Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani

Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, shortened as Maulana Bhashani was a popular Islamic scholar and political leader in British India. He remained a rural-based politician renowned for selflessness and solidarity with the oppressed His long political tenure spanned the British colonial India, Pakistan and Bangladesh periods.

Early life

In 1880 Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani was born in Dhangara village in Sirajganj, Bengal Presidency. He was the son of Sharafat Ali Khan. Between 1907 and 1909 he received religious education at the Deoband Madrasah. The association of Mahmudul Hasan (known as Shaikhul Hind) and other progressive Islamic thinkers inspired Bhasani against British imperialism. In 1909 he started teaching in a primary school at Kagmaree, Tangail.

Career in independent Bangladesh

Bhashani wanted to play the role of a responsible opposition. The progressive forces quickly gathered around him and strengthened his NAP with Kazi Zafar Ahmed as its General Secretary. But soon factional differences among the progressive forces emerged and weakened Bhashani.
The most significant political magnificence of Bhasani after the independence is that, at the desire of Bangabandhu's participation in the OIC's Islamic Conference held in Pakistan in 1974, he gathered Maulana Bashani's public support in a meeting in Paltan ground. Earlier to this, the former minister Sohrab Hossain of public works was in coordination,after that Mujib engaged his trusted person Barrister Syed Kamrul Islam Mohommod Salehuddin an opposition Member of Parliament independently elected from Faridpur then joined in NAP Bhasani into this matter to contact Bhasani.Barrister Salehuddintook his friend journalist Fazle Lohani and chairman of National People's Party Sheikh Shawkat Hossain Nilu towards Santosh Tangail, that has been referred in the book: 'Pakistan to Bangladesh: Politics of 43 years' by Nilu too.(Edited)
He was highly critical of the oppressive style of the Awami League and BAKSAL governmentHe also warned Sheikh Mujibur Rahman against his move towards a one party state and declaring himself as lifelong president. Bhashani was deeply shocked at the killing of Mujib, for whom he had a lot of fatherly affection, and his family members. The person who conveyed the news of Mujib's demise described how Bhashani cried and then went to his prayer room to offer prayer.
President of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed in a military coup d'état on 15 August 1975. A turbulent political scenario followed as coup and counter-coup took place. He expressed no sorrow over the coup but criticized Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad for the bloodshed.
In May 1976 he led a massive Long March demanding demolition of the Farakka Barrage constructed by India to divert flow of Ganges waters inside its territory, triggering the drying up of river Padma and desertification of Bangladesh.It was the first popular movement against India demanding a rightful distribution of the Ganges's water. Since then Historic Farakka Long March Day is observed on 16 March every year in Bangladesh.
At the time, the government of Bangladesh unofficially supported Bhashani's Farakka Long March. Navy-chief Rear Admiral M. H. Khan in charge of providing logistics. Hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life from all over the country gathered in Rajshahi town to participate in the Long March.
On the morning of 16 March 1976, he addressed a gathering of people at the Madrash Maidan, Rajshahi, from where the Long March commenced. Hundreds of thousands of people walked more than 100 kilometers on foot for days. The March continued up to Kansat, a place near the India-Bangladesh border, close to the Farakka barrage.

Political philosophy

In the early 1950s he felt that an integrated Pakistan was no longer maintainable with hegemony of West Pakistan. At the Kagmari Conference, he bade farewell to West Pakistan by saying Assalamu Alaikum which soon became a reference quote. He declined to participate in the national election of 1970 saying that it will only help perpetuate rule by West Pakistan. Since 1969 his favourite slogans were Swadhin Bangla Zindabad and Azad Bangla Zindabad. His dream of an independent Purba Bangla (East Bengal) came true when Bangladesh was established as an independent nation-state in 1971. He advocated for the separation of the State and religion. He was a pious Muslim who was in favor of socialism. He spoke out against Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its politics.
Bhashani proposed revolutionary ideas regarding political Islam. Due to his Sufi training under Nasiruddin Baghdadi, he developed the concept of Rububuiyat. In a pamphlet titled "Main Demands," Shamsul Huq wrote:

The East Pakistan Muslim League member's convention believes that, like all the events of every century, of every country, Lahore Resolution has also made history... But even though Pakistan is an Islamic state, it is not a Muslim state, or a state made only for Muslims and nor does be wished to be influenced by Anti-Islamic imperialist, Capitalist nor by self-centered government. In the view of Islam, Allah is not for Muslims but He is the God of the entire humanity- irrespective of nation, religion and color. Rabb is Allah's greatest identity. And as Rabb the Rububuiyat or lordship is our first and most important duty

Due to the influence of socialism, Bhashani saw class struggle as a jihad against the injustices and oppression of the bourgeoisie.
Bhashani was known to have a Chinese connection and was the leader of pro-Chinese politicians of East Pakistan. During the 1965 war between Pakistan and India, Bhashani disappeared for several days. It is said that he flew from Panchbibi, Bogra to China, at the behest of president Field Marshal Ayub Khan, to secure support of China for Pakistan. Read More