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Bengalis in Pakistan

Ethnic Bengali citizens and nationals of Pakistan

  • 7 min read
  • 3 chapters

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Through Pakistan, Bangladesh and Lahore

Lab · Class 8National Movement

Prior to its independence, Bangladesh was part of Pakistan as East Pakistan and the term 'Pakistani Bengali' was applied to Bengalis in the country. Following independence, the term became disassociated with East Pakistan and became restyled to be used for the ethnic Bengali population in West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan). The absence of strong bilateral communication between Pakistan and Bangladesh prior to the July Uprising in 2024, prevented Pakistani Bengalis from visiting relatives in Bangladesh or sending financial support.

The lack of citizenship documentation for the Bengali immigrants in Pakistan makes them vulnerable to exploitation by employers. Additionally, the absence of a birth registration certificate (referred to as a B-form) has obstructed the education of many and, without a Computerised National ID Card (CNIC), barred them from pursuing high-paying job opportunities.

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, illegal migration and crime

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 Bengalis were Pakistan supporters, however, due to the political climate of the war they were not socially accepted or granted citizenship of Pakistan. By 1995, continuous migration of Bangladeshis, mostly illegal, crossed the 1,500,000 mark. During the administration of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, members of the political party 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. Crime was also becoming a rising concern. 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 criticising Bhutto and dubbing the crackdown as anti-Islamic. She was ultimately forced to abandon the order.

In 2021, it was reported that over two million Bengalis illegally resided in Pakistan. The Bangladeshi government has refused to accept refugees because it is government policy to not accept citizens who left the country illegally.

In 2024, the Pakistan Rangers caught at least one Bangladeshi crossing into the country illegally from the eastern border.

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