A. K. Fazlul Huq

Not to be confused with the cricket ground in Dhaka Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium

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]

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. It was in 1935 that, with the Congress' support, he was chosen and elected first Muslim mayor of Calcutta. Afterward he became Chief Minister (also called Premier) of undivided Bengal (1937–1943) and of East Bengal (1954) with his political party, the Krishak Praja Party. 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

• Lahore Resolution
• All-India Muslim League

v t e Pakistan Movement History East India Company Indian Rebellion of 1857 Aligarh Movement Urdu movement Partition of Bengal Lucknow Pact Khilafat Movement Nehru Report Fourteen Points of Jinnah Allahabad Address Now or Never pamphlet Two-Nation Theory Round Table Conferences Lahore Resolution Direct Action Day Indian Muslim nationalism Cabinet Mission Indian Independence Act Partition of India Radcliffe Line Pakistan Objectives Resolution Independence Republic Day Kashmir Freedom Movement Pakistani nationalism Osmanistan Noakhali genocide Organisations Muslim League Unionist Muslim League All India Muslim Students Federation Khaksars Leaders Syed Ahmed Khan Muhammad Iqbal Aga Khan III Muhammad Ali Jinnah Ghulam Bhik Nairang Liaquat Ali Khan Bahadur Yar Jung G. M. Syed Abdur Rab Nishtar Fatima Jinnah Choudhary Rahmat Ali Muhammad Ali Jouhar Shaukat Ali A.K. Fazlul Huq Sikandar Hayat Khan Zafar Ali Khan Khawaja Nazimuddin Abdul Qayyum Khan Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan Jogendra Nath Mandal more Activists Z.A. Suleri Hameed Nizami M.A. Zuberi Altaf Husain Yusuf Khattak Shaukat Hayat Khan Muhammad Asad Ziauddin Ahmed more

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Gandhi, Rajmohan. (1986) Eight Lives, SUNY Press. p. 189. ISBN 0-88706-196-6.
2. ^ ^{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. 
3. ^ Stevenson, Richard. (2005) Bengal Tiger and British Lion, iUniverse. p. 107. ISBN 0-595-36209-5.
4. ^ "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. 
5. ^ 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

External links

• Banglapedia biography of Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq