East Bengal
East Bengal (Bengali: পূর্ব বাংলা/পূর্ববঙ্গ Purbô Bangla/Purbôbongo) was a non-contiguous province of the Dominion of Pakistan. Geographically eastern part of the Bengal region, East Bengal existed from 1947 until 1955, when it was renamed East Pakistan. Today, the area is an independent country, Bangladesh. With its coastline on the Bay of Bengal, it bordered India and Burma (presently known as Myanmar). It was located close to, but did not share a border with, Nepal, Tibet, the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Kingdom of Sikkim. Its capital was Dacca, now known as Dhaka.
East Bengal | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947–1955 | |||||||||
| Status | Province of the Dominion of Pakistan | ||||||||
| Capital | Dacca (currently known as Dhaka) | ||||||||
| Common languages | Bengali, Urdu and English | ||||||||
| Government | Parliamentary constitutional monarchy | ||||||||
| Legislature | Legislative Assembly | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Second Partition of Bengal | 15 August 1947 | ||||||||
• One Unit | 14 October 1955 | ||||||||
| Currency | Pakistani rupee | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Bangladesh India | ||||||||
The Partition of India, which divided Bengal along religious lines, established the borders of Muslim majority East Bengal. The province existed during the reign of two monarchs, including George VI and Elizabeth II; and three Governors-General, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Khawaja Nazimuddin and Ghulam Muhammad. Its provincial governors included a British administrator and several Pakistani statesmen. Its chief ministership was held by leading Bengali politicians.
East Bengal was the most populous and cosmopolitan province in the dominion. It was a hub of political movements, including the Bengali Language Movement and pro-democracy groups. It was dissolved in 1955 and replaced by East Pakistan during the One Unit scheme implemented by Prime Minister Mohammad Ali of Bogra.
The provincial legislature was the East Bengal Legislative Assembly.