List of rulers of Bengal

Template:Bengalis 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 with the war elephants which led the withdrawal of Alexander the Great from the Indian subcontinent.

As a province of the Mauryan Empire, much of Bengal was part of it except for the far eastern Bengali kingdoms which maintained friendly relationships with Ashoka. The kingdoms of Bengal continued to exist as tributary states before succumbing to the Guptas. With the fall of the Gupta Empire, Bengal was united under a single local ruler, King Shashanka, for the first time. With the collapse of his kingdom, Bengal split up into petty kingdoms once more.

With the rise of Gopala in 750 AD, Bengal was united once more under the Hindu Buddhist Pala Empire until the 12th century than being succeeded by the Hindu Chandra dynasty, Sena dynasty and deva dynasty. After them, Bengal was ruled by the Hindu Maharajas of kingdoms such as Chandradwip and Cooch Behar.

In the early 13th century, Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji conquered Western and part of Northern Bengal, and established the first Muslim kingdom in Bengal. The Islamic Mamluk Sultanate, the Khalji dynasty, the Turko-Indian Tughlaq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty and the Lodi dynasty ruled Bengal for over 320 years. Notable was Malik Altunia's reign with his wife Razia Sultana, the only female sovereign ruler.

Following Delhi Sultanate's reign, the Bengal Sultanate, a major trading nation in the world, was founded by Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, and ruled by the Ilyas Shahi dynasty, succeeded by the Hussain Shahi dynasty founded by Alauddin Husain Shah, which saw the extension of the sultanate to the port of Chittagong, witnessing the arrival of the earliest Portuguese merchants.

After being absorbed to the Bengal Subah by Babur in the 16th century during the defeat of Sultan Nasiruddin Nasrat Shah in the Battle of Ghaghra, Bengal became the most economically advanced region in the world, and started to be ruled by the Subahdars of the Mughal Empire. Emperor Akbar began to preach the newly invented religion of Din-i Ilahi, which was declared by the Qadi of Bengal to be a blasphemy. Islam Khan I declared Dhaka as the capital of Bengal, which was then known as Jahangir Nagar, renamed after emperor Jahangir. The reign of prince Shah Shuja under emperor Shah Jahan's orders represented the height of Mughal architecture. During the period of proto-industrialization, when Bengal was ruled by emperor Aurangzeb's relatives such as Subedar Shaista Khan, Muhammad Azam Shah, and Azim-ush-Shan, the region was fully ruled through Fatwa Alamgiri, a hybrid body of Hanafi law based on sharia and was controversially described as the Paradise of the Nations.

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad ruled over Bengal and Odisha. Nawab Alivardi Khan came victorious against the Maratha Empire in the Battle of Burdwan. Following the Battle of Plassey and the execution of Siraj ud-Daulah, the East India Company formally established control over Bengal, and the Bengal Presidency was established by Robert Clive, with the subdivision remaining the economic, cultural and educational hub of the Company and the Raj.

The position of the Prime Minister of Bengal was established in 1937, being held by A. K. Fazlul Huq and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. After the Indian independence movement and Partition of Bengal (1947), the West Bengal became a major state of the Republic of India, while the Muslim majority East Bengal became known as East Pakistan. In 1971 East Bengal became an independent nation, Bangladesh, following the Bangladesh Liberation War, governed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman and Hussain Muhammad Ershad.

Ancient kingdoms of Bengal

Main article: Bengal

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; Presidency division and Medinipur division of West Bengal in India
Tirabhukti	Mithila area of India and Nepal
Suhma	Burdwan division, Medinipur division and Presidency division of West Bengal in India
Rarh	Location unclear; probable location in West Bengal of India
Samatata	Dhaka Division, Barisal Division and Chittagong Division in Bangladesh
Harikela	Sylhet Division, Chittagong Division, Dhaka Division and Barisal Division in Bangladesh
Pragjyotisa	Karimganj district of Barak Valley region of Assam in India; Sylhet Division and Dhaka Division in Bangladesh

Ancient Political Divisions

Six kingdoms of Maharaja Bali

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

Anga kingdom (c. 1500–550 BCE)

Main article: Anga

The earliest mention occurs in the Atharvaveda (V.22.14) where they are listed alongside the Magadhas, Gandharis and the Mujavatas, all apparently as a despised people. Puranic texts place the janapadas of the Angas, Kalingas, Vangas, Pundras (or Pundra Kingdom – now some part of Eastern Bihar, West Bengal and Bangladesh), Vidarbhas, and Vindhya-vasis in the Purva-Dakshina division.

