Bangladesh National Krishak Sramik Party (BNKSP)
Bangladesh National Krishak Sramik Party – BNKSP is former KSP KRISHAK SRAMIK PARTY for the Bangladesh National Farmers and Workers Party (BNKSP), one of the oldest democratic parties in Bangladesh with a century-long history of advocating for farmers’ and workers’ rights.Empowering Farmers and Workers in Bangladesh.The Krishak Sramik Party (Bengali: কৃষক শ্রমিক পার্টি, Farmer Labourer Party) was a major anti-feudal political party in the British Indian province of Bengal and later in the Dominion of Pakistan’s East Bengal and East Pakistan provinces. It was founded in 1929 as the Nikhil Banga Praja Samiti to represent the interests of tenant farmers in Bengal’s landed gentry estates. Sir Abdur Rahim was its first leader. A. K. Fazlul Huq was elected leader in 1935 when the former was appointed as the president of the Central Legislative Assembly of India.
Historical Foundation and Evolution
The Bangladesh National Krishak Sramik Party (BNKSP) traces its origins to 1914 when it was first established as the “Krishak Praja Party” (KPP) by Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq, who became known as the greatest champion for the liberation of farmers and laborers. For decades, the party has been dedicated to democratic principles while simultaneously committed to humanitarian service.
Fazlul Huq was a firm believer in coalition politics and development initiatives. Through the United Front coalition, he actively participated in nation-building efforts beginning in 1953. Following independence, the Krishak Sramik Party facilitated the re-establishment of the Juga Front (United Front) in 1999, with the late Advocate M.A. Latif Majumdar serving as president until March 8, 2015. After his tenure, Architect Shamsunnahar Begum assumed the presidency on March 18, 2015, and continues to implement new initiatives for the party’s development and democratic evaluation.
The party first emerged in 1914 as the “Krishak Praja Party” (KPP). Later, in 1929, Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq reorganized the party and relaunched it as the “Krishak Sramik Party” (KSP), with the primary objective of protecting the rights of farmers and laborers. Nearly a century later, on August 10, 2024, the Central Board unanimously changed the party’s name to “Bangladesh National Krishak Sramik Party (BNKSP),” preserving its national scope while maintaining the historic “KSP” identity. Simultaneously, the party’s logo was modernized.
1914
Initial establishment as "Krishak Praja Part" by Sher-e-Bangla A.K Fazlul Haq
1929
Reorganized and relaunched as "Krishak Sramik Party" (KSP) under Fazlul Haq's leadership
1953-1958
Active Participation in the United Front Coalition Government
1999
Re-establishment of the Jurga Front (United Front) under KSP leadership
2015
Architect Shamsunnahar Begum assumes presidency on March 18
2024
Name changed to "Bangladesh National Krishak Sramik Party (BNKSP)" on August 10
Party Leadership Line
The Bangladesh National Krishak Sramik Party has maintained a strong leadership tradition throughout its extensive history. The party’s presidency has been held by distinguished individuals who have guided its evolution through various political eras and challenges in the South Asian subcontinent.
Sir Abdur Rahim (1929-1934)
As the inaugural president, Sir Abdur Rahim established the foundational principles of the party during British colonial rule. His leadership was instrumental in articulating the party’s early vision for protecting tenant farmers against the zamindari system
A.K. Fazlul Huq (1935-1955)
Known as Sher-e-Bangla (Lion of Bengal), Fazlul Huq transformed the party into a major political force. He served as Prime Minister of Bengal and Chief Minister of East Bengal, implementing significant reforms to relieve farmers’ debts and champion the rights of agricultural workers.
Hamidul Huq Choudhury (1955-1968)
Leading through the challenging post-partition period, Choudhury maintained the party’s relevance during East Pakistan’s formative years and the military rule that followed.
A.S.M. Sulaiman (1969-1997)
Sulaiman guided the party through Bangladesh’s independence and the subsequent political transitions, preserving its legacy during rapidly changing political landscapes.
M.A. Latif Majumdar (1997-2015)
During his extensive tenure, Majumdar led efforts to revitalize the party in modern Bangladesh, emphasizing coalition politics and democratic values.
