Sher-e-Bangla’s anniversary of death today

The 48th death anniversary of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq, a legendary politician of undivided Bengal, will be observed today.
Fazlul Huq, popularly known as ‘Huq Saheb’ was the key national leader behind the emergence of Bengal. He was called Sher-e- Bangla (Tiger of Bengal) for his position in the politics of the undivided Bengal in the first half of the 20th century.
He was born on October 26, 1873 at Chakhar of Bakerganj district and died in Dhaka on April 27, 1962.
After the partition of India in August 1947, Fazlul Huq settled in Dhaka and served as the Advocate General of East Pakistan from 1947 to 1952.
President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages paid rich tribute to the memories of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Haque.
Sher-e-Bangla held different political posts, including General Secretary of Indian National Congress, Education Minister, first Muslim Mayor of Calcutta, Chief Minister of undivided Bengal, Home Minister of Pakistan, Chief Minister of East Pakistan, Governor of East Pakistan and Food and Agriculture Minister of Pakistan.
The greatest contribution of Sher-e-Bangla to the economic emancipation of the poor peasants of Bangladesh was the formation of the ‘Rin Salishi (Debt Settlement) Board’, which helped numerous peasants to get their lands back from the usurpers.
To free the peasants from the exploitation of the usurpers, he founded nearly 11,000 such boards around the country. He also introduced new laws (Bengali Shop Worker bill) to protect the poor shop (retail) workers ensuring better employment conditions and holiday pay.
Sher-e-Bangla founded several educational and technical institutions for the Bengali Muslims, including Calcutta Islamia College and Bulbul Music Academy and Central Women’s’ College in Dhaka.
Sher-e-Bangla also had significant contribution to founding the Dhaka University. During Fazlul Huq’s tenure as the Chief Minister, Bangla Academy was founded and Pahela Baishakh was declared as a public holiday.
Different socio-political organizations chalked out elaborate programmes to observe the death anniversary of Sher-e-Bangla.
Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote will place floral wreath at the mazar of the great leader at 8 am.

Courtesy of BSS via The New Nation