Malik ministry

Last updated
Ministry of Abdul Motaleb Malik
Flag of East Pakistan.svg
Last Cabinet of East Pakistan
Date formed17 September 1971 (1971-09-17)
Date dissolved14 December 1971 (1971-12-14)
People and organisations
Governor Abdul Motaleb Malik
Administrator A. A. K. Niazi
No. of ministers13
Ministers removed2
Total no. of members15
Member party Independent politicians
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan
Krishak Sramik Party
Council Muslim League
Pakistan Democratic Party
Convention Muslim League
Nezam-e-Islam Party
Qayyum Muslim League
Opposition cabinetNone
Opposition partyNone
Opposition leaderNone
History
Election 1970
Outgoing election 1965
PredecessorMilitary rule
Successor First Mujib ministry

The Malik ministry was an interim cabinet formed in East Pakistan, Pakistan's former eastern province, during the Bangladesh Liberation War. This cabinet, characterized as a civilian form of military rule, was established on 17 September 1971 under the leadership of Abdul Motaleb Malik, the governor of East Pakistan, and lasted until two days before the independence of Bangladesh in 16 December of the same year. [1]

Contents

Background

In 1971, during the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Pakistani military took control of the administration of East Pakistan after the execution of the Operation Searchlight. [2] Subsequently, in 31 August, Abdul Motaleb Malik was appointed as the governor of the province. It was announced that the new governor would soon submit a list of proposed members for a new provincial cabinet under his leadership to president Yahya Khan. [3] After the Pakistani government relieved Lieutenant General Tikka Khan of his duties, Malik assumed the office through an oath-taking ceremony in 3 September. [4] The plan was to divide power between the governor and the military administrator A. A. K. Niazi. [5] Following his appointment, Malik announced the formation of a provincial cabinet, which included a total of 11 members, including him. [6] In 17 September, in the absence of one member, nine ministers were sworn in. Among them, five were former members of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Except for one, all were politicians, including two from the banned All-Pakistan Awami League, two from the Council Muslim League, two from Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, one from the Convention Muslim League, one from the Krishak Sramik Party, and one from the Nizam-e-Islam Party. [7] Later, in 7 October, three more joined the cabinet, including two from the Pakistan Democratic Party and one from the Qayyum Muslim League. [8] In 11 October, the responsibilities of the ministers were redistributed. [9]

Fate

On 13 October 1971, following the assassination of former provincial governor Abdul Monem Khan, the morale of the cabinet members plummeted. [10] Starting 22 November, the Indian military, as part of the Allied Forces, began attacking Pakistani forces in East Pakistan. [11] In 6 December, the provincial government formed subcommittees with cabinet members for civil defense, food and essential supplies, health and relief, and information to bolster war efforts. [12] In 14 December, based on intelligence reports, the Indian Air Force attacked the Governor House in Dhaka, where the provincial cabinet meeting was being held that time. In response to the airstrike, Malik and his cabinet resigned and sought refuge in the war-neutral zone (InterContinental Dhaka) for safety. [11] At the time of the cabinet's dissolution, the signatures of two ministers were missing on the resignation letter. [a] [13] Six days after the surrender of the Pakistani army, the First Mujib ministry relocated from Kolkata to Dhaka, formally initiating the government of Bangladesh. [14] On 24 December 1971, police arrested nine members of the dissolved cabinet. Bangladesh's Home Minister Abul Hasnat Muhammad Qamaruzzaman stated that Malik and his cabinet members would face trials for crimes related to the genocide during the war. [15] On 30 November 1973, the government announced a general amnesty for the detained cabinet members, leading to their release. [16] In 2014, during a case at the International Crimes Tribunal, member AKM Yusuf, accused of war crimes, was questioned in court about his cabinet. [17]

Members

The cabinet was composed of the following ministers: [4] [18] [8]

