Day 10 in Dhaka

Jan 21 2012

The Urdu speaking community in Bangldesh is one of the worst sufferers of the 1947 paritition. They are mostly descendants of the muslims, who migrated from what is now the modern Indian state of Bihar, where violent riots broke out in 1946 and 1947. They migrated to the eastern wing (now Bangladesh) of Pakistan in the hopes of being in a muslim state.

Begum Khairunnisa (3rd from left) left Bihar in 1947 when the riot broke out. She carried her daughter, Julekha (far right), who was 13 days old. Today she lives in the Geneva camp with her daughters, Sultana (first left), Farida (2nd left) and many grandchildren.

Not sharing the ethno-linguistic heritage of the Bengali people, who formed an overwhelming majority in the eastern wing, they opposed its agitation for independence from West Pakistan in 1971. Their support for the Pakistani army and participation in pro-Pakistani militias such as the Razakars led to considerable hostility and retaliation from the Bengalis. After the independence of Bangladesh, the Biharis were relocated to refugee camps and have since petitioned the Pakistani government for the right to settle in Pakistan. Their petition has only met with marginal support from Pakistani authorities, who have allowed only a small number of the "Stranded Pakistanis" to settle in Pakistan. Today about 600,000 Urdu speaking people live in Bangladesh.



This is one of the 116 camps in Bangladesh that was established in 1972 as a temporary shelter for the stranded Pakistanis. They have been living here for 40 years now. This camp is located in Mohammadpur, Dhaka.

I spent three days in several camps, such as the Geneva camp, the CRO camp, the Market camp and the Community camp where I met many Biharis and Urdu speaking people. One cannot imagine the living condition in these camps unless one sees with their own eyes. In 1972 the Bihari couples or families were given small 8x10 rooms as shelters. They counted days to go to their 'promised land', but nobody came for them. The treaty of 1974 in Simla between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh resulted in the following. Pakistan will take a) The central government employees and their families, b) The people who were born in W. Pakistan and c) 25,000 people on humanatarian ground. This excluded left 90% of the Urdu speakers in Bangladesh. They have been living in camps since then.

The Bazar is infront of her living quarter. She also entertains her guests on these steps.

Their families have grown from 2 to 12. However, the living quarter is still the same, 8x10. It is hard to believe that people are living in such conditions. Problems are many, there are not enough toilets, sanitation is bad, water and electricity is not adequate. Most of the men of these camps work as bus/cab drivers, barbers, butchers and on handlooms. Women mostly stay at home. Some work with "zari" and embroidary. The Benarasi sarees are mostly made by the Bihari community.

Beautiful Zari work done by Bihari women

The young generation of this community is waking up. They are going to schools and colleges and asking for their rights. In 2001, ten young Urdu speaking youngmen went to court asking for their rights as citizens of Bangladesh. On May 5, 2003 the High Court granted them the right to vote. In 2008, the high court ruled that camp dwelers born in Bangladesh are Bangladeshis by birth, hence, will have all rights as citizens. The older generation, who migrated in 1947, can either choose to be Bangladeshis or be Pakistanis. Today 90% of the camp dewlers consider themselves Bangladeshis. They feel that this is the land they were born and brought up at. This is home.

The young generation of the camp. These women are going to colleges and universities and want to change their future.