List of rulers of Bengal

This is a list of rulers of Bengal. For much of its history, Bengal was split up into several independent kingdoms, completely unifying only several times. In ancient times, Bengal consisted of the kingdoms of Pundra, Suhma, Vanga, Samatata and Harikela.

In the 4th century BCE, during the reign of the Nanda Empire, the powerful rulers of Gangaridai sent their forces consisting of war elephants which led to the withdrawal of Alexander the Great from the Indian subcontinent.^[1]

With the rise of Gopala in 750 AD, Bengal was united once more under the Buddhist and Shaivite Pala Empire. The Pala period is considered as one of golden eras of Bengali history as it brought stability and prosperity to Bengal after centuries of Civil War, created outstanding works of art and architecture, proto-Bengali language developed under them including its first literary work, the Charyapada and so on. They ruled Bengal until the 12th century, before being succeeded by the Buddhist and Hindu Chandra dynasty, Sena dynasty and Deva dynasty. The rule of the Sena and Deva dynasty extended over various parts of Bengal,^[2][3] until the arrival of Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji as part of the Ghurid Invasion of Bengal.^{[4] [citation needed]}

In the early 13th century, Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji conquered the Western and parts of Northern Bengal,^[5] and established the first Muslim kingdom in Bengal.^[6] The Delhi Sultanate, under various Islamic dynasties such as the Mamluk Sultanate, the Khalji dynasty, the Turko-Indian Tughlaq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty and the Lodi dynasty ruled over various parts Bengal for some 300 years, interrupted and frequently challenged by local muslim rulers of Bengal.^[7][8]

The Bengal Sultanate, a major trading nation in the world,^[9] was founded in 1342 by Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, after he united Satgaon, Lakhnauti and Sonargaon.^[10] The Ilyas Shahi dynasty ruled Bengal for nearly 150 years. The Hussain Shahi dynasty founded by Alauddin Husain Shah, reached its greatest territorial extent which saw the extension of the sultanate from modern Bihar and Odisha in the west, to Kamaraupa and the port of Chittagong in the east, witnessing the arrival of the earliest Portuguese merchants.^[8][11]

Ancient Bengal

Main article: History of Bengal

Ancient geopolitical divisions

Ancient Political Divisions

Ancient region	Modern region
Pundravardhana	Rajshahi Division and Rangpur Division in Bangladesh; Malda division of West Bengal in India
Vanga	Khulna Division and Barisal Division in Bangladesh; West of the Padma river.
Tirabhukti	Mithila area of India and Nepal
Gauda	Modern Malda and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal, India
Suhma	Burdwan division, Medinipur division and Presidency division of West Bengal in India
Rarh	Corresponds to the modern Bardhaman, Bankura, Hooghly and Nadia districts of West Bengal in India
Samatata	Dhaka Division, Barisal Division and Chittagong Division in Bangladesh
Harikela	Sylhet Division, Chittagong Division, Dhaka Division and Barisal Division in Bangladesh

The founders of Angas, Vangas, Kalingas, Pundras, Odras and Suhmas shared a common ancestry. They were all adopted sons of a king named Bali, born by a sage named Gautama Dirghatamas, who lived in Magadha close to the city of Girivraja.^[12]

Bengal from c. 1100 to c. 600 BCE

Bengal and kingdoms in Late Vedic Period c. 1100–600 BCE

Bengal from c. 600 to c. 350 BCE

Bengal and kingdoms in Mahajanapada Period c. 600–350 BCE

Bengal in c. 350 BCE

Firstly entire Bengal conquered by Mahapadma Nanda in 350 BCE

Anga kingdom (c. 1100–530 BCE)

Main article: Anga

See also: Magadha-Anga war

The earliest mention occurs in the Atharvaveda (V.22.14) where they are listed alongside the Magadhas, Gandharis and the Mujavatas.^[13] Anga was annexed by Magadha in the time of Bimbisara. This was the one and only conquest of Bimbisara.^[14]

Known Anga rulers include:

• Maharaj Anga – (founder of the kingdom and son of King Bali)
• Romapada
• Brihadratha
• Angaraj Karna
• Vrishaketu – (son of Karna)
• Tamralipta
• Lomapada
• Chitraratha
• Vrihadratha
• Vasuhoma
• Dhatarattha
• Dhadivahana
• Brahmadatta – (last king of Anga kingdom)

Vanga kingdom (c. 1100–340 BCE)

Main article: Vanga Kingdom

Vanga was an ancient kingdom and geopolitical division on the Ganges delta. It was located in southern Bengal, with the core region including present-day southwestern Bangladesh and southern West Bengal (India).^[15]

Known Vanga rulers are:

• Samudrasena
• Chandrasena
• Karna
• Bhagabhatta

Pundra kingdom (c. 1100–340 BCE)

Main article: Pundravardhana

Pundravardhana or Pundra Kingdom, was an ancient kingdom, that included parts of present-day Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions of Bangladesh as well as the West Dinajpur district of West Bengal in India.^[16][17]

Known Pundra rulers are:

• Paundraka Vasudeva

Suhma kingdom (c. 1100–340 BCE)

Main article: Suhma kingdom

Suhma kingdom was an ancient state during the Vedic period on the eastern part of the Bengal.This kingdom was mentioned in the epic Mahabharata along with its neighbouring kingdom Prasuhma.^[18]

Videha dynasty of Mithila (Tirabhukti) (c. 1100–700 BCE)

Main articles: Videha and Mithila (region)

See also: History of Mithila Region

Tirabhukti or Mithila region is bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west and by the foothills of the Himalayas in the north.^[19]

Mithila region firstly ruled by Videha dynasty. There were 52 Janaka (kings) ruled Videha dynasty of Mithila-^[20]

1. Mithi (founder of Mithila and the first Janaka)^[21]
2. Udavasu
3. Nandivardhana
4. Suketu
5. Devarata
6. Brihadvrata
7. Mahavira
8. Sudhriti
9. Dristaketu
10. Haryasva
11. Maru
12. Pratindhaka
13. Kritiratha
14. Devamidha
15. Vibhuta
16. Mahidhrata
17. Kirtirata
18. Mahorama
19. Swarnorama
20. Hrisvaroma
21. Seeradhwaja
22. Bhaanumaan
23. Shatadyumn
24. Shuchi
25. Oorjnaamaa
26. Kriti
27. Anjan
28. Kurujit
29. Arishtnemi
30. Shrutaayu
31. Supaarshwa
32. Srinjaya
33. Kshemaavee
34. Anenaa
35. Bhaumarath
36. Satyarath
37. Upagu
38. Upagupt
39. Swaagat
40. Swaanand
41. Suvarchaa
42. Supaarshwa
43. Subhaash
44. Sushrut
45. Jaya
46. Vijaya
47. Rit
48. Sunaya
49. Veetahavya
50. Dhriti
51. Bahulaashwa
52. Kriti (last King of Videha or Janaka dynasty, Kirti Janak was atrocious ruler who lost control over his subjects. He was dethroned by public under leadership of Acharyas (Learned Men).

During this period of fall of Videha dynasty, the famous republic of Licchavi was rising in Vaishali and Mithila region came under control of Licchavi clan of Vajji confederacy in around eighth century BCE.^[22]

Gangaridai kingdom (c. 350–100 BCE)

Main article: Gangaridai

Gangaridae is a term used by the ancient Greco-Roman writers to describe a people or a geographical region of the ancient Indian subcontinent. Some of these writers state that Alexander the Great withdrew from the Indian subcontinent because of the strong war elephant force of the Gangaridai. However, the geographical region was annexed and governed by the Nanda Empire at the time.

A number of modern scholars locate Gangaridai in the Ganges Delta of the Bengal region, although alternative theories also exist. Gange or Ganges, the capital of the Gangaridai (according to Ptolemy), has been identified with several sites in the region, including Chandraketugarh and Wari-Bateshwar.^[23]

Magadha dynasties of Bengal

Main article: Magadha

Expansion of Magadha dynesties and Empires

Brihadratha dynasty (c. 1700–682 BCE)

Main article: Brihadratha dynasty

Rulers-

List of Brihadratha dynasty rulers

Ruler	Reign (BCE)
Brihadratha	– BCE
Jarasandha	– BCE
Sahadeva of Magadha	– BCE
Somadhi	1661–1603 BCE
Srutasravas	1603–1539 BCE
Ayutayus	1539–1503 BCE
Niramitra	1503–1463 BCE
Sukshatra	1463–1405 BCE
Brihatkarman	1405–1382 BCE
Senajit	1382–1332 BCE
Srutanjaya	1332–1292 BCE
Vipra	1292–1257 BCE
Suchi	1257–1199 BCE
Kshemya	1199–1171 BCE
Subrata	1171–1107 BCE
Dharma	1107–1043 BCE
Susuma	1043–970 BCE
Dridhasena	970–912 BCE
Sumati	912–879 BCE
Subala	879–857 BCE
Sunita	857–817 BCE
Satyajit	817–767 BCE
Viswajit	767–732 BCE
Ripunjaya	732–682 BCE

(Ripunjaya was the last ruler of dynasty, dethorned by Pradyota in 682 BCE)

Pradyota dynasty (c. 682–544 BCE)

Main article: Pradyota dynasty

Rulers-

List of Pradyota dynasty Rulers

Ruler	Reign (BCE)	Period
Pradyota Mahasena	682–659 BCE	23
Gopāla (Abdicated)	659 BCE	~1
Palaka	659–635 BCE	24
Aryaka	?	?
Visakhayupa	635–585 BCE	50
Ajaka	585–564 BCE	21
Varttivarddhana	564–544 BCE	20

