalism in East Bengal.
The resultant development was that the political forces of East Bengal were gradually pushed to
launch new political platforms and organise movements against the central government based in
the western part of the country.10

7
https://albd.org/articles/general/36625/United-Front-Election-&-Historic-21-point-Programme
8
Monayem Sarker, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Life and Politics, opcit,235
9
banglapedia.org/index.php/United_Front
10
Dr. Md. Shaukat Ali Khan, History of the Emergence of Independent Bangladesh, opcit, p-197
 5

Election of 1954
According to the Indian Independence Act of 1947, Pakistan had a central legislature and each
province had a provincial legislature. The members of the Central and Provincial Legislatures were
elected for a term of five years in the elections of 1946 before the creation of Pakistan. As such,
general elections were to be held in East Bengal in 1951, but in a by-election in Tangail in 1949,
the Muslim League candidate was defeated and the ruling Muslim League lost confidence.11

The general elections to the East Bengal legislative assembly due in 1951 could not be held until
1954. Several postponements of the elections under various pretexts only proved malicious
motives, organizational weaknesses and vulnerability of the ruling party, MUSLIM LEAGUE. In fact,
the United Front reflective of all shades of political spectrum in the province emerged mainly due
to the failure of the Muslim League as a ruling party, and other historical, political and economic
reasons. The decision to form a united front was initially endorsed on 14 November 1953 at the
historic council session of the Awami League held at Mymensingh. Subsequently, the Front for a
while dominated the political landscape of East Bengal and had its usefulness as an effective
political platform to unite diverse political groups.

Twenty-One Point Program

Twenty One Point Program objectives incorporated in the election manifesto of the UNITED FRONT,
an alliance of the opposition political parties, to contest elections of the East Bengal Legislative
Assembly in 1954 against the then party in power, MUSLIM LEAGUE. The United Front was
composed of four political parties of East Bengal, namely Awami Muslim League, Krishak Sramik
Party, Nezam-e-Islam and Ganatantri Dal. The Front was formed on 4 December 1953 by the
initiative of AK Fazlul Huq of Krishak Sramik Party, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and
Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy of Awami Muslim League.12

11
Dr. Md. Shaukat Ali Khan, History of the Emergence of Independent Bangladesh, opcit, p-198
12
https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Twenty_One_Point_Programme
 6

The 21-point package programme in the election manifesto adopted by the United Front runs as
follows:

1. To recognise Bangla as one of the State Languages of Pakistan;13

2. To abolish without compensation zamindari and all rent receiving interest in land, and to
distribute the surplus lands amongst the cultivators; to reduce rent to a fair level and abolish
the certificate system of realising rent;
3. To nationalise the jute trade and bring it under the direct control of the government of East
Bengal, secure fair price of jute to the growers and to investigate into the jute-bungling
during the Muslim League regime to punish those found responsible for it;
4. To introduce co-operative farming in agriculture and to develop cottage industries with
full government subsidies;
5. To start salt industry (both small and large scale) in order to make East Bengal self-
sufficient in the supply of salt, and to investigate into the salt-bungling during the Muslim
League regime to punish the offenders;14
6. To rehabilitate immediately all the poor refugees belonging to the artisan and technician
class;
7. To protect the country from flood and famine by means of digging canals and improving
irrigation system;
8. To make the country self-sufficient by modernizing the method of cultivation and
industrialization, and to ensure the rights of the labourer as per ILO Convention;
9. To introduce free and compulsory primary education throughout the country and to arrange
for just pay and allowances to the teachers;

10. To restructure the entire education system, introduce mother tongue as the medium of
instruction, remove discrimination between government and private schools and to turn all
the schools into government aided institutions;15

13
https://albd.org/articles/general/36625/United-Front-Election-&-Historic-21-point-Programme
14
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Front_(East_Pakistan)
15
https://elearn.daffodilvarsity.edu.bd/pluginfile.php/2062447/mod_resource/content/1/United%20Front%2CConstit
ution%20and%20Martial%20Law.pdf
 7

