The Government of East Pakistan or formerly Government of East Bengal governed the province East Bengal (later East Pakistan, now Bangladesh) and was centered in its provincial capital Dhaka. The head of the province was the Governor, who was nominated by the President of Pakistan. While the head of the province of East Pakistan was the Chief Minister who was elected by the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly.
The East Pakistani government was dominated by the Awami League.[1] It was succeeded by the Government of Bangladesh following the province's secession in 1971.
Cabinets
Haque Ministry
Awami League accepted A.K. Fazlul Haque of Krishak Sramik Party as the Chief Minister of the province in the Parliamentary meeting on 2 April 1954, forced by Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman, the then governor of East Bengal, to form the provincial government. However, on the same day, without consulting the provincial council meeting, Haque announced three persons as ministers of the province according to his own wish. Awami League, the majority party of the United Front, could not accept this.[2]
On the 30th of the same month, Haque's speech in Calcutta, India highlighted the similarity between the two Bengals, which drew criticism in Pakistan.[3] Under the pressure of criticism, Haque announced the names of 10 more ministers to improve relations with Awami League, 7 of whom were members of Awami League. However, on May 30, the central government dissolved the United Front cabinet and imposed Governor's rule in East Bengal.[4]
Sarker Ministry
After the removal of Governor's rule on 5 June 1955, the Krishak Sramik Party and the Awami League formed the next cabinet.[5] Although he announced his retirement from politics on 24 July 1954, on 11 August 1955 A.K. Fazlul Haque became the Home Minister[6] and Abu Hussain Sarkar was the Chief Minister of the new cabinet.[7] In the session of the Provincial Council dated 13 August 1956, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman moved a motion of no confidence against the Second United Front Cabinet. However, on August 14, when A.K. Fazlul Haque, Governor of East Pakistan, announced the suspension of the session of the Provincial Council for an indefinite period, the Awami League started a movement against the governor.
On August 15, three cabinet ministers resigned.[8] In the face of strong protests, the Governor convened a session of the East Pakistan Provincial Council on 26 August. On 4 September 1956, after East Pakistan Rifles fired at an Awami League rally, killing 4 people and injuring several others, protests broke out in Dhaka in response. In such a situation, Section 144 was issued and the leaders of Krishak Sramik Party went into hiding.[9]
Khan Ministry
In view of the events of September 1956, the governor ordered the Awami League to form a cabinet.[9] On 5 September 1956, the Awami League in East Pakistan formed the second ministry in the province. This ministry, which lasted for about two years, was abolished on 24 September 1958.[2] At that time, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was simultaneously a member of the working committee of Awami League and the Minister of Industries of East Pakistan, which was against the constitution of Awami League. So he resigned from the post of Minister of Industry. As Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani resigned from Awami League and formed the National Awami Party, a section of Awami League members joined Bhasani's party. In March 1957, Governor Haque amended the law to reduce the no confidence vote from 130 to 104.[10]
On March 21, 1958, two days after 11 Awami League leaders left the party, the Abu Hossain government moved a motion of no confidence against the Khan cabinet. However, the no-confidence motion was rejected due to lack of sufficient votes.[11] AK Fazlul Haque dismissed the Khan cabinet and installed a new cabinet of the Abu Hussain Sarker on 31 March, but the Khan cabinet was reinstated on the same day after Haque was dismissed by Feroz Khan Noon's administration.[12] On 19 June 1958, Ataur Rahman Khan's cabinet fell due to a no-confidence motion.[12] Abu Hussain Sarker's ministry was ousted by a no-confidence vote on the day it formed the ministry on June 20.[12] After Ataur Rahman Khan's cabinet came to power, governor's rule was imposed in the province on June 25 for 2 months.[13]
Governance
After absorption into the Dominion of Pakistan, the province of East Pakistan (former East Bengal) was administered by a ceremonial Governor and an indirectly elected Chief Minister. During the year from May 1954 to August 1955, executive powers were exercised by the Governor and there was no Chief Minister.