(Varttivarddhana was last ruler of dynasty dethroned by Bimbisara in 544 BCE)

Haryanka dynasty (c. 544–413 BCE)

Main article: Haryanka dynasty

Rulers-

List of Haryanka dynasty rulers

Ruler	Reign (BCE)
Bimbisara	544–492 BCE
Ajatashatru	492–460 BCE
Udayin	460–444 BCE
Anirudha	444–440 BCE
Munda	440–437 BCE
Darshaka	437 BCE
Nāgadāsaka	437–413 BCE

(Nāgadāsaka was last ruler of dynasty overthrowed by Shishunaga in 413 BCE)

Shishunaga dynasty (c. 413–345 BCE)

Main article: Shaishunaga dynasty

Rulers-

List of Shishunga dynasty rulers

Ruler	Reign (BCE)
Shishunaga	413–395 BCE
Kalashoka	395–377 BCE
Kshemadharman	377–365 BCE
Kshatraujas	365–355 BCE
Nandivardhana	355–349 BCE
Mahanandin	349–345 BCE

(Mahanandin lost his empire by his illegitimate son Mahapadma Nanda in 345 BCE)

Nanda Empire (c. 345–322 BCE)

Main article: Nanda Empire

See also: Conquest of the Nanda Empire

Rulers-

List of Nanda dynasty rulers

Ruler	Reign (BCE)
Mahapadma Nanda	345–340 BCE
Pandukananda	340–339 BCE
Pandugatinanda	339–338 BCE
Bhutapalananda	338–337 BCE
Rashtrapalananada	337–336 BCE
Govishanakananda	336–335 BCE
Dashasiddhakananda	335–334 BCE
Kaivartananda	334–329 BCE
Dhana Nanda	329–321 BCE

(Dhana Nanda lost his empire to Chandragupta Maurya after being defeated by him in 322 BCE)

Maurya Empire (c. 322–184 BCE)

Main article: Maurya Empire

Rulers-

Ruler		Reign	Notes
Chandragupta Maurya		322–297 BCE	Founder of first Indian united empire.
Bindusara Amitraghata		297–273 BCE	Known for his foreign diplomacy and crushed of Vidarbh revolt.
Ashoka		268–232 BCE	Greatest emperor of dynasty. His son Kunala was blinded and died before his father. Ashoka was succeeded by his grandson. Also known for Kalinga war victory.
Dasharatha Maurya		232–224 BCE	Brother of Ashoka.
Samprati		224–215 BCE	Grandson of Ashoka and son of Kunala.
Shalishuka		215–202 BCE
Devavarman		202–195 BCE
Shatadhanvan		195–187 BCE	Mauryan Empire had shrunk by the time of his reign
Brihadratha		187–184 BCE	Assassinated by his Commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE.

(Brihadratha was the last ruler of dynasty, dethroned by Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE)

Shunga Empire (c. 185–73 BCE)

Main article: Shunga Empire

Rulers-

List of Shunga dynasty rulers

Ruler	Reign (BCE)
Pushyamitra Shunga	185–149 BCE
Agnimitra	149–141 BCE
Vasujyeshtha	141–131 BCE
Vasumitra	131–124 BCE
Bhadraka	124–122 BCE
Pulindaka	122–119 BCE
Ghosha	119–108 BCE
Vajramitra	108–94 BCE
Bhagabhadra	94–83 BCE
Devabhuti	83–73 BCE

(Devabhuti was the last ruler of dynasty dethroned by, dethroned Vasudeva Kanva in 73 BCE)

Kanva dynasty (c. 73–28 BCE)

Main article: Kanva dynasty

Rulers-

List of Kanava dynasty rulers

Ruler	Reign	Period
Vasudeva Kanva	73–64 BCE	9
Bhumimitra	64–50 BCE	14
Narayana	50–38 BCE	12
Susarman	38–28 BCE	10

(Susarman was the last ruler of dynasty, dethroned by Simuka of Satavahana Empire)

Classical Era

Chandra dynasty (c. 202–1050 CE)

Main articles: Chandra dynasty and Harikela

The Chandra Kingdom was a Kayastha kingdom, which ruled the Vanga-Samatata region of Bengal, as well as northern Arakan. Later it was a neighbor to the Pala Empire to the north. Rulers of Chandra kingdom were followers of Hinduism.^[24][25]

Rulers-

List of Chandra dynasty Rulers

#	King	Period	Reign (CE)
1	Chandrodaya	27	202–229
2	Annaveta	5	229–234
3	Chandranveta	77	234–311
4	Rimbhiappa	23	311–334
5	Kuverami (Queen)	7	334–341
6	Umavira	20	341–361
7	Jugna	7	361–368
8	Lanki	2	368–370
9	Dvenchandra	55	370–425
10	Rajachandra	20	425–445
11	Kalachandra	9	445–454
12	Devachandra	22	454–476
13	Yajnachandra	7	476–483
14	Chandrabandu	6	483–489
15	Bhumichandra	7	489–496
16	Bhutichandra	24	496–520
17	Nitichandra	55	520–575
18	Virachandra	3	575–578
19	Pritichandra	12	578–590
20	Prithvichandra	7	590–597
21	Dhirtichandra	3	597–600
22	Mahavira	12	600–612
23	Virayajap	12	612–624
24	Sevinren	12	624–636
25	Dharmasura	13	636–649
26	Vajrashakti	16	649–665
27	Dharmavijaya	36	665–701
28	Narendravijaya	2 yr 9 months	701–703
29	Dharmachandra	16	703–720
30	Anandachandra	9+	720–729+
Harikela dynasty
1	Traillokyachandra	30	900–930
2	Srichandra	45	930–975
3	Kalyanachandra	25	975–1000
4	Ladahachandra	20	1000–1020
5	Govindachandra	30	1020–1050

Pushkarana Kingdom (c. 4th century CE)

• Simhavarman
• Chandravarman

Gupta Empire (c. 240–550 CE)

Main article: Gupta Empire

Rulers-

• Sri-Gupta I (240–280), founder of dynasty
• Ghatotkacha (280–319)
• Chandra Gupta I (320–335)
• Samudra Gupta (335–380)
• Rama Gupta (6 Months)
• Chandra Gupta II (Chandragupta Vikramaditya) (380–413/415)
• Kumara Gupta I (415–455)
• Skanda Gupta (455–467)
• Puru Gupta(467–473)
• Kumara Gupta II (473–476)
• Buddha Gupta (476–495)
• Narasimha Gupta(495–540)
• Vainyagupta (~507)
• Kumara Gupta III (500–540)
• Vishnugupta (540–550), last imperial Gupta ruler.

Independent Vanga Kingdom (c. 525–575 CE)

• Gopachandra
• Dharmadiya
• Samachardeva

Jaintia kingdom (c. 525–1835 CE)

Main article: Jaintia Kingdom

Old dynasty rulers

• Urmi Rani (?–550)
• Krishak Pator (550–570)
• Hatak (570–600)
• Guhak (600–630)

Partitioned Jaintia rulers

• Jayanta (630–660)
• Joymalla (660–?)
• Mahabal (?)
• Bancharu (?–1100)
• Kamadeva (1100–1120)
• Bhimbal (1120)

Brahmin dynasty rulers

• Kedareshwar Rai (1120–1130)
• Dhaneshwar Rai (1130–1150)
• Kandarpa Rai (1150–1170)
• Manik Rai (1170–1193)
• Jayanta Rai (1193–1210)
• Jayanti Devi
• Bara Gossain

New dynasty rulers

• Prabhat Ray Syiem Sutnga (1500–1516)
• Majha Gosain Syiem Sutnga (1516–1532)
• Burha Parbat Ray Syiem Sutnga (1532–1548)
• Bar Gosain Syiem Sutnga I (1548–1564)
• Bijay Manik Syiem Sutnga (1564–1580)
• Pratap Ray Syiem Sutnga (1580–1596)
• Dhan Manik Syiem Sutnga (1596–1612)
• Jasa Manik Syiem Sutnga (1612–1625)
• Sundar Ray Syiem Sutnga (1625–1636)
• Chota Parbat Ray Syiem Sutnga (1636–1647)
• Jasamanta Ray Syiem Sutnga (1647–1660)
• Ban Singh Syiem Sutnga (1660–1669)
• Pratap Singh Syiem Sutnga (1669–1678)
• Lakshmi Narayan Syiem Sutnga (1678–1694)
• Ram Singh Syiem Sutnga I (1694–1708)
• Jay Narayan Syiem Sutnga (1708–1731)
• Bar Gosain Syiem Sutnga II (1731–1770)
• Chattra Singh Syiem Sutnga (1770–1780)
• Yatra Narayan Syiem Sutnga (1780-1785)
• Bijay Narayan Syiem Sutnga (1785–1786)
• Lakshmi Singh Syiem Sutnga (1786-1790)
• Ram Singh Syiem Sutnga II (1790–1832)
• Rajendra Singh Syiem Sutnga (1832–1835)^[26][27]

Gauda kingdom (c. 550–626 CE)

Main article: Gauda Kingdom

Rulers-

• Early Gauda rulers are unknown
• Shashanka (590–625), first recorded independent Hindu king of Bengal, created the first unified political entity in Bengal.
• Manava (625–626), ruled for 8 months before being conquered by Harshavardana and Bhaskarvarmana in 626 CE.

Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Empire (c. 606–647 CE)

Main article: Pushyabhuti dynasty

Rulers of Bengal-

• Harshavardhana (606–647), unified Northern India and ruled it for over 40 years, he was the last non-Muslim emperor to rule a unified Northern India

Khadga dynasty (c. 625–730 CE)

Main article: Khadga dynasty

Rulers-

Titular Name	Reign	Notes
Khadgodyama	625-640	Father of Jatakhadga
Jatakhadga	640-658	Father of Devakhadga
Devakhadga	658-673	Queen Prabhavati
Rajabhatta	673-707	Son of Devakhadga
Balabhata	707-716	Son of Devakhadga
Udirnakhadga	??

Bhadra dynasty (6th to 7th century)

Main article: Bhadra dynasty

The Bhadra dynasty was a Bengali Hindu royal house of Brahmin origin, their rule flourished during the first half of the 7th century, though little is known about their history. The kings of the dynasty bore names with the suffix "Bhadra".

Known rulers are-

• Narayanabhadra
• Jyeshthabhadra

Mallabhum kingdom (c. 694–1147 CE)

Main article: Mallabhum

Rulers-

Name of the king[28][29]	Reign	Notes
Adi Malla	694–710
Jay Malla	710–720
Benu Malla	720–733
Kinu Malla	733–742
Indra Malla	742–757
Kanu Malla	757–764
Dha (Jhau) Malla	764–775
Shur Malla	775–795
Kanak Malla	795–807
Kandarpa Malla	807–828
Sanatan Malla	828–841
Kharga Malla	841–862
Durjan (Durjay) Malla	862–906
Yadav Malla	906–919
Jagannath Malla	919–931
Birat Malla	931–946
Mahadev Malla	946–977
Durgadas Malla	977–994
Jagat Malla	994–1007
Ananta Malla	1007–1015
Rup Malla	1015–1029
Sundar Malla	1029–1053
Kumud Malla	1053–1074
Krishna Malla	1074–1084
Rup II (Jhap) Malla	1084–1097
Prakash Malla	1097–1102
Pratap Malla	1102–1113
Sindur Malla	1113–1129
Sukhomoy(Shuk) Malla	1129–1142
Banamali Malla	1142–1156
Yadu/Jadu Malla	1156–1167
Jiban Malla	1167–1185
Ram Malla	1185–1209
Gobinda Malla	1209–1240
Bhim Malla	1240–1263
Katar(Khattar) Malla	1263–1295
Prithwi Malla	1295 -1319
Tapa Malla	1319–1334
Dinabandhu Malla	1334–1345
Kinu/Kanu II Malla	1345–1358
Shur Malla II	1358–1370
Shiv Singh Malla	1370–1407
Madan Malla	1407–1420
Durjan II (Durjay) Malla	1420–1437
Uday Malla	1437–1460
Chandra Malla	1460–1501
Bir Malla	1501–1554
Dhari Malla	1554–1565
Hambir Malla Dev (Bir Hambir)	1565–1620
Dhari Hambir Malla Dev	1620–1626
Raghunath Singha Dev	1626–1656
Bir Singha Dev	1656–1682
Durjan Singha Dev	1682–1702
Raghunath Singha Dev II	1702–1712
Gopal Singha Dev	1712–1748
Chaitanya Singha Dev	1748–1801
Madhav Singha Dev	1801–1809
Gopal Singha Dev II	1809–1876
Ramkrishna Singha Dev	1876–1885
Dwhaja Moni Devi	1885–1889
Nilmoni Singha Dev	1889–1903
Churamoni Devi (Regency)	1903–1930
Kalipada Singha Thakur	1930–1947

Post-Classical era

Pala Empire (c. 750–1161 CE)

Most of the Pala inscriptions mention only the regnal year as the date of issue, without any well-known calendar era. Because of this, the chronology of the Pala kings is hard to determine.^[30] Based on their different interpretations of the various epigraphs and historical records, different historians estimate the Pala chronology as follows:^[31]

	RC Majumdar (1971)[32]	AM Chowdhury (1967)[33]	BP Sinha (1977)[34][failed verification]	DC Sircar (1975–76)[35]	D. K. Ganguly (1994)[30]
Gopala I	750–770	756–781	755–783	750–775	750–774
Dharmapala	770–810	781–821	783–820	775–812	774–806
Devapala	810–c. 850	821–861	820–860	812–850	806–845
Mahendrapala	NA (Mahendrapala's existence was conclusively established through a copper-plate charter discovered later.)				845–860
Shurapala I	Deemed to be alternate name of Vigrahapala I			850–858	860–872
Gopala II	NA (copper-plate charter discovered in 1995. Text of inscription published in 2009.)
Vigrahapala I	850–853	861–866	860–865	858–60	872–873
Narayanapala	854–908	866–920	865–920	860–917	873–927
Rajyapala	908–940	920–952	920–952	917–952	927–959
Gopala III	940–957	952–969	952–967	952–972	959–976
Vigrahapala II	960–c. 986	969–995	967–980	972–977	976–977
Mahipala I	988–c. 1036	995–1043	980–1035	977–1027	977–1027
Nayapala	1038–1053	1043–1058	1035–1050	1027–1043	1027–1043
Vigrahapala III	1054–1072	1058–1075	1050–1076	1043–1070	1043–1070
Mahipala II	1072–1075	1075–1080	1076–1078/9	1070–1071	1070–1071
Shurapala II	1075–1077	1080–1082		1071–1072	1071–1072
Ramapala	1077–1130	1082–1124	1078/9–1132	1072–1126	1072–1126
Kumarapala	1130–1140	1124–1129	1132–1136	1126–1128	1126–1128
Gopala IV	1140–1144	1129–1143	1136–1144	1128–1143	1128–1143
Madanapala	1144–1162	1143–1162	1144–1161/62	1143–1161	1143–1161
Govindapala	1158–1162	NA	1162–1176 or 1158–1162	1161–1165	1161–1165
Palapala	NA	NA	NA	1165–1199	1165–1200

Sena dynasty (c. 1070–1230 CE)

Main article: Sena dynasty

Sena dynasty ruled southwestern Bengal from 1070 and ruled East Bengal until 1230. Vijaya Sena conquered entire Bengal by 1154 CE.

Rulers-

• Hemanta Sena (1070–1096)
• Vijaya Sena (1096–1159)
• Ballala Sena (1159–1179)
• Lakshmana Sena (1179–1206)
• Vishvarupa Sena (1206–1225)
• Keshava Sena (1225–1230)

Deva dynasty (c. 1150–1294 CE)

Main article: Deva dynasty

List of rulers is disputed-

• Purushottamadeva
• Madhusudanadeva
• Vasudeva
• Shantideva
• Viradeva
• Anandadeva
• Bhavadeva
• Damodaradeva (1231–1243)
• Dasharathadeva (1243–1281)
• Vikramadityadeva (1281–1294)

Delhi Sultanate period

Khalji dynasty

The Khalji dynasty of Bengal (c. 1204-27) were initially representatives of the Ghurid Empire, later becoming independent, although at times being subordinate to the Delhi Sultanate.

Name	Reign	Notes
Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji	c.1204–1206	Began the Khalji dynasty in Bengal
Muhammad Shiran Khalji	1206–1208
Husamuddin Iwaz Khalji	1208–1210
Ali Mardan Khalji	1210–1212
Ghiyasuddin Iwaz Shah	1212–1227	Second term, killed for gaining independence from Sultan of Delhi Iltutmish
Alauddin Daulat Shah Khalji	1229–1230[36]
Balka Khalji	1230–1231	Last Khalji ruler

Governors of Bengal under Mamluk dynasty (1227–1287)

Governors of Bengal under the Mamluk dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.

Name	Reign	Notes
Nasiruddin Mahmud	1227–1229	Appointed by his father Sultan Iltutmish of Delhi
Alauddin Jani	1232–1233
Saifuddin Aibak	1233–1236
Awar Khan Aibak	1236	Usurper
Tughral Tughan Khan	1236–1246	Restored Mamluk governor
Tughlaq Tamar Khan	1246–1247
Jalaluddin Masud Jani	1247–1251
Malik Ikhtiyaruddin Iuzbak	1251–1257	Claimed independence.
Ijjauddin Balban Iuzbaki	1257–1259
Tatar Khan	1259–1268	Claimed independence.
Sher Khan	1268–1272
Amin Khan	1272–1272
Tughral Tughan Khan	1272–1281	Second term as Mughisuddin Tughral
Nasiruddin Bughra Khan	1281–1287	Declared independence and founded the Balban dynasty

House of Balban

The House of Balban (c. 1287–1324) came about as a result of Mamluk governor Nasiruddin Bughra Khan declaring independence.

Name	Reign	Notes
Nasiruddin Bughra Khan	1287–1291	Declared independence from Delhi Sultanate
Rukunuddin Kaikaus	1291–1300	First Muslim ruler to conquer Satgaon kingdom, expanding Lakhnauti.
Shamsuddin Firoz Shah	1300–1322	First Muslim ruler to conquer Sonargaon, Mymensingh and Srihatta. Completed Kaikaus' Conquest of Satgaon.
Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah	1322–1324	Lost independence of Bengal to Delhi Sultan Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.