11. To repeal all reactionary laws including those of the Dhaka and Rajshahi Universities and
to make them autonomous institutions; to make education cheaper and easily available to
the people;
12. To curtail the cost of administration and to rationalise the pay scale of high and low paid
government servants. The ministers shall not receive more than 1000 taka as monthly
salary;
13. To take steps to eradicate corruption, nepotism and bribery, and with this end in view, to
take stocks of the properties of all government officers and businessmen from 1940 onward
and forfeit all properties the acquisition of which is not satisfactorily accounted for;
14. To repeal all Safety and Preventive Detention Acts and release all prisoners detained
without trial, and try in open court persons involved in anti-state activities; to safeguard
the rights of the press and of holding meetings;
11. To repeal all reactionary laws including those of the Dhaka and Rajshahi Universities and
to make them autonomous institutions; to make education cheaper and easily available to
the people;
12. To curtail the cost of administration and to rationalise the pay scale of high and low paid
government servants. The ministers shall not receive more than 1000 taka as monthly
salary;
13. To take steps to eradicate corruption, nepotism and bribery, and with this end in view, to
take stocks of the properties of all government officers and businessmen from 1940 onward
and forfeit all properties the acquisition of which is not satisfactorily accounted for;
14. To repeal all Safety and Preventive Detention Acts and release all prisoners detained
without trial, and try in open court persons involved in anti-state activities; to safeguard
the rights of the press and of holding meetings;16
15. To separate the judiciary from the executive;
16. To locate the residence of the chief minister of the United Front at a less costly house, and
to convert Burdwan House into a students hostel now, and later, into an institute for
research on Bangla language and literature;

16
https://www.academia.edu/37573767/Political_economy_of_the_21_point_of_the_United_Front
 8

17. To erect a monument in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement on the spot
where they were shot dead, and to pay compensation to the families of the martyrs;
18. To declare 21st of February as ‘Shaheed Day’ and a public holiday;
19. The Lahore Resolution proposed full autonomy of East Bengal leaving defence, foreign
affairs and currency under the central government. In the matter of defence, arrangements
shall be made to set the headquarters of the army in West Pakistan and the naval
headquarters in East Bengal and to establish ordnance factories in East Bengal, and to
transform Ansar force into a full-fledged militia equipped with arms;17
20. The United Front Ministry shall on no account extend the tenure of the Legislature and
shall resign six months before the general elections to facilitate free and fair elections
under an Election Commission;
21. All casual vacancies in the Legislature shall be filled up through by-elections within three
months of the vacancies, and if the nominees of the Front are defeated in three successive
by-elections, the ministry shall resign from office.

Parties and Electoral system

Elections 1954 held in East Pakistan in March 1954 from 8 to 12 March. The contesting parties
in the elections were the ruling Muslim league and a five-party alliance called United Front. The
major partners of the Front were the Awami Muslim League led by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan
Bhasani, the Krishak Sramik Party led by AK Fazlul Huq. There was a total of 309 seats, 228 seats
for Muslim candidates, 36 seats for schedule cast, 3 from other religion, 12 for women and 30
general seats. And of all 156 seats was required to form government.18

17
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371731848_United_Front_election_of_1954_The_Struggle_for_Democr
acy
18
https://www.studocu.com/row/document/north-south-university/history-of-bangladesh
 9

Results
The elections resulted in a landslide victory for the United Front which won 223 seats out of 237
Muslim seats. On the other hand, the Muslim League, the party in power directly or indirectly ever
since 1937, managed to get only 9 seats. Of the total of 223 elected Front members, 143 belonged
to Awami Muslim League, 48 to Krishak Sramaik Party, 22 to Nezam-e-Islam, 13 to Ganatantri
Dal.19

The United Front won 223 seats out of 309 Muslim seats in the assembly, whereas the ruling
Muslim League managed to capture only 9 seats, and all five members of the Muslim League
Ministry including the chief minister (Nurul Amin), were defeated.20 As many as 1285 candidates
contested in the election held on the basis of adult franchise. In all 986 candidates contested for
228 Muslim seats, 101 candidates for 30 general seats and 151 candidates for 36 scheduled caste
seats. The Pakistan National Congress, the United Progressive Party and the Schedule Caste
Federation were the main contenders for the non-Muslim seats, 37 candidates contested for 9 seats
reserved for Muslim women. The United Front candidates captured all the seats reserved for the
women.21

19
https://www.studocu.com/row/document/north-south-university/
20
Dr. Md. Shaukat Ali Khan, History of the Emergence of Independent Bangladesh, opcit, p-203
21
https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/United_Front
 10

United Front Cabinet

The resultant development after the election was that the United Front leader, AK Fazlul Haque,
was invited on 3 April 1954 by the provincial governor to form the government.22 Importantly,
however, the election result was a signal to the end of the dominance of the national elite in the
politics of East Bengal; landowners had given away to a younger generation of professional
university-trained elite, comprising lawyers, journalists, teachers and businessmen. A vast
majority of the elected members were new, relatively young and inexperienced in government and
politics. Out of the 223 members elected under the United Front banner, 130 belonged to the
Awami League.23

United Front Cabinet members - in the bottom row from left, Khairat Hossain, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sher-e-
Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq, Ataur Rahman Khan, Saratchandra Majumdar, Mahmud Ali. In the top row from right, M.
Mansur Ali, Dhirendranath Dutta, Mashiur Rahman, Monoranjan Dhar and Abdur Rahman Khan (1954).