Governor
Political Party
Legend
Governors of East Bengal
| # | Portrait | Governor | Term of office | Political Party | Governor General/
President | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term Start | Term End | Time in Office | |||||
| 1 | 
|
Sir Frederick Chalmers Bourne
(1891-1977) |
15 August 1947[14] | 5 April 1950[14][15] | 2 years, 233 days | Independent
(British Administrator) |
|
| [-] | 
|
Justice
A.S.M. Akram (Acting)[i] (1888-1968) |
16 March 1949[16] | 25 April 1949[16] | 40 days | Independent | Khawaja Nazimuddin |
| 2 | 
|
Sir Feroz Khan Noon
(1893-1970) |
5 April 1950[17][18] | 26 March 1953[17] | 2 years, 355 days | Muslim League |
|
| [-] | 
|
Abdur Rahman Siddiqui
(Acting)[ii] (1887-1953) |
25 July 1952[19] | 10 November 1952[19] | 108 days | Muslim League | Malik Ghulam Muhammad |
| 3 | 
|
Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman
(1889-1973) |
4 April 1953[20] | 30 May 1954[iii][20] | 1 year, 56 days | Muslim League | |
| 4 | 
|
Iskander Mirza
(1899-1969) |
30 May 1954[iii][21] | 21 September 1954[21] | 114 days | Muslim League | |
| [-] | 
|
Justice
Sir Thomas Hobart Ellis (Acting)[iv] (1894-1981) |
Appointment:[22]
21 September 1954 Sworn in:[22] 25 October 1954 |
22 December 1954[22] | 92 days | Independent | |
| [-] | 
|
Justice
Muhammad Shahabuddin (Acting)[v] (1895-1971) |
22 December 1954[23] | 14 June 1955[vi][23] | 174 days | Independent | |
| [-] | 
|
Justice
Amiruddin Ahmad (Acting)[vii] (1895-1965) |
14 June 1955[24] | As Governor of East Bengal:
14 October 1955 As Governor of East Pakistan: 9 March 1956[24] |
As Governor of East Bengal:
122 days As Governor of Eastern Wing: 269 days |
Independent | Malik Ghulam Muhammad
Iskander Mirza |
- ^ A.S.M. Akram was appointed Acting Governor during the leave of absence of Sir Frederick Chalmers Bourne
- ^ Abdur Rahman Siddiqui was appointed Acting Governor during the leave of absence of Sir Feroz Khan Noon
- ^ a b With the dismissal of the United Front Ministry in East Bengal, Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad decided to enforce Governor's Rule in the province and appointed Iskander Mirza as Governor
- ^ Sir Thomas Hobart Ellis was appointed Acting Governor when Iskander Mirza was taken into the central cabinet as Minister
- ^ Muhammad Shahabuddin was appointed after Acting Governor after Sir Thomas Hobart Ellis
- ^ Justice Shahabuddin resigned due to differences of opinion about the restoration of parliamentary government in East Bengal
- ^ Justice Amiruddin Ahmad, Chief Justice of Dhaka High Court, was appointed acting Governor on the resignation of Justice Muhammad Shahabuddin
Governors of East Pakistan
In late 1955, the prime minister Mohammad Ali Bogra initiated the One Unit policy which resulted in East Bengal province being renamed to East Pakistan
| # | Portrait | Governor | Term of office | Political Party | President | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term Start | Term End | Time in Office | |||||
| [-] |
|
Justice
Amiruddin Ahmad (Acting)[I] (1895-1965) |
As Governor of East Pakistan:
14 October 1955 As Governor of East Bengal: June 14, 1955[25] |
9 March 1956[25] | As Governor of East Pakistan:
147 days As Governor of Eastern Wing : 269 days |
Independent | Iskander Mirza |
| 1 | 
|
Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq
(1873 - 1962) |
9 March 1956[26] | 31 March 1958[II][26][27] | 2 years, 22 days | Krishak | |
| [-] | Muhammad Hamid Ali
(Acting)[III] (1906-1972) |
1 April 1958[28][27] | 3 May 1958[28][29] | 32 days | Independent | ||
| 2 | 
|
Sultanuddin Ahmad
(1902-1977) |
Appointment:[30]
26 April 1958 Sworn in:[30][29] 3 May 1958 |
10 October 1958[IV][30][31] | 160 days | Independent | |
| 3 | 
|
Zakir Husain
(1898-1971) |
Appointment:[32]
10 October 1958 Sworn in:[32][31] 11 October 1958 |
14 April 1960[32] | 1 year, 186 days | Independent |
|
| 4
|
|
Lieutenant general
(1908-1994) |
15 April 1960[33] | 10 May 1962[33] | 2 years, 25 days | Military | Ayub Khan |
| [-] | 
|
Syed Hashim Raza
(Acting)[V] (1910-2003) |
1 July 1961[34] | 5 August 1961[34] | 35 days | Independent | |
| 5 | 
|
Ghulam Faruque Khan
(1899-1992) |
11 May 1962[35] | 25 October 1962[VI][35] | 167 days | Independent | |
| 6 | 
|
Abdul Monem Khan
(1899-1971) |
28 October 1962[36] | 23 March 1969[36] | 6 years, 146 days (Longest Serving) |
