Sir Azizul Haque, the First Speaker of the Bengal Legislative Assembly: A Comprehensive Assessment

Abstract

Sir Muhammad Azizul Haque (1892-1947) was one of the few Muslim intellectuals, writers and thinkers who emerged in Bangladesh in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was the Education Minister of undivided Bengal and the first Speaker of the Bengal Legislative Assembly. He was later appointed India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. As Speaker, he conducted the Assembly in a very efficient manner and accorded due respect to all present. Since 1937, the Speaker is addressed to the President of the Assembly. The Congress and the Hindu Mahasabha, on the one hand, and the Muslim League, on the other, were the two major political parties. It was the absolute responsibility of the Speaker to calm down these two warring political parties and resolve all the issues in an impartial manner. Sir Azizul Haque was able to perform this responsibility very competently. Later, he was considered the best speaker among the speakers of the provinces of India. Azizul Haque was able to establish a tradition of running the assembly. Many of his rulings and decisions are cited in other provinces of India and even in the Central Parliament. Azizul Haque's impartiality in the conduct of the Assembly's business was also unquestionable. Although a member of the Muslim League, he kept a distance from party politics. The Assembly of Bengal is largely considered to be the pioneer of the parliamentary structure in India, and the Speakers and legislators of this phase played a special role behind it. Various parliamentary customs and practices were introduced during this period. Sir Azizul Haque had an excellent ability to run the parliament. He was respected by the government and the opposition. His various rulings are still cited as examples.