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History of Bengal |
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Bengalis |
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This is a list of rulers of Bengal. For much of its history, Bengal was split up into several independent kingdoms, completely unifying only several times. In ancient times, Bengal consisted of the kingdoms of Pundra, Suhma, Vanga, Samatata and Harikela.
In the 4th century BCE, during the reign of the Nanda Empire, the powerful rulers of Gangaridai sent their forces with the war elephants which led the withdrawal of Alexander the Great from the Indian subcontinent. [1]
With the rise of Gopala in 750 AD, Bengal was united once more under the Buddhist and Shaivite Pala Empire. The Pala period is considered as one of golden eras of Bengali history as it brought stability and prosperity to Bengal after centuries of Civil War, created outstanding works of art and architecture, proto-Bengali language develop under them including its first literary work, the Charyapada and so on. Until the 12th century than being succeeded by the Buddhist and Hindu Chandra dynasty, Sena dynasty and Deva dynasty. The rule of deva dynasty was a period of peace, prosperity and creative excellence and may be designed as "golden age" After them, Bengal was ruled by the Hindu Maharajas of kingdoms such as Chandradwip and Cooch Behar.[ citation needed ]
In the early 13th century, Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji conquered Western and part of Northern Bengal, [2] and established the first Muslim kingdom in Bengal. [3] The Islamic Mamluk Sultanate, the Khalji dynasty, the Turko-Indian Tughlaq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty and the Lodi dynasty ruled Bengal for over 320 years. [4] Notable was Malik Altunia's reign with his wife Razia Sultana, the only female sovereign ruler.[ citation needed ]
Following Delhi Sultanate's reign, the Bengal Sultanate, a major trading nation in the world, [5] was founded by Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, and ruled by the Ilyas Shahi dynasty, succeeded by the Hussain Shahi dynasty founded by Alauddin Husain Shah, which saw the extension of the sultanate to the port of Chittagong, witnessing the arrival of the earliest Portuguese merchants.[ citation needed ]
Ancient region | Modern region |
---|---|
Pundravardhana | Rajshahi Division and Rangpur Division in Bangladesh; Malda division of West Bengal in India |
Vanga | Khulna Division and Barisal Division in Bangladesh; West of the Padma river. |
Tirabhukti | Mithila area of India and Nepal |
Gauda | Modern Malda and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal, India |
Suhma | Burdwan division, Medinipur division and Presidency division of West Bengal in India |
Rarh | Corresponds to the modern Bardhaman, Bankura, Hooghly and Nadia districts of West Bengal in India |
Samatata | Dhaka Division, Barisal Division and Chittagong Division in Bangladesh |
Harikela | Sylhet Division, Chittagong Division, Dhaka Division and Barisal Division in Bangladesh |
The founders of Angas, Vangas, Kalingas, Pundras, Odras and Suhmas shared a common ancestry. They were all adopted sons of a king named Bali, born by a sage named Gautama Dirghatamas, who lived in Magadha close to the city of Girivraja. [6]
The earliest mention occurs in the Atharvaveda (V.22.14) where they are listed alongside the Magadhas, Gandharis and the Mujavatas. [7] Anga was annexed by Magadha in the time of Bimbisara. This was the one and only conquest of Bimbisara. [8]
Known Anga rulers include:
Vanga was an ancient kingdom and geopolitical division on the Ganges delta. It was located in southern Bengal, with the core region including present-day southwestern Bangladesh and southern West Bengal (India). [9]
Known Vanga rulers are:
Pundravardhana or Pundra Kingdom, was an ancient kingdom, that included parts of present-day Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions of Bangladesh as well as the West Dinajpur district of West Bengal in India. [10] [11]
Known Pundra rulers are:
Suhma kingdom was an ancient state during the Vedic period on the eastern part of the Bengal.This kingdom was mentioned in the epic Mahabharata along with its neighbouring kingdom Prasuhma. [12]
Tirabhukti or Mithila region is bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west and by the foothills of the Himalayas in the north. [13]
Mithila region firstly ruled by Videha dynasty. There were 52 Janaka (kings) ruled Videha dynasty of Mithila- [14]
During this period of fall of Videha dynasty, the famous republic of Licchavi was rising in Vaishali and Mithila region came under control of Licchavi clan of Vajji confederacy in around eighth century BCE. [16]
Gangaridae is a term used by the ancient Greco-Roman writers to describe a people or a geographical region of the ancient Indian subcontinent. Some of these writers state that Alexander the Great withdrew from the Indian subcontinent because of the strong war elephant force of the Gangaridai. However, the geographical region was annexed and governed by the Nanda Empire at the time.
A number of modern scholars locate Gangaridai in the Ganges Delta of the Bengal region, although alternative theories also exist. Gange or Ganges, the capital of the Gangaridai (according to Ptolemy), has been identified with several sites in the region, including Chandraketugarh and Wari-Bateshwar. [17]
Ruler | Reign (BCE) |
---|---|
Brihadratha | – BCE |
Jarasandha | – BCE |
Sahadeva of Magadha | – BCE |
Somadhi | 1661–1603 BCE |
Srutasravas | 1603–1539 BCE |
