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Six-Points of Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman (1970)
Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman was the founder of Bangladesh. During the rule of Ayub Khan and Yahya Khan, he played a bouncy role in Pakistan politics and became prominent especially when he presented a Six-Point formula in 1966, in collaboration with his party and demanded the Pakistan government to implement his six points in every way to the fullest extent. The Government of Pakistan disliked his idea that was prone to make the center significantly weak and the provinces predominantly independent. But his Awami League urged the Government to encompass all the six points in the new constitution that was to be framed by the new Constituent Assembly. Sheikh Mujib and his party showed extreme rigidity when asked to amend or modify a few points. Though at times he agreed to take a reasonable view of his points, especially before the elections of 1970, yet at every juncture, he backed out and stuck to the Six-Point formula that had made him exceedingly popular among the people of Bengal. All the members of the Awami League were so emotional that they pledged to make every sacrifice to implement the Six-Point formula. And it was the very formula that aroused them to civil disobedience and to defy the authority of the central government. A force of freedom fighters known as Mukti Bahini paralyzed the civil administration. Exploiting the appalling scenario India intruded, dashed off to their rescue, and paved the way for the Awami League to declare an independent Bangladesh.
The Six-Point formula comprised the following points:
1: Through a federal parliamentary system based on direct adult franchise representation of provinces would be based on population in the federal legislature.
2: The federal government will be restricted only to foreign affairs, defense and currency.
And even concerning foreign affairs, the subject of economic issues would rest
with the provinces.
3: There would be either two different currencies for the two wings or a single one with a
separate Federal Reserve System for each wing.
4: The power of implementing and collecting taxes would rest with the provinces.
The federal government will be given enough shares to fulfill its tasks of foreign
affairs and defense.
5: There would be separate accounts of foreign exchange earnings for each wing.
6: East Pakistan would be entitled to have militia or paramilitary force solely under its jurisdiction.