DHAKA: The 122nd birthday of great Bengali leader Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy is being marked on Monday. He was remembered for his love for people and respect for democracy.

He also dreamed a ‘Dominion state’ naming united Swadhin Bangla besides India and Pakistan before separation.

Suhrawardy Jatiya Smriti Parishad, Bishwa Bangali Sommelon, Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Party paleced wreath at the tomb of Suhrawardy.

The organisaions have arranged a discussion to mark the day at the premises of mazar of three national leaders.

Born in 1893 at Midnapore in West Bengal of India, Suhrawardy was chief minister of Bengal (1946) and prime minister of Pakistan (1956-57).

He was one the leaders of anti-Ayub movement during 1962-63.

After studying at Oxford, Suhrawardy returned to the subcontinent in 1921 as a practicing barrister of the Calcutta High Court. He became involved in politics in Bengal.

Initially, he joined the Swaraj Party, a group within the Indian National Congress, and became an ardent follower of Chittaranjan Das. He played a major role in signing the Bengal Pact in 1923.

In 1946, Suhrawardy established and headed a Muslim League government in Bengal. It was the only Muslim League government in India at that time.

As the demand for a separate Muslim state of Pakistan became popular amongst Indian Muslims, the independence of Pakistan on communal lines was deemed inevitable by mid-1947.

In 1947, the balance of power in Bengal shifted from the Muslim League to the Indian National Congress, and Suhrawardy stepped down from the Chief Ministership.

Upon the formation of Pakistan, Suhrawardy maintained his work in politics, continuing to focus on East Bengal as it became after the independence of Pakistan.

On return to Dhaka he joined Awami Muslim League that Maulana Bhashai formed.

In the 1950s, Suhrawardy worked to consolidate political parties in East Pakistan to balance the politics of West Pakistan.

In 1956, Suhrawardy won the slot of Prime minister and was hastily appointed as fifth Prime Minister by President Iskander Mirza after the surprise resignation of Chaudhry Muhammad Ali.

Suhrawardy died on December 5, 1963.

BDST: 1412 HRS, SEP 8, 2014