The Six-Point Movement, initiated in 1966 by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of East Pakistan, sought greater autonomy for the region.^[5] This movement, led mainly by the Awami League, was a response to the perceived exploitation of East Pakistan by West Pakistani rulers and is seen as a significant step towards the independence of Bangladesh.

In February 1966, opposition leaders in East Pakistan convened a national conference to discuss the political situation post-Tashkent. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, representing the Awami League, attended the conference in Lahore. He proposed the Six Points on 5 February, aiming to include them in the conference's agenda. However, his proposal was rejected, and Rahman was labeled a separatist. Consequently, he boycotted the conference on 6 February. Later that month, the Awami League's working committee unanimously accepted the Six Points.

The Six-Point proposal was born from a desire to grant East Pakistan more autonomy. Despite making up the majority of Pakistan's population and contributing significantly to its export income through products like jute, East Pakistanis felt marginalized in political power and economic benefits within Pakistan. The proposal faced rejection from West Pakistani politicians and some non-Awami League politicians from East Pakistan, including the president of the All Pakistan Awami League, Nawabzada Nasarullah Khan, as well as parties like the National Awami Party, Jamaat-i-Islami, and Nizam-i-Islam. Despite this opposition, the movement garnered substantial support among the majority of East Pakistan's population.