# List of heads of state of Bangladesh
## East India Company governors in Bengal
### Governors of British East India Company in Bengal (1757–1793)

* Robert Clive 1757 – 1760
* Henry Vansittart 1760 – 1764
* Robert Clive (again) 1765 – 1766
* Harry Verelst 1767 – 1769
* John Cartier 1769 – 1772
* Warren Hastings 1772 – 1773 see below
As per the treaty of Allahabad in 1765, the British East India Company (BEIC) was given the right to collect revenue (Diwani right). From 1769, the company collected revenue from Bengal.

### Governor-Generals of British East India Company in Bengal - Dual government (1773-1774)

Following the Regulating Act of 1773, the Governor of Bengal was officially called Governor-General of Fort William.
* Warren Hastings 1773 see above – 1774
* Charles Cornwallis 1786 – 1793

### Governor-Generals of British East India Company in Bengal (1793–1854)

In 1793, the British East India Company abolished Nizamat, i.e. local rule by Mughal emperor- appointed Nawabs and annexed Bengal.
* Sir John Shore 1793 - 1798
* Richard Wellesley 1798 – 1805
* Charles Cornwallis 1805 – 1805
* Sir George Barlow, 1st Baronet 1805 - 1807
* Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto 1807 - 1813
* Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings 1813 - 1823
* John Adam 1823 - 1823
* William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst 1823 - 1828
* William Butterworth Bayley 1828 - 1828
* Lord William Bentinck 1828 - 1833

### Governor-Generals of British East India Company (1833-1858)

As per Charter Act of 1833, the Governor-General of Bengal would be called Governor-General of India
* Lord William Bentinck 1833 - 1835
* Charles Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe 1835 - 1836
* George Eden 1836 - 1842
* Edward Law 1842 - 1844
* William Bird 1844 - 1844
* Henry Hardinge 1844 - 1848
* James Broun-Ramsay 1848 – 1856
* The Viscount Canning 1856 - 1858

## British Raj Period

With the establishment of the Empire of India in 1858, the position of Governor-General was replaced with Governor-General and Viceroy of India. Calcutta, the capital of Bengal also became the capital of India. As a result, the position of Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal was established to look after provincial matters.

### Lieutenant-Governors (1858–1912)

* Frederick James Halliday 1858–1859
* John Grant 1859–1862
* Sir Cecil Beadon 1862–1866
* Sir William Grey 1866–1871
* George Campbell 1871–1874
* Sir Richard Temple 1874–1877
* Sir Ashley Eden 1877–1879
* Steuart Bayley 1879–1882
* Sir Augustus Thompson 1882–1885
* Horace Cockerell 1885–1887
* Sir Steuart Bayley 1887–1890
* Charles Eliott 1890–1893
* Anthony MacDonnell 1893–1895
* Alexander Mackenzie 1895–1897
* Charles Cecil Stevens 1897–1898
* Sir John Woodburn 1898–1902
* James Bourdillon 1902–1903
* Sir Andrew Fraser 1903–1906
* Lancelot Hare 1906–1906
* Francis Slacke 1906–1908
* Sir Edward Baker 1908–1911
* Sir William Duke 1911–1912

### Governors (1912–1947)

In late 1911, the Indian Government decided to move the capital to New Delhi. As a result, the Governorship of Bengal Presidency was now necessary.
| Name | Took office | Left office |
| Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael | 1912 | 1917 |
| Lawrence Dundas, Earl of Ronaldshay | 1917 | 1922 |
| Victor Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton | 1922 | 1927 |
| Sir Stanley Jackson | 1927 | 1932 |
| Sir John Anderson | 1932 | 1937 |
| Michael Knatchbull, 5th Baron Brabourne | 1937 | 1938 |
| Sir John Arthur Herbert | 1939 | 1943 |
| Richard Casey | 1944 | 1946 |
| Sir Frederick Burrows | 1946 | 1947 |

### Prime Minister of Bengal (1937–1947)

The Government of India Act 1935 introduced provincial autonomy in India and the position of Chief Minister or Premier of Bengal became very prominent.

### Bengal

| Name (Birth–Death) | Name (Birth–Death) | Portrait | Entered office | Left office | Political party | Governor | Viceroy |
| 1 | A. K. Fazlul Huq(1873–1962) | | 1 April 1937 | 24 April 1943 | Praja Party | Sir John Anderson | The Marquess of Linlithgow |
| 1 | A. K. Fazlul Huq(1873–1962) | | 1 April 1937 | 24 April 1943 | Praja Party | The Lord Brabbourne | The Marquess of Linlithgow |
| 1 | A. K. Fazlul Huq(1873–1962) | | 1 April 1937 | 24 April 1943 | Praja Party | John Herbert | The Marquess of Linlithgow |
| 2 | Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin(1894–1964) | | 24 April 1943 | 28 March 1945 | All-India Muslim League | John Herbert | The Marquess of Linlithgow |
| 2 | Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin(1894–1964) | | 24 April 1943 | 28 March 1945 | All-India Muslim League | Richard Casey | The Marquess of Linlithgow |
| 2 | Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin(1894–1964) | | 24 April 1943 | 28 March 1945 | All-India Muslim League | Richard Casey | The Viscount Wavell |
| | Governor's Rule | Governor's Rule | 28 March 1945 | 3 July 1946 | | Richard Casey | The Viscount Wavell |
| | Governor's Rule | Governor's Rule | 28 March 1945 | 3 July 1946 | | Sir Frederick Burrows | The Viscount Wavell |

