বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (প্রথম খণ্ড)/৯৪
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| আওয়ামী মুসলিম লীগ থেকে আওয়ামী লীগ | পাকিস্তান অবজারভার | ২৪শে অক্টোবর, ১৯৫৫ |
Awami League open to non-Muslims non-denominational move accepted by
over-all majority
(By Staff Reporter)
The six-year old all-Pakistan Political Party, the ‘Awami League’ chose to become non-denominational in character when the full session of its council yesterday accepted the recommendation of the subject committee and decided to drop the word ‘Muslim’ from its title, throwing the organisation open to membership of all sects and communities in Pakistan.
The amendment to the organization’s constitution........... was moved by its President Mr. H. S. Suhrawardy.
Both he and Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, who presided are understood to have made impassioned appeals to the councilors to realize that it was only fair to allow the members of the minority communities to exercise their just right to partake in the Political life of the country and that it was only when such opportunities were available to them, would they be able to give that loyalty to Pakistan which every citizen of a country was expected to give.
Moulana Bhasani’s address to the Councilors in understood to have been so convincing and moving that the element of opposition to the proposal, which was there earlier, practically disappeared and in a house of about six hundred councilors there were only five to vote against the proposal.
When the fateful decision of the party was taken, the councilors’ meeting in the Rupmahal Cinema Hall, burst into enthusiastic slogans of Shaheed Bhasani Zindabad, Hindu-Muslim Bhai-Bhai.
This is the first time a Political Party, dominated by Muslims and of considerable significance in the Political life of the country, has decided to throw its doors open to members of all communities residing in Pakistan.
The Party will now be known as “East Pakistan Awami League” and any citizen of Pakistan, above 18 years of age, who signs a pledge of allegiance to the aims and objects of the organisation and pays its membership fee is now eligible for its membership.
On Friday when the proposal for the fundamental change on the character of the organisation was being debated in the Subject Committee and influential sections were reported to have been opposed to be moved on grounds of inopportune timing; it was not certain which way the votes would go. Moulana Bhasani who during the Subject Committee meeting was resting in an anti-room in the Awami League Office, was still the most powerful influence.
In his speech yesterday the Moulana Bhasani said that the proposal that the ‘Awami League’ should be an organisation of the people of all communities had been mooted sometime back; but it was feared so long that if that step were taken before the party had gathered sufficient strength to withstand the onslaughts which might be lunched on it. The party might go under. In this connection the Moulana referred to the lengths to which the Muslim League Politicians went during the Language movement engineered by the Hindus. The Awami League had now grown into a powerful organisation and it could not die. It was; therefore, felt that the step which they had hesitated in taking so long could now be taken safely.
We are fully with them
Mr. Suhrawardy, moving the amendment to the constitution earlier, said “Give them (the minorities) the opportunity to realize that you as well as your Government are fully with them in their desire to get their due share in every walk of life. Only then can you, in fairness, claim loyalty from them”.
Mr Suhrawardy, who spoke for about fifty minutes, further said that without justice, there was bound to be distrust and disaffection. Muslims in India had demanded Pakistan because the Hindu Congress had denied them their just rights. If the same treatment were be meted out to the Hindus here, would not the councilors agree that the condition of the minorities here would be the same as that of the Muslims in Pre-Partition India, he enquired.
Proceedings Mr. Suhrawardy referred to the doubts, with regard to the propriety of the move, which had assailed some minds because of the fact that though if was the Awami League which had fought for the cause of the minorities during the last 8 years, they had joined hands with the party in power. This Mr. Suhrawardy explained might be due to apprehension that if they fell in step with the party in oppositions, they would get the same treatment as they got under the Muslim League Government.
East-West Uniformity
Mr. Suhrawardy further added: 'We had the Jinnah-Awami Muslim League in West Pakistan whereas you had the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League in this wing. Realizing the position in trade unionism, recognition was given by us to the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League though there were differences in name and perhaps other details. Now, we in West Pakistan have the Pakistan Awami League and for the sake of unanimity in name, it would, in my opinion, be fair and fine to get your organisation into that line, but it rests entirely with you the House to pass a verdict on this point.