It was also a great center of trade and commerce and its merchants regularly sailed to distant Suwanabhumi. Anga was annexed by Magadha in the time of Bimbisara. This was the one and only conquest of Bimbisara

Known Anga rulers are:

• Maharaja Anga – (founder of the kingdom and son of King Vali)
• Karna
• Brihadratha
• Vrishaketu – Son & 'Chief of the Angas'.
• Samudrasena
• Chandrasena
• Tamralipta
• Lomapada
• Chitraratha
• Vrihadratha
• Vasuhoma
• Dhatarattha (noted in the Mahabharata).
• Dhadivahana (also noted in the Mahabharata).
• Brahmadatta – Last king of Anga.

Vanga kingdom (c. 1500–550 BCE)

Main article: Vanga

Vanga was an ancient kingdom and geopolitical division on the Ganges delta in the Indian subcontinent. The kingdom is one of the namesakes of the Bengal region. It was located in southern Bengal, with the core region including present-day southwestern Bangladesh and southern West Bengal (India). The religious traditions of the kingdom afflicted with Hinduism.

Known rulers of Vanga are: At (2:29) two rulers Samudrasena and Chadrasena were mentioned.

Pundra kingdom (c. 1500–550 BCE)

Main article: Pundravardhana

Pundravardhana or Pundra Kingdom, was an ancient kingdom during the Iron Age period in South Asia with a territory that included parts of present-day Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions of Bangladesh as well as the West Dinajpur district of West Bengal, India. The capital of the kingdom, then known as Pundranagara (Pundra city), was located at Mahasthangarh in Bogra District in northern Bangladesh. Known rulers of Pundra are: Paundraka Vasudeva

Suhama kingdom (c. 1500–550 BCE)

Main article: Suhma

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. Bhima vanquished in battle the Suhmas and the Prasuhmas.

Tirabhukti kingdom (c. 1200–510 BCE)

Main article: Tirabhukti

Tirabhukti 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.

Gangaridai kingdom (c. 450–250 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.

Samatata kingdom (c. 300 BCE–400 CE)

Main article: Samatata

Samatata was an ancient kingdom of Bengal. The Greco-Roman account of Sounagoura is linked to the kingdom of Samatata. Its territory corresponded to much of present-day eastern Bangladesh and Myanmar (particularly Dhaka Division, Sylhet Division, Barisal Division, Rakhine State and Chittagong Division). The area covers the trans-Meghna part of the Bengal delta. Archaeological evidence in the Wari-Bateshwar ruins, particularly punch-marked coins, indicate that Samatata was a province of the Mauryan Empire. The Allahabad pillar inscriptions of the Indian emperor Samudragupta describe Samatata as a tributary state.

Harikela kingdom (c. 300 BCE–202 CE)

Main article: Harikela

Harikela was a kingdom in Bengal encompassing much of the eastern regions. There are numerous references to the kingdom in historical texts of Hindu and Buddhist records as well as archeological artifacts including silver coinage. Harikela kingdom overthrowed by Chandra dynasty.

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
Palaka	659–635 BCE	24
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	544–491 BCE
Ajatashatru	491–461 BCE
Udayin	461–428 BCE
Anirudha	428–419 BCE
Munda	419–417 BCE
Darshaka	417–415 BCE
Nāgadāsaka	415–413 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
Pandhukananda	340–339 BCE
Panghupatinanda	339–338 BCE
Bhutapalananda	338–337 BCE
Rashtrapalananada	337–336 BCE
Govishanakananda	336–335 BCE
Dashasidkhakananda	335–334 BCE
Kaivartananda	334–333 BCE
Karvinathanand	333–330 BCE
Dhana Nanda	330–322 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	File:Chandragupta Maurya and Bhadrabahu.png	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	Grandson of Ashoka.
Samprati		224–215 BCE	Brother of Dasharatha.
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

Main article: Bengal

Chandra Kingdom (c. 202–1050 CE)

Main articles: Chandra dynasty and Harikela

The Chandra Kingdom was a Kayastha kingdom, originating from the Indian subcontinent, which ruled the 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.