22
Dr. Md. Shaukat Ali Khan, History of the Emergence of Independent Bangladesh, opcit, p-204
23
https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/United_Front
 11

The Jukto Front, or United Front, was an alliance of various political parties in East Bengal (now
Bangladesh) during the 1954 provincial elections in Pakistan. The coalition included the Awami
League, the Krishak Sramik Party, the Nizam-e-Islam Party, and the Ganatantri Dal.

After their victory in the elections, the United Front formed a government. Here are some of the
key members of the United Front cabinet formed post-1954 election victory along with their
respective ministries:

(1) A. K. Fazlul Haque: Chief Minister, Minister-In-Charge of Education24

(2) Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy: Minister-In-Charge of Law and Parliamentary Affairs

(3) Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani (though he didn't take any ministry, his influence was
crucial): Significant figure and leader

(4) Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan: Speaker of the East Bengal Legislative Assembly (He was a senior
political figure involved with the United Front)

(5) Khairat Hossain: Minister of Finance

(6) Abu Hossain Sarkar: Minister of Food and Agriculture

(7) Anwarul Azim: Minister of Commerce and Industries

(8) Abdul Jabbar Khan: Minister of Health and Social Welfare

(9) Khan Bahadur Mohammed Ismail: Minister of Public Works

(10) Moulvi Syed Abdul Hye: Minister of Labor

(11) Jogendra Nath Mandal: Minister of Law and Land Revenue

(12) Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Agriculture and Forest25

24
Dr. Md. Shaukat Ali Khan, History of the Emergence of Independent Bangladesh, opcit, p-204
25
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Front_(East_Pakistan)
 12

The reason for the collapse of the United Front government

The Government of the United Front in Pakistan was broken in 1954 due to internal political
struggles and external pressures. The United Front was a coalition of various political parties in
East Pakistan, formed to challenge the ruling establishment. However, the government faced
numerous challenges and conflicts, including disagreements over power-sharing arrangements,
economic policies, and regional autonomy issues.

Furthermore, external factors such as interventions by the central government, military

establishment, and powerful interest groups also contributed to the downfall of the United Front
government. Ultimately, these internal and external pressures led to the disintegration of the United
Front government in Pakistan in 1954.

The Government of the United Front in Pakistan was broken in 1954 due to a number of
reasons:

1. Internal divisions: The United Front was a coalition of several political parties with differing
ideologies and agendas. Internal disagreements and power struggles within the coalition weakened
its stability and effectiveness.

2. Economic disparities: There were economic disparities between East and West Pakistan, with
East Pakistan feeling marginalized and economically disadvantaged compared to West Pakistan.
This fueled resentment and led to tensions within the coalition.

3. Language issue: The language controversy, particularly concerning the recognition of Bengali
as an official language in Pakistan, was a significant factor that contributed to the breakup of the
United Front. The demand for Bengali to be given equal status alongside Urdu was a key issue
that led to political unrest and eventually the breakdown of the coalition.

4. Central government interference: The central government's interference in the affairs of

East Pakistan, as well as its unwillingness to address the grievances of the people of East
Pakistan, further alienated the members of the United Front and weakened the coalition.

5. Military intervention: The military, led by General Ayub Khan, intervened in the political
affairs of the country and played a significant role in weakening the United Front government.
This interference undermined the authority of the civilian government.
 13

6. External pressure: The United States and other Western powers had concerns about the
political instability in Pakistan at that time. Their influence and pressure on the Pakistani
government may have contributed to the downfall of the United Front.

7. Accusations of corruption and mismanagement: The United Front government faced

accusations of corruption and mismanagement, which eroded public trust and support for the
coalition.

8. Constitutional crisis: The United Front government's actions and policies may have led to a
constitutional crisis, causing further challenges and divisions within the coalition.

The Government of the United Front in Pakistan was a fragile coalition consisting of various
political parties with diverging interests and ideologies. This lack of cohesion and unity within the
coalition made it susceptible to internal divisions and power struggles. Additionally, the military's
interference, led by General Ayub Khan, further destabilized the government and undermined its
authority.

The United States and other Western powers also had concerns about the political situation in
Pakistan during that time, which may have influenced the events leading to the downfall of the
United Front government. Accusations of corruption and mismanagement within the government
further weakened public trust and support for the coalition.

