Second Nazimuddin ministry
Second Ministry of Khawaja Nazimuddin | |
|---|---|
 1st Cabinet of East Bengal | |
| 1947–1948 | |
| Date formed | 15 August 1947 |
| Date dissolved | 14 September 1948 |
| People and organisations | |
| Governor | Frederick Chalmers Bourne |
| Chief Minister | Khawaja Nazimuddin |
| No. of ministers | 7 |
| Total no. of members | 7 |
| Member party | PML |
| Status in legislature | Majority 141 / 170 (83%) |
| Opposition party | PNC |
| Opposition leader | Dhirendranath Datta |
| History | |
| Election | 1946 |
| Outgoing election | 1937 |
| Legislature term | 1st East Bengal Legislative Assembly |
| Predecessor | Suhrawardy ministry |
| Successor | Amin ministry |
Second Nazimuddin ministry was the first cabinet formed in the eastern province of Pakistan, East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan). It was formed in 1947 under the leadership of Khawaja Nazimuddin, the president of the Bengal Provincial Muslim League (BPML) and leader of the All-Pakistan Awami League (AIML). The cabinet lasted for about a year and was later replaced by the Amin ministry following the death of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founding governor-general of Pakistan.
Background
[edit]In 1947, the Indian National Congress (INC) and the All-India Muslim League (AIM) agreed to the partition of India, which was under British rule, leading to the creation of the modern states of India and Pakistan. In 20 June of the same year, when elections were held regarding the Second Partition of Bengal, a majority in the Bengal Legislative Assembly voted in favor of partition. At the time, the AIML-led Suhrawardy ministry, under Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, which governed Bengal Province, remained in the provincial capital Calcutta. In 27 June, at an emergency meeting of the Bengal Provincial Muslim League (BPML), a decision was made to establish the capital of the proposed Pakistani Bengal in Dacca. In 18 July, the Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom and received royal assent, implementing the partition of the province into the Indian province of West Bengal and the Pakistani province of East Bengal.[1] On 5 August 1947, after Suhrawardy lost BPML's parliamentary leadership election by 36 votes, Khawaja Nazimuddin was elected as the new leader.[2] On 15 August 1947, the day after Pakistan's independence, Nazimuddin was sworn in as the chief minister of the newly formed province of East Bengal with two of his ministers, in Dacca's Curzon Hall, before the provincial governor Frederick Chalmers Bourne.[3] Cabinet member Nurul Amin proposed the formation of a coalition cabinet between the INC and the AIML in both West Bengal and East Bengal, and reportedly held discussions with Congress leader Kiran Shankar Roy of East Bengal regarding this.[4] In 20 August, it was announced that the number of cabinet members would be increased before the completion of the first month.[5] In 23 August, it was reported that 6 new members, including 2 Hindus and 1 Scheduled Caste representative, would join the cabinet.[6] In 10 September, it was learned that 4 new members would be inducted into the cabinet by 12 September.[7] In 12 September, the chief minister announced the names of the 4 new members, who were to be sworn in on 15 September.[8] After the swearing-in of the new cabinet members on the scheduled date, the reassignment of ministerial portfolios was announced on 16 September.[9]
Dissolution
[edit]On 11 September 1948, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the governor-general of Pakistan, passed away.[10] On 14 September 1948, Nazimuddin became the new governor-general.[11] As a result, on 15 September 1948, this cabinet was replaced by the Amin ministry.[12]
Members
[edit]The cabinet consisted of the following ministers:[9]
| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Minister's Office | 15 August 1947 | 15 September 1948 | |
| Department of Civil Supplies and Public Relations | 15 August 1947 | 15 September 1948 | |
| Department of Finance, Revenue, Commerce, Labour and Industry | 15 August 1947 | 15 September 1948 | |
| Department of Education | 12 September 1947 | 15 September 1948 | |
| Department of Transport, Public Works and Waterways | 12 September 1947 | 15 September 1948 | |
| Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Relief | 12 September 1947 | 15 September 1948 | |
| Department of Public Health and Local Government | 12 September 1947 | 15 September 1948 |
References
[edit]- ^ Mamun, Muntassir; Rahman, Md. Mahbubar (2015) [2014]. "অখণ্ড বাংলা গঠনের প্রয়াস ও উপমহাদেশের বিভক্তি, ১৯৪৭". স্বাধীন বাংলাদেশের অভ্যুদয়ের ইতিহাস (in Bengali). Suborna. p. 49–50. ISBN 9789849069447.
- ^ "পূর্ব্ব-বঙ্গ রাষ্ট্রের লীগ দলপতি বহু ভোটে মিঃ সুরাবর্দ্দীকে পরাজিত করিয়া মিঃ নাজিমুদ্দিন নির্ব্বাচিত". Jugantar Patrika (in Bengali). 6 August 2025. p. 1.
- ^ "হিন্দু-মুশ্লিম সহযোগিতায় ঢাকায় স্বাধীনতা দিবসের উৎসব". Jugantar Patrika (in Bengali). 17 August 1947. p. 8.
- ^ "উভয় বঙ্গে কোয়ালিশন মন্ত্রিসভা মিঃ নূরুল আমিনের মন্তব্য". Jugantar Patrika (in Bengali). 21 August 1947. p. 2.
- ^ "পূর্ব্ববঙ্গের মন্ত্রিমণ্ডলী সদস্যসংখ্যা বৃদ্ধি করার কথা". Jugantar Patrika (in Bengali). 22 August 1947. p. 3.
- ^ "পূর্ব্ববঙ্গের মন্ত্রিসভার শীঘ্রই সম্প্রসারিত হইবার সম্ভাবনা". Jugantar Patrika (in Bengali). 24 August 1947. p. 3.
- ^ "পূর্ব্ববঙ্গ মন্ত্রিসভা সম্প্রসারণ নূতন ৪জনকে নিয়োগের কথা". Jugantar Patrika (in Bengali). 12 September 1947. p. 6.
- ^ "Four New Muslim Ministers For East Bengal". Amrita Bazar Patrika. 13 September 1947. p. 1.
- ^ a b "পূর্ব পাকিস্থানের মন্ত্রিসভা দপ্তর পুনর্ব্বণ্টন". Jugantar Patrika (in Bengali). 17 September 1947. p. 6.
- ^ "MR. M. A. JINNAH PASSES AWAY". Amrita Bazar Patrika. 12 September 1948. p. 1.
- ^ "NAZIMUDDIN SWORN IN". Amrita Bazar Patrika. 15 September 1948. p. 1.
- ^ "পূর্ব্ববঙ্গের নূতন মন্ত্রিসভা বিভিন্ন দপ্তর বণ্টন". Jugantar Patrika (in Bengali). 17 September 1948. p. 6.