Ayutayus | 1539–1503 BCE |
Niramitra | 1503–1463 BCE |
Sukshatra | 1463–1405 BCE |
Brihatkarman | 1405–1382 BCE |
Senajit | 1382–1332 BCE |
Srutanjaya | 1332–1292 BCE |
Vipra | 1292–1257 BCE |
Suchi | 1257–1199 BCE |
Kshemya | 1199–1171 BCE |
Subrata | 1171–1107 BCE |
Dharma | 1107–1043 BCE |
Susuma | 1043–970 BCE |
Dridhasena | 970–912 BCE |
Sumati | 912–879 BCE |
Subala | 879–857 BCE |
Sunita | 857–817 BCE |
Satyajit | 817–767 BCE |
Viswajit | 767–732 BCE |
Ripunjaya | 732–682 BCE |
( Ripunjaya was the last ruler of dynasty, dethorned by Pradyota in 682 BCE)
Ruler | Reign (BCE) | Period |
---|---|---|
Pradyota Mahasena | 682–659 BCE | 23 |
Palaka | 659–635 BCE | 24 |
Visakhayupa | 635–585 BCE | 50 |
Ajaka | 585–564 BCE | 21 |
Varttivarddhana | 564–544 BCE | 20 |
(Varttivarddhana was last ruler of dynasty dethroned by Bimbisara in 544 BCE)
Ruler | Reign (BCE) |
---|---|
Bimbisara | 544–491 BCE |
Ajatashatru | 491–461 BCE |
Udayin | 461–428 BCE |
Anirudha | 428–419 BCE |
Munda | 419–417 BCE |
Darshaka | 417–415 BCE |
Nāgadāsaka | 415–413 BCE |
( Nāgadāsaka was last ruler of dynasty overthrowed by Shishunaga in 413 BCE)
Ruler | Reign (BCE) |
---|---|
Shishunaga | 413–395 BCE |
Kalashoka | 395–377 BCE |
Kshemadharman | 377–365 BCE |
Kshatraujas | 365–355 BCE |
Nandivardhana | 355–349 BCE |
Mahanandin | 349–345 BCE |
(Mahanandin lost his empire by his illegitimate son Mahapadma Nanda in 345 BCE)
Ruler | Reign (BCE) |
---|---|
Mahapadma Nanda | 345–340 BCE |
Pandukananda | 340–339 BCE |
Pandugatinanda | 339–338 BCE |
Bhutapalananda | 338–337 BCE |
Rashtrapalananada | 337–336 BCE |
Govishanakananda | 336–335 BCE |
Dashasiddhakananda | 335–334 BCE |
Kaivartananda | 334–329 BCE |
Dhana Nanda | 329–321 BCE |
(Dhana Nanda lost his empire to Chandragupta Maurya after being defeated by him in 322 BCE)
Ruler | Reign | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Chandragupta Maurya | 322–297 BCE | Founder of first Indian united empire. | |
Bindusara Amitraghata | 297–273 BCE | Known for his foreign diplomacy and crushed of Vidarbh revolt. | |
Ashoka | 268–232 BCE | Greatest emperor of dynasty. His son Kunala was blinded and died before his father. Ashoka was succeeded by his grandson. Also known for Kalinga war victory. | |
Dasharatha Maurya | 232–224 BCE | Grandson of Ashoka. | |
Samprati | 224–215 BCE | Brother of Dasharatha. | |
Shalishuka | 215–202 BCE | ||
Devavarman | 202–195 BCE | ||
Shatadhanvan | 195–187 BCE | Mauryan Empire had shrunk by the time of his reign | |
Brihadratha | 187–184 BCE | Assassinated by his Commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE. | |
(Brihadratha was the last ruler of dynasty, dethroned by Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE)
Ruler | Reign (BCE) |
---|---|
Pushyamitra Shunga | 185–149 BCE |
Agnimitra | 149–141 BCE |
Vasujyeshtha | 141–131 BCE |
Vasumitra | 131–124 BCE |
Bhadraka | 124–122 BCE |
Pulindaka | 122–119 BCE |
Ghosha | 119–108 BCE |
Vajramitra | 108–94 BCE |
Bhagabhadra | 94–83 BCE |
Devabhuti | 83–73 BCE |
(Devabhuti was the last ruler of dynasty dethroned by, dethroned Vasudeva Kanva in 73 BCE)
Ruler | Reign | Period |
---|---|---|
Vasudeva Kanva | 73–64 BCE | 9 |
Bhumimitra | 64–50 BCE | 14 |
Narayana | 50–38 BCE | 12 |
Susarman | 38–28 BCE | 10 |
(Susarman was the last ruler of dynasty, dethroned by Simuka of Satavahana Empire)
The Chandra Kingdom was a Kayastha kingdom, which ruled the Samatata region of Bengal, as well as northern Arakan. Later it was a neighbor to the Pala Empire to the north. Rulers of Chandra kingdom were followers of Hinduism. [18] [19]
# | King | Period | Reign (CE) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Chandrodaya | 27 | 202–229 |
2 | Annaveta | 5 | 229–234 |
3 | Chandranveta | 77 | 234–311 |
4 | Rimbhiappa | 23 | 311–334 |
5 | Kuverami (Queen) | 7 | 334–341 |
6 | Umavira | 20 | 341–361 |
7 | Jugna | 7 | 361–368 |
8 | Lanki | 2 | 368–370 |
9 | Dvenchandra | 55 | 370–425 |
10 | Rajachandra | 20 | 425–445 |
11 | Kalachandra | 9 | 445–454 |
12 | Devachandra | 22 | 454–476 |
13 | Yajnachandra | 7 | 476–483 |
14 | Chandrabandu | 6 | 483–489 |
15 | Bhumichandra | 7 | 489–496 |
16 | Bhutichandra | 24 | 496–520 |
17 | Nitichandra | 55 | 520–575 |
18 | Virachandra | 3 | 575–578 |
19 | Pritichandra | 12 | 578–590 |
20 | Prithvichandra | 7 | 590–597 |
21 | Dhirtichandra | 3 | 597–600 |
22 | Mahavira | 12 | 600–612 |
23 | Virayajap | 12 | 612–624 |
24 | Sevinren | 12 | 624–636 |
25 | Dharmasura | 13 | 636–649 |
26 | Vajrashakti | 16 | 649–665 |
27 | Dharmavijaya | 36 | 665–701 |
28 | Narendravijaya | 2 yr 9 months | 701–703 |
29 | Dharmachandra | 16 | 703–720 |
30 | Anandachandra | 9+ | 720–729+ |
Harikela dynasty | |||
1 | Traillokyachandra | 30 | 900–930 |
2 | Srichandra | 45 | 930–975 |
3 | Kalyanachandra | 25 | 975–1000 |
4 | Ladahachandra | 20 | 1000–1020 |
5 | Govindachandra | 30 | 1020–1050 |
Titular Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Khadgodyama | 625-640 | Father of Jatakhadga |
Jatakhadga | 640-658 | Father of Devakhadga |
Devakhadga | 658-673 | Queen Prabhavati |
Rajabhatta | 673-707 | Son of Devakhadga |
Balabhata | 707-716 | Son of Devakhadga |
Udirnakhadga | ?? |
The Bhadra dynasty was a Bengali Hindu royal house of Brahmin origin, their rule flourished during the first half of the 7th century, though little is known about their history. The kings of the dynasty bore names with the suffix "Bhadra".
Name of the king [22] [23] | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Adi Malla | 694–710 | |
Jay Malla | 710–720 | |
Benu Malla | 720–733 | |
Kinu Malla | 733–742 | |
Indra Malla | 742–757 | |