Governors of Bengal under Tughlaq dynasty (1324–1338)

Name	Region	Reign	Notes
Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah	Sonargaon	1324–1328	Appointed as governor by Sultan of Delhi Muhammad bin Tughluq, but later declared independence
Bahram Khan	Sonargaon	1328–1338
Qadar Khan	Lakhnauti	1328–1336
Mukhlis	Lakhnauti	1336–1339
Bahram Khan	Satgaon	1324–1328
Izzuddin Yahya	Satgaon	1328–1338

Bengal Sultanate era

Independent Sultans of Bengal during Tughlaq dynasty (1338–1352)

See also: Mubarak Shahi dynasty

Name	Region	Reign	Notes
Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah	Sonargaon	1338–1349	First independent ruler of Sonargaon and the Founder of Mubarak shahi dynasty
Ikhtiyaruddin Ghazi Shah the last Sultan of mubarak shahi dynasty	Sonargaon	1349–1352
Ilyas Shah	Satgaon	1339–1342
Alauddin Ali Shah	Lakhnauti	1339–1342
Ilyas Shah	Lakhnauti and Satgaon	1342–1352

Ilyas Shahi dynasty (1352–1414)

Main article: Ilyas Shahi dynasty

Name	Reign	Notes
Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah	1352–1358	Became the first sole ruler of whole Bengal comprising Sonargaon, Satgaon and Lakhnauti.
Sikandar Shah	1358–1390	Killed in battle with his son and successor, Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah
Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah	1390–1411
Saifuddin Hamza Shah	1411–1412
Shihabuddin Bayazid Shah	1412–1414

House of Raja Ganesha (1414–1435)

Name	Reign	Notes
Raja Ganesha	1414–1415
Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah	1415–1416	Son of Raja Ganesha and converted into Islam
Raja Ganesha	1416–1418	Second Phase
Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah	1418–1433	Second Phase
Shamsuddin Ahmad Shah	1433–1435

Restored Ilyas Shahi dynasty (1435–1487)

Name	Reign	Notes
Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah	1435–1459
Rukunuddin Barbak Shah	1459–1474	Son of Mahmud Shah
Shamsuddin Yusuf Shah	1474–1481	Son of Barbak Shah
Nuruddin Sikandar Shah	1481	Son of Mahmud Shah
Jalaluddin Fateh Shah	1481–1487	Son of Mahmud Shah

Habshi rule (1487–1494)

Name	Reign	Notes
Shahzada Barbak	1487
Saifuddin Firuz Shah	1487–1489
Mahmud Shah II	1489–1490
Shamsuddin Muzaffar Shah	1490–1494

Hussain Shahi dynasty (1494–1538)

Name	Reign	Notes
Alauddin Hussain Shah	1494–1518	considered greatest of all sultans of Bengal for bringing cultural renaissance during his reign.
Nasiruddin Nasrat Shah	1518–1533
Alauddin Firuz Shah	1533
Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah	1533–1538

Governors of Bengal under Sur Empire (1532–1556)

Name	Reign	Notes
Sher Shah Suri	1532–1538	Defeated Mughals and became the ruler of Delhi in 1540.
Khidr Khan	1538–1541
Qazi Fazilat	1541–1545
Muhammad Khan Sur	1545–1554
Shahbaz Khan	1555

Muhammad Shah dynasty (1554–1564)

Name	Reign	Notes
Muhammad Khan Sur	1554–1555	Declared independence and styled himself as Shamsuddin Muhammad Shah
Khizr Khan Suri	1555–1561
Ghiyasuddin Jalal Shah	1561–1563
Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah III	1563–1564[37]

Karrani dynasty (1564–1576)

Name	Reign	Notes
Taj Khan Karrani	1564–1566
Sulaiman Khan Karrani	1566–1572
Bayazid Khan Karrani	1572
Daud Khan Karrani	1572–1576

Baro Bhuyan

• Isa Khan
• Masum khan
• Musa khan
• Fazal Ghazi
• Bahadur Ghazi
• Khwaja Usman Khan Lohani
• Bayezid Karrani
• Pratapaditya
• Bir Hambir
• Kedar Roy
• Chad Ray
• Mukundaram Roy

Mughal Rulers

Name	Notes
Emperor by name only
Babur	First Mughal Emperor
Humayun
Independent
Akbar	First Mughal Emperor who conqured Bengal by deafating Sultan Daud Khan Karrani
Jahangir	First Mughal Emperor who ruled Bengal independently.
Shah Jahan
Aurangzeb	Last independent Mughal Emperor of Bengal. who ruled in Bengal independently.
Puppet Ruler
Azam Shah	After death of Aurangzeb Mughal Empire became weak and Mughal emperors just stay as puppet ruler under subahdars
Bahadur Shah I
Jahandar Shah
Farrukhsiyar	Last Mughal Emperor of Bengal. Under Farrukhsiyar Murshid Quli became Nawab of Bengal and Bengal became a Independent state.

Mughal Subahdars of Bengal Subah (1574–1717)

During the reign of Akbar

Name	Reign	Notes
Munim Khan	25 September 1574 – 23 October 1575	Khan-i-Khanan
Hussain Quli Khan	23 October 1575 – 19 December 1578
Muzaffar Khan Turbati	1579–1582
Mirza Aziz Koka	1582–1583
Wazir Khan Tajik	1583–1583
Shahbaz Khan Kamboh	1583–1585
Sadiq Khan	1585–1586
Shahbaz Khan Kamboh	1586–1588
Sa'id Khan	1588–1594
Raja Man Singh I	1597 – 1606

During the reign of Jahangir

Name	Reign	Notes
Qutubuddin Koka	2 Sep 1606 – 1607	killed in a battle against Sher Afghan. (Local history of Burdwan, West Bengal, India says that Qutub-ud-din Kokah died in a battle against Ali Quli Istajlu alias Sher Afgan in 1610 CE. The tomb where both of them were buried is presently under the surveillance of Archaeological Survey of India.)
Jahangir Quli Beg	1607–1608	In early life, a slave of Akbar's brother, Mirza Muhammad Hakim
Islam Khan Chishti	1608–1613	first governor to transfer the Bengal capital to Dhaka in April 1612
Qasim Khan Chishti	1613–1617	younger brother of Islam Khan Chishti
Ibrahim Khan Fath-i-Jang	1617–1624	died in an attack by Prince Shahjahan
Darab Khan	1624–1625	while Shahjahan occupied Bengal. Killed by Mahabbat Khan.[38]
Mahabat Khan	1625–1626
Mukarram Khan	1626–1627
Fidai Khan	1627–1628

During the reign of Shah Jahan

Name	Reign	Notes
Qasim Khan Juvayni	1628–1632
Mir Muhammad Baqir	1632–1635	Known as Azam Khan
Mir Abdus Salam	1635–1639	Known as Islam Khan Mashadi
Prince Shah Shuja	1639–1647 again 1652–1660

During the reign of Aurangzeb

Name	Reign	Notes
Mir Jumla II	1660–1663
Shaista Khan	1664–1678
Azam Khan Koka	1678–1678	Known as Fidai Khan II
Prince Muhammad Azam	20 July 1678 – 6 October 1679[39]
Shaista Khan	1680–1688
Ibrahim Khan II	1689–1697
Prince Azim-us-Shan	1697–1712

Medieval Hindu dynasties of Bengal

See also: List of Hindu empires and dynasties

Koch dynasty (c. 1515–1949 CE)

Main article: Koch dynasty

Rulers of undivided Koch dynasty (c. 1515–1586 CE)

• Biswa Singha (1515–1540 CE)
• Nara Narayan (1540–1586 CE)

Rulers of Koch Behar (c. 1586 – 1949)

Further information: Cooch Behar State

• Lakshmi Narayan
• Bir Narayan
• Pran Narayan
• Basudev Narayan
• Mahindra Narayan
• Roop Narayan
• Upendra Narayan
• Devendra Narayan
• Dhairjendra Narayan
• Rajendra Narayan
• Dharendra Narayan
• Harendra Narayan
• Shivendra Narayan
• Narendra Narayan
• Nripendra Narayan
• Rajendra Narayan II
• Jitendra Narayan (father of Gayatri Devi)
• Jagaddipendra Narayan (ruled till 1949)^[40]

Kingdom of Bhurshut (c. 16th–18th century)

Main article: Bhurshut

• Maharaja Shivanarayan
• Maharaja Rudranarayan, Maharaja (16th century)
• Bhavashankari, Maharani (16th century)
• Pratapnarayan, Maharaja (17th century)
• Naranarayan, Maharaja (17th century)
• Lakshminarayan, Maharaja (c. 1695–1712)

Maharaja of Lower Bengal region

Known rulers are

• Raja Sitaram Ray (1688–1714 CE)

Maharaja of Bhawal region

Main article: Bhawal Estate

Rulers of Gazipur and Madhupur forest are in central Bangladesh.

Nawabs of Bengal

Independent Nawabs of Bengal (1717–1757 CE)

Portrait	Titular Name	Personal Name	Birth	Reign	Death
Nasiri Dynasty
	Ala ud-Daula	Murshid Quli Jafar Khan	1665	1717– 1727	30 June 1727
	Mirza Asadullah	Sarfaraz Khan Bahadur	?	1727–1727	April 1740
	Shuja ud-Daula	Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan	1670	July 1727 – 26 August 1739	26 August 1739
	Mirza Asadullah	Sarfaraz Khan Bahadur	?	13 March 1739 – April 1740	April 1740
Afshar Dynasty
	Husam ud-Daula	Muhammad Alivardi Khan Bahadur	10 May 1671	29 April 1740 – 16 April 1756	16 April 1756
	Siraj ud-Daulah	Mîrzâ Muhammad Sirâj-ud-Daulah	1733	April 1756 – 2 June 1757	June 1757

Shamsher Gazi's Kingdom

Main article: Shamsher Gazi

Reinterpreted fort of Shamsher Ghazi at a resort in Southern Chhagalnaiya.

