Our hearts swell with pride every time the elections of 1954 and 1970 are mentioned. History books are full of details about how local political parties fought for the rights of Bengalis in the then Pakistan. Prior to the 1954 election, Jukta Front leader Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy claimed that their opponent Muslim League would not get even 10 seats, which turned to be true. In the 1970 election, Awami League clinched an absolute victory.

Who was in charge of the government during those elections? Undoubtedly, the West Pakistani establishment, and that did not stop Jukto Front or Awami League from winning landslide victories. In the 46 years since independence, we have not been able to hold such fair elections.