First Ataur ministry
First Ministry of Ataur Rahman Khan | |
|---|---|
5th Cabinet of East Pakistan | |
| 1956–1958 | |
| Date formed | 5 September 1956 |
| Date dissolved | 31 March 1958 |
| People and organisations | |
| Governor | A. K. Fazlul Huq |
| Chief Minister | Ataur Rahman Khan |
| No. of ministers | 10 |
| Ministers removed | 3 |
| Total no. of members | 13 |
| Member party | |
| Status in legislature | Majority 195 / 309 (63%) |
| Opposition party | |
| Opposition leader | Abu Hussain Sarkar |
| History | |
| Election | 1954 |
| Outgoing election | 1946 |
| Legislature term | 2nd East Pakistan Provincial Assembly |
| Predecessor | First Sarkar ministry |
| Successor | Second Sarkar ministry |
The First Ataur ministry was the fifth cabinet formed in East Pakistan, the eastern province of Pakistan. It was constituted under the leadership of Ataur Rahman Khan, leader of the East Pakistan Awami League, following the dissolution of the First Sarkar ministry after the commencement of the 2nd East Pakistan Provincial Assembly. The cabinet lasted for approximately one and a half years before being replaced by the Second Sarkar ministry.
Background
As a result of the issues surrounding the Constitution of Pakistan and the joint electorate system, the Hindu members withdrew their support, and the First Sarkar ministry of East Pakistan soon realized that its dissolution was inevitable. Consequently, its members resigned on 30 August 1956. On the other hand, the Awami League (AL) reached an understanding with various minority-based political parties on several demands, including the Five-Point Programme.[1] In 4 September, in reaction to the East Pakistan Rifles opening fire at an AL rally, killing four people and injuring several others, protests erupted in Dacca (present-day Dhaka, Bangladesh). In this situation, Section 144 was imposed, and the leaders of the Krishak Sramik Party (KSP), the major constituent party of the United Front (UF) that had been leading the cabinet, went into hiding. Under these circumstances, governor A. K. Fazlul Huq invited the AL to form the cabinet.[2] On 5 September 1956, the AL formed a new five-member cabinet in East Pakistan, and they were sworn in the following day.[3][4] On 19 September 1956, portfolios were allocated among the members of the expanded cabinet.[5] Subsequently, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Mahmud Ali resigned from the cabinet. On 1 September 1957, Chief Minister Ataur Rahman Khan stated that responsibilities might soon be redistributed instead of immediately filling the vacant posts.[6]
Dissolution
In March 1957, the provincial governor amended the law by reducing the number of votes required for no-confidence motions from 130 to 104. Meanwhile, the party president Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani resigned from the AL and formed the National Awami Party (NAP), leading a faction of the party to join the new organization.[7] On 21 March 1958, two days after 11 AL leaders defected from the party, Abu Hussain Sarkar, the Leader of the Opposition, moved a vote of no confidence against the cabinet. However, the motion was rejected due to insufficient votes.[8] On 30 March 1958, when the provincial governor instructed the chief minister to resign, he refused to comply. Consequently, governor A. K. Fazlul Huq dismissed chief minister Ataur Rahman Khan, resulting in the dissolution of his cabinet. On the same day, the governor invited Abu Hussain Sarkar to form a new cabinet, and he was sworn in that very day.[9][10]
Members
The cabinet consisted of the following ministers:[5][11]
| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Safety, Food, Planning, Education, Relief and Rehabilitation Department | 6 September 1956 | 31 March 1958 | AL | ||
| Public Works, Communications, Flood Control and Forests Department | 6 September 1956 | 31 March 1958 | AL | ||
| Local Self-Government and Information Department | 19 September 1956 | 31 March 1958 | AL | ||
| Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department | 19 September 1956 | 31 March 1958 | AL | ||
| Cooperatives, Agricultural Credit and Marketing Department | Abdur Rahman Khan | 19 September 1956 | 31 March 1958 | AL | |
| Justice, Law and Registration Department | 19 September 1956 | 31 March 1958 | AL | ||
| Finance and Minority Affairs Department | 19 September 1956 | 31 March 1958 | PNC | ||
| Medical and Public Health Department | 19 September 1956 | 31 March 1958 | UPP | ||
| Excise and Salt Department | Sarat Chandra Majumdar | 19 September 1956 | 31 March 1958 | PNC | |
Former members
| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education Department | 6 September 1956 | 12 September 1956 | AL | ||
| Commerce, Labour and Industry, Agricultural Industrial Development, Social Welfare, Rural Development and Anti-Corruption Department | 6 September 1956 | 8 August 1957 | AL | ||
| Revenue, Estate Acquisition and Prisons Department | 6 September 1956 | 1 September 1957 | Ganatantri Dal | ||
References
- ^ Kabir, Muhammad Ghulam (1978). MINORITY POLITICS IN BANGLADESH, 1947-1971 (Thesis). University of British Columbia. p. 80.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 23.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 16.
- ^ "জন সদস্য বিশিষ্ট আতাউর রহমান মন্ত্রীসভার শপথ গ্রহণ সম্পন্ন". The Sangbad (in Bengali). 7 September 1956. p. 1.
- ^ a b সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু (in Bengali). Vol. 1. Press Institute of Bangladesh. 2018 [2014]. p. 118. ISBN 978-984-732-004-5.
- ^ "Safety Act To Die Natural Death: C.M.". The Pakistan Observer. 2 September 1957. p. 1.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 24.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 25.
- ^ Saeed, pp. 26.
- ^ "করাচীর নির্দেশে পূর্ব পাকিস্থানের গভর্ণর মিঃ ফজলুল হক নাটকীয়ভাবে পদচ্যুত আওয়ামী-লীগ কোয়ালিশন মন্ত্রিসভাকে বরখাস্তের জের নূতন মুখ্যমন্ত্রীরূপে মিঃ আবুল হোসেন সরকারের শপথ গ্রহণ অত্যল্প সময়ের মধ্যে পূর্ব পাকিস্থানে রাজনৈতিক তাণ্ডবের অনুষ্ঠান". Jugantar Patrika (in Bengali). 1 April 1958. p. 1.
- ^ "Mujib's Resignation Accepted". The Pakistan Observer. 9 August 1957. p. 1.