FOUNDATION-Significant and important

event in the political history of Bangladesh

Historical Background- At the birth of
Pakistan, the Muslim League was in power.
Soon the Party turned into a narrow and self-
centred political organisation.
 Muslim League government both at the
centre and East Bengal turned into
authoritarian, parochial and oppressive more
often using religion for political gain.
 But most important the government adopted
a policy to repress the legitimate interest of
the people of East Bengal.
 Muslim League- a party of pocket and
coterie.
 Muslim League did not allow the dedicated
leaders from East Bengal to become
ministers.
 In a planned manner the Pakistan Constituent
Assembly excluded some of the most known
and charismatic leaders from East Bengal like
Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Abul Hashim
and Fazlul Huq from the cabinet.
 Of the seven Ministers, only two were Bengali
then again of doubtful character.
 Democracy was not followed within the
Muslim League.
 Moderate and non communal leaders were
not welcome.
 Leaders of East Bengal became frustrated.
 Moreover, the Language Movement ‘ exposed
the need of a party for the people of East
Bengal – to protect their culture and their
rights’.
 Economic depression of East Bengal
 Food situation in East Bengal deteriorated
from August 1947
 Famine broke out in many places in 1948-49
 Muslim League became virtually fragmented
due to internal conflicts among the top
leaders of the Party.
 It was in this backdrop that the Awami
League was formed.
 The League adopted a draft manifesto in
support of Islamic Order, provincial autonomy
and Bengali as a state language of Pakistan.
At its birth the party adopted a 42 – point
program with special emphasis on the
demand for provincial autonomy. Main
program and popular demand of the Awami
Muslim League were as follows -
 1. Recognition of Bangla as one of the state
languages of Pakistan.
2. One man one vote on the basis of the
universal adult franchise.
3. Democracy to be ensured in all aspects of
the state.
4. Framing of a constitution
5. Parliamentary system of government.
 6. Regional autonomy and framing two wings of
Pakistan namely East and West Pakistan.
 7. Removal of disparity between the two wings
 8. Provincial autonomy on the basis of the Lahore
Resolution
 9. Compulsory education for every citizen of the
nation.
 10. Ensuring accountability of the government
officials.
 11. Equal rights of the people will be confirmed
where the countrymen will enjoy their freedom of
speech, formation of political parties and
movement.
 12. Equal participation in the defense for the
 Elected
President In Office Term length general secretary
(National Conference; NC)

Abdul Hamid Khan 23 June 1949 – 27 July Shamsul Huq

NC: 1949, 53, 55 7 years, 34 days
Bhashani 1956 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Huseyn Shaheed 27 July 1956 – 10 October

(acting) 1 year, 75 days Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Suhrawardy 1957

10 October 1957 – 25
Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish NC: 1957, 64 8 years, 107 days Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
January 1966

25 January 1966 – 18 Tajuddin Ahmad

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman NC: 1966, 70, 72 7 years, 358 days
January 1974 Zillur Rahman

Muhammad 18 January 1974 – 24

NC: 1974 1 year, 37 days Zillur Rahman
Qamaruzzaman February 1975

Dissolution (see:BAKSAL)

Syeda Zohra Tajuddin 4 April 1977 – 16

Special Council: 1977 318 days None
(Convenor) February 1978

16 February 1978 – 16
Abdul Malek Ukil NC: 1978 3 years, 0 days Abdur Razzaq
February 1981
 The foundation of the Awami Muslim League
was laid on two conflicting forces. On the one
hand, there were the frustrated and dissident
Muslim Leaguers whose political philosophy
and ideology were not fundamentally
different from those of the Muslim League.
On the other hand however, the Awami
Muslim League had a large number of
followers mostly young who were secular in
their attitude and anxious to establish true
democracy in the country.
 Soon the great politician Suhrawardy
appeared on the scene who wanted to make
the little party into an important party of
Pakistan as an opposition group to the
Muslim League.
 In distinguishing the Awami League from the
Muslim League he maintained that the Awami
League did not believe in identifying the state
with the party, the ministry and
administration, it believed in democracy as
opposed to fascism.
 While the Awami League considered the
existence of an opposition party necessary
for the proper functioning of democracy, the
Muslim League labeled opposition as
disruptive, and demanded that there should
be no parties other than itself and all other
parties must be crushed out of existence.
Thus the Awami League was formed out of
frustration caused by the closed door policy
of the Muslim League in Pakistan.