Biharis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Biharis also refers to the natives or citizens of Bihar state of independent India (including non-Muslims).
| The Biharis |
|---|
| Total population |
|
600,000 - ? |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Pakistan,Bangladesh,United Kingdom,United States,Canada |
| Languages |
| Urdu |
| Religions |
| Islam( Sunni and Shia ) |
| Related ethnic groups |
| Other Indo-Aryan peoples Punjabis, Memons, Gujaratis, Pashtuns, Sindhis |
Bihari refers to residents of the Indian state of Bihar. During Partition of India in 1947, many Biharis of Islamic faith migrated to East Bengal (later East Pakistan and subsequently Bangladesh).
Contents |
[edit] Biharis in Pakistan and Bangladesh
In 1947, at the time of Partition, many Muslim Biharis moved to what was then East Bengal. In 1971, when war broke out between West Pakistan and East Pakistan (or Bangladesh), the Biharis, who mostly considered themselves Pakistani, sided with West Pakistan.
However, when East Pakistan became the independent state of Bangladesh in December 1971, the Biharis were left behind as the Pakistani army and civilians evacuated and the Bihari population in Bangladesh found themselves unwelcome in both countries. Pakistan feared a mass influx of Biharis could destabilize a fragile and culturally mixed population, and Bangladeshis scorned the Biharis for having supported and sided with the West during the war.
With little or no legal negotiation about offering the Biharis Pakistani citizenship, the Biharis (officially called stranded Pakistanis, in Bangladesh) have remained stateless for 33 years. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has not addressed the plight of the Biharis. An estimated 600,000 Biharis live in 66 camps in 13 regions across Bangladesh, and an equal number have acquired Bangladeshi citizenship.
In 1990, a small number of Biharis were allowed to immigrate to Pakistan due to the efforts of MQM, which is still campaigning for their return.
The majority of Biharis in Pakistan live in Karachi, where Orangi Town has the highest concentration of them while those in Bangladesh are allowed to live in specific camps only mostly within Dhaka city. Due to not having citizenship, most engage in odd jobs of various sorts.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Minorities at Risk-University of Maryland, USA
- Refugees International
- Stateless people In Bangladesh
- Stranded Pakistanis.org
- South Asian forum for Human Rights-The Bihari Refugees
- [1]-Obathelpers
[edit] External links
- Mixed feelings over Bihari ruling---2003---BBC
- PRC Wants Urgent Steps for Biharis’ Repatriation-2005---Arab News
- Govt opposes repatriation of Biharis-2004----Khaleej Times
- MQM demands issuance of CNICs to Biharis-2004---Dawn
- Vote for 'stranded Pakistanis'----BBC
- India helps stranded Pakistanis return---BBC
- Musharraf said while he had every sympathy for the plight of thousands of people in Bangladesh known as 'stranded Pakistanis', he could not allow them to emigrate to Pakistan----BBC