PortfolioMinisterTook officeLeft officeParty
Executive Department3 September 197114 December 1971  CML
Home Department3 September 197114 December 1971  Independent Politician
Education Department17 September 197114 December 1971  JI
Revenue Department17 September 197114 December 1971  JI
Labour, Social Welfare and Family Planning Department17 September 197114 December 1971  KSP
Democracy and Local Autonomy Department17 September 197114 December 1971  BNIP
Commerce and Industry Department17 September 197114 December 1971  CML
Health Department17 September 197114 December 1971  Independent Politician
Relief and Rehabilitation Department17 September 197114 December 1971  Independent Politician
Forest, Cooperatives, Fisheries and Minority Department17 September 197114 December 1971  Independent Politician
Finance Department17 September 197114 December 1971  CML
Food and Agriculture Department17 September 197114 December 1971  CML
Public Works, Power and Irrigation Department7 October 197114 December 1971  PDP
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department7 October 197114 December 1971  PDP
Information Department7 October 197114 December 1971  PML (Qayyum)

Reactions and criticisms

The Malik cabinet included controversial members from reactionary political parties. It was the most controversial cabinet in Pakistan till 1971 and was rejected by the people of the province. [19] According to The Jai Bangla , political observers of the Mujibnagar Government, exiled in India, commented on the new cabinet, stating, "A few more names have merely been added to the list of collaborators to be eliminated by the freedom fighters." [20] In 26 September, 1971, Mufti Mahmud and Ghulam Ghaus Hazarvi labeled the cabinet formation process as "undemocratic." [21] In an interview published in 1 October, politician Asghar Khan stated that he could not understand why a cabinet was formed with individuals who lost the election when it could have been formed with elected winners. [22] On 11 October 1971, vice chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Kausar Niazi, remarked that forming the cabinet with unelected representatives or non-political figures and its formation without consultation with his party, had raised doubts in the public's mind. [23] On 19 September 1971, the Anjuman-i-Muhajirin East Pakistan alleged that no Urdu-speaking Muhajirs were included in the cabinet and called for ensuring equal rights for Muhajirs, demanding the appointment of an Urdu-speaking minister. [24] A classified document released by the U.S. government noted that, according to a statement by Pakistan's president Yahya Khan on 28 October 1971, the Malik cabinet's efforts to demilitarizing East Pakistan's administration were leading toward a successful resolution of the political situation. However, Maurice J. Williams, the then-deputy administrator of United States Agency for International Development, described this information as "fabricated," attributing Yahya's belief to reports from Pakistan's military commander and Governor Malik. [25] According to the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report, the cabinet, formed to demilitarize the provincial government, failed and could not gain the confidence of the province's residents. Despite the cabinet's existence, real power rested with the province's martial law administrator A. A. K. Niazi, while critical administrative responsibilities were handled by the Eastern Command of the Pakistan Army. According to governor's advisor Major General Rao Farman Ali, Malik's weak personality made it impossible for him to challenge Niazi, while the power-hungry military administrator showed little respect for the governor. However, in a 2002 interview, Niazi claimed that the cabinet did not assist him in administration, and Malik, as governor, neglected his duties, forcing Niazi to manage both military and civilian affairs. He argued that, per protocol, he was accountable to the governor as the martial law administrator, just as army chief Abdul Hamid Khan was to the president. [2]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ Hossain, M I (2014) [2013]. বাংলাদেশে যুদ্ধাপরাধ: বহুমাত্রিক বিশ্লেষণ[War Crimes in Bangladesh: Multidimensional Analysis] (in Bengali). Eastern Publications. pp. 91–92.
