1971 East Pakistan by-elections

Following the victory in the 1970 general elections, the failure to transfer power led to a non-cooperation movement called by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of the Awami League based in East Pakistan. In response, on 25 March 1971, the Pakistani government launched Operation Searchlight, intensifying the political crisis. The following day, all political activities in Pakistan were banned, and the Awami League was declared illegal.

During the Bangladesh Liberation War, President Yahya Khan annulled the membership of 78 elected representatives of the National Assembly and 105 members of the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly. He then announced by-elections in East Pakistan.

The election saw participation from a six-party right-wing alliance led by Nurul Amin and the Islamic socialist Pakistan Peoples Party led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Before the election, 53 national and 102 provincial seats from the alliance, along with 5 national and 1 provincial seat from the Pakistan Peoples Party, were elected unopposed. However, due to the ongoing war, the scheduled voting from 7 December 1971 to 7 January 1972 was postponed.

On 16 December 1971, with the surrender of the Pakistan Army to the Allied Forces in Dhaka, East Pakistan gained independence as Bangladesh. Subsequently, on 23 December 1971, Pakistan's new President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto officially canceled the by-election.