Kanu Malla | 757–764 | |
Dha (Jhau) Malla | 764–775 | |
Shur Malla | 775–795 | |
Kanak Malla | 795–807 | |
Kandarpa Malla | 807–828 | |
Sanatan Malla | 828–841 | |
Kharga Malla | 841–862 | |
Durjan (Durjay) Malla | 862–906 | |
Yadav Malla | 906–919 | |
Jagannath Malla | 919–931 | |
Birat Malla | 931–946 | |
Mahadev Malla | 946–977 | |
Durgadas Malla | 977–994 | |
Jagat Malla | 994–1007 | |
Ananta Malla | 1007–1015 | |
Rup Malla | 1015–1029 | |
Sundar Malla | 1029–1053 | |
Kumud Malla | 1053–1074 | |
Krishna Malla | 1074–1084 | |
Rup II (Jhap) Malla | 1084–1097 | |
Prakash Malla | 1097–1102 | |
Pratap Malla | 1102–1113 | |
Sindur Malla | 1113–1129 | |
Sukhomoy(Shuk) Malla | 1129–1142 | |
Banamali Malla | 1142–1156 | |
Yadu/Jadu Malla | 1156–1167 | |
Jiban Malla | 1167–1185 | |
Ram Malla | 1185–1209 | |
Gobinda Malla | 1209–1240 | |
Bhim Malla | 1240–1263 | |
Katar(Khattar) Malla | 1263–1295 | |
Prithwi Malla | 1295 -1319 | |
Tapa Malla | 1319–1334 | |
Dinabandhu Malla | 1334–1345 | |
Kinu/Kanu II Malla | 1345–1358 | |
Shur Malla II | 1358–1370 | |
Shiv Singh Malla | 1370–1407 | |
Madan Malla | 1407–1420 | |
Durjan II (Durjay) Malla | 1420–1437 | |
Uday Malla | 1437–1460 | |
Chandra Malla | 1460–1501 | |
Bir Malla | 1501–1554 | |
Dhari Malla | 1554–1565 | |
Hambir Malla Dev (Bir Hambir) | 1565–1620 | |
Dhari Hambir Malla Dev | 1620–1626 | |
Raghunath Singha Dev | 1626–1656 | |
Bir Singha Dev | 1656–1682 | |
Durjan Singha Dev | 1682–1702 | |
Raghunath Singha Dev II | 1702–1712 | |
Gopal Singha Dev | 1712–1748 | |
Chaitanya Singha Dev | 1748–1801 | |
Madhav Singha Dev | 1801–1809 | |
Gopal Singha Dev II | 1809–1876 | |
Ramkrishna Singha Dev | 1876–1885 | |
Dwhaja Moni Devi | 1885–1889 | |
Nilmoni Singha Dev | 1889–1903 | |
Churamoni Devi (Regency) | 1903–1930 | |
Kalipada Singha Thakur | 1930–1947 |
Most of the Pala inscriptions mention only the regnal year as the date of issue, without any well-known calendar era. Because of this, the chronology of the Pala kings is hard to determine. [24] Based on their different interpretations of the various epigraphs and historical records, different historians estimate the Pala chronology as follows: [25]
RC Majumdar (1971) [26] | AM Chowdhury (1967) [27] | BP Sinha (1977) [28] [ failed verification ] | DC Sircar (1975–76) [29] | D. K. Ganguly (1994) [24] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gopala I | 750–770 | 756–781 | 755–783 | 750–775 | 750–774 |
Dharmapala | 770–810 | 781–821 | 783–820 | 775–812 | 774–806 |
Devapala | 810–c. 850 | 821–861 | 820–860 | 812–850 | 806–845 |
Mahendrapala | NA (Mahendrapala's existence was conclusively established through a copper-plate charter discovered later.) | 845–860 | |||
Shurapala I | Deemed to be alternate name of Vigrahapala I | 850–858 | 860–872 | ||
Gopala II | NA (copper-plate charter discovered in 1995. Text of inscription published in 2009.) | ||||
Vigrahapala I | 850–853 | 861–866 | 860–865 | 858–60 | 872–873 |
Narayanapala | 854–908 | 866–920 | 865–920 | 860–917 | 873–927 |
Rajyapala | 908–940 | 920–952 | 920–952 | 917–952 | 927–959 |
Gopala III | 940–957 | 952–969 | 952–967 | 952–972 | 959–976 |
Vigrahapala II | 960–c. 986 | 969–995 | 967–980 | 972–977 | 976–977 |
Mahipala I | 988–c. 1036 | 995–1043 | 980–1035 | 977–1027 | 977–1027 |
Nayapala | 1038–1053 | 1043–1058 | 1035–1050 | 1027–1043 | 1027–1043 |
Vigrahapala III | 1054–1072 | 1058–1075 | 1050–1076 | 1043–1070 | 1043–1070 |
Mahipala II | 1072–1075 | 1075–1080 | 1076–1078/9 | 1070–1071 | 1070–1071 |
Shurapala II | 1075–1077 | 1080–1082 | 1071–1072 | 1071–1072 | |
Ramapala | 1077–1130 | 1082–1124 | 1078/9–1132 | 1072–1126 | 1072–1126 |
Kumarapala | 1130–1140 | 1124–1129 | 1132–1136 | 1126–1128 | 1126–1128 |
Gopala IV | 1140–1144 | 1129–1143 | 1136–1144 | 1128–1143 | 1128–1143 |
Madanapala | 1144–1162 | 1143–1162 | 1144–1161/62 | 1143–1161 | 1143–1161 |
Govindapala | 1158–1162 | NA | 1162–1176 or 1158–1162 | 1161–1165 | 1161–1165 |
Palapala | NA | NA | NA | 1165–1199 | 1165–1200 |
Sena dynasty ruled southwestern Bengal from 1070 and ruled East Bengal until 1230. Vijaya Sena conquered entire Bengal by 1154 CE.
The Khalji dynasty of Bengal (c.1204–27) were initially representatives of the Ghurid Empire, later becoming independent, although at times being subordinate to the Delhi Sultanate.
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji | c.1204–1206 | Began the Khalji dynasty in Bengal |
Muhammad Shiran Khalji | 1206–1208 | |
Husamuddin Iwaz Khalji | 1208–1210 | |
Ali Mardan Khalji | 1210–1212 | |
Ghiyasuddin Iwaz Shah | 1212–1227 | Second term, killed for gaining independence from Sultan of Delhi Iltutmish |
Alauddin Daulat Shah Khalji | 1229–1230 [30] | |
Balka Khalji | 1230–1231 | Last Khalji ruler |
Governors of Bengal under the Mamluk dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Nasiruddin Mahmud | 1227–1229 | Appointed by his father Sultan Iltutmish of Delhi |
Alauddin Jani | 1232–1233 | |
Saifuddin Aibak | 1233–1236 | |
Awar Khan Aibak | 1236 | Usurper |
Tughral Tughan Khan | 1236–1246 | Restored Mamluk governor |
Tughlaq Tamar Khan | 1246–1247 | |
Jalaluddin Masud Jani | 1247–1251 | |
Malik Ikhtiyaruddin Iuzbak | 1251–1257 | Claimed independence. |
Ijjauddin Balban Iuzbaki | 1257–1259 | |
Tatar Khan | 1259–1268 | Claimed independence. |
Sher Khan | 1268–1272 | |
Amin Khan | 1272–1272 | |
Tughral Tughan Khan | 1272–1281 | Second term as Mughisuddin Tughral |
Nasiruddin Bughra Khan | 1281–1287 | Declared independence and founded the Balban dynasty |
The House of Balban (c.1287–1324) came about as a result of Mamluk governor Nasiruddin Bughra Khan declaring independence.
