Amena Begum, a former MP of East Pakistan

East Pakistan

East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...

, was a prominent figure in the independence movement of Bangladesh

Bangladesh

Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...

. She was instrumental in campaigning all over East Pakistan for the Six Point programme of regional autonomy drafted by the Awami League, and on June 7, 1966 organised the general strike along with Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury

Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury

Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury was a Bengali politician, most notable for serving as Prime Minister of Bangladesh from July 9, 1986, to March 27, 1988....

. This strike was observed throughout the then East Pakistan and was the first major indication that an independent Bangladesh was imminent.

Sources

• http://www.newagebd.com/2005/jun/07/oped.html bottom of the page, article titled 'The day that was 7 June 1966 '
• http://www.albd.org/autoalbd/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=569&Itemid=1 5th paragraph