When we hear the word “Bengali”, the names of two countries come to our mind first — India and Bangladesh. Despite the historic truth that Bangladesh was once known as East Pakistan, it is almost impossible to even imagine the phrase ‘Pakistani Bengali’. But it’s a fact that after Bangladesh and India, the country where most Bengalis live, is still Pakistan. Although the official estimate is three million, in reality, that number is far more.

Two separate countries were born on August 15, 1947, India and Pakistan. After a bloody war, Pakistan got bifurcated, and Bangladesh was born as an independent nation in 1971. However, how Karachi, now the economic epicenter of Pakistan and the capital of its Sindh province, became home to such a significant number of Bengali dwellers, many of whom now live a miserable existence, is interesting, but, at times, a tragic yet not so known story.

Since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, many Bengalis migrated to the port city of Karachi in search of work. Many of them settled in Karachi and established themselves through their talent and hard work.

Before 1971, Bengalis were the second largest linguistic community in Karachi. During the British rule, Urdu-speaking traders brought fishermen from the coastal areas of then East Bengal to Karachi because of their fishing skills. The group comprised both Hindus and Muslims. The traders set up fishermen's colonies by the sea during the first half of the twentieth century. The Bengali-speaking fishermen quickly adapted to the environment in Karachi and made it their home.

The Bengalis who have been living in Karachi for so many years still keep their Bengali identity alive. Although many of them cannot read or write Bengali properly, they speak the language fluently. Rice is still their staple food and they also love listening to Bangla songs in their spare time.

When one walks along such lanes, the sound of hit Bangla songs frequently catches the eardrums. Post-graduate studies in Bengali can be done at Karachi University. Bengali books written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Jasimuddin, Manik Bandopadhyay, Shakti Chattopadhyay, Sunil Gangopadhyay and Humayun Ahmed are also taught at the university.

At one time two Bengali dailies 'Qaumi Bandhan' and 'Mukti' used to be published from Karachi. That is why Pakistanis call Karachi 'Mini Bangladesh'. There are about 132 Bengali colonies in and around Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan and the 12th largest in the world.

Struggle for identity documents

Bengalis who came to Pakistan before 1971 may be somewhat better off, but those who migrated after the Liberation War of 1971 met with a dire fate. These Bengalis are yet to receive a legitimate identity card to access the basic services of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The procedure of getting a work permit is also quite complex, as one has to cross several stages, often having to pay bribes.

Due to a lack of educational opportunities, fishing is the main occupation of most Bengalis living in Karachi. As they do not have an identity document, they are forced to work on lower wages and cannot own any property. Thus, they end up living in rented apartments year after year.

Also, since the Bengalis live in over-populated slums, the environment is very dirty. Congested slums are uninhabitable and do not have electricity for about 20 hours a day. The city civic body supplies drinking water only once a day. As the younger generation cannot pursue higher education, they have to work in grocery stores or sell vegetables on the roadside.

Since most Bengalis living in Pakistan do not have the right to vote, they do not have access to local politics. Thus local political leaders are least concerned about their daily basic needs. Due to a lack of proper communication between the two nations, they cannot meet or send any gifts or money to their relatives in Bangladesh.

Professionally, the Bengali-speaking people of Karachi are mainly involved in the local fisheries. They are also the main driving force in Pakistan's 25 billion rupee fish export sector. Many of them work in ocean-going trawlers. These people are a permanent source of cheap labor in the economic life of Karachi. Lack of citizenship certificates makes it easier for employers to defraud them. The absence of birth registration certificates (known as B-form) has hampered the education of many and without a computerized National ID Card (CNIC), they are barred from matching requirements of high-paid jobs.

The majority of the current Bengali community in Karachi was born and brought up there. According to the country's citizenship law 1951,  they deserve to be bona fide citizens. But when they ask for birth certificates or identity documents, they are denied such facilities.

Emotional distress

A good number of those who have migrated there in recent decades want to return to Bangladesh. But many among them who had migrated without a Bangladeshi identity card, cannot now claim themselves as Bangladeshis. Again, the diplomatic relations between the two countries are now cold. This has also made it difficult for them to visit their close relatives in Bangladesh. Years of separation from their near and dear ones has become a cause of emotional distress for many.

At the same time, the reverse side of the coin has the image of hope and happiness. The Bengali-speaking young generation in Karachi now finds their claim to citizenship more reasonable than ever because of the extraordinary precedent set by the Bangladesh government for the Urdu-speaking people living in camps in Bangladesh a few years ago. But despite the humanitarian sympathy, the problem remains unresolved as the political parties weigh their gains and losses.

Pakistan's census documents mention nine mother tongues, but Bangla has no place in the list yet. This scenario is disheartening for the Bangla-speaking community. On the other hand, the government of Bangladesh is giving benefits to all the citizens by recognizing the Urdu speakers trapped in the camps on its soil. This initiative was also noticed by current Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. As a result, he promised citizenship and passports to the stranded Bengalis and Afghans in the run-up to the last election. That promise is yet to see the light of day.  

Pakistan needs to reciprocate

Moreover, Bangladesh is now the second-largest economy in South Asia. Bangladesh's exports to India are USD 1 billion in monetary value and imports are USD 7 billion. With China, Bangladesh's exports exceed USD 1 billion and its imports exceed USD 10 billion.

In the past, Bangladesh was a huge market for Pakistan-made sports goods, surgical equipment, and Islamic heritage items. Over time, that industry has faded. If Pakistan wants to boost its current economy, they have to work on building good economic relations and move their own economic wheel.

Moreover, just as Bangladesh has extended its hand of friendship by giving recognition to the stranded Pakistanis, Islamabad should reciprocate by extending its hand in like manner. On the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence that all Bengalis of the country are celebrating, giving recognition to three million Bengalis in Pakistan can be the best gift. All it demands is kindness and generosity.

(The writer is an activist and award-winning international youth leader in Bangladesh. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at  md.rakibalhasan.bd@gmail.com/ he tweets @ rakibalhasan_bd)