Muslim League | |
| 7 | 
|
Mirza Nurul Huda
(1919-1991) |
23 March 1969[37] | 25 March 1969[VII][37] | 2 days | Independent | |
| 8
|
|
Major general
(Martial Law Administrator) |
25 March 1969[38] | 23 August 1969[38] | 151 days | Military | Yahya Khan |
| 9
|
|
Lieutenant general
(1920-2016) (Martial Law Administrator) |
23 August 1969[39] | 1 September 1969[X][39] | 9 days | Military | |
| 10
|
|
Vice admiral
(1921-1989) |
1 September 1969[40] | 1 March 1971[40] | 1 year, 181 days | Military | |
| (11)
|
|
Lieutenant general
(1920-2016) (Head of Civil Administration ) |
1 March 1971[39] | 7 March 1971[39] | 6 days | Military | |
| 12
|
|
Lieutenant general
(1915-2002) |
Appointment:[41]
6 March 1971 Sworn in:[41] 7 March 1971 Officially announced:[41] 9 March 1971 |
3 September 1971[41] | 180 days | Military | |
| 13 | 
|
Abdul Motaleb Malik
(1905-1977) |
Appointment:[42]
31 August 1971 Sworn in:[42] 3 September 1971 |
14 December 1971[XII][42] | 102 days | Muslim League | |
| 14
|
|
Lieutenant general
(1915-2004) (Supreme Authority of East Pakistan) |
14 December 1971[43] | 16 December 1971[43] | 2 days | Military | |
- ^ Justice Amiruddin Ahmad, Chief Justice of Dhaka High Court, was appointed acting Governor on the resignation of Justice Muhammad Shahabuddin
- ^ President Iskander Mirza removed A. K. Fazlul Huq as governor on 31 March 1958 on the advice of the Noon cabinet for allegedly overstepping his limits as a constitutional Governor. Huq had dismissed Ataur Rahman's Ministry of Awami League that had not been defeated on the floor of the House, and had installed Mr. Abu Hussain Sarkar of his own party Krishak Sramik Party as Chief Minister.
- ^ Muhammad Hamid Ali, Chief Secretary to the Governor of East Pakistan, was appointed Acting Governor in pursuance of the provisions of Article 70 of the Constitution following the removal of Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq from the office
- ^ Sultanuddin Ahmad was removed from office on 10 October 1958 soon after the promulgation of Martial Law in Pakistan on 7 October
- ^ Syed Hashim Raza was Acting Governor of the province during the absence of General Azam Khan's official visit to West Germany
- ^ Unable to cope with the political problems of East Pakistan, Ghulam Faruque Khan resigned from office.
- ^ With the promulgation of Martial Law throughout Pakistan and the abrogation of the constitution in the evening of 25 March, Mirza Nurul Huda's tenure of governorship came to an abrupt end after just 60 hours.
- ^ On 25 March 1969 General A. M. Yahya Khan proclaimed martial law and divided the country into two administrative zones- West Pakistan (Zone 'A') and East Pakistan (Zone 'B'). Major general Muzaffaruddin was the GOC of the 14 Division, became Martial Law Administrator, Zone 'B'. On 8 April 1969, Yahya Khan issued an order directing that the Martial Law Administrators of Zone 'A' and 'B' would perform the functions and powers of the Governors of West and East Pakistan respectively. Thus Major general Muzaffaruddin became Martial Law Administrator and also exercised the powers and functions of Governor of East Pakistan.
- ^ Lieutenant general Sahabzada Yaqub Khan was appointed as Martial Law Administrator of Zone 'B' and exercised the powers and functions of the Governor of East Pakistan.
- ^ On 8 April 1969, President Yahya Khan issued an order directing that the Martial Law Administrators would perform the functions and powers of the Governor. However, a notification issued by the cabinet secretariat on 1 September 1969 cancelled the order of 8 April 1969 and directed Martial Law Administrators to refrain from performing the functions of Governor in their respective provinces with immediate effect. Lt. General Yaqub Khan remained Martial Law Administrator until Vice Admiral S. M. Ahsan took over as the new Governor of East Pakistan on 1 September 1969
- ^ Lt. general Sahabzada Yaqub Khan was made the "head of civil administration in the province" and exercised the functions and powers of Governor from 1 March 1971 until the arrival of Lt. general Tikka Khan on 7 March 1971.
- ^ Abdul Motaleb Malik along with his cabinet resigned on 14 December after realizing that Pakistani defeat was imminent and sought refuse in Hotel Intercontinental, seeking the protection of the Red Cross flag.
