The party's politics played an important role in the growth of Bengali Muslim political consciousness; it also received support from large sections of the Bengali Hindu population who resented the influence of the landed gentry.
A K Fazlul Huq was popularly called the Sher-e-Bangla (Lion of Bengal)
The Permanent Settlement established an extensive feudal system in the Bengal Presidency. Large sections of the population became tenant farmers of landlords (zamindars). Many of the landlords were wealthy Hindus who enjoyed the patronage of the British. The permanent settlement displaced much of the Mughal ruling class with many Hindu landed estates; but there continued to be influential Muslim landed estates. British Bengal's wealthy Hindu oligarchy included Marwari merchants in Calcutta, the political and commercial capital of Bengal and the British Indian Empire. In contrast, the province of Bengal had a Bengali Muslim-majority population, with large minorities of non-upper class Hindus. In 1905, the British government implemented the first partition of Bengal, with support from the Muslim aristocracy, to increase investment in Eastern Bengal and Assam. The partition stoked vocal protests from Hindu landlords and merchants in Calcutta, who argued that it was a policy to divide and rule Bengal. In 1911, the partition was annulled. But the partition left a strong legacy and enjoyed support in the Muslim population. The All India Muslim League and Bengal Provincial Muslim League were formed to uphold the interests of Muslims amid the growth of Hindu nationalist movements. But the All India Muslim League was dominated by members of the Muslim aristocracy, who were often speakers of Hindustani, instead of the vernacular Bengali language. Bengal's middle classes, professionals and farmers increasingly looked for an alternative platform of this party.[2][3]
History
The party's lifetime was mostly in the period of the British Raj
Praja Party
In 1929, 18 members of the Bengal Legislative Council formed the All Bengal Tenants Association, which became known as the Praja Party. Its leaders included A. K. Fazlul Huq, Sir Azizul Haque, Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan and Sir Abdur Rahim. The group was formed to capitalize on the resentment caused among peasants by the Bengal Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1928, which enjoyed the support of wealthy Hindus.[4]
Krishak Praja Party
When the Government of India Act 1935 planned the 1937 Indian provincial elections, the Praja Party was renamed as the Krishak Praja Party, with the intention of appealing to a broad rural base.[5] Its main rivals were the Bengal Congress and the Bengal Provincial Muslim League. The Krishak Praja Party won 36 seats in the Bengal Legislative Assembly. Due to non-cooperation and boycott of the new system by the Congress,[6] the Krishak Praja Party claimed the right to form a government, with support from the Muslim League. A. K. Fazlul Huq became the first Prime Minister of Bengal. As part of reforming the zamindari system, Prime Minister Huq used legal and administrative measures to relieve the debts of farmers.[7] The party saw internal rebellion soon after taking power and Huq emerged as its lone cabinet member.[5]
The Huq ministry governed during the period of World War II. In 1941, the Muslim League withdrew support for Prime Minister Huq after he joined the Viceroy's defence council against the wishes of the League's president Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Jinnah felt the council was dominated by politicians who did not support the partition of India. Huq was joined on the council by the premier of Punjab, Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan.[8] In Bengal, Huq formed a second coalition with the Hindu Mahasabha and its leader Syama Prasad Mukherjee. The Huq-Syama coalition lasted until 1943, when the Muslim League secured majority support in the assembly.[citation needed]
Krishak Sramik Party
The 1954 East Bengal cabinet consisting of Krishak Sramik Party and Awami League
In August 1955, a coalition between the Krishak Sramik Party in East Pakistan and the Muslim League in West Pakistan allowed Chaudhry Mohammad Ali to become Prime Minister and A. K. Fazlul Huq to become the federal Home Minister.[11] Prime Minister Ali was later dismissed by President Iskander Mirza, who allowed a coalition of the Awami League and Republican Party to form government. As a result, the Krishak Sramik Party and the Muslim League formed the main opposition.[12]
Following the 1958 Pakistani coup, all provincial assemblies, including in East Pakistan, were dissolved. Numerous political figures were arrested, with Huq placed under house arrest. The Elected Bodies Disqualification Order barred 75 politicians from holding public office for eight years (until 1966).[13] It is reported to be survived till 1958 in Pakistan.[14] However, Huq died in 1962[15] and A.S.M. Sulaiman became the president in 1969.[16] In 1979 Bangladeshi general election the party participated and he became member of parliament from Narayanganj-3.[17] he died in 1997 and maintained his office till his death.[18][19] As of 2023, the party's president is Farhanaz Haque Chowdhury. The party decided to participate in 2024 Bangladeshi general election under Liberal Islamic Alliance.[20]
^"In 1935, the British parliament had, despite Congress non-cooperation, enacted its own constitutional solution for India: democratically elected provincial ministries, central and provincial legislatures that were elected by anyone who had a literacy or property qualification, the promise of full universal suffrage within a decade and, most important of all, the goal of an independent, federal, dominion government (similar to Australia or Canada) at the Centre. Sadly, the outbreak of World War II and Congress boycotts combined to render this federal option a dead letter." https://thewire.in/history/personal-rejoinder-british-raj-haters-masquerading-historians
^Bandyopadhyay, D. (2004-01-01). "Preventable Deaths". Economic and Political Weekly. 39 (30): 3347–3348.