### East Bengal

| Name (Birth–Death) | Name (Birth–Death) | Portrait | Entered office | Left office | Political party | Governor | Viceroy |
| 1 | Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy(1892–1963) | | 3 July 1946 | 15 August 1947 | All-India Muslim League | Sir Frederick Burrows | The Viscount Wavell |
| 1 | Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy(1892–1963) | | 3 July 1946 | 15 August 1947 | All-India Muslim League | Sir Frederick Burrows | The Viscount Mountbatten |
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## After Independence of India and Pakistan

British colonial period ended when India and Pakistan became independent nations in 1947. Bengal fell into two parts – one in India, named West Bengal and the other part in Pakistan as East Bengal, later renamed to East Pakistan in 1955.

### Pakistani (east) Bengal (1947–1971)
#### Governors of East Bengal (1947–1955)

| Tenure | Governor of East Bengal |
| 15 August 1947 - 31 March 1950 | Sir Frederick Chalmers Bourne |
| 31 March 1950 - 31 March 1953 | Sir Feroz Khan Noon |
| 31 March 1953 - 29 May 1954 | Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman |
| 29 May 1954 - May 1955 | Iskandar Ali Mirza |
| May 1955 - June 1955 | Muhammad Shahabuddin (acting) |
| June 1955 - 14 October 1955 | Amiruddin Ahmad |

#### Chief Minister of East Bengal (1947–1955)

| Tenure | Chief Minister of East Bengal | Political Party |
| August 1947 – September 1948 | Sir Khwaja Nazimuddin | Muslim League |
| September 1948 – April 1954 | Nurul Amin | Muslim League |
| April 1954 – 1955 | Abul Kasem Fazlul Huq | Muslim League |

#### Governors of East Pakistan (1955–1971)

In late 1954, prime minister Muhammad Ali Bogra initiated the One Unit policy which resulted in East Bengal province to be renamed to East Pakistan.
| Tenure | Governor of East Pakistan | Political Affiliation |
| 14 October 1955 – March 1956 | Amiruddin Ahmad | Muslim League |
| March 1956 – 13 April 1958 | A. K. Fazlul Huq | Muslim League |
| 13 April 1958 – 3 May 1958 | Hamid Ali (acting) | Awami League |
| 3 May 1958 – 10 October 1958 | Sultanuddin Ahmad | Awami League |
| 10 October 1958 – 11 April 1960 | Zakir Husain | Muslim League |
| 11 April 1960 – 11 May 1962 | Lieutenant-General Azam Khan, PA | Military Administration |
| 11 May 1962 – 25 October 1962 | Ghulam Faruque | Independent |
| 25 October 1962 – 23 March 1969 | Abdul Monem Khan | Civil Administration |
| 23 March 1969 – 25 March 1969 | Mirza Nurul Huda | Civil Administration |
| 25 March 1969 – 23 August 1969 | Major-General Muzaffaruddin, PA | Military Administration |
| 23 August 1969 – 1 September 1969 | Lieutenant-General Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, PA | Military Administration |
| 1 September 1969 – 7 March 1971 | Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan, PN | Military Administration |
| 7 March 1971 – 6 April 1971 | Lieutenant-General Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, PA | Military Administration |
| 6 April 1971 – 31 August 1971 | Lieutenant-General Tikka Khan, PA | Military Administration |
| 31 August 1971 – 14 December 1971 | Abdul Motaleb Malik | Independent |
| 14 December 1971 – 16 December 1971 | Lieutenant-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, PA | Military Administration |

#### Chief Minister of East Pakistan (1955–1971)

| Tenure | Chief Minister of East Pakistan | Political Party |
| August 1955 – September 1956 | Abu Hussain Sarkar | Krishan Sramik Party |
| September 1956 – March 1958 | Ata-ur-Rahman Khan | Awami League |
| March 1958 | Abu Hussain Sarkar | Krishan Sramik Party |
| March 1958 – 18 June 1958 | Ata-ur-Rahman Khan | Awami League |
| 18 June 1958 – 22 June 1958 | Abu Hussain Sarkar | Krishan Sramik Party |
| 22 June 1958 – 25 August 1958 | Governor's Rule | |
| 25 August 1958 – 7 October 1958 | Ata-ur-Rahman Khan | Awami League |
On 7 October 1958, the post of Chief Minister of East Pakistan was abolished. And after the independence of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971, the Province of East Pakistan was dissolved.

