Krishak Sramik Party

TheKrishak Sramik Party(Bengali:কৃষক শ্রমিক পার্টি,Farmer Labourer Party) was a major anti-feudal political party in theBritish Indianprovince ofBengaland later in theDominion of Pakistan'sEast BengalandEast Pakistanprovinces. It was founded in 1929 as theNikhil Banga Praja Samitito represent the interests oftenant farmersin Bengal'slanded gentryestates. SirAbdur Rahimwas its first leader.A. K. Fazlul Huqwas elected leader in 1935 when the former was appointed as the president of theCentral Legislative Assemblyof India.
In 1936, it changed its name toKrishak Praja Party(Bengali:কৃষক প্রজা পার্টিFarmer Tenant Party) and contested the1937 election. The party formed the first government in theBengal Legislative Assembly. After thepartition of British India, it was reorganized as the Krishak Sramik Party (Farmer-Labour Party) to contest the1954 election, as part of theUnited Front. The coalition won the election and formed the provincial government in theEast Bengal Legislative Assembly.
The party's politics played an important role in the growth ofBengali Muslimpolitical consciousness; it also received support from large sections of theBengali Hindupopulation who resented the influence of the landed gentry.
The party was the political vehicle of the Bengali lawyer and politicianA. K. Fazlul Huq,who served as thePrime Minister of BengalandChief Minister of East Bengal. Another chief minister from the party wasAbu Hussain Sarkar(1955–56).Abdus Sattar, one of the party's leaders, later became thePresident of Bangladesh.
ThePermanent Settlementestablished an extensivefeudalsystem in theBengal Presidency. Large sections of the population becametenant farmersoflandlords(zamindars). Many of the landlords were wealthy Hindus who enjoyed the patronage of the British. The permanent settlement displaced much of theMughalruling class with many Hindu landed estates; but there continued to be influential Muslim landed estates. British Bengal's wealthy HinduoligarchyincludedMarwarimerchants inCalcutta, the political and commercial capital of Bengal and theBritish 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 thefirst partition of Bengal, with support from the Muslim aristocracy, to increase investment inEastern Bengal and Assam. The partition stoked vocal protests from Hindu landlords and merchants in Calcutta, who argued that it was a policy todivide and ruleBengal. In 1911, the partition was annulled. But the partition left a strong legacy and enjoyed support in the Muslim population. TheAll India Muslim LeagueandBengal Provincial Muslim Leaguewere 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 vernacularBengali language. Bengal's middle classes, professionals and farmers increasingly looked for an alternative platform of this party.
In 1929, 18 members of theBengal Legislative Councilformed the All Bengal Tenants Association, which became known as the Praja Party. Its leaders included A. K. Fazlul Huq,Sir Azizul Haque,Maulvi Tamizuddin Khanand 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.
When theGovernment of India Act 1935planned the1937 Indian provincial elections, the Praja Party was renamed as the Krishak Praja Party, with the intention of appealing to a broad rural base.Its main rivals were the Bengal Congress and theBengal Provincial Muslim League. The Krishak Praja Party won 36 seats in theBengal Legislative Assembly. Due to non-cooperation and boycott of the new system by the Congress,the Krishak Praja Party claimed the right to form a government, with support from the Muslim League. A. K. Fazlul Huq became the firstPrime Minister of Bengal. As part of reforming the zamindari system, Prime Minister Huq used legal and administrative measures to relieve the debts of farmers.The party saw internal rebellion soon after taking power and Huq emerged as its lone cabinet member.
In 1940, Prime Minister Huq supported the Muslim League'sLahore Resolution.
The Huq ministry governed during the period ofWorld War II. In 1941, the Muslim League withdrew support for Prime Minister Huq after he joined theViceroy's defence council against the wishes of the League's presidentMuhammad 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.In Bengal, Huq formed a second coalition with theHindu Mahasabhaand its leaderSyama Prasad Mukherjee. The Huq-Syama coalition lasted until 1943, when the Muslim League secured majority support in the assembly.
A. K. Fazlul Huqrevived the party as the Krishak Sramik Party (Farmer-Labour Party) in 1954.The party was part of theUnited Frontcoalition that contested the1954 East Bengali legislative election; with a 21-point manifesto. The coalition secured alandslide victory. The Krishak Sramik Party itself won 48 seats in theEast Bengal Legislative Assembly. Huq served asChief Minister of East Bengalfor six weeks. During his tenure, Huq took steps to establish theBangla Academy. He was dismissed after allegations of inciting secession. After a period ofGovernor General's rule, Krishak Sramik Party leaderAbu Hussain Sarkarbecame theChief Minister of East Pakistanin 1955. Sarkar lost his majority in 1956, after whichPresident's rulewas imposed.Awami LeagueleaderAtaur Rahman Khanthen became chief minister.
In August 1955, a coalition between the Krishak Sramik Party in East Pakistan and the Muslim League inWest PakistanallowedChaudhry Mohammad Alito becomePrime Ministerand A. K. Fazlul Huq to become the federalHome Minister.Prime Minister Ali was later dismissed by PresidentIskander Mirza, who allowed a coalition of theAwami LeagueandRepublican Partyto form government. As a result, the Krishak Sramik Party and the Muslim League formed the main opposition.
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).It is reported to be survived till 1958 in Pakistan.However, Huq died in 1962andA.S.M. Sulaimanbecame the president in 1969.In1979 Bangladeshi general electionthe party participated and he became member of parliament fromNarayanganj-3.he died in 1997 and maintained his office till his death.As of 2023, the party's president isFarhanaz Haque Chowdhury. The party decided to participate in2024 Bangladeshi general electionunderLiberal Islamic Alliance.