  2. 1 2 হামুদুর রহমান কমিশন রিপোর্ট (বাংলাদেশ অংশ)[Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report (Bangladesh Section)] (in Bengali). Translated by Humayun Hasan. Bandhan Publications. 2011. pp. 20, 53, 69, 70.
  3. ↑ "ডাঃ মালিক পূর্ব পাকিস্তানের গভর্নর নিযুক্ত শুক্রবার শপথ গ্রহণঃ শীঘ্রই মন্ত্রিপরিষদ সদস্যদের নামের তালিকা পেশ" [Dr. Malik sworn in as East Pakistan Governor on Friday: Cabinet list to be announced soon]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 1 September 1971. p. 1.
  4. 1 2 Momen, M A (6 March 2021). "পাকিস্তানের বিখণ্ডীকরণ ঠেকাতে..." [To Prevent the Disintegration of Pakistan...]. The Business Standard (in Bengali). Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  5. ↑ Hasan Hafizur Rahman, ed. (2009) [1982]. "বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র" [Documents of the Bangladesh Liberation War] (in Bengali). Vol. VI. Hakkani Publishers. p. 189.
  6. ↑ Ishtiaq, Ahmad (17 September 2021). "১৭ সেপ্টেম্বর ১৯৭১: ১০ সদস্যের প্রাদেশিক মন্ত্রিসভা ঘোষণা" [17 September 1971: Announcement of a 10-member provincial cabinet]. The Daily Star (in Bengali).
  7. ↑ Hasan Hafizur Rahman, ed. (2009) [1982]. "বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র" [Documents of the Bangladesh Liberation War]. Vol. VII. Hakkani Publishers. p. 540.
  8. 1 2 "Three more ministers sworn in". The Pakistan Observer . 8 October 1971. p. 1.
  9. ↑ "মন্ত্রীদের দফতরের চূড়ান্ত তালিকা" [Final list of ministers' portfolios]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 12 October 2021. p. 6.
  10. ↑ "অক্টোবর ১৯৭১: স্বাধীন রাষ্ট্র স্বীকৃতির দাবি, চাপে পাকিস্তান" [October 1971: Demand for recognition of an independent state, Pakistan under pressure]. Deutsche Welle (in Bengali). 27 October 2023.
  11. 1 2 Haq, Muhammad Lutful (18 September 2021). "১৪ ডিসেম্বরের আরেক অধ্যায়" [Another chapter of December 14]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali).
  12. ↑ "যুদ্ধ প্রচেষ্টা জোরদার করার জন্য মন্ত্রী পরিষদের ৪টি সাব কমিটি গঠন" [Four subcommittees formed by the cabinet to strengthen war efforts]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 7 December 1971. p. 1.
  13. ↑ "গভর্নর মালেক ও তার মন্ত্রিপরিষদের পদত্যাগ" [Governor Malik and his cabinet resign]. Sonali News (in Bengali). 14 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "মুজিবনগর থেকে ঢাকায় স্থানান্তরিত হয় বাংলাদেশের মন্ত্রিপরিষদ" [Bangladesh Cabinet relocates from Mujibnagar to Dhaka]. Jago News (in Bengali). 22 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "Collaborators won't escape from Justice: Qamaruzzaman, Malik will be tried for genocide". Bangladesh Observer . 25 December 2021. p. 1.
  16. ↑ একাত্তরের ঘাতক ও দালালরা কে কোথায়[Where Are the Killers and Collaborators of '71?] (in Bengali). Muktijuddha Chetona Bikash Kendra. 1992 [1987]. p. 21.
  17. ↑ "ইউসুফের পক্ষে সাফাই সাক্ষ্যগ্রহণ শুরু ৪ ফেব্রুয়ারি" [Defense evidence collection for Yusuf begins February 4]. Banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 30 January 2014.
  18. ↑ Mukul, M R Akhtar (2000). চরমপত্র[Charampatra] (in Bambara). Ananya. p. 330.
  19. ↑ Tabi, Ali Akbar (1992). মুক্তিযুদ্ধে দৈনিক সংগ্রামের ভূমিকা[The Role of Dainik Sangram in the Liberation War] (in Bengali). Taj Printing Press. p. 95.
  20. ↑ "মালেকের দশনবরত্ন" [Malik's Ten Gems]. The Jai Bangla (in Bengali). 24 September 1971. p. 5.
  21. ↑ "পূর্ব পাকিস্তান মন্ত্রিপরিষদ সম্পর্কে জমিয়ত নেতৃবৃন্দ বলেন—" [Jamiat leaders comment on the East Pakistan cabinet—]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 27 September 1971. p. 1, 6.
  22. ↑ "আসগর খানের দৃষ্টিতে জাতীয় সমস্যা ও তার সমাধান" [National Problems and Their Solutions in Asghar Khan's View]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 1 October 1971. p. 1, 6.
  23. ↑ "গণমনে সন্দেহ রহিয়াছে" [Doubts Persist in the Public Mind]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 12 October 1971. p. 6.
  24. ↑ "উর্দুভাষী মন্ত্রী গ্রহণের দাবি" [Demand for Appointment of an Urdu-Speaking Minister]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 20 September 1971. p. 1.
  25. ↑ "152. Memorandum From the Deputy Administrator of the Agency for International Development (Williams) to Secretary of State Rogers". Office of the Historian . 5 November 1971.
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