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Nasiruddin Bughra Khan | 1287–1291 | Declared independence from Delhi Sultanate |
Rukunuddin Kaikaus | 1291–1300 | First Muslim ruler to conquer Satgaon kingdom, expanding Lakhnauti. |
Shamsuddin Firoz Shah | 1300–1322 | First Muslim ruler to conquer Sonargaon, Mymensingh and Srihatta. Completed Kaikaus' Conquest of Satgaon. |
Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah | 1322–1324 | Lost independence of Bengal to Delhi Sultan Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq. |
Name | Region | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah | Sonargaon | 1324–1328 | Appointed as governor by Sultan of Delhi Muhammad bin Tughluq, but later declared independence |
Bahram Khan | Sonargaon | 1328–1338 | |
Qadar Khan | Lakhnauti | 1328–1336 | |
Mukhlis | Lakhnauti | 1336–1339 | |
Azam Khan | Satgaon | 1324–1328 | |
Izzuddin Yahya | Satgaon | 1328–1338 | |
Name | Region | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah | Sonargaon | 1338–1349 | First independent ruler of Sonargaon and the Founder of mubarak shahi dynasty |
Ikhtiyaruddin Ghazi Shah the last Sultan of mubarak shahi dynasty | Sonargaon | 1349–1352 | |
Ilyas Shah | Satgaon | 1339–1342 | |
Alauddin Ali Shah | Lakhnauti | 1339–1342 | |
Ilyas Shah | Lakhnauti and Satgaon | 1342–1352 |
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah | 1352–1358 | Became the first sole ruler of whole Bengal comprising Sonargaon, Satgaon and Lakhnauti. |
Sikandar Shah | 1358–1390 | Killed in battle with his son and successor, Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah |
Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah | 1390–1411 | |
Saifuddin Hamza Shah | 1411–1412 | |
Shihabuddin Bayazid Shah | 1412–1414 |
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Raja Ganesha | 1414–1415 | |
Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah | 1415–1416 | Son of Raja Ganesha and converted into Islam |
Raja Ganesha | 1416–1418 | Second Phase |
Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah | 1418–1433 | Second Phase |
Shamsuddin Ahmad Shah | 1433–1435 |
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah | 1435–1459 | |
Rukunuddin Barbak Shah | 1459–1474 | Son of Mahmud Shah |
Shamsuddin Yusuf Shah | 1474–1481 | Son of Barbak Shah |
Nuruddin Sikandar Shah | 1481 | Son of Mahmud Shah |
Jalaluddin Fateh Shah | 1481–1487 | Son of Mahmud Shah |
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Shahzada Barbak | 1487 | |
Saifuddin Firuz Shah | 1487–1489 | |
Mahmud Shah II | 1489–1490 | |
Shamsuddin Muzaffar Shah | 1490–1494 |
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Alauddin Hussain Shah | 1494–1518 | considered greatest of all sultans of Bengal for bringing cultural renaissance during his reign. |
Nasiruddin Nasrat Shah | 1518–1533 | |
Alauddin Firuz Shah | 1533 | |
Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah | 1533–1538 |
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Sher Shah Suri | 1532–1538 | Defeated Mughals and became the ruler of Delhi in 1540. |
Khidr Khan | 1538–1541 | |
Qazi Fazilat | 1541–1545 | |
Muhammad Khan Sur | 1545–1554 | |
Shahbaz Khan | 1555 |
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Muhammad Khan Sur | 1554–1555 | Declared independence and styled himself as Shamsuddin Muhammad Shah |
Khizr Khan Suri | 1555–1561 | |
Ghiyasuddin Jalal Shah | 1561–1563 | |
Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah III | 1563–1564 [31] |
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Taj Khan Karrani | 1564–1566 | |
Sulaiman Khan Karrani | 1566–1572 | |
Bayazid Khan Karrani | 1572 | |
Daud Khan Karrani | 1572–1576 |
• Isa Khan
• Fazal Ghazi
• Bahadur Ghazi
• Khwaja Usman Khan Lohani
• Bayezid Karrani
• 'Pratapaditya'
• Bir Hambir
• Kedar Roy
• Chad Ray
• Mukundaram Roy
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Munim Khan | 25 September 1574–23 October 1575 | Khan-i-Khanan |
Hussain Quli Khan | 23 October 1575–19 December 1578 | |
Muzaffar Khan Turbati | 1579–1582 | |
Mirza Aziz Koka | 1582–1583 | |
Wazir Khan Tajik | 1583–1583 | |
Shahbaz Khan Kamboh | 1583–1585 | |
Sadiq Khan | 1585–1586 | |
Shahbaz Khan Kamboh | 1586–1588 | |
Sa'id Khan | 1588–1594 | |
Raja Man Singh I | 1597 – 1606 |
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Qutubuddin Koka | 2 Sep 1606 – 1607 | killed in a battle against Sher Afghan. (Local history of Burdwan, West Bengal, India says that Qutub-ud-din Kokah died in a battle against Ali Quli Istajlu alias Sher Afgan in 1610 CE. The tomb where both of them were buried is presently under the surveillance of Archaeological Survey of India.) |
Jahangir Quli Beg | 1607–1608 | In early life, a slave of Akbar's brother, Mirza Muhammad Hakim |
Islam Khan Chishti | 1608–1613 | first governor to transfer the Bengal capital to Dhaka in April 1612 |
Qasim Khan Chishti | 1613–1617 | younger brother of Islam Khan Chishti |
Ibrahim Khan Fath-i-Jang | 1617–1624 | died in an attack by Prince Shahjahan |
Darab Khan | 1624–1625 | while Shahjahan occupied Bengal. Killed by Mahabbat Khan. [32] |
Mahabat Khan | 1625–1626 | |
Mukarram Khan | 1626–1627 | |
Fidai Khan | 1627–1628 |
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Qasim Khan Juvayni | 1628–1632 | |
Mir Muhammad Baqir | 1632–1635 | Known as Azam Khan |
Mir Abdus Salam | 1635–1639 | Known as Islam Khan Mashadi |
Prince Shah Shuja | 1639–1647 again 1652–1660 |
Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|
Mir Jumla II | 1660–1663 | |
Shaista Khan | 1664–1678 | |
Azam Khan Koka | 1678–1678 | Known as Fidai Khan II |
Prince Muhammad Azam | 20 July 1678 – 6 October 1679 [33] | |
Shaista Khan | 1680–1688 | |
Ibrahim Khan II | 1689–1697 | |
Prince Azim-us-Shan | 1697–1712 |
Chandradweep ruled by
Rulers of Gazipur and Madhupur forest are in central Bangladesh.
Portrait | Titular Name | Personal Name | Birth | Reign | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nasiri Dynasty | |||||
Ala ud-Daula | Murshid Quli Jafar Khan | 1665 | 1717– 1727 | 30 June 1727 | |
Mirza Asadullah | Sarfaraz Khan Bahadur | ? | 1727–1727 | April 1740 | |
Shuja ud-Daula | Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan | 1670 | July 1727 – 26 August 1739 | 26 August 1739 | |
Mirza Asadullah | Sarfaraz Khan Bahadur | ? | 13 March 1739 – April 1740 | April 1740 | |
Afshar Dynasty | |||||
Husam ud-Daula | Muhammad Alivardi Khan Bahadur | 10 May 1671 | 29 April 1740 – 16 April 1756 | 16 April 1756 | |
Siraj ud-Daulah | Mîrzâ Muhammad Sirâj-ud-Daulah | 1733 | April 1756 – 2 June 1757 | June 1757 |
Portrait | Titular Name | Personal Name | Birth | Reign | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Najafi Dynasty | |||||
Ja'afar 'Ali Khan Bahadur | Mir Muhammed Jafar Ali Khan | 1691 | June 1757 – October 1760 | 17 January 1765 | |
Itimad ud-Daulah | Mir Kasim Ali Khan Bahadur | ? | 1760–1763 | 1777 | |
Ja'afar 'Ali Khan Bahadur | Mir Muhammed Jafar Ali Khan | 1691 | 25 July 1763 – 17 January 1765 | 17 January 1765 | |
Nazam-ud-Daulah | Najimuddin Ali Khan | 1750 | 5 February 1765 – 8 May 1766 | 8 May 1766 | |
Saif ud-Daulah | Najabut Ali Khan | 1749 | 22 May 1766 – 10 March 1770 | 10 March 1770 | |
Ashraf Ali Khan | Before 1759 | 10 March 1770 – 24 March 1770 | 24 March 1770 | ||
Mubarak ud-Daulah | Mubarak Ali Khan | 1759 | 21 March 1770 – 6 September 1793 | 6 September 1793 | |
Azud ud-Daulah | Babar Ali Khan Bahadur | ? | 1793 – 28 April 1810 | 28 April 1810 | |
Ali Jah | Zain-ud-Din Ali Khan | ? | 5 June 1810 – 6 August 1821 | 6 August 1821 | |
Walla Jah | Ahmad Ali Khan | ? | 1810 – 30 October 1824 | 30 October 1824 | |
Humayun Jah | Mubarak Ali Khan II | 29 September 1810 | 1824 – 3 October 1838 | 3 October 1838 | |
Feradun Jah | Mansur Ali Khan | 29 October 1830 | 29 October 1838 –1881 (abdicated) | 5 November 1884 |
Picture | Titular Name | Personal Name | Birth | Reign | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Najafi Dynasty | |||||
Ali Kadir | Syed Hassan Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur | 25 August 1846 | 17 February 1882 – 25 December 1906 | 25 December 1906 [35] | |
Amir ul-Omrah | Syed Wasif Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur | 7 January 1875 | December 1906 – 23 October 1959 | 23 October 1959 [36] | |
Raes ud-Daulah | Syed Waris Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur | 14 November 1901 | 23 October 1959 – 20 November 1969 | 20 November 1969 [37] | |
— | — | Disputed/In abeyance [38] [39] | — | 20 November 1969 – 13 August 2014 | — |
— | Syed Mohammed Abbas Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur | Circa 1942 | 13 August 2014 – Incumbent (titular) [38] [39] | — |
As per the treaty of Allahabad in 1765, the British East India Company (BEIC) was given the right to collect revenue (Diwani right). From 1769, the company collected revenue from Bengal.