List of Chandra dynasty Rulers

#	King	Period	Reign (CE)
1	Chandrodaya	27	202-229
2	Annaveta	5	229-234
3	??	77	234-311
4	Rimbhiappa	23	311-334
5	Kuverami (Queen)	7	334-341
6	Umavira (Queen)	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 (Queen)	55	520-575
18	Virachandra	3	575-578
19	Pritichandra (Queen)	12	578-90
20	Prithvichandra	7	590-597
21	Dhirtichandra	3	597-600
22	Mahavira	12	600-12
23	Virayajap	12	612-24
24	Sevinren	12	624-36
25	Dharmasura	13	636-49
26	Vajrashakti	16	649-65
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

Gupta Empire (c. 240–550 CE)

Main article: Gupta Empire

• Sri-Gupta I (240–280)
• 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(495–550)
• Kumara Gupta III (500–540)
• Vishnugupta (540–550)

Jaintia Kingdom (c. 515–1835 CE)

Main article: Jaintia Kingdom

Old dynasty

1. Urmi Rani (?-550)
2. Krishak Pator (550-570)
3. Hatak (570-600)
4. Guhak (600-630)

Partitioned Jaintia

1. Jayanta (630-660)
2. Joymalla (660-?)
3. Mahabal (?)
4. Bancharu (?-1100)
5. Kamadeva (1100-1120)
6. Bhimbal (1120)

Brahmin dynasty

1. Kedareshwar Rai (1120-1130)
2. Dhaneshwar Rai (1130-1150)
3. Kandarpa Rai (1150-1170)
4. Manik Rai (1170-1193)
5. Jayanta Rai (1193-1210)
6. Jayanti Devi
7. Bara Gossain

New dynasty

1. Prabhat Ray Syiem Sutnga (1500–1516)
2. Majha Gosain Syiem Sutnga (1516–1532)
3. Burha Parbat Ray Syiem Sutnga (1532–1548)
4. Bar Gosain Syiem Sutnga I (1548–1564)
5. Bijay Manik Syiem Sutnga (1564–1580)
6. Pratap Ray Syiem Sutnga (1580–1596)
7. Dhan Manik Syiem Sutnga (1596–1612)
8. Jasa Manik Syiem Sutnga (1612–1625)
9. Sundar Ray Syiem Sutnga (1625–1636)
10. Chota Parbat Ray Syiem Sutnga (1636–1647)
11. Jasamanta Ray Syiem Sutnga (1647–1660)
12. Ban Singh Syiem Sutnga (1660–1669)
13. Pratap Singh Syiem Sutnga (1669–1678)
14. Lakshmi Narayan Syiem Sutnga (1678–1694)
15. Ram Singh Syiem Sutnga I (1694–1708)
16. Jay Narayan Syiem Sutnga (1708–1731)
17. Bar Gosain Syiem Sutnga II (1731–1770)
18. Chattra Singh Syiem Sutnga (1770–1780)
19. Yatra Narayan Syiem Sutnga (1780-1785)
20. Bijay Narayan Syiem Sutnga (1785–1786)
21. Lakshmi Singh Syiem Sutnga (1786-1790)
22. Ram Singh Syiem Sutnga II (1790–1832)
23. Rajendra Singh Syiem Sutnga (1832–1835)

Gauda Kingdom (c. 550–626 CE)

Main article: Gauda Kingdom

• Shashanka (590–625), first recorded independent 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

Pushyabhuti dynasty (c. 606–647 CE)

Main article: Pushyabhuti dynasty

• 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

Titular Name	Reign	Notes
Khadgodyama (খড়্গদ্যোম)	625-640	Father of Jatakhadga
Jatakhadga (জাতখড়্গ)	640-658	Father of Devakhadga
Devakhadga (দেবখড়্গ)	658-673	Queen Prabhavati (প্রভাবতী)
Rajabhatta (রাজভট্ট)	673-707	Son of Devakhadga
Balabhata (বলভট্ট)	707-716	Son of Devakhadga
Udirnakhadga (উদীর্ণখড়্গ)	??

Bhadra dynasty (6th–7th century)

Main article: Bhadra dynasty

The Bhadra dynasty was a South Asian 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".

List of rulers

• Narayanabhadra
• Jyeshthabhadra

A princess of Bhadra dynasty, Deddadevi was married to the first Pala Emperor Gopala I. She was the mother of Emperor Dharmapala.