- ^ Lt. general A. A. K. Niazi was the commander of the Eastern Command of the Pakistan Army and as the supreme authority of Pakistan in its eastern wing functioned and exercised power as the Governor of East Pakistan after the resignation of Abdul Motaleb Malik during the last 48 hours of Bangladesh Liberation War
Chief Ministers
List of chief ministers
| No | Image | Name | Term(s) | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin | 15 August 1947 – 14 September 1948 | Muslim League |
| 2 | Nurul Amin | 14 September 1948 – 3 April 1954 | Muslim League | |
| 3 | |
Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq |
3 April 1954 – 29 May 1954 | Krishak Sramik Party (with the support of Awami League) |
| 4 |  |
Abu Hussain Sarkar | 20 June 1955 – 30 August 1956 | Krishak Sramik Party |
| 5 | Ataur Rahman Khan | 1 September 1956 – March 1958 | Awami League |
Chief Ministers
| No | Image | Name | Term | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Khawaja Nazimuddin | August 15, 1947 | September 4, 1948 | Muslim League | |
| Nurul Amin | September 14, 1948 | April 3, 1954 | Muslim League | ||
|
|
A. K. Fazlul Huq | April 3, 1954 | May 29, 1954 | United Front | |
|
|
Abu Hussain Sarkar | June 20, 1955 | August 30, 1956 | Awami League | |
| Ataur Rahman Khan | September 1, 1956 | March 1958 | |||
|
|
Abu Hussain Sarkar | March 1958 | |||
| Ataur Rahman Khan | March 1958 | June 18, 1958 | |||
|
|
Abu Hussain Sarkar | June 18, 1958 | June 22, 1958 | ||
| Ataur Rahman Khan | August 25, 1958 | October 7, 1958 | |||
Legislature
East Pakistan's provincial assembly consisted of 300 members. It was known as the East Bengal Assembly from 1947 to 1955 when the provincial name was changed. The legislature was a successor to the Bengal Legislative Council and the Bengal Legislative Assembly, which were divided between East Bengal and West Bengal during the partition of Bengal in 1947. It was the largest provincial legislature in Pakistan.
Judiciary
The High Court of judicature for East Bengal commonly known as the Dhaka High Court was established in 1947 under Pakistan (Provisional Constitutional) Order 1947 as a separate High Court with all Appellate, Civil and Original jurisdictions.[44][45] In 1955 the Dhaka High Court became the High Court of East Pakistan and the Supreme Court of Pakistan was established as the apex Court with the appellate jurisdiction to hear the decisions of the High Courts established in the East and West Pakistan.[46] Until 1967 the High Court was held in the building that now known as the Old High Court Building on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, opposite the curzon hall, Dhaka. With the construction of a larger facility in the 1960s nearby that now houses the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and Attorney General's office, the High Court was shifted from Old House on 10 July 1967.
Notes
References
Citations
- ^ Nair, M. Bhaskaran (1990). Politics in Bangladesh: A Study of Awami League, 1949-58. Northern Book Centre. p. 227. ISBN 9788185119793.
- ^ a b Saeed, pp. 16.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 17.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 18.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 19.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 19–20.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 21.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 22.
- ^ a b Saeed, pp. 23.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 24.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 25.
- ^ a b c Saeed, pp. 26.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 27.
- ^ a b "frederick - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ "স্যার ফেডরিকের স্বদেশ যাত্রা" [Sir Frederick's Journey Home]. The Azad (in Bengali). 6 April 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
- ^ a b "akram - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "firozkhan - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ "পূর্ব পাকিস্তানের নবনিযুক্ত গভার্নর এর ঢাকা আগমন" [The Newly Appointed Governor of East Pakistan Arrives in Dhaka]. The Azad (in Bengali). 6 April 1950. p. 1.
- ^ a b "abdurrahman - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "khaliquzzaman - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "iskandermirza - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b c "hobartellis - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "shahabuddin - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "amiruddin - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "amiruddin - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "fazluhuq - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "করাচীর নির্দেশে পূর্ব পাকিস্তানের গভার্নর মিঃ ফজলুল হকের নাটকীয়ভাবে পদচ্যুত" [Governor of East Pakistan Mr. Fazlul Haq Dramatically Removed by Orders from Karachi]. The Jugantor (in Bengali). 1 April 1958. p. 1. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
- ^ a b "hamidali - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "পূর্ব পাকিস্তানের নয়া গভর্নর" [The New Governor of East Pakistan]. The Azad (in Bengali). 3 May 1958. p. 1.
- ^ a b c "sultanuddin - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "Zakir Hussain installed as new governor". Bangladesh Observer (known as Pakistan Observer during Publication). 12 October 1958.
- ^ a b c "zakirhusain - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "azamkhan - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "hashimraza - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "faruque - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "monemkhan - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "nurulhuda - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-08. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "muzaffar - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b c d "yaqubkhan - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "ahsan - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b c d "tikkakhan - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b c "malik - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ a b "niazi - THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh". web.archive.org. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ^ "High Court". Banglapedia. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ Government of India Act 1935 as adapted by the Pakistan (Provisional Constitution) Order 1947, S. 219
- ^ High Court of West Pakistan (Establishment) Order, 1955 (G.G.O. XIX of 1955), Art. 3