ISBN: 978-93-94174-56-6

Sylhet’s Severance and its Repercussions on Assam: A Historical Perspective

Assistant Professor, Department of History, A.L. Choudhury College, Algapur, Hailakandi, Assam, India

For decades, Sylhet and Assam had been closely linked through shared administrative structures, economic networks, and cultural ties. As part of the Assam province under colonial rule, Sylhet was deeply integrated into Assam’s economy through tea, limestone, and trade networks, while migration, linguistic affinities, and educational institutions reinforced social and cultural connections. Sylhet’s incorporation into East Pakistan following the 1947 Partition and referendum marked a decisive rupture in these established relationships. This sudden realignment disrupted trade routes, fractured integrated markets, and deprived Assam of a vital economic hinterland that had contributed substantially to its revenue and industrial growth. At the same time, the Partition triggered a large influx of refugees from East Bengal into Assam, placing heavy pressure on Assam’s resources and administration, creating challenges of rehabilitation, employment, land settlement, and social integration. This article examines the economic, demographic, and socio-political consequences of Sylhet’s separation and analyses how the events of 1947 reshaped Assam’s post-Partition trajectory.

*Corresponding author; e-mail: sherintalukdar@gmail.com

Cite this Chapter: Sherin Sultana Talukdar. 2026. Sylhet’s Severance and Its Repercussions on Assam: A Historical Perspective. In: Dr. Shamim Ahmed Shamim Khan Barbhuiya. Dr. Saurabh Sarma. Dr. Kowser Alam Laskar. Dr. Atiqur Rahman Laskar. Dr. Gulenoor Islam Barbhuiya (Eds.), ANUSANDHAN-A Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Research Repository. Excellent Publishers, India. pp. 11-19. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/978-93-94174-56-6_2