Mallabhum Kingdom (c. 694–1947 CE)

Main article: Mallabhum

Name of the king	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 (750–1161 CE)

Main article: Pala Empire

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. Based on their different interpretations of the various epigraphs and historical records, different historians estimate the Pala chronology as follows:

	RC Majumdar (1971)	AM Chowdhury (1967)	BP Sinha (1977)	DC Sircar (1975–76)	D. K. Ganguly (1994)
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

Note:

• Earlier historians believed that Vigrahapala I and Shurapala I were the two names of the same person. Now, it is known that these two were cousins; they either ruled simultaneously (perhaps over different territories) or in rapid succession.
• AM Chowdhury rejects Govindapala and his successor Palapala as the members of the imperial Pala dynasty.
• According to BP Sinha, the Gaya inscription can be read as either the "14th year of Govindapala's reign" or "14th year after Govindapala's reign". Thus, two sets of dates are possible.
• D.K. Ganguly mentions another ruler named Indradumnyapala, who is solely known from local tradition. There is no source of his existence yet.
• A king, Bhimapala also finds a mention in the Sabdapradipa. Rajat Sanyal argues that if Govindapala and Palapala are indeed accepted as Pala kings, Bhimapala also should be, provided that he was chronologically close to Ramapala according to the wording of the text. However, both need more historical evidence.
• A king named Gomindrapala finds mention in a manuscript, dated his fourth regnal year. R.C. Majumdar identifies him with Govindapala, while S.K. Saraswati suggests he is a later Pala king.

Chola dynasty (ruled part of southwestern Bengal from 1019-24 CE)

Main article: Chola Dynasty

• Rajendra Chola I (1019–1024)

Sena dynasty

Sena dynasty ruled southwestern Bengal from 1070. Vijaya Sena conquered Bengal by 1154. The dynasty ruled East Bengal until 1230.

Main article: Sena dynasty

• 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 (1150–1281)

Main article: Deva dynasty

• Purushottamadeva
• Madhusudanadeva
• Vasudeva
• Damodaradeva (1231–1243)
• Dasharathadeva (1281)
• Vikramadityadeva (1294)

Delhi Sultanate era

The Khalji dynasty of Bengal (c.1203–27) were at times independent, and at times subordinate to the Delhi Sultanate.

Name	Reign	Notes
Khalji rulers of Bengal (1203–1227)
Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji	c.1203–1206	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
Governors of Bengal under Mamluk dynasty (1227–1229)
Nasiruddin Mahmud	1227–1229	Not from the Khalji tribe, appointed by his father Iltutmish
Khalji rulers of Bengal (1229–1231)
Alauddin Daulat Shah Khalji	1229–1230
Balka Khalji	1230–1231	Last Khalji ruler
Governors of Bengal under Mamluk dynasty (1231–1287)
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	Governor of Lakhnauti
Independent Balban dynasty of Lakhnauti (1287–1324)
Nasiruddin Bughra Khan	1287–1291	Declared independence
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
Azam Khan	Satgaon	1324–1328
Izzuddin Yahya	Satgaon	1328–1338

Bengal Sultanate era

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

Name	Region	Reign	Notes
Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah	Sonargaon	1338–1349	First independent ruler of Sonargaon
Ikhtiyaruddin Ghazi Shah	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

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

Mughal Subahdars of Bengal Subah (1574–1717)

During the reign of Akbar

Name	Reign	Notes
Munim Khan	1574–1575	Khan-i-Khanan
Hussain Quli Khan	1575–1578
Muzaffar Khan Turbati	1579–1580
Mirza Aziz Koka	1582–1583
Wazir Khan Tajik	1583–1583
Shahbaz Khan Kamboh	1583–1585
Sadiq Khan	1585–1586
Shahbaz Khan Kamboh	1586–1587
Sa'id Khan	1587–1594
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.
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
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 Bihar (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)

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)

Nadia dynasty

Main article: Nadia Raj

• Raja Bhabananda
• Raja Sri Krishna Ray
• Raja Gopal Ray
• Raja Raghab Ray
• Maharaja Rudra Ray
• Raja Ramjiban Ray
• Raja Ramjiban Ray II
• Raja Raghuram Ray
• Raja Krishnachandra Ray (1727–1772 CE)

Kingdom of Chandradwip

Many illustrious Maharajas ruled much of East Bengal and the Sundarbans and conquered Jessore. Their surname was Basu – they came to Bengal during the Sena dynasty to conquer the Palas and take over from them.

Maharajas of Jessore region

Known rulers are-

• Pratapaditya

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

Nawabs of Bengal under East India Company (1757–1838 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
	Amir ul-Omrah	Syed Wasif Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur	7 January 1875	December 1906 – 23 October 1959	23 October 1959
	Raes ud-Daulah	Syed Waris Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur	14 November 1901	23 October 1959 – 20 November 1969	20 November 1969
N/A	N/A	Disputed/In abeyance	N/A	20 November 1969 – 13 August 2014	N/A
	N/A	Syed Mohammed Abbas Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur	Circa 1942	13 August 2014 – Incumbent (titular)	N/A

East India Company governors in Bengal

Governors of British East India Company in Bengal (1757–1793)

• 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