Following the Regulating Act of 1773, the Governor of Bengal was officially called Governor-General of Fort William.
In 1793, the British East India Company abolished Nizamat, i.e. local rule by Mughal emperor- appointed Nawabs and annexed Bengal.
As per Charter Act of 1833, the Governor-General of Bengal would be called Governor-General of India
With the establishment of the Empire of India in 1858, the position of Governor-General was replaced with Governor-General and Viceroy of India. Calcutta, the capital of Bengal also became the capital of India. As a result, the position of Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal was established to look after provincial matters.
In late 1911, the Indian Government decided to move the capital to New Delhi. As a result, the Governorship of Bengal Presidency was now necessary.
Name | Took office | Left office |
---|---|---|
Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael | 1912 | 1917 |
Lawrence Dundas, Earl of Ronaldshay | 1917 | 1922 |
Victor Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton | 1922 | 1927 |
SirStanley Jackson | 1927 | 1932 |
SirJohn Anderson | 1932 | 1937 |
Michael Knatchbull, 5th Baron Brabourne | 1937 | 1938 |
SirJohn Arthur Herbert | 1939 | 1943 |
Richard Casey | 1944 | 1946 |
SirFrederick Burrows | 1946 | 1947 |
The Government of India Act 1935 introduced provincial autonomy in India and the position of Chief Minister or Premier of Bengal became very prominent.
No | Name | Image | Term(s) [40] | Party | Governor | Viceroy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq | 1 April 1937 – 1 December 1941 12 December 1941 – 29 March 1943 | Krishak Praja Party | Sir John Arthur Herbert | The Marquess of Linlithgow | |
2 | Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin | 29 April 1943 – 31 March 1945 | Bengal Provincial Muslim League | Sir John Arthur Herbert (−1944) Sir Richard Casey (1944–) | The Marquess of Linlithgow The Viscount Wavell | |
3 | H. S. Suhrawardy | 23 April 1946 – 14 August 1947 | Bengal Provincial Muslim League | Sir Richard Casey (−1946) Sir Frederick Burrows | The Viscount Wavell Earl Mountbatten |
Subsequently, all three Bengali chief ministers moved to East Pakistan, where they continued to be influential statesmen. Nazimuddin and Suhrawardy became Prime Ministers of Pakistan, while Huq served as the chief minister and governor of East Pakistan.
British colonial period ended when India and Pakistan became independent nations in 1947. Bengal fell into two parts – one in India, named West Bengal and the other part in Pakistan as East Bengal, later renamed to East Pakistan in 1955.
Tenure | Governor of East Bengal[ citation needed ] |
---|---|
15 August 1947 – 31 March 1950 | Sir Frederick Chalmers Bourne |
31 March 1950 – 31 March 1953 | Sir Feroz Khan Noon |
31 March 1953 – 29 May 1954 | Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman |
29 May 1954 – May 1955 | Iskandar Ali Mirza |
May 1955 – June 1955 | Muhammad Shahabuddin (acting) |
June 1955 – 14 October 1955 | Amiruddin Ahmad |
Tenure | Chief Minister of East Bengal | Political Party |
---|---|---|
August 1947 – September 1948 | Sir Khwaja Nazimuddin | Muslim League |
September 1948 – April 1954 | Nurul Amin | Muslim League |
April 1954 – 1955 | Abul Kasem Fazlul Huq | United Front |
In late 1955, the prime minister Muhammad Ali Bogra initiated the One Unit policy which resulted in East Bengal province being renamed to East Pakistan.
Tenure | Governor of East Pakistan[ citation needed ] | Political Affiliation |
---|---|---|
14 October 1955 – March 1956 | Amiruddin Ahmad | Muslim League |
March 1956 – 13 April 1958 | A. K. Fazlul Huq | Muslim League |
13 April 1958 – 3 May 1958 | Hamid Ali (acting) | Awami League |
3 May 1958 – 10 October 1958 | Sultanuddin Ahmad | Awami League |
10 October 1958 – 11 April 1960 | Zakir Husain | Muslim League |
11 April 1960 – 11 May 1962 | Lieutenant-General Azam Khan, PA | Military Administration |
11 May 1962 – 25 October 1962 | Ghulam Faruque | Independent |
25 October 1962 – 23 March 1969 | Abdul Monem Khan | Civil Administration |
23 March 1969 – 25 March 1969 | Mirza Nurul Huda | Civil Administration |
25 March 1969 – 23 August 1969 | Major-General Muzaffaruddin, [41] PA | Military Administration |
23 August 1969 – 1 September 1969 | Lieutenant-General Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, PA | Military Administration |
1 September 1969 – 7 March 1971 | Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan, PN | Military Administration |
7 March 1971 – 6 April 1971 | Lieutenant-General Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, PA | Military Administration |
6 April 1971 – 31 August 1971 | Lieutenant-General Tikka Khan, PA | Military Administration |
31 August 1971 – 14 December 1971 | Abdul Motaleb Malik | Independent |
14 December 1971 – 16 December 1971 | Lieutenant-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, PA | Military Administration |
Tenure | Chief Minister of East Pakistan | Political Party |
---|---|---|
August 1955 – September 1956 | Abu Hussain Sarkar | Krishan Sramik Party |
September 1956 – March 1958 | Ataur Rahman Khan | Awami League |
March 1958 | Abu Hussain Sarkar | Krishan Sramik Party |
March 1958 – 18 June 1958 | Ataur Rahman Khan | Awami League |
18 June 1958 – 22 June 1958 | Abu Hussain Sarkar | Krishan Sramik Party |
22 June 1958 – 25 August 1958 | Governor's Rule | |
25 August 1958 – 7 October 1958 | Ataur Rahman Khan | Awami League |
On 7 October 1958, the post of Chief Minister of East Pakistan was abolished. And after the independence of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971, the province of East Pakistan was dissolved.
