A referendum on the future of Sylhet district in what would become part of East Pakistan took place on 6th and 7th July 1947.

Sylhetis voted in favour of accession to Pakistan. 2.4 million voted in favour of accession to Pakistan, whilst 1.8 favoured retaining Sylhet within the Union of India.

Mirza Ahmad Ispahani, prominent businessman and Muslim League financier based in Bengal wrote:

“My dear Mr. Jinnah,

I have very good news to give you about Sylhet. Since the last ten days’ strenuous work, the whole position has changed, and now it looks, by the grace of God, we will easily win our referendum.

This morning I have again sent Mr. Muazamuddin Hosain! by air with money. So far I have paid out one lakh and twenty-five thousand rupees (Rs. 1,25,000). I expect there will be more money to be paid. I am trying to stop all possible wastage.

The Hindus have brought the Sikhs and Nagas to terrorise the Muslims. We, therefore, had to send a large contingent of Muslim National Guards. So far we have fifteen hundred of them distributed all over Sylhet.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

MIRZA AHMAD ISPAHANI”

Source: ‘Mirza Ahmad Ispahani to M. A. Jinnah’, (6 July 1947) cited in Z. H. Zaidi (ed.), Jinnah Papers, On the Threshold of Pakistan (Government of Pakistan: 1996), p. 123-124