In March 1954, the four-party alliance United Front (UF) won a landslide victory in the first provincial election of East Bengal, securing 228 of the 309 seats.[1] On 3 April, party leader A. K. Fazlul Huq formed a new cabinet at Government House as the new provincial prime minister.[2] In 30 May, citing the provincial cabinet's inability to deal with the emergency situation and concerns over public security, governor-generalMalik Ghulam Muhammad imposed governor's rule in the province and suspended the cabinet. Former provincial prime minister Huq was subsequently placed under house arrest. Around 1,600 UF activists were arrested on charges of anti-government activities, including 30 members of the Legislative Assembly.[1][3] Governor’s rule was lifted on 5 June 1955,[4] resulting in the restoration of the cabinet. Huq resigned from the cabinet, and the following day a new cabinet was formed under the leadership of Abu Hussain Sarkar, politician of UF constituent party Krishak Sramik Party (KSP).[5] Before that, in reaction to Huq's statement that Huseyn Suhrawardy, leader of the All-Pakistan Awami League, means nothing in the UF, on 17 February 1955, a no-confidence motion was brought against Huq in the East Bengal Legislative Assembly by the UF constituent party East Pakistan Awami League (AL). However, a majority vote sided with Huq, resulting in the AL's departure from the UF.[6]
Fall
On 13 August 1956, AL politician Sheikh Mujibur Rahman moved a no-confidence motion against the UF-led cabinet during a session of the provincial assembly. However, in 14 August, A. K. Fazlul Huq, the governor of East Pakistan, announced the indefinite adjournment of the Assembly session, prompting the AL to launch a movement against the Governor. On 15 August, three members of the cabinet resigned.[7] Amid intense protests, the governor considered convening a session in 26 August.[8] As Hindu members withdrew their support over issues related to the constitution and the joint electorate system, the cabinet soon realized that its fall was inevitable; consequently, the cabinet members resigned in 30 August. Meanwhile, the AL reached understandings with various minority-based political parties on several demands, including the Five-Point Programme.[9] In 4 September, protests erupted in Dhaka in response to the East Pakistan Rifles opening fire on an AL rally, killing four people and injuring several others. In this situation, Section 144 was imposed, and leaders of the KSP went into hiding. Under these circumstances, the governor invited the AL to form the cabinet.[8] In 5 September, the AL formed a new cabinet in the province.[10]
Members
The cabinet consisted of the following ministers:[11]
12"The East Bengal Civil List" (Document). East Bengal Government Press. 1955. p.3.
Bibliography
Al Saeed, Abu (2019). আওয়ামী লীগের শাসনকাল [১৯৫৬-৫৮ এবং ১৯৭১-৭৫][Awami League rule (1956-58 and 1971-75)] (in Bengali). Dhaka: Agami Prokashoni. ISBN9789840421596.
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