Khwaja Salimullah

Nawab Sir Khwaja Salimullah Bahadur (7 June 1871 – 16 January 1915) was the fourth Nawab of Dhaka and one of the leading Muslim politicians during the British rule in India. He was born in Ahsan Manzil. Following the family tradition he learnt Arabic, Urdu, Persian and English at home.

On 30 December 1906, the All-India Muslim League was officially founded at the educational conference held in Dhaka. and leaders of the Aligarh Movement requested him to convene the 20th meeting of the All India Mohammedan Educational Conference at his own cost. Over two thousand people covering Muslim leaders from all over India gathered at the Nawab's family garden-house in Shahbag, Dhaka for the conference held between 27 and 30 December 1906. On the last day, the assembly formed the All-India Muslim League, appointing Nawab Salimullah the Vice President and placing him on a committee to craft its constitution. Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar wrote the constitution of All-India Muslim League.

Two years later, in December 1908, Salimullah would speak out for free speech in educational institutes and also rights for Muslims to separate elections.

Throughout these years, Salimullah held positions of authority in several leagues and conferences and continued to speak out on important political issues. In 1907, he became president of the All Bengal Muslim League, formed newly Kolkata.

Personal life

Khwaja Salimullah was the eldest son of the third Nawab of Dhaka, Sir Khwaja Ahsanullah and his first wife Nawab Begum Wahidunnesa. He was the grandson of Nawab of Dhaka, Sir Khwaja Abdul Ghani.

Wives Nawab Begum Asmatunnesa Nawab Begum Alima Bibi Nawab Begum Raushan Akhter (sister of Wajed Ali Khan Panni) Nawab Begum Naznijan Nawab Begum Ayesha Nawab Begum Azizunnesa

Children With Nawab Begum Asmatunnesa: Nawab Khwaja Habibullah Begum Ayesha II With Nawab Begum Alima Bibi: Khwaja Alimullah II Khwaja Waliullah With Nawab Begum Raushan Akhter: Khwaja Hafizullah I Khwaja Nasrullah Ahmedi Bano With Nawab Begum Naznijan: Khurshid Bano Aftab Bano With Nawab Begum Azizunnesa: Khwaja Ahsanullah

Death and legacy Khwaja Salimullah was also a member of Bengal Legislative Assembly from 1913 till his death in Calcutta on 16 January 1915 at the age of 43. Several of Nawab Sir Salimullah's descendants went on to become prominent politicians in the later days of the British Raj and in Pakistan. They include one of his sons Khwaja Nasrullah who was the Governor of Calcutta, his grandson Sir Khwaja Nazimuddin who was the second Prime Minister of Pakistan, his grandson Khwaja Hassan Askari who became a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and also another grandson of his and The 5th Nawab's 3rd son Nawabzada Khawaja Tofeal Ahmed. He had played a role in bringing freedom to Bangladesh. Khawaja Tofeal Ahmed was a member of Awami league and was elected as Dhaka's MP in 1971 but he was shot in front of his greenhouse on 18 February 1972.

Other family members also became prominent political figures.

Several places in Bangladesh have been dedicated in Sir Salimullah's name. They include most notably the following:

Salimullah Muslim Hall, University of Dhaka Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka Salimullah Muslim Orphanage Nawab Salimullah Road, Naryanganj

In 1990 the Pakistani government launched commemorative postage stamps honouring Sir Salimullah as one of the Pioneers of Freedom. In 1993 the Bangladeshi government launched a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Sir Salimullah.