The advent of the British East India Company with its "exploitation and oppression" alongside zamindari subjugation, made life of the peasants and farmers difficult and despondent. Shamsher Gazi's efficient rule freed them of this control. With the granting of rent exemption to the peasants, he managed to govern the economy in an appropriate manner, leading to the reduction of the prices of essential commodities.^[41] He was generous to both the Hindus and Muslims. He had ponds dug, naming them after himself, and built many schools in and outside his capital Jagannath Sonapur.^[42] 'Kaiyar Sagar' was one of the larger ponds in the area.^[43]

Nawabs of Bengal under East India Company (1757–1881 CE)

Portrait	Titular Name	Personal Name	Birth	Reign	Death
Najafi Dynasty
	Ja'afar 'Ali Khan Bahadur	Mir Muhammed Jafar Ali Khan	1691	June 1757 – October 1760	17 January 1765
	Itimad ud-Daulah	Mir Kasim Ali Khan Bahadur	?	1760–1763	1777
	Ja'afar 'Ali Khan Bahadur	Mir Muhammed Jafar Ali Khan	1691	25 July 1763 – 17 January 1765	17 January 1765
	Nazam-ud-Daulah	Najimuddin Ali Khan	1750	5 February 1765 – 8 May 1766	8 May 1766
	Saif ud-Daulah	Najabut Ali Khan	1749	22 May 1766 – 10 March 1770	10 March 1770
		Ashraf Ali Khan	Before 1759	10 March 1770 – 24 March 1770	24 March 1770
	Mubarak ud-Daulah	Mubarak Ali Khan	1759	21 March 1770 – 6 September 1793	6 September 1793
	Azud ud-Daulah	Babar Ali Khan Bahadur	?	1793 – 28 April 1810	28 April 1810
	Ali Jah	Zain-ud-Din Ali Khan	?	5 June 1810 – 6 August 1821	6 August 1821
	Walla Jah	Ahmad Ali Khan	?	1810 – 30 October 1824	30 October 1824
	Humayun Jah	Mubarak Ali Khan II	29 September 1810	1824 – 3 October 1838	3 October 1838
	Feradun Jah	Mansur Ali Khan	29 October 1830	29 October 1838 –1881 (abdicated)	5 November 1884

Nawabs of Murshidabad

Picture	Titular Name	Personal Name	Birth	Reign	Death
Najafi Dynasty
	Ali Kadir	Syed Hassan Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur	25 August 1846	17 February 1882 – 25 December 1906	25 December 1906[44]
	Amir ul-Omrah	Syed Wasif Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur	7 January 1875	December 1906 – 23 October 1959	23 October 1959[45]
	Raes ud-Daulah	Syed Waris Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur	14 November 1901	23 October 1959 – 20 November 1969	20 November 1969[46]
—	—	Disputed/In abeyance[47][48]	—	20 November 1969 – 13 August 2014	—
	—	Syed Mohammed Abbas Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur	Circa 1942	13 August 2014 – Incumbent (titular)[47][48]	—

East India Company governors in Bengal

Governors of British East India Company in Bengal (1757–1773)

• Robert Clive 1757 – 1760
• Henry Vansittart 1760 – 1764
• Robert Clive (again) 1765 – 1766
• Harry Verelst 1767 – 1769
• John Cartier 1769 – 1772
• Warren Hastings 1772 – 1773

As per the treaty of Allahabad in 1765, the British East India Company (BEIC) was given the right to collect revenue (Diwani right). From 1769, the company collected revenue from Bengal.

Governors-General of British East India Company in Bengal – Dual government (1773–1793)

Following the Regulating Act 1773, the Governor of Bengal was officially called Governor-General of Fort William.

• Warren Hastings 1773 – 1785
• Charles Cornwallis 1786 – 1793

Governors-General of British East India Company in Bengal (1793–1833)

In 1793, the British East India Company abolished Nizamat, i.e. local rule by Mughal emperor- appointed Nawabs and annexed Bengal.

• Sir John Shore 1793 – 1798
• Richard Wellesley 1798 – 1805
• Charles Cornwallis 1805 – 1805
• Sir George Barlow, 1st Baronet 1805 – 1807
• Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto 1807 – 1813
• Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings 1813 – 1823
• John Adam 1823 – 1823
• William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst 1823 – 1828
• William Butterworth Bayley 1828 – 1828
• Lord William Bentinck 1828 – 1833

Governor-Generals of British East India Company (1833–1858)

As per Charter Act 1833, the Governor-General of Bengal would be called Governor-General of India

• Lord William Bentinck 1833 – 1835
• Charles Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe 1835 – 1836
• George Eden 1836 – 1842
• Edward Law 1842 – 1844
• William Bird 1844 – 1844
• Henry Hardinge 1844 – 1848
• James Broun-Ramsay 1848 – 1856
• The Viscount Canning 1856 – 1858

British Raj era

1855 British Bengal missions

1880 British Bengal province

With the establishment of the Empire of India in 1858, the position of Governor-General was replaced with Governor-General and Viceroy of India. Calcutta, the capital of Bengal also became the capital of India. As a result, the position of Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal was established to look after provincial matters.

Lieutenant-Governors (1858–1912)

• Frederick James Halliday 1858–1859
• John Grant 1859–1862
• Sir Cecil Beadon 1862–1866
• Sir William Grey 1866–1871
• George Campbell 1871–1874
• Sir Richard Temple 1874–1877
• Sir Ashley Eden 1877–1879
• Steuart Bayley 1879–1882
• Sir Augustus Thompson 1882–1885
• Horace Cockerell 1885–1887
• Sir Steuart Bayley 1887–1890
• Charles Eliott 1890–1893
• Anthony MacDonnell 1893–1895
• Alexander Mackenzie 1895–1897
• Charles Cecil Stevens 1897–1898
• Sir John Woodburn 1898–1902
• James Bourdillon 1902–1903
• Sir Andrew Fraser 1903–1905
• Sir Andrew Fraser (Western Bengal); Sir Bampfylde Fuller (Eastern Bengal and Assam) 1905–1906
• Francis Slacke (Western Bengal) 1906–1908; Lancelot Hare (Eastern Bengal and Assam) 1906–1911
• Sir Edward Baker (Western Bengal) 1908–1911
• Sir William Duke (Western Bengal); Sir Charles Stuart Bayley (Eastern Bengal and Assam) 1911–1912

Governors (1912–1947)

In late 1911, the Indian Government decided to move the capital to New Delhi. As a result, the Governorship of Bengal Presidency was now necessary.

Name	Took office	Left office
Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael	1912	1917
Lawrence Dundas, Earl of Ronaldshay	1917	1922
Victor Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton	1922	1927
Sir Stanley Jackson	1927	1932
Sir John Anderson	1932	1937
Michael Knatchbull, 5th Baron Brabourne	1937	1938
Sir John Arthur Herbert	1939	1943
Richard Casey	1944	1946
Sir Frederick Burrows	1946	1947

Prime Minister of Bengal (1937–1947)

Main article: Prime Minister of Bengal

The Government of India Act 1935 introduced provincial autonomy in India and the position of Chief Minister or Premier of Bengal became very prominent.

Office holders

Writer's Building in Kolkata, the former seat of the Government of undivided Bengal

The mausoleum of Huq, Nazimuddin and Suhrawardy in Dhaka

No	Name	Portrait	Tenure			Party (coalition partner)	Assembly	Appointed by (Governor)
			Took office	Left office[49]	Term
1	Abul Kasem Fazlul Huq		1 April 1937	1 December 1941	4 years, 244 days	Krishak Praja Party (Muslim League)	1st Assembly (1937 election)	Sir John Anderson
			12 December 1941	29 March 1943	1 year, 107 days	Krishak Praja Party (Hindu Mahasabha)		Sir John Arthur Herbert
2	Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin		29 April 1943	31 March 1945	1 year, 336 days	Muslim League
-	Vacant (Governor's rule)		1 April 1945	22 April 1946	1 year, 21 days	N/A	Dissolved	-
3	Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy		23 April 1946	14 August 1947	1 year, 114 days	Muslim League	2nd Assembly (1946 election)	Sir Frederick Burrows

Subsequently, all three Bengali chief ministers moved to East Pakistan, where they continued to be influential statesmen. Nazimuddin and Suhrawardy became Prime Ministers of Pakistan, while Huq served as the chief minister and governor of East Pakistan.

After Independence of India and Pakistan

British colonial period ended when India and Pakistan became independent nations in 1947. Bengal fell into two parts – one in India, named West Bengal and the other part in Pakistan as East Bengal, later renamed to East Pakistan in 1955.

