Huq ministries A. K. Fazlul Huq

the working committee of lahore resolution in 1940. prime minister huq standing beside m. a. jinnah (third left on bottom row)

the dyarchy replaced provincial autonomy in 1935, first general elections held in 1937. huq transformed bengal tenants association krishak praja party. during election campaign period, huq emerged major populist figure of bengal. party won 35 seats in bengal legislative assembly during indian provincial elections, 1937. third largest party after bengal congress , bengal provincial muslim league. congress refused form government due pan-indian policy of boycotting legislatures. huq formed coalition bengal provincial muslim league , independent legislators. elected leader of house , 1st prime minister of bengal.

huq’s cabinet include nalini ranjan sarkar (finance), bijoy prasad singha roy (revenue), maharaja srish chandra nandy (communications , public works), prasanna deb raikut (forest , excise), mukunda behari mallick (cooperative credit , rural indebtedness), sir khwaja nazimuddin (home), nawab khwaja habibullah (agriculture , industry), huseyn shaheed suhrawardy (commerce , labour), nawab musharraf hussain (judicial , legislative), , syed nausher ali (public health , local self government).

in 1940, huq selected muhammad ali jinnah formally present lahore resolution, envisaged ‘independent states’ in eastern , northwestern parts of india.

lord brabourne governor of bengal during huq s first premiership

one of notable measures taken huq included using both administrative , legal measures relieve debts of peasants , farmers. protected poor agriculturists clutches of usurious creditors enforcing bengal agricultural debtors act (1938). established debt settlement boards in parts of bengal. money lenders act (1938) , bengal tenancy (amendment) act (1938) improved lot of peasants. land revenue commission appointed government of bengal on 5 november 1938 sir francis floud chairman, submitted final report on 21 march 1940. valuable document related land system of country. tenancy act of 1885 amended act of 1938 , thereby provisions relating enhancement of rent suspended period of 10 years. abolished kinds of abwab , selamis (imposts) imposed traditionally zamindars on raiyats. raiyats got right transfer land without paying transfer-fee zamindars. law reduced interest rate arrears of rent 12.50% 6.25%. raiyats got right possession of nadi sekasti (land lost through river erosion , appeared again) land payment of 4 years of rent within twenty years of erosion. several acts enforced during huq s premiership helped peasants lighten of burdens though huq not execute programme of dal-bhat placed before people during election campaigns. huq promoted affirmative action bengali muslims.

huq held education portfolio in cabinet. introduced primary education bill in bengal legislative assembly, passed law , made primary education free , compulsory. there storm of protests opposition members , press when fazlul huq introduced secondary education bill in assembly incorporated principles of communal division in field of education @ secondary stage. huq associated foundation of many educational institutions in bengal, including calcutta s islamia college , lady brabourne college, wajid memorial girls high school , chakhar college.

due intense factional infighting within krishak praja party, huq ended being lone party member on cabinet. after 1939, british empire grappled world war ii. in 1941, huq , sir sikandar hayat khan, prime minister of punjab, joined viceroy’s defence council. move angered muhammad ali jinnah, felt council included other members opposed partition of india. result, muslim league withdrew support huq’s government in bengal.

on 2 december 1941, huq resigned , governor’s rule imposed.

second premiership (1941-1943)

the second huq coalition government formed on 12 december 1941. coalition supported members in bengal legislative assembly, except muslim league. supporters included secular faction of krishak praja party led shamsuddin ahmed, forward bloc founded subhash chandra bose, pro-bose members of bengal congress , hindu mahasabha led syama prasad mukherjee. cabinet included khwaja habibullah, khan bahadur abdul karim, khan bahadur hashem ali khan, shamsuddin ahmed, syama prasad mukherjee, santosh kumar bose, pramath nath banarji , upendranath barman.

prime minister huq rabindranath tagore

despite huq enjoying confidence of of assembly, had tense relations governor of bengal john herbert. governor favored provincial muslim league leaders , patrons, including sir khawaja nazimuddin, leader of opposition; , “calcutta trio” in assembly, including mirza ahmad ispahani, k. nooruddin , a. r. siddiqui. focal point of league s campaign against huq was growing closer mukherjee, alleged working against political , religious interests of muslims. league appealed governor dismiss huq ministry.

the fear of japanese invasion during burma campaign , implementation military of denial policy implemented in 1942 caused considerable hardship delta region. devastating cyclone , tidal waves whipped coastal region on october 26 relief efforts hindered due bureaucratic interference. on august 3, number of prisoners shot down in dhaka jail no inquiry held again due bureaucratic intervention. severe strain on administration caused when congress launched quit india movement on august 9, followed british political repression. entire province reverberated protest. situation further complicated when mukherjee resigned bitterly complaining against interference of governor in work of ministry.

on 15 march 1943, prime minister disclosed in floor of assembly on several occasions, under guise of discretionary authority, governor disregarded advice tendered ministry , listed occasions. governor did not take allegations kindly, and, largely due initiative, no-confidence motions voted in assembly on march 24 , march 27. on both occasions motions defeated, although narrow margins. enforce writ, governor asked huq sign prepared letter of resignation on 28 march 1943 , assigned himself responsibility of administering province under provision of section 93 of constitution. month later league dominated ministry commissioned nazimuddin prime minister. huq’s party won fewer seats during indian provincial elections, 1946.