## List of officeholders
### Symbols

$^†$ Died in office
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Election | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party (Coalition) |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Election | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party (Coalition) |
| Provisional Government of Bangladesh (1971–1972) ||||||||
| 1 | | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান (1920–1975) | — | 17 April 1971 | 12 January 1972 | 270 days | AL |
| — | | Syed Nazrul Islam সৈয়দ নজরুল ইসলাম (1925–1975) | — | 17 April 1971 | 12 January 1972 | 270 days | AL |
| AL ||||||||
| 2 | | Abu Sayeed Chowdhury আবু সাঈদ চৌধুরী (1921–1987) | — | 12 January 1972 | 24 December 1973 | 1 year, 346 days | AL |
| 3 | | Mohammad Mohammadullah মোহাম্মদ মুহম্মদুল্লাহ (1921–1999) | — | 24 December 1973 | 27 January 1974 | 1 year, 32 days | AL |
| 3 | | Mohammad Mohammadullah মোহাম্মদ মুহম্মদুল্লাহ (1921–1999) | 1974 | 27 January 1974 | 25 January 1975 | 1 year, 32 days | AL |
| (1) | | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান (1920–1975) | — | 25 January 1975 | 15 August 1975 (Assassinated in a coup) | 202 days | BaKSAL |
| 4 | | Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad খন্দকার মোশতাক আহমেদ (1918–1996) | — | 15 August 1975 | 6 November 1975 (Deposed in a coup) | 83 days | AL (with military support) |
| 5 | | Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem আবু সাদাত মোহাম্মদ সায়েম (1916–1997) | — | 6 November 1975 | 21 April 1977 | 1 year, 166 days | AL (with military support) |
| 6 | | Ziaur Rahman জিয়াউর রহমান (1936–1981) | 1977 | 21 April 1977 | 12 June 1978 | 4 years, 39 days | Military / Jagodal / BNP |
| 6 | | Ziaur Rahman জিয়াউর রহমান (1936–1981) | 1978 | 12 June 1978 | 30 May 1981 (Assassinated) | 4 years, 39 days | Military / Jagodal / BNP |
| 7 | | Abdus Sattar আব্দুস সাত্তার (1906–1985) | — | 30 May 1981 | 20 November 1981 | 298 days | BNP |
| 7 | | Abdus Sattar আব্দুস সাত্তার (1906–1985) | 1981 | 20 November 1981 | 24 March 1982 (Deposed in a coup) | 298 days | BNP |
| Post vacant (24 – 27 March 1982) ||||||||
| 8 | | A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury আবুল ফজল মোহাম্মদ আহসানউদ্দিন চৌধুরী (1915–2001) | — | 27 March 1982 | 10 December 1983 (Dismissed) | 1 year, 258 days | Independent (with military support) |
| 9 | | Hussain Muhammad Ershad হুসেইন মুহাম্মদ এরশাদ (1930–2019) | 1985 1986 | 11 December 1983 | 6 December 1990 (Forced to resign) | 6 years, 360 days | Military / Janadal / JP(E) |
| — | | Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed শাহাবুদ্দিন আহমেদ (1930–2022) | — | 6 December 1990 | 10 October 1991 | 308 days | Independent |
| 10 | | Abdur Rahman Biswas আবদুর রহমান বিশ্বাস (1926–2017) | 1991 | 10 October 1991 | 9 October 1996 | 4 years, 365 days | BNP |
| 11 | | Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed শাহাবুদ্দিন আহমেদ (1930–2022) | 1996 | 9 October 1996 | 14 November 2001 | 5 years, 36 days | Independent |
| 12 | | A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury একিউএম বদরুদ্দোজা চৌধুরী (1930–2024) | 2001 | 14 November 2001 | 21 June 2002 | 219 days | BNP |
| — | | Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar মুহাম্মদ জমির উদ্দিন সরকার (born 1931) | — | 21 June 2002 | 6 September 2002 | 77 days | BNP |
| 13 | | Iajuddin Ahmed ইয়াজউদ্দিন আহম্মেদ (1931–2012) | 2002 | 6 September 2002 | 12 February 2009 | 6 years, 159 days | Independent |
| 14 | | Zillur Rahman জিল্লুর রহমান (1929–2013) | 2009 | 12 February 2009 | 20 March 2013 | 4 years, 36 days | AL |
| 15 | | Mohammad Abdul Hamid মোহাম্মদ আব্দুল হামিদ (born 1944) | — | 14 March 2013 | 24 April 2013 | 10 years, 41 days | AL |
| 15 | | Mohammad Abdul Hamid মোহাম্মদ আব্দুল হামিদ (born 1944) | 2013 2018 | 24 April 2013 | 24 April 2023 | 10 years, 41 days | AL |
| 16 | | Mohammed Shahabuddin মোহাম্মদ সাহাবুদ্দিন (born 1949) | 2023 | 24 April 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 303 days | AL |

## Footnotes

* ↑ (acting martial law administrator and governor as he was the GOC 14th Infantry Division)