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Huseyn Suhrawardy

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Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy was a central figure in the history of South Asia.

Sahed Suhrawardy
Sahed Suhrawardy

He served as the fifth prime minister of Pakistan from 1956 to 1957. Before that, he was the prime minister of Bengal from 1946 to 1947. He is remembered as a founding statesman of Pakistan. He is also seen as a pioneer for Bengali civil rights in Bangladesh. Suhrawardy was born in 1892 in Midnapore, Bengal. He came from the Suhrawardy family, which was a very prominent Muslim family.

Gray's inn zz
Gray's inn zz

Suhrawardy was highly educated and trained in law. He studied at St. Xavier's College in Kolkata. Later, he attended the University of Oxford in England. He earned several degrees there. These included a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Master of Arts in Arabic. In 1922, he was called to the Bar of England and Wales at Gray's Inn.

Gray's inn zz
Gray's inn zz

This meant he was a barrister, a type of lawyer. He began his political career by organizing working people. He created 36 different trade unions. These unions represented sailors, railway workers, and mill workers. He also helped groups like rickshaw pullers and cart drivers.

His political journey involved many different parties and goals. In 1923, he joined the Swaraj Party. He later became the Deputy Mayor of Calcutta in 1924. Eventually, he joined the All-India Muslim League. He became a leader of its Bengal branch. In 1937, he was elected to the Bengal Legislative Assembly. He served as the Minister of Commerce and Labor. Later, he was the Minister of Civil Supplies. During the 1943 Bengal famine, his role was a subject of much debate. Some blamed him for the famine's severity. Others, like author Thomas Keneally, said he blamed black marketers.

Suhrawardy and Jinnah
Suhrawardy and Jinnah

In 1946, Suhrawardy reached a major political milestone. He led the Bengal Provincial Muslim League to a massive election victory. His party won 113 out of 119 Muslim seats. This victory made him the last prime minister of Bengal before the partition of India.

Muslim League rally on Direct Action Day
Muslim League rally on Direct Action Day

However, his time as premier was marked by great violence. He was the mastermind behind Direct Action Day on August 16, 1946. This led to the Great Calcutta Killings. These were brutal Hindu-Muslim riots that killed thousands of people. In West Bengal, some people called him the "Butcher of Bengal" because of these events.

Muslim League rally on Direct Action Day
Muslim League rally on Direct Action Day

After the partition in 1947, Suhrawardy moved to Pakistan. He spent time in the capital, Karachi, and in Dhaka. In Dhaka, he led the Awami League. This party became the main opposition to the Pakistan Muslim League. In 1956, the Awami League joined a coalition with the Republican Party. This coalition unseated the Muslim League. Suhrawardy then became the prime minister of Pakistan.

H S Suhrawardy PM
H S Suhrawardy PM

During his year in power, he focused on foreign diplomacy. He worked to build ties with the United States. He led Pakistan into groups called SEATO and CENTO.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower greets Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy
President Dwight D. Eisenhower greets Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy

He was also the first Pakistani premier to visit Communist China.

His leadership style and policies caused political shifts. His pro-US stance caused a split in the Awami League. A leader named Maulana Bhashani left to form the National Awami Party. Suhrawardy's cabinet included important figures like Feroz Khan Noon and Abul Mansur Ahmad. He also mentored a young leader named Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawarthy and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1954
Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawarthy and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1954

In 1958, a military coup occurred. The military government arrested Suhrawardy. This prevented him from attending his niece's wedding. In 1962, he founded the National Democratic Front to oppose the military regime of Ayub Khan.

Suhrawardy died in 1963 from a heart attack in Beirut.

রেসকোর্স ময়দানে হোসেন শহীদ সোহ্‌রাওয়ার্দীর জানাজা (১৯৬৩)
রেসকোর্স ময়দানে হোসেন শহীদ সোহ্‌রাওয়ার্দীর জানাজা (১৯৬৩)

His death left a lasting impact on the region. After he passed, the Awami League moved toward Bengali nationalism. This eventually led to the 6-point movement and the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. Today, his legacy is visible in many places. There are streets, parks, and memorials named after him in South Asia.

Tomb Of Three Leader 3.A.M.R
Tomb Of Three Leader 3.A.M.R

His family history is also quite famous. His son, Rashid Suhrawardy, was a British actor. His brother, Hasan Shaheed Suhrawardy, was a diplomat and writer.

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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:Gray's inn zz.JPG
Gray's inn zz.JPG
File:Sahed Suhrawardy.jpg
Sahed Suhrawardy.jpg
File:Gandhi Suhrawardy and Mujib.jpg
Gandhi Suhrawardy and Mujib.jpg
File:Suhrawardy and Jinnah.jpg
Suhrawardy and Jinnah.jpg
File:Suhrawardy and Gandhi.jpg
Suhrawardy and Gandhi.jpg
File:Muslim League rally on Direct Action Day.jpg
Muslim League rally on Direct Action Day.jpg
File:Slums in Lichubagan, Metiabruz.jpg
Slums in Lichubagan, Metiabruz.jpg
Suhrawardy interview on Partition of India.oga
File:Khawaja Nazimuddin and Suhrawardy.jpg
Khawaja Nazimuddin and Suhrawardy.jpg
File:President Dwight D. Eisenhower greets Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy.jpg
President Dwight D. Eisenhower greets...
File:HS Suhrawardy and Zhou Enlai.jpg
HS Suhrawardy and Zhou Enlai.jpg
File:Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawarthy and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1954.jpg
Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawarthy and Sheikh...

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