East Bengal (1947–1955)

Governors of East Bengal (1947–1955)

Main article: Governor of East Pakistan § Governors of East Bengal

Political Party

  Muslim League

  Independent

Legend

  Acting Governor

List of Governors of East Bengal

#	Portrait	Governor	Term of office			Political Party	Governor General/ President
			Term Start	Term End	Time in Office
1		Sir Frederick Chalmers Bourne (1891-1977)	15 August 1947[50]	5 April 1950[50][51]	2 years, 233 days	Independent (British Administrator)	Muhammad Ali Jinnah Khawaja Nazimuddin
[-]		Justice A.S.M. Akram (Acting)[i] (1888-1968)	16 March 1949[52]	25 April 1949[52]	40 days	Independent	Khawaja Nazimuddin
2		Sir Feroz Khan Noon (1893-1970)	5 April 1950[53][54]	26 March 1953[53]	2 years, 355 days	Muslim League	Khawaja Nazimuddin Malik Ghulam Muhammad
[-]		Abdur Rahman Siddiqui (Acting)[ii] (1887-1953)	25 July 1952[55]	10 November 1952[55]	108 days	Muslim League	Malik Ghulam Muhammad
3		Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman (1889-1973)	4 April 1953[56]	30 May 1954[iii][56]	1 year, 56 days	Muslim League
4		Iskander Mirza (1899-1969)	30 May 1954[iii][57]	21 September 1954[57]	114 days	Muslim League
[-]		Justice Sir Thomas Hobart Ellis (Acting)[iv] (1894-1981)	Appointment:[58] 21 September 1954 Sworn in:[58] 25 October 1954	22 December 1954[58]	92 days	Independent
[-]		Justice Muhammad Shahabuddin (Acting)[v] (1895-1971)	22 December 1954[59]	14 June 1955[vi][59]	174 days	Independent
[-]		Justice Amiruddin Ahmad (Acting)[vii] (1895-1965)	14 June 1955[60]	As Governor of East Bengal: 14 October 1955 As Governor of East Pakistan: 9 March 1956[60]	As Governor of East Bengal: 122 days As Governor of Eastern Wing: 269 days	Independent	Malik Ghulam Muhammad Iskander Mirza

1. A.S.M. Akram was appointed Acting Governor during the leave of absence of Sir Frederick Chalmers Bourne
2. Abdur Rahman Siddiqui was appointed Acting Governor during the leave of absence of Sir Feroz Khan Noon
3. With the dismissal of the United Front Ministry in East Bengal, Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad decided to enforce Governor's Rule in the province and appointed Iskander Mirza as Governor
4. Sir Thomas Hobart Ellis was appointed Acting Governor when Iskander Mirza was taken into the central cabinet as Minister
5. Muhammad Shahabuddin was appointed after Acting Governor after Sir Thomas Hobart Ellis
6. Justice Shahabuddin resigned due to differences of opinion about the restoration of parliamentary government in East Bengal
7. Justice Amiruddin Ahmad, Chief Justice of Dhaka High Court, was appointed acting Governor on the resignation of Justice Muhammad Shahabuddin

East Pakistan (1955–1971)

Governors of East Pakistan (1955–1971)

In late 1955, the prime minister Muhammad Ali Bogra initiated the One Unit policy which resulted in East Bengal province being renamed to East Pakistan.

Main article: Governor of East Pakistan § Governors of East Pakistan

Political Party

  Muslim League

  Krishak Sramik Party

  Independent

•   Military Governor

Legend

  Acting Governor

  Functioned and exercised power as Governor by the order of president without being appointed as one

List of Governors of East Pakistan

#	Portrait	Governor	Term of office			Political Party	President
			Term Start	Term End	Time in Office
[-]		Justice Amiruddin Ahmad (Acting)[I] (1895-1965)	As Governor of East Pakistan: 14 October 1955 As Governor of East Bengal: June 14, 1955[60]	9 March 1956[60]	As Governor of East Pakistan: 147 days As Governor of Eastern Wing : 269 days	Independent	Iskander Mirza
1		Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq (1873 - 1962)	9 March 1956[61]	31 March 1958[II][61][62]	2 years, 22 days	Krishak Sramik Party
[-]		Muhammad Hamid Ali (Acting)[III] (1906-1972)	1 April 1958[63][62]	3 May 1958[63][64]	32 days	Independent
2		Sultanuddin Ahmad (1902-1977)	Appointment:[65] 26 April 1958 Sworn in:[65][64] 3 May 1958	10 October 1958[IV][65][66]	160 days	Independent
3		Zakir Husain (1898-1971)	Appointment:[67] 10 October 1958 Sworn in:[67][66] 11 October 1958	14 April 1960[67]	1 year, 186 days	Independent	Iskander Mirza Ayub Khan
4		Lieutenant general Azam Khan, PA (1908-1994)	15 April 1960[68]	10 May 1962[68]	2 years, 25 days	Military	Ayub Khan
[-]		Syed Hashim Raza (Acting)[V] (1910-2003)	1 July 1961[69]	5 August 1961[69]	35 days	Independent
5		Ghulam Faruque Khan (1899-1992)	11 May 1962[70]	25 October 1962[VI][70]	167 days	Independent
6		Abdul Monem Khan (1899-1971)	28 October 1962[71]	23 March 1969[71]	6 years, 146 days (Longest Serving)	Muslim League
7		Mirza Nurul Huda (1919-1991)	23 March 1969[72]	25 March 1969[VII][72]	2 days	Independent
8		Major general Muzaffaruddin, PA[VIII] (Martial Law Administrator)	25 March 1969[73]	23 August 1969[73]	151 days	Military	Yahya Khan
9		Lieutenant general Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, PA[IX] (1920-2016) (Martial Law Administrator)	23 August 1969[74]	1 September 1969[X][74]	9 days	Military
10		Vice admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan, PN (1921-1989)	1 September 1969[75]	1 March 1971[75]	1 year, 181 days	Military
(11)		Lieutenant general Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, PA[XI] (1920-2016) (Head of Civil Administration )	1 March 1971[74]	7 March 1971[74]	6 days	Military
12		Lieutenant general Tikka Khan, PA (1915-2002)	Appointment:[76] 6 March 1971 Sworn in:[76] 7 March 1971 Officially announced:[76] 9 March 1971	3 September 1971[76]	180 days	Military
13		Abdul Motaleb Malik (1905-1977)	Appointment:[77] 31 August 1971 Sworn in:[77] 3 September 1971	14 December 1971[XII][77]	102 days	Muslim League
14		Lieutenant general A. A. K. Niazi, PA[XIII] (1915-2004) (Supreme Authority of East Pakistan)	14 December 1971[78]	16 December 1971[78]	2 days	Military

1. Justice Amiruddin Ahmad, Chief Justice of Dhaka High Court, was appointed acting Governor on the resignation of Justice Muhammad Shahabuddin
2. President Iskander Mirza removed A. K. Fazlul Huq as governor on 31 March 1958 on the advice of the Noon cabinet for allegedly overstepping his limits as a constitutional Governor. Huq had dismissed Ataur Rahman's Ministry of Awami League that had not been defeated on the floor of the House, and had installed Mr. Abu Hussain Sarkar of his own party Krishak Sramik Party as Chief Minister.
3. Muhammad Hamid Ali, Chief Secretary to the Governor of East Pakistan, was appointed Acting Governor in pursuance of the provisions of Article 70 of the Constitution following the removal of Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq from the office
4. Sultanuddin Ahmad was removed from office on 10 October 1958 soon after the promulgation of Martial Law in Pakistan on 7 October
5. Syed Hashim Raza was Acting Governor of the province during the absence of General Azam Khan's official visit to West Germany
6. Unable to cope with the political problems of East Pakistan, Ghulam Faruque Khan resigned from office.
7. With the promulgation of Martial Law throughout Pakistan and the abrogation of the constitution in the evening of 25 March, Mirza Nurul Huda's tenure of governorship came to an abrupt end after just 60 hours.
8. On 25 March 1969 General A. M. Yahya Khan proclaimed martial law and divided the country into two administrative zones- West Pakistan (Zone 'A') and East Pakistan (Zone 'B'). Major general Muzaffaruddin was the GOC of the 14 Division, became Martial Law Administrator, Zone 'B'. On 8 April 1969, Yahya Khan issued an order directing that the Martial Law Administrators of Zone 'A' and 'B' would perform the functions and powers of the Governors of West and East Pakistan respectively. Thus Major general Muzaffaruddin became Martial Law Administrator and also exercised the powers and functions of Governor of East Pakistan.
9. Lieutenant general Sahabzada Yaqub Khan was appointed as Martial Law Administrator of Zone 'B' and exercised the powers and functions of the Governor of East Pakistan.
10. On 8 April 1969, President Yahya Khan issued an order directing that the Martial Law Administrators would perform the functions and powers of the Governor. However, a notification issued by the cabinet secretariat on 1 September 1969 cancelled the order of 8 April 1969 and directed Martial Law Administrators to refrain from performing the functions of Governor in their respective provinces with immediate effect. Lt. General Yaqub Khan remained Martial Law Administrator until Vice Admiral S. M. Ahsan took over as the new Governor of East Pakistan on 1 September 1969
11. Lt. general Sahabzada Yaqub Khan was made the "head of civil administration in the province" and exercised the functions and powers of Governor from 1 March 1971 until the arrival of Lt. general Tikka Khan on 7 March 1971.
12. Abdul Motaleb Malik along with his cabinet resigned on 14 December after realizing that Pakistani defeat was imminent and sought refuse in Hotel Intercontinental, seeking the protection of the Red Cross flag.
13. Lt. general A. A. K. Niazi was the commander of the Eastern Command of the Pakistan Army and as the supreme authority of Pakistan in its eastern wing functioned and exercised power as the Governor of East Pakistan after the resignation of Abdul Motaleb Malik during the last 48 hours of Bangladesh Liberation War

Chief ministers of East Pakistan (1955–1971)

