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| Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani |
Also known as Maulana Bhashani was popular Ismalic Scholar and political leader. He remained rural-based politicians renowned for selflessness and solidarity with the oppressed. His long political tenure spanned the British colonial India, Pakistan and Bangladesh periods. Maulana Bhashani is popularly known with the honorary title Mazlum Jananeta (Leader of the Oppressed) for his lifelong stance for the poor suffered by establishment. He gained nationwide mass popularity among peasants and helped to build East Pakistan Peasant Association. Owing to his leaning to the left, often dubbed Islamic Socialism, he is also called 'The Red Maulana'. An alumnus of Deoband and participant of the Khilafat Movement protesting the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire he led the Muslims of Assam in a successful campaign during the Sylhet in 1947. Referendum, through which Sylhet chose to become part of the Pakistan national project. He was the founder and President of the Pakistan Awami Muslim League which later became Awami League. Her played a very critical role in the 1969 movement which eventually led to the collapse of the Ayub regime and the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other co-accused in the Agartala conspiracy case against Pakistani leaders, effectively led to the electoral sweep by erstwhile opponent Mujibur Rahman. The Awami League without any viable opposition in East Pakistan won 160 of the 162 seats in the province and thus gained the majority in Pakistan national assembly.
Bhashani was born in 1880 at Dhangara village in Sirajganj, Bangladesh. He was the son of Sharafat Ali Khan
