- Not to be confused with the cricket ground in Dhaka Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium
Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq | |
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Born | 26 October 1873 Saturia, Jhalokati District, Bangladesh-বাংলাদেশ |
Died | 27 April 1962 Dhaka, (the then East Pakistan) |
Other names | Sher-e-Bangla (Tiger of Bengal) |
Organization | Indian National Congress Muslim League Krishak Praja Party Sramik-Krishak Dal |
Political movement | Khilafat movement Non-cooperation movement Pakistan movement Bengali Language Movement |
Religion | Islam |
Spouse | Khadija Begum |
Children | A. K. Faezul Huq |
Sher-e-Bangla (Urdu phrase meaning 'The Tiger of Bengal') Abul Kasem Fazlul Huq (Bengali: আবুল কাসেম ফজলুল হক; 26 October 1873—27 April 1962)[1] was a well-known Bengali statesman in the first half of the 20th century. He held different political posts including those of the Mayor of Calcutta (1935), Chief Minister of undivided Bengal (1937–1943) and East Bengal (1954), Home Minister of Pakistan (1955) and Governor of East Pakistan (1956–58).[2]
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Early life
Huq was born to Kazi Muhammad Wajed, from Chakhar, and his wife Saidunnissa Khatun, in his mother's town of Saturia in Jhalakathi district (present day Bangladesh). He passed the Entrance examination in 1890 and the FA Examination in 1892. He then obtained a BA degree (with triple Honours in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics) from Presidency College and an MA on Mathematics from Calcutta University.[2] His formal education was completed with a BL degree in 1897 from the University Law College. He was the second Muslim in the Indian subcontinent to obtain a law degree.[1]
Political career
After alienation from the Congress party where he served as its General Secretary in 1916-1918, it was up to the Muslims to nominate a mayor in Calcutta.In 1929,he launched the Nikhil Proja Samiti. It was in 1935 that, with the Congress' support, he was chosen and elected first Muslim mayor of Calcutta.
In 1937 elections took place in British India.A year before that he had converted the Nikhil Proja Samiti to Krishak Praja Party(K.P.P).Meanwhile,Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah nominated him to the Muslim League Central Parliamentary Board(c.P.B.)But Mr.Huq refused to dissolve his own party citing its bi-communal composition, thus terminating his alliance with the League.When elections were held he successfully challenged Sir Khwaja Nazimuddin in his seat.
The K.P.P won 35 seats.Despite his biter fight with the League which had won 40 seats,the K.P.P.entered into an alliance with it.The Europeans (25),the Independent Scheduled Castes(23) and the Independent Caste Hindus(14)lent support to the alliance.As a result,Mr.Huq was appointed the Premier of Bengal. But his reign was an unstable one as it was marred by controversies.In 1938,the Independent Scheduled Castes seceded and the K.P.P slowly started disintegrating.He also moved the Lahore resolution in 1940 which increased communal tensions. In 1941,The Viceroy of India,Lord Linlithglow nominated him to the Defence Council.But,the Quaid-i-Azam who headed an anti-Imperialist party asked him to resign.He obeyed but in order to demonstrate his unhappines,resigned from the League Working Committee.As a result of Mr.Huqs' reluctance to obey the League ministers resigned.
He became Chief Minister of Bengal in 1954. In 1955, Home Minister of Pakistan and, from 1956 to 1958, Governor of East Pakistan. He drafted and moved the Lahore Resolution of 1940 that established Muslim League's demand for a homeland for Muslims, that ultimately resulted in the nation of Pakistan.[3] He was buried in Dhaka.
Legacy
Sher-e-Bangla founded several educational and technical institutions for the Bengali Muslims, including: Islamia College in Calcutta, Baker hostel and Carmichael hostel (residence halls for Muslim students of the University of Calcutta, Lady Brabourne College, Adina Fazlul Huq College in Rajshahi, Eliot hostel, Tyler Hostel, Medical College hostel, Engineering College hostel, Muslim Institute Building, Dhaka Eden Girls' College Building, Fazlul Huq College at Chakhar, Fazlul Huq Hall (Dhaka University),Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU)Dhaka-1207, Bulbul Music Academy and Central Women’s’ College. Sher-e-Bangla also had significant contribution for founding the leading university of Bangladesh - Dhaka University. During his premiership Bangla Academy was founded and Bengali New Year’s Day (Pohela Baishakh) was declared public holiday.[4] Throughout Bangladesh, various educational institutions (e.g. Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College), roads, neighborhoods (Sher-e-Bangla Nagor), and stadiums (Sher-e-Bangla Mirpur Stadium) have been named after him. This depicts the respect of the people for Sher-e-Bangla. Fazlul Huq's only son, A. K. Faezul Huq, was a Bangladeshi politician.Islamabad's A.K.M. Fazl-ul-Haq Rd is also named after him.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b Gandhi, Rajmohan. (1986) Eight Lives, SUNY Press. p. 189. ISBN 0-88706-196-6.
- ^ a b De, Amalendu; Rahim, Enayetur (2006). "Huq, AK Fazlul". Banglapedia. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. http://www.banglapedia.org/HT/H_0197.HTM. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
- ^ Stevenson, Richard. (2005) Bengal Tiger and British Lion, iUniverse. p. 107. ISBN 0-595-36209-5.
- ^ "Great Politicians". Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq (Krisak Proja Party). Muktadhara. 2001-05-09. p. 67. Archived from the original on 8 September 2007. http://www.muktadhara.net/page67.html. Retrieved 2007-09-14.
- ^ It is a pity that on the 49th death anniversary of the man who moved the resolution that eventually resulted in the creation of Pakistan, there is barely a mention of him in the media. One of the main roads in Islamabad is named after him. Some years ago the name of the road was miss-spelt as Fazle Haq Road, and it has been changed to A K M Fazlul Haq. What the letter “M” stands for remains a mystery. In memory of Fazlul Haq