Political Party

  Muslim League

  Krishak Sramik Party

  United Front

  Awami League

#	Portrait	Name	Term of office			Political Party	Governor	Governor-General/ President
			Term Start	Term End	Time in Office
1		Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin (1894 – 1964)	August 15, 1947	September 4, 1948	1 year, 20 days	Muslim League	Sir Frederick Chalmers Bourne	Muhammad Ali Jinnah
2		Nurul Amin (1893 – 1974)	September 14, 1948	April 3, 1954	5 years, 201 days	Muslim League	Sir Feroz Khan Noon	Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin Malik Ghulam Muhammad
3		Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq (1873 - 1962)	April 3, 1954	May 29, 1954	56 days	United Front	Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman	Malik Ghulam Muhammad
[-]		Vacant (Governor's rule)	May 29, 1954	June 20, 1955	1 year, 22 days	N/A	-
4		Abu Hussain Sarkar (1894 - 1969)	June 20, 1955	August 30, 1956	1 year, 71 days	Krishak Sramik Party	Iskander Mirza Sir Thomas Hobart Ellis (Acting) Muhammad Shahabuddin (Acting)	Malik Ghulam Muhammad Iskander Mirza
5		Ataur Rahman Khan (1907 - 1991)	September 1, 1956	March 31, 1958	1 year, 211 days	Awami League	Amiruddin Ahmad (Acting) Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq	Iskander Mirza
(4)		Abu Hussain Sarkar (1894 - 1969)	March 31, 1958	April 1, 1958	1 day	Krishak Sramik Party	Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq Muhammad Hamid Ali (Acting)
(5)		Ataur Rahman Khan (1907 - 1991)	April 1, 1958	June 18, 1958	78 days	Awami League	Muhammad Hamid Ali (Acting) Sultanuddin Ahmad	Iskander Mirza Ayub Khan
(4)		Abu Hussain Sarkar (1894 - 1969)	June 18, 1958	June 22, 1958	4 days	Krishak Sramik Party	Sultanuddin Ahmad	Ayub Khan
[-]		Vacant (Governor's rule)	June 22, 1958	August 25, 1958	64 days	N/A	-
(5)		Ataur Rahman Khan (1907 - 1991)	August 25, 1958	October 7, 1958	43 days	Awami League	Sultanuddin Ahmad

On 7 October 1958, the post of Chief Minister of East Pakistan was abolished. And after the independence of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971, the province of East Pakistan was dissolved.

West Bengal (1947–present)

Governors of West Bengal

No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Duration
1		Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari	15 August 1947	21 June 1948	311 days
2		Kailash Nath Katju	21 June 1948	1 November 1951	3 years, 133 days
3		Harendra Coomar Mookerjee	1 November 1951	8 August 1956	4 years, 281 days
–	–	Phani Bhusan Chakravartti (acting)	8 August 1956	3 November 1956	87 days
4	–	Padmaja Naidu	3 November 1956	1 June 1967	10 years, 210 days
5		Dharma Vira	1 June 1967	1 April 1969	1 year, 304 days
–	–	Deep Narayan Sinha (acting)	1 April 1969	19 September 1969	171 days
6	–	Shanti Swaroop Dhavan	19 September 1969	21 August 1971	1 year, 336 days
7		Anthony Lancelot Dias	21 August 1971	6 November 1979	8 years, 77 days
8	–	Tribhuvana Narayana Singh	6 November 1979	12 September 1981	1 year, 310 days
9	–	Bhairab Dutt Pande	12 September 1981	10 October 1983	2 years, 28 days
10		Anant Prasad Sharma	10 October 1983	16 August 1984	320 days
—	–	Satish Chandra (acting)	16 August 1984	1 October 1984	46 days
11		Uma Shankar Dikshit	1 October 1984	12 August 1986	1 year, 315 days
12		Saiyid Nurul Hasan	12 August 1986	20 March 1989	2 years, 220 days
13		T. V. Rajeswar	20 March 1989	7 February 1990	324 days
(12)		Saiyid Nurul Hasan	7 February 1990	12 July 1993	3 years, 155 days
–	–	B. Satyanarayan Reddy (additional charge)	13 July 1993	14 August 1993	32 days
14		K. V. Raghunatha Reddy	14 August 1993	27 April 1998	4 years, 256 days
15		Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai	27 April 1998	18 May 1999	1 year, 21 days
16		Shyamal Kumar Sen	18 May 1999	4 December 1999	200 days
17		Viren J. Shah	4 December 1999	14 December 2004	5 years, 10 days
18		Gopalkrishna Gandhi	14 December 2004	14 December 2009	5 years, 0 days
–		Devanand Konwar (additional charge)	14 December 2009	23 January 2010	40 days
19		M.K. Narayanan	24 January 2010	30 June 2014	4 years, 157 days
—		D. Y. Patil (additional charge)[79]	3 July 2014	17 July 2014	14 days
20		Keshari Nath Tripathi	24 July 2014	29 July 2019	5 years, 5 days
21		Jagdeep Dhankhar[80]	30 July 2019	17 July 2022	2 years, 352 days
—		La. Ganesan (additional charge)	18 July 2022	17 November 2022	122 days
22		C. V. Ananda Bose	18 November 2022	Incumbent	2 years, 259 days

Premiers of West Bengal

No.	Portrait	Name	Tenure[81]		Duration	Assembly (election)	Party[82]		Appointed by (Governor)
1		Prafulla Chandra Ghosh	15 August 1947	22 January 1948	160 days	Provincial Assembly (1946–52)[a] (January 1946 election)	Indian National Congress		Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari
2		Bidhan Chandra Roy	23 January 1948	26 January 1950	2 years, 3 days

Chief Ministers of West Bengal

No[b]	Portrait	Name	Constituency	Tenure[c]		Duration	Assembly[83] (election)	Party[82] (alliance)
(2)		Bidhan Chandra Roy [d]		26 January 1950	30 March 1952	12 years, 156 days (total: 14 years, 159 days)	Provincial Assembly[e] (1946 election)	Indian National Congress
			Bowbazar	31 March 1952	5 April 1957		1st (1952 election)
				6 April 1957	2 April 1962		2nd (1957 election)
			Chowrangee	3 April 1962	1 July 1962		3rd (1962 election)
2		Prafulla Chandra Sen[f]	Arambagh East	9 July 1962	28 February 1967	4 years, 234 days
3		Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee	Tamluk	1 March 1967	21 November 1967	265 days	4th (1967 election)	Bangla Congress (United Front)
(1)		Prafulla Chandra Ghosh	Jhargram	21 November 1967	19 February 1968	90 days (total: 250 days)		Independent (Progressive Democratic Front)
–		Vacant[g] (President's rule)	N/A	20 February 1968	25 February 1969	1 year, 5 days	Dissolved	N/A
(3)		Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee	Tamluk	25 February 1969	16 March 1970	1 year, 19 days	5th (1969 election)	Bangla Congress (United Front)
–		Vacant[g] (President's rule)	N/A	19 March 1970	30 July 1970	1 year, 14 days		N/A
				30 July 1970	2 April 1971		Dissolved
(3)		Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee	Tamluk	2 April 1971	28 June 1971	87 days (total: 2 years, 6 days)	6th (1971 election)	Indian National Congress (Democratic Coalition)
–		Vacant[g] (President's rule)	N/A	29 June 1971	20 March 1972	265 days	Dissolved	N/A
4		Siddhartha Shankar Ray	Maldah	20 March 1972	30 April 1977	5 years, 41 days	7th (1972 election)	Indian National Congress (Progressive Democratic Alliance)
–		Vacant[g] (President's rule)	N/A	30 April 1977	20 June 1977	51 days	Dissolved	N/A
5		Jyoti Basu	Satgachhia	21 June 1977	23 May 1982	23 years, 137 days	8th (1977 election)	Communist Party of India (Marxist) (Left Front)
				24 May 1982	29 March 1987		9th (1982 election)
				30 March 1987	18 June 1991		10th (1987 election)
				19 June 1991	15 May 1996		11th (1991 election)
				16 May 1996	5 November 2000		12th (1996 election)
6		Buddhadeb Bhattacharya	Jadavpur	6 November 2000	14 May 2001	10 years, 188 days
				15 May 2001	17 May 2006		13th (2001 election)
				18 May 2006	13 May 2011		14th (2006 election)
7		Mamata Banerjee	Bhabanipur	20 May 2011	25 May 2016	14 years, 76 days	15th (2011 election)	Trinamool Congress[h]
				26 May 2016	4 May 2021		16th (2016 election)
				5 May 2021	Incumbent		17th (2021 election)

After independence of Bangladesh

East Pakistan seceded from West Pakistan on 16 December 1971 after the end of Bangladesh Liberation War and was named Bangladesh as an independent nation.

The President was the executive Head of state of Bangladesh during Presidential system of government from 1975 to 1991. Thereafter, the Prime Minister is the executive head of government of this parliamentary republic while the President is the ceremonial Head of state, elected by the parliament.

