Bengalis in Pakistan
(Pakistanis of Bengali origin)

Notable Pakistanis of Bengali and Bangladeshi origin: Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah · Mahbub Jamal Zahedi • Khawaja Nazimuddin • Iskander Mirza • Huseyn Suhrawardy
Total population
Est. 200,000 immigrants of Bengali origin 100,000 registered Bengali immigrants[1] Est. 100,000 – 500,000 illegal migrants from Bangladesh
Regions with significant populations
Karachi
Languages
Bengali · Urdu · English (Pakistani English) · Bangladeshi languages
Religion
Islam

Pakistani Bengalis (Urdu: پاکستانی بنگالی ‎) are those Pakistani citizens, who migrated from Bengal region following the Partition of India and the Fall of Dhaka. They are mainly settled in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Different sources estimate the population of Pakistani Bengalis between 100,000-500,000 immigrants in Karachi with Bengali origin.^[2][3]

Migration from East Pakistan [edit]

Many of the people are migrants from East Pakistan, settled in the present day West Pakistan, and remained loyal to Pakistan, even after the Bangladesh Liberation War, while others immigrated from Bangladesh later. Much of the Bangladeshi-origin population also includes the thousands of stateless Biharis (called Stranded Pakistanis) who were allowed resettlement in Pakistan after the 1971 war in Bangladesh. Surur Hoda was actively involved in issues relating to Bihari refugees in Bangladesh.Surur Hoda organized a delegation, headed by Ennals and Ben Whitaker, which contributed to nearly 200,000 refugees returning to Pakistan.^[4]

Suppression under Bhutto's Rule [edit]

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By 1995 however, continuous migration led it to cross the 200,000 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. Her 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 criticized Bhutto and dubbing the crackdown as anti-Islamic. She was ultimately forced to abandon the order.^[5]

Bengali colonies [edit]

There are numerous Bengali colonies in Karachi, often called "Mini Bangladesh",^[6] 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.^[7] The Chittagong Colony has a bazaar, which was famous throughout Pakistan as the center for Dhaka cloth.^[8] Karachi was also the headquarters of the local Bengali language newspaper Daily Qaumi Bandhan.^[7]

Notable people [edit]

• Munni Begum
• M. Shahid Alam
• Muhammad Mahmood Alam – Pakistani Fighter ace.
• Habibullah Bahar Chowdhury
• Raja Tridev Roy
• Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah
• Alamgir (pop singer)
• Roopa Farooki – British writer (half Pakistani, half Bangladeshi)
• Ikram Sehgal

See also [edit]

• List of Pakistani Bengali films
• Musa Colony
• Daily Qaumi Bandhan
• Machiara Colony

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• Bangladeshi migrants struggle in Karachi slum (video)
• Homeless in Karachi