No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari | 15 August 1947 | 21 June 1948 | 311 days | |
2 | Kailash Nath Katju | 21 June 1948 | 1 November 1951 | 3 years, 133 days | |
3 | Harendra Coomar Mookerjee | 1 November 1951 | 8 August 1956 | 4 years, 281 days | |
– | – | Phani Bhusan Chakravartti (acting) | 8 August 1956 | 3 November 1956 | 87 days |
4 | – | Padmaja Naidu | 3 November 1956 | 1 June 1967 | 10 years, 210 days |
5 | Dharma Vira | 1 June 1967 | 1 April 1969 | 1 year, 304 days | |
– | – | Deep Narayan Sinha (acting) | 1 April 1969 | 19 September 1969 | 171 days |
6 | – | Shanti Swaroop Dhavan | 19 September 1969 | 21 August 1971 | 1 year, 336 days |
7 | Anthony Lancelot Dias | 21 August 1971 | 6 November 1979 | 8 years, 77 days | |
8 | – | Tribhuvana Narayana Singh | 6 November 1979 | 12 September 1981 | 1 year, 310 days |
9 | – | Bhairab Dutt Pande | 12 September 1981 | 10 October 1983 | 2 years, 28 days |
10 | Anant Prasad Sharma | 10 October 1983 | 16 August 1984 | 320 days | |
— | – | Satish Chandra (acting) | 16 August 1984 | 1 October 1984 | 46 days |
11 | Uma Shankar Dikshit | 1 October 1984 | 12 August 1986 | 1 year, 315 days | |
12 | Saiyid Nurul Hasan | 12 August 1986 | 20 March 1989 | 2 years, 220 days | |
13 | T. V. Rajeswar | 20 March 1989 | 7 February 1990 | 324 days | |
(12) | Saiyid Nurul Hasan | 7 February 1990 | 12 July 1993 | 3 years, 155 days | |
– | – | B. Satyanarayan Reddy (additional charge) | 13 July 1993 | 14 August 1993 | 32 days |
14 | K. V. Raghunatha Reddy | 14 August 1993 | 27 April 1998 | 4 years, 256 days | |
15 | Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai | 27 April 1998 | 18 May 1999 | 1 year, 21 days | |
16 | Shyamal Kumar Sen | 18 May 1999 | 4 December 1999 | 200 days | |
17 | Viren J. Shah | 4 December 1999 | 14 December 2004 | 5 years, 10 days | |
18 | Gopalkrishna Gandhi | 14 December 2004 | 14 December 2009 | 5 years, 0 days | |
– | Devanand Konwar (additional charge) | 14 December 2009 | 23 January 2010 | 40 days | |
19 | M.K. Narayanan | 24 January 2010 | 30 June 2014 | 4 years, 157 days | |
— | D. Y. Patil (additional charge) [42] | 3 July 2014 | 17 July 2014 | 14 days | |
20 | Keshari Nath Tripathi | 24 July 2014 | 29 July 2019 | 5 years, 5 days | |
21 | Jagdeep Dhankhar [43] | 30 July 2019 | 17 July 2022 | 2 years, 352 days | |
— | La. Ganesan (additional charge) | 18 July 2022 | 17 November 2022 | 122 days | |
22 | C. V. Ananda Bose | 18 November 2022 | Incumbent | 1 year, 334 days |
No. | Portrait | Name | Tenure [44] | Duration | Assembly (election) | Party [45] | Appointed by (Governor) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Prafulla Chandra Ghosh | 15 August 1947 | 22 January 1948 | 160 days | Provincial Assembly (1946–52) [lower-alpha 1] | Indian National Congress | Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari | ||
2 | Bidhan Chandra Roy | 23 January 1948 | 26 January 1950 | 2 years, 3 days |
No [lower-alpha 2] | Portrait | Name | Constituency | Tenure [lower-alpha 3] | Duration | Assembly [46] (election) | Party [45] (alliance) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(2) | Bidhan Chandra Roy [lower-alpha 4] | 26 January 1950 | 30 March 1952 | 12 years, 156 days (total: 14 years, 159 days) | Provincial Assembly [lower-alpha 5] (1946 election) | Indian National Congress | |||
Bowbazar | 31 March 1952 | 5 April 1957 | 1st | ||||||
6 April 1957 | 2 April 1962 | 2nd | |||||||
Chowrangee | 3 April 1962 | 1 July 1962 | 3rd (1962 election) | ||||||
2 | Prafulla Chandra Sen [lower-alpha 6] | Arambagh East | 9 July 1962 | 28 February 1967 | 4 years, 234 days | ||||
3 | Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee | Tamluk | 1 March 1967 | 21 November 1967 | 265 days | 4th | Bangla Congress (United Front) | ||
(1) | Prafulla Chandra Ghosh | Jhargram | 21 November 1967 | 19 February 1968 | 90 days (total: 250 days) | Independent (Progressive Democratic Front) | |||
– | Vacant [lower-alpha 7] (President's rule) | N/A | 20 February 1968 | 25 February 1969 | 1 year, 5 days | Dissolved | N/A | ||
(3) | Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee | Tamluk | 25 February 1969 | 16 March 1970 | 1 year, 19 days | 5th (1969 election) | Bangla Congress (United Front) | ||
– | Vacant [lower-alpha 7] (President's rule) | N/A | 19 March 1970 | 30 July 1970 | 1 year, 14 days | N/A | |||
30 July 1970 | 2 April 1971 | Dissolved | |||||||
(3) | Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee | Tamluk | 2 April 1971 | 28 June 1971 | 87 days (total: 2 years, 6 days) | 6th | Indian National Congress (Democratic Coalition) | ||
– | Vacant [lower-alpha 7] (President's rule) | N/A | 29 June 1971 | 20 March 1972 | 265 days | Dissolved | N/A | ||
4 | Siddhartha Shankar Ray | Maldah | 20 March 1972 | 30 April 1977 | 5 years, 41 days | 7th | Indian National Congress (Progressive Democratic Alliance) | ||
– | Vacant [lower-alpha 7] (President's rule) | N/A | 30 April 1977 | 20 June 1977 | 51 days | Dissolved | N/A | ||
5 | Jyoti Basu | Satgachhia | 21 June 1977 | 23 May 1982 | 23 years, 137 days | 8th | Communist Party of India (Marxist) (Left Front) | ||
24 May 1982 | 29 March 1987 | 9th | |||||||
30 March 1987 | 18 June 1991 | 10th | |||||||
19 June 1991 | 15 May 1996 | 11th | |||||||
16 May 1996 | 5 November 2000 | 12th | |||||||
6 | Buddhadeb Bhattacharya | Jadavpur | 6 November 2000 | 14 May 2001 | 10 years, 188 days | ||||
15 May 2001 | 17 May 2006 | 13th | |||||||
18 May 2006 | 13 May 2011 | 14th (2006 election) | |||||||
7 | Mamata Banerjee | Bhabanipur | 20 May 2011 | 25 May 2016 | 13 years, 150 days | 15th | Trinamool Congress [lower-alpha 8] | ||
26 May 2016 | 4 May 2021 | 16th | |||||||
5 May 2021 | Incumbent | 17th |
East Pakistan seceded from West Pakistan on 16 December 1971 after the end of Bangladesh Liberation War and was named Bangladesh as an independent nation.
The President was the executive Head of state of Bangladesh during Presidential system of government from 1975 to 1991. Thereafter, the Prime Minister is the executive head of government of this parliamentary republic while the President is the ceremonial Head of state, elected by the parliament.