Architect Shamsunnahar Begum (2015-Present)
As the current president, Shamsunnahar Begum has modernized the party structure, updated its name to BNKSP, and continues to champion the rights of farmers, laborers, and marginalized communities in contemporary Bangladesh.
This leadership continuity demonstrates the party’s resilience and adaptability across nearly a century of South Asian political history, from British colonial rule through Pakistani governance to independent Bangladesh.
Political Achievements in the Pre-Independence Era (1937-1947)
BNKSP is dedicated to promoting social justice, economic equality, and democratic governance through our core values and principles that guide our political actions and philosophy.
The 1937 provincial elections marked a watershed moment for the Krishak Praja Party. Despite being a relatively new political entity, the party secured 36 seats in the Bengal Legislative Assembly, demonstrating its growing appeal among the rural population. With the Congress boycotting the new system, A.K. Fazlul Huq claimed the right to form a government with support from the Muslim League, becoming the first Prime Minister of Bengal under provincial autonomy.
Agricultural Debt Relief
Prime Minister Huq’s administration prioritized alleviating the financial burdens of farmers. Through a combination of legal reforms and administrative measures, his government implemented policies to relieve agricultural debt, directly challenging the exploitative practices of moneylenders and zamindars who had kept farmers in perpetual debt cycles.
Land Reforms
The government initiated steps toward reforming the zamindari system, which had been the backbone of colonial economic exploitation in Bengal. While complete abolition would come later, Huq’s administration laid important groundwork by introducing measures to protect tenant rights and regulate land relationships.
Coalition Politics
Despite internal party rebellions that left Huq as the lone KPP cabinet member, he demonstrated remarkable political acumen by maintaining and shifting coalitions to sustain his government. This included his second coalition with the Hindu Mahasabha and Syama Prasad Mukherjee after the Muslim League withdrew support in 1941.
During this period, the party also participated in broader political developments affecting the Indian subcontinent. In 1940, Prime Minister Huq supported the Muslim League’s Lahore Resolution, though his approach to communal issues remained more pragmatic than ideological. His willingness to join the Viceroy’s defense council during World War II, against the wishes of Muslim League president Muhammad Ali Jinnah, illustrated his independent political stance.
These pre-independence achievements established the party’s reputation as a champion of agricultural interests and demonstrated its ability to exercise political power effectively, despite operating in the complex and often tumultuous political landscape of late colonial India.
Transformation to Krishak Sramik Party (1947-1954)
The partition of British India in 1947 fundamentally altered the political landscape of Bengal. The eastern regions became East Pakistan, creating new challenges and opportunities for political parties. During this transitional period, the party underwent significant reorganization to adapt to the post-colonial reality.
Post-Partition Challenges
In the aftermath of partition, the party faced the challenge of redefining its identity and purpose in East Pakistan. The creation of Pakistan had resolved the immediate question of Hindu-Muslim political competition that had defined much of late colonial politics, but new tensions emerged between East and West Pakistan over language, resource allocation, and political representation.
This period saw relatively reduced political activity for the party as the Muslim League dominated the early years of Pakistan. However, A.K. Fazlul Huq continued to advocate for Bengali interests and maintained the party’s grassroots connections during this relatively dormant phase.
Revival and Rebranding
In 1954, A.K. Fazlul Huq revived the party under a new name: Krishak Sramik Party (Farmer-Labor Party). This strategic rebranding reflected an expanded focus beyond just agricultural interests to explicitly include industrial workers. The addition of “Sramik” (Labor) to the party name signaled this broader constituency and positioned the party to address the emerging industrial economy of East Pakistan.
The rebranding came at a crucial moment in East Pakistani politics, as discontent with the Muslim League government was growing due to economic disparities, cultural marginalization, and political underrepresentation of Bengalis in the central government.
This transformation set the stage for the party’s participation in the landmark 1954 East Bengali legislative election as part of the United Front coalition. The expansion from “Krishak Praja Party” to “Krishak Sramik Party” represented not just a name change but an evolution in political vision to encompass the rights and interests of both agricultural and industrial workers in the changing socioeconomic landscape of East Pakistan.