Presidents of Bangladesh

Political parties

  Awami League (AL)

  Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BaKSAL)

  Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Dal (Jagodal) / Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)

  Janadal / Jatiya Party (JP(E))

Other factions

  Military

  Independent

Status

  Denotes acting president

Symbols

^† Died in office

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Election	Term of office			Political party (Coalition)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
Provisional Government of Bangladesh (1971–1972)
1		Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975) [i]	—	17 April 1971	12 January 1972	270 days	AL
—		Syed Nazrul Islam (1925–1975) [j]	—	17 April 1971	12 January 1972	270 days	AL
People's Republic of Bangladesh (1972–present)
2		Abu Sayeed Chowdhury (1921–1987)	—	12 January 1972	24 December 1973	1 year, 346 days	AL
3		Mohammad Mohammadullah (1921–1999)	—	24 December 1973	27 January 1974	1 year, 32 days	AL
			1974	27 January 1974	25 January 1975
(1)		Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975)	—	25 January 1975	15 August 1975 (Assassinated in a coup)	202 days	BaKSAL
4		Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad (1918–1996)	—	15 August 1975	6 November 1975 (Deposed in a coup)	83 days	AL
5		Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem (1916–1997) [k]	—	6 November 1975	21 April 1977	1 year, 166 days	AL
6		Ziaur Rahman (1936–1981) [l]	1977[m] 1978[n]	21 April 1977	30 May 1981 (Assassinated)	4 years, 39 days	Military / Jagodal / BNP
7		Abdus Sattar (1906–1985)	—	30 May 1981	20 November 1981	298 days	BNP
			1981[n]	20 November 1981	24 March 1982 (Deposed in a coup)
Post vacant (24 – 27 March 1982)[o]
8		Ahsanuddin Chowdhury (1915–2001)	—	27 March 1982	10 December 1983	1 year, 258 days	Independent
9		Hussain Muhammad Ershad (1930–2019) [p]	1985[m] 1986[n]	11 December 1983	6 December 1990	6 years, 360 days	Military / Janadal / JP(E)
—		Shahabuddin Ahmed (1930–2022)	—	6 December 1990	10 October 1991	308 days	Independent
10		Abdur Rahman Biswas (1926–2017)	1991	10 October 1991	9 October 1996	4 years, 365 days	BNP
11		Shahabuddin Ahmed (1930–2022)	1996	9 October 1996	14 November 2001	5 years, 36 days	Independent
12		Badruddoza Chowdhury (born 1930)	2001	14 November 2001	21 June 2002	219 days	BNP
—		Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar (born 1931)	—	21 June 2002	6 September 2002	77 days	BNP
13		Iajuddin Ahmed (1931–2012)	2002	6 September 2002	12 February 2009	6 years, 159 days	Independent
14		Zillur Rahman (1929–2013)	2009	12 February 2009	20 March 2013[†]	4 years, 36 days	AL
15		Mohammad Abdul Hamid (born 1944)[q]	—	14 March 2013	24 April 2013	10 years, 41 days	AL
			2013	24 April 2013	24 April 2018
			2018	24 April 2018	24 April 2023
16		Mohammed Shahabuddin (born 1949)	2023	24 April 2023	Incumbent[r]	2 years, 102 days	AL

Vice presidents of Bangladesh (1975–1991)

Political parties

  Bangladesh Awami League

  Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BaKSAL)

  Bangladesh Nationalist Party

  Jatiya Party

Other factions

  Independent

Portrait		Name (Birth–Death)	Took office		Party	President	Notes
			Took office	Left office
		Syed Nazrul Islam (1925–1975)	17 April 1971	12 January 1972	Bangladesh Awami League	Sheikh Mujibur Rahman	Acting president during the Bangladesh Liberation War.[87]
			26 January 1975[88]	15 August 1975	BAKSAL
		Mohammad Mohammadullah (1921–1999)	15 August 1975	3 November 1975	Bangladesh Awami League	Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad	Served as Minister of Land under President Sheikh Mujib and was later appointed Vice President upon Mujib's death.[89]
		Abdus Sattar (1906–1985)	June 1977	30 May 1981	Bangladesh Nationalist Party	Ziaur Rahman	Succeeded Zia as president in 1981.[90]
		Mirza Nurul Huda (1919–1991)	24 November 1981	23 March 1982	Independent	Abdus Sattar	Resigned after conflict with BNP.[91]
		Mohammad Mohammadullah (1921–1999)	23 March 1982	24 March 1982	Bangladesh Nationalist Party		In office for 24 hours; deposed in the 1982 coup d'état[92]
		A. K. M. Nurul Islam (1919–2015)	30 November 1986	September 1989	Jatiya Party	Hussain Muhammad Ershad	Former Supreme Court Justice and Law Minister.[93]
		Moudud Ahmed (1940–2021)	September 1989	December 1990	Jatiya Party		Former Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.[88]

Prime Ministers of Bangladesh

Note that numbering for Prime Minister is given either bracketless, or with ( ) brackets. Numbering for Chief Adviser is given in [ ] brackets. Acting Prime Ministers or Chief Advisers are not numbered and instead denoted as "—". There are 10 Prime Ministers, 1 Acting Prime Minister, 5 Chief Advisers, and 1 Acting Chief Adviser of Bangladesh so far.^[94]

Political parties

  Awami League (AL)

  Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BaKSAL)

  Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)

  Janadal / Jatiya Party (JP(E))

Status

  Denotes an interim or caretaker government

Symbols

^† Died in office

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Election	Term of office			Political party (Coalition)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
Provisional Government of Bangladesh (1971–1972)
1		Tajuddin Ahmad (1925–1975)	—	17 April 1971	12 January 1972	270 days	AL
People's Republic of Bangladesh (1972–present)
2		Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975)	1973	12 January 1972	25 January 1975	3 years, 13 days	AL
3		Muhammad Mansur Ali (1917–1975)	—	25 January 1975	15 August 1975 (Deposed in a coup)	202 days	BaKSAL
Post abolished (15 August 1975 – 29 June 1978)
—		Mashiur Rahman (1924–1979) Acting Prime Minister [s]	—	29 June 1978	12 March 1979[†]	256 days	BNP
Post vacant (12 March – 15 April 1979)
4		Shah Azizur Rahman (1925–1988)	1979	15 April 1979	24 March 1982 (Deposed in a coup)	2 years, 343 days	BNP
Post abolished (24 March 1982 – 30 March 1984)
5		Ataur Rahman Khan (1905–1991)	—	30 March 1984	9 July 1986	2 years, 101 days	Janadal / JP(E)
6		Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury (1928–2006)	1986	9 July 1986	27 March 1988	1 year, 262 days	JP(E)
7		Moudud Ahmed (1940–2021)	1988	27 March 1988	12 August 1989	1 year, 138 days	JP(E)
8		Kazi Zafar Ahmed (1939–2015)	—	12 August 1989	6 December 1990	1 year, 116 days	JP(E)
Post abolished (6 December 1990 – 20 March 1991)
9		Khaleda Zia (born 1945)	1991 1996 (Feb)	20 March 1991	30 March 1996	5 years, 10 days	BNP
[1]		Muhammad Habibur Rahman (1928–2014) Chief Adviser	—	30 March 1996	23 June 1996	85 days	Independent
10		Sheikh Hasina (born 1947)	1996 (Jun)	23 June 1996	15 July 2001	5 years, 22 days	AL
[2]		Latifur Rahman (1936–2017) Chief Adviser	—	15 July 2001	10 October 2001	87 days	Independent
(9)		Khaleda Zia (born 1945)	2001	10 October 2001	29 October 2006	5 years, 19 days	BNP (Four Party Alliance)
[3]		Iajuddin Ahmed (1931–2012) Chief Adviser [t]	—	29 October 2006	11 January 2007	74 days	Independent
[—]		Fazlul Haque (born 1938) Acting Chief Adviser	—	11 January 2007	12 January 2007	1 day	Independent
[4]		Fakhruddin Ahmed (born 1940) Chief Adviser	—	12 January 2007	6 January 2009	1 year, 360 days	Independent (with military support)
(10)		Sheikh Hasina (born 1947)	2008 2014 2018 2024	6 January 2009	5 August 2024 (Resigned)	15 years, 212 days	AL (Grand Alliance)
Post vacant (5 – 8 August 2024)
[5]		Muhammad Yunus (born 1940) Chief Adviser	—	8 August 2024	Incumbent	361 days	Independent

See also

• Mahajanapadas
• History of India
• History of Bangladesh
• History of West Bengal
• List of Indian monarchs

Notes

1. This refers to the 90-member rump legislature that emerged following partition, representing the West Bengali constituencies of the erstwhile Bengal Legislative Assembly. It was constituted under the Government of India Act 1935, not the Indian Constitution, which was still in the process of being drafted.^[82]
2. A number in parentheses indicates that the incumbent has previously held office.
3. While the tenures have been primarily sourced to a list on the West Bengal Legislative Assembly website,^[81] obvious errors (mainly around the 1969–71 period) have been corrected with the help of a historical essay from the same website.^[82]
4. Until March 1952, Roy did not represent any constituency. For his last three months in office, during the Third Assembly, Roy represented Chowringhee constituency.
5. Following the promulgation of the Constitution of India, the provincial assembly carried on as the legislative assembly of West Bengal until fresh elections could be organised in 1952.^[82]
6. According to some sources, Sen also acted as interim chief minister during 2–8 July 1962.^[84]
7. Under Article 356 of the Constitution of India, President's rule may be imposed when the "government in a state is not able to function as per the Constitution", which often happens because no party or coalition has a majority in the assembly. When President's rule is in force in a state, its council of ministers stands dissolved. The office of chief minister thus lies vacant, and the administration is taken over by the governor, who functions on behalf of the central government. At times, the legislative assembly also stands dissolved.^[85]
8. For the first 16 months Mamata Banerjee headed a coalition government that included ministers from Trinamool and the INC. After Trinamool quit the United Progressive Alliance in 22 September 2012, INC members resigned from her ministry, which has consisted of only Trinamool members ever since.^[86]
9. Pakistani prisoner to 8 January 1972.
10. Acting for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
11. Also Chief Martial Law Administrator (24 August 1975 – 4 November 1975 and 7 November 1975 – 29 November 1976).
12. Also Chief Martial Law Administrator (29 November 1976 – 6 April 1979).
13. Referendum.
14. Direct election.
15. During this period, Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Hussain Muhammad Ershad served as Chief Martial Law Administrator and de facto head of state.
16. Served as Chief Martial Law Administrator until 30 March 1984.
17. Acting for Zillur Rahman until 20 March 2013.
18. Term ends on 24 April 2028.
19. Senior Minister.
20. Simultaneously served as President.