† Died in office
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Election | Term of office | Political party (Coalition) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
Provisional Government of Bangladesh (1971–1972) | |||||||
1 | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975) [lower-alpha 9] | — | 17 April 1971 | 12 January 1972 | 270 days | AL | |
— | Syed Nazrul Islam (1925–1975) [lower-alpha 10] | — | 17 April 1971 | 12 January 1972 | 270 days | AL | |
People's Republic of Bangladesh (1972–present) | |||||||
2 | Abu Sayeed Chowdhury (1921–1987) | — | 12 January 1972 | 24 December 1973 | 1 year, 346 days | AL | |
3 | Mohammad Mohammadullah (1921–1999) | — | 24 December 1973 | 27 January 1974 | 1 year, 32 days | AL | |
1974 | 27 January 1974 | 25 January 1975 | |||||
(1) | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975) | — | 25 January 1975 | 15 August 1975 (Assassinated in a coup) | 202 days | BaKSAL | |
4 | Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad (1918–1996) | — | 15 August 1975 | 6 November 1975 (Deposed in a coup) | 83 days | AL | |
5 | Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem (1916–1997) [lower-alpha 11] | — | 6 November 1975 | 21 April 1977 | 1 year, 166 days | AL | |
6 | Ziaur Rahman (1936–1981) [lower-alpha 12] | 1977 [lower-alpha 13] 1978 [lower-alpha 14] | 21 April 1977 | 30 May 1981 (Assassinated) | 4 years, 39 days | Military / Jagodal / BNP | |
7 | Abdus Sattar (1906–1985) | — | 30 May 1981 | 20 November 1981 | 298 days | BNP | |
1981 [lower-alpha 14] | 20 November 1981 | 24 March 1982 (Deposed in a coup) | |||||
Post vacant (24 – 27 March 1982) [lower-alpha 15] | |||||||
8 | Ahsanuddin Chowdhury (1915–2001) | — | 27 March 1982 | 10 December 1983 | 1 year, 258 days | Independent | |
9 | Hussain Muhammad Ershad (1930–2019) [lower-alpha 16] | 1985 [lower-alpha 13] 1986 [lower-alpha 14] | 11 December 1983 | 6 December 1990 | 6 years, 360 days | Military / Janadal / JP(E) | |
— | Shahabuddin Ahmed (1930–2022) | — | 6 December 1990 | 10 October 1991 | 308 days | Independent | |
10 | Abdur Rahman Biswas (1926–2017) | 1991 | 10 October 1991 | 9 October 1996 | 4 years, 365 days | BNP | |
11 | Shahabuddin Ahmed (1930–2022) | 1996 | 9 October 1996 | 14 November 2001 | 5 years, 36 days | Independent | |
12 | Badruddoza Chowdhury (born 1930) | 2001 | 14 November 2001 | 21 June 2002 | 219 days | BNP | |
— | Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar (born 1931) | — | 21 June 2002 | 6 September 2002 | 77 days | BNP | |
13 | Iajuddin Ahmed (1931–2012) | 2002 | 6 September 2002 | 12 February 2009 | 6 years, 159 days | Independent | |
14 | Zillur Rahman (1929–2013) | 2009 | 12 February 2009 | 20 March 2013 [†] | 4 years, 36 days | AL | |
15 | Mohammad Abdul Hamid (born 1944) [lower-alpha 17] | — | 14 March 2013 | 24 April 2013 | 10 years, 41 days | AL | |
2013 | 24 April 2013 | 24 April 2018 | |||||
2018 | 24 April 2018 | 24 April 2023 | |||||
16 | Mohammed Shahabuddin (born 1949) | 2023 | 24 April 2023 | Incumbent [lower-alpha 18] | 1 year, 176 days | AL |
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Party | President | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | ||||||
Syed Nazrul Islam (1925–1975) | 17 April 1971 | 12 January 1972 | Bangladesh Awami League | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman | Acting president during the Bangladesh Liberation War. [50] | ||
26 January 1975 [51] | 15 August 1975 | BAKSAL | |||||
Mohammad Mohammadullah (1921–1999) | 15 August 1975 | 3 November 1975 | Bangladesh Awami League | Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad | Served as Minister of Land under President Sheikh Mujib and was later appointed Vice President upon Mujib's death. [52] | ||
Abdus Sattar (1906–1985) | June 1977 | 30 May 1981 | Bangladesh Nationalist Party | Ziaur Rahman | Succeeded Zia as president in 1981. [53] | ||
Mirza Nurul Huda (1919–1991) | 24 November 1981 | 23 March 1982 | Independent | Abdus Sattar | Resigned after conflict with BNP. [54] | ||
Mohammad Mohammadullah (1921–1999) | 23 March 1982 | 24 March 1982 | Bangladesh Nationalist Party | In office for 24 hours; deposed in the 1982 coup d'état [55] | |||
A. K. M. Nurul Islam (1919–2015) | 30 November 1986 | September 1989 | Jatiya Party | Hussain Muhammad Ershad | Former Supreme Court Justice and Law Minister. [56] | ||
Moudud Ahmed (1940–2021) | September 1989 | December 1990 | Jatiya Party | Former Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. [51] | |||
Note that numbering for Prime Minister is given either bracketless, or with ( ) brackets. Numbering for Chief Adviser is given in [ ] brackets. Acting Prime Ministers or Chief Advisers are not numbered and instead denoted as "—". There are 10 Prime Ministers, 1 Acting Prime Minister, 5 Chief Advisers, and 1 Acting Chief Adviser of Bangladesh so far. [57]
† Died in office
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Election | Term of office | Political party (Coalition) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
Provisional Government of Bangladesh (1971–1972) | |||||||
1 | Tajuddin Ahmad (1925–1975) | — | 17 April 1971 | 12 January 1972 | 270 days | AL | |
People's Republic of Bangladesh (1972–present) | |||||||
2 | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975) | 1973 | 12 January 1972 | 25 January 1975 | 3 years, 13 days | AL | |
3 | Muhammad Mansur Ali (1917–1975) | — | 25 January 1975 | 15 August 1975 (Deposed in a coup) | 202 days | BaKSAL | |
Post abolished (15 August 1975 – 29 June 1978) | |||||||
— | Mashiur Rahman (1924–1979) Acting Prime Minister [lower-alpha 19] | — | 29 June 1978 | 12 March 1979 [†] | 256 days | BNP | |
Post vacant (12 March – 15 April 1979) | |||||||
4 | Shah Azizur Rahman (1925–1988) | 1979 | 15 April 1979 | 24 March 1982 (Deposed in a coup) | 2 years, 343 days | BNP | |
Post abolished (24 March 1982 – 30 March 1984) | |||||||
5 | Ataur Rahman Khan (1905–1991) | — | 30 March 1984 | 9 July 1986 | 2 years, 101 days | Janadal / JP(E) | |
6 | Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury (1928–2006) | 1986 | 9 July 1986 | 27 March 1988 | 1 year, 262 days | JP(E) | |
7 | Moudud Ahmed (1940–2021) | 1988 | 27 March 1988 | 12 August 1989 | 1 year, 138 days | JP(E) | |
8 | Kazi Zafar Ahmed (1939–2015) | — | 12 August 1989 | 6 December 1990 | 1 year, 116 days | JP(E) | |
Post abolished (6 December 1990 – 20 March 1991) | |||||||
9 | Khaleda Zia (born 1945) | 1991 1996 (Feb) | 20 March 1991 | 30 March 1996 | 5 years, 10 days | BNP | |
[1] | Muhammad Habibur Rahman (1928–2014) Chief Adviser | — | 30 March 1996 | 23 June 1996 | 85 days | Independent | |
10 | Sheikh Hasina (born 1947) | 1996 (Jun) | 23 June 1996 | 15 July 2001 | 5 years, 22 days | AL | |
[2] | Latifur Rahman (1936–2017) Chief Adviser | — | 15 July 2001 | 10 October 2001 | 87 days | Independent | |
(9) | Khaleda Zia (born 1945) | 2001 | 10 October 2001 | 29 October 2006 | 5 years, 19 days | BNP (Four Party Alliance) | |
[3] | Iajuddin Ahmed (1931–2012) Chief Adviser [lower-alpha 20] | — | 29 October 2006 | 11 January 2007 | 74 days | Independent | |
[—] | Fazlul Haque (born 1938) Acting Chief Adviser | — | 11 January 2007 | 12 January 2007 | 1 day | Independent | |
[4] | Fakhruddin Ahmed (born 1940) Chief Adviser | — | 12 January 2007 | 6 January 2009 | 1 year, 360 days | Independent (with military support) | |
(10) | Sheikh Hasina (born 1947) | 2008 2014 2018 2024 | 6 January 2009 | 5 August 2024 (Resigned) | 15 years, 212 days | AL (Grand Alliance) | |
Post vacant (5 – 8 August 2024) | |||||||
[5] | Muhammad Yunus (born 1940) Chief Adviser | — | 8 August 2024 | Incumbent | 70 days | Independent |
Bengal is a historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Bengal proper is divided between the modern-day sovereign nation of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.
