Sylhet Referendum

The Sylhet Referendum was held on July 6-7, 1947.

The Sylhet Referendum was held to determine whether the district of Sylhet, which was part of the province of Assam in British India, should join the newly independent Dominion of India or the newly independent Dominion of Pakistan.

In the Sylhet Referendum, 58.46% of the votes were cast in favor of joining Pakistan, while 41.54% of the votes were cast in favor of joining India.

Abul Hashim was the leader of the pro-Pakistan movement in Sylhet. He was a prominent politician and lawyer who served as the first Chief Minister of East Pakistan.

Gopinath Bordoloi was the leader of the pro-India movement in Sylhet. He was a prominent politician and lawyer who served as the first Chief Minister of Assam after independence.

The pro-Pakistan movement in Sylhet argued that Sylhet had a Muslim-majority population, that it had cultural and linguistic ties with East Bengal, and that it would be better off economically as part of Pakistan.

The pro-India movement in Sylhet argued that Sylhet had a significant Hindu and Christian population, that it had been part of Assam for centuries, and that it would be better off economically as part of India.

The Sylhet Referendum led to the creation of the new province of East Pakistan, which became part of the newly independent Dominion of Pakistan.

The Sylhet Referendum led to communal violence between Hindus and Muslims, the migration of Hindus from Sylhet to India, and the migration of Muslims from Sylhet to Pakistan.

The Sylhet Referendum is a reminder of the complex and often violent history of the partition of India, the importance of self-determination for peoples, and the need for peaceful resolution of conflicts.