Ultimately, a combination of internal conflicts, external pressures, military intervention,

governance issues, and a constitutional crisis led to the breakdown of the Government of the United
Front in Pakistan in 1954.
 14

Impose Section 92(Ka) & Dissolution of United Front Cabinet

From the very beginning of the formation of the United Front cabinet, there was great
dissatisfaction among the coalition parties over the minister ship, which was the extreme weakness
of the United Front government.26 A few days after the formation of the cabinet, Chief Minister
Fazlul Huq visited Kolkata and gave an emotional speech about the people of the two Bengals and
their language, literature, and culture, which the ruling Makes the government angry.27 After
forming the United Front government, as per the election promise, February 21 was a public
holiday and declared 'Burdwan House', the official residence of the Chief Minister of the previous
Muslim League government, as a memorial laboratory of the language movement, causing
displeasure with the central government.

On March 30, 1954, a bloody riot took place between Bengali and Bihar workers at the
Chandraghona Karnaphuli paper mill, in which 13 workers lost their lives.28 After, two incidents
left the Haque cabinet in a state of extreme embarrassment. They are the bloody clashes between
the prison authorities and local Mohalla residents in front of the Dhaka Central Jail on May 2 and
the bloody clashes between Bengali and Bihari workers at Adamji Patak on May 15, which the
central government termed as the weakness of the United Front government.29 Finally, Fazlul
Haque's so-called interview with New York Times' correspondent Callahan upset the central
government. According to the information published in the newspaper, Fazlul Haque expressed
his desire to declare the independence of East Bengal. Chief Minister Fazlul Haque failed to
convince the central government in this regard despite various efforts (Islam, 2018). The Central
Government called the United Front under Section 92(a) of the Government of India Act of 30
May 1954. Dismissed the cabinet and declared Governor's rule in East Bengal. Thus, the United
Front Cabinet came to an end after only 56 days.30

The Pakistani government started mass arrests of United Front activists. Former Chief Minister
Fazlul Haque was placed under house arrest, Maulana Bhasani was banned from entering the
country, many young leaders including Sheikh Mujib were arrested and United Front offices were

26
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371731848_United_Front_election_of_1954
27
Dr. Muhammad Hannan, History of Liberation War of Bangladesh, Dhaka, p-88
28
Dr. Haroon-or-Rashid, Bangladesh politics Government and Regime Devolopment, optic, p-192
29
Md. Mozammel Haque, Governance and Politics in Bangladesh, p-208
30
Dr. Md. Shaukat Ali Khan, History of the Emergence of Independent Bangladesh, opcit, p-205
 15

locked. In response to this there was great discontent in East Bengal and the Front workers, failing
to hold a meeting in the office, convened a meeting at the residence of Front leader Abu Hussain
Sarkar. In the meeting, the leaders avoided the decision to cancel the cabinet and build a strong
movement against the government's mass arrests to go to 19 the villages and undertake
revolutionary and destructive activities. However, there was no result. On the one hand, the
reluctance of Fazlul Haque and the absence of Bhasani and Suhrawardy, on the other hand, the
movement of the United Front ended in failure.

Conclusion
The failure of the United Front government in Pakistan in 1954 can be attributed to internal power
struggles and the inability of the coalition to effectively govern amidst political instability.
Infighting among the coalition partners, coupled with external pressures and differing ideologies,
hampered decision-making and policy implementation. This ultimately led to the collapse of the
government, highlighting the challenges of maintaining unity in a diverse political landscape. The
failure underscored the importance of strong leadership, consensus building, and effective
governance structures in ensuring stability and progress in a fragile democracy like Pakistan's at
that time. The United Front government's downfall in Pakistan in 1954 also exposed deep-rooted
societal divisions, lack of trust among political actors, and the challenge of balancing regional
interests within a diverse country. The failure to address economic disparities, regional grievances,
and security threats exacerbated existing tensions and hindered effective governance. The
aftermath of this collapse demonstrated the fragility of democratic institutions in Pakistan and the
need for inclusive policies, robust institutions, and a shared vision for national development to
overcome political discord and promote stability in a volatile political environment.

The United Front alliance in Pakistan in 1954 marked a significant moment in the country's
political history, bringing together diverse political groups against a common enemy. However,
despite initial hope for reform and progress, the government's failure to address key issues led to
the unraveling of the coalition. Internal disagreements, power struggles, and external pressures
weakened the United Front's cohesion, eventually leading to its demise. The episode highlighted
the challenges of sustaining unity in a diverse political landscape and underscored the need for
effective governance and genuine commitment to shared goals for lasting success.