The history of Bangladesh dates back over four millennia to the Chalcolithic period. The region's early history was characterized by a succession of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms and empires that fought for control over the Bengal region. Islam arrived in the 8th century and gradually became dominant from the early 13th century with the conquests led by Bakhtiyar Khalji and the activities of Sunni missionaries like Shah Jalal. Muslim rulers promoted the spread of Islam by building mosques across the region. From the 14th century onward, Bengal was ruled by the Bengal Sultanate, founded by Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah, who established an individual currency. The Bengal Sultanate expanded under rulers like Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, leading to economic prosperity and military dominance, with Bengal being referred to by Europeans as the richest country to trade with. The region later became a part of the Mughal Empire, and according to historian C. A. Bayly, it was probably the empire's wealthiest province.
Comilla District, officially known as Cumilla District, is a district located in southeastern Bangladesh. It lies about 100 kilometres south east of Dhaka. Comilla is bordered by Brahmanbaria and Narayanganj districts to the north, Noakhali and Feni districts to the south, Tripura state of India to the east and Munshiganj and Chandpur districts to the west.
The Pāla Empire was an imperial power during the post-classical period in the Indian subcontinent, which originated in the region of Bengal. It is named after its ruling dynasty, whose rulers bore names ending with the suffix Pāla. The empire was founded with the election of Gopāla as the emperor of Gauda in late eighth century CE. The Pala stronghold was located in Bengal and eastern Bihar, which included the major cities of Gauḍa, Vikramapura, Pāṭaliputra, Monghyr, Somapura, Ramavati (Varendra), Tāmralipta and Jagaddala.
The history of Bengal is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It includes modern-day Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam's Karimganj district, located in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, at the apex of the Bay of Bengal and dominated by the fertile Ganges delta. The region was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans as Gangaridai, a powerful kingdom whose war elephant forces led the withdrawal of Alexander the Great from India. Some historians have identified Gangaridai with other parts of India. The Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers act as a geographic marker of the region, but also connects the region to the broader Indian subcontinent. Bengal, at times, has played an important role in the history of the Indian subcontinent.
The Jaintia Kingdom was a kingdom in present-day some parts of Bangladesh's Sylhet Division, India's Meghalaya state and Nagaon, Morigoan district of Assam. It was partitioned into three in 630 AD by Raja Guhak for his three sons, into the Jaintia Kingdom, Gour Kingdom and Laur Kingdom. It was annexed by the British East India Company in 1835. All the Pnar Rajahs of the Jaintiapur Kingdom are from the Syiem Sutnga clan, a Pnar clan of the Khasi tribe which claims descent from Ka Li Dohkha, a divine nymph.
The History of Bihar is one of the most varied in India. Bihar consists of three distinct regions, each has its own distinct history and culture. They are Magadha, Mithila and Bhojpur.Chirand, on the northern bank of the Ganga River, in Saran district, has an archaeological record dating from the Neolithic age. Regions of Bihar—such as Magadha, Mithila and Anga—are mentioned in religious texts and epics of ancient India. Mithila is believed to be the centre of Indian power in the Later Vedic period. Mithila first gained prominence after the establishment of the ancient Videha Kingdom. The kings of the Videha were called Janakas. A daughter of one of the Janaks of Mithila, Sita, is mentioned as consort of Lord Rama in the Hindu epic Ramayana. The kingdom later became incorporated into the Vajjika League which had its capital in the city of Vaishali, which is also in Mithila.
Vaṅga was an ancient kingdom and geopolitical division within the Ganges delta in the Indian subcontinent. The kingdom is one of the namesakes of the Bengal region. It was located in southern Bengal. Vanga features prominently in the epics and tales of ancient India as well as in the history of Sri Lanka.
The Kamboja-Pala dynasty ruled parts of Bengal in the 10th to 11th centuries CE, after invading the Palas during the reign of Gopala II. The last Kamboja ruler of the Kamboja-Pala Dynasty Dharmapala was defeated by the south Indian Emperor Rajendra Chola I of the Chola dynasty in the 11th century.
Bikrampur was a historic region and a sub-division of Dhaka within the Bengal Presidency during the period of British India. Located along the banks of the Padma River, it was a significant cultural and political centre in Bengal. Today, the region is part of the Munshiganj District in Bangladesh.
Jaintiapur is an upazila of Sylhet District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh. Jaintapur is widely recognized as a significant upazila within the Sylhet division of Bangladesh. It aptly earns its reputation as a convergence point for archaeological, ethnographic, and geological interests, steeped in ancient traditions.
Narayanapala was the seventh emperor of the Pala Empire of the Eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent, mainly the Bengal and Bihar regions.
Madanapala was the successor to the Pala king Gopala IV in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, and the eighteenth and final ruler of Pala lineage reigning for 18 years. He was succeeded by Govindapala, whose lineage of that name is questionable.
Bangladesh's military history is intertwined with the history of a larger region, including present-day India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. The country was historically part of Bengal – a major power in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Samataṭa was an ancient geopolitical division of Bengal in the eastern Indian subcontinent. The Greco-Roman account of Sounagoura is linked to the kingdom of Samatata. Its territory corresponded to much of present-day eastern Bangladesh and parts of the Rakhine State of Myanmar. The area covers the trans-Meghna part of the Bengal delta. It was a center of Buddhist civilisation before the resurgence of Hinduism, and Muslim conquest in the region.
Bihar is a state located in the eastern part of India.
West Dinajpur, or sometimes Paschim Dinajpur, is a former district in the Indian state of West Bengal, headquartered in Balurghat. On 1 April 1992, the district was bifurcated into two separate districts namely Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur.
Ballāla Sena or Ballal Sen, also known as Ballal Sen in vernacular literature, was the second ruler of the Sena dynasty of Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. He was the son and successor of Vijaya Sena, and ended the Pala Empire by defeating Govinda Pala.
Bengali Buddhists are a religious subgroup of the Bengalis who adhere to or practice the religion of Buddhism. Bengali Buddhist people mainly live in Bangladesh and Indian states West Bengal and Tripura.
Deopara Prashasti described the founder of Sena dynasty Samanthasena, as a migrant Brahmaksatriya from Karnataka. The epithet 'Brahma-Kshatriya' suggests that Senas were Brahmins by caste who took the profession of arms and became Kshatriyas. The Sena kings were also probably Baidyas, according to historian P.N. Chopra.
Tradition gives him credit for the conquest of Bengal but as a matter of fact he could not subjugate the greater part of Bengal ... All that Bakhtyār can justly take credit for is that by his conquest of Western and a part of Northern Bengal he laid the foundation of the Muslim State in Bengal. The historians of the 13th century never attributed the conquest of the whole of Bengal to Bakhtyār.
Bengal [...] was rich in the production and export of grain, salt, fruit, liquors and wines, precious metals, and ornaments besides the output of its handlooms in silk and cotton. Europe referred to Bengal as the richest country to trade with.
Shah-i-Bangalah, Shah-i-Bangaliyan and Sultan-i-Bangalah