Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 300,000–500,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Bangladesh | |
| Languages | |
| Urdu, Bihari | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Indo-Aryan from the region of Bihar |
Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh (Urdu: پھنسے ہوئے پاکستانی, Bengali: উদ্বাস্তু পাকিস্তানী) are Urdu-speaking Muslim migrants with homelands in present-day India and Pakistan who settled in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) following the partition of India in 1947.
This identification can encompass several groups of people. First among them is "Bihari Muslims". Although most of this population belonged to State of Bihar in India there are many from other Indian states such as U.P. (United Provinces or later Uttar Pradesh). There are still others who had settled in what is now known as Bangladesh in the late 19th century. The second term of reference for this group coined by themselves after creation of Bangladesh is "Stranded Pakistanis". In Urdu media in Pakistan and elsewhere this was translated as "Mehsooreen" or the "Besieged". Another common term is "Non-Bengalis", which includes not only the Urdu-speaking but also Punjabis, Pathans and Baloch living in Bangladesh. Henceforth any of the above terms may be used to identify this group depending on the context and history.
Biharis were stateless until 2008 when a judgement by the Dhaka High Court gave them right of citizenship. The judgement does not cover refugees who were adults at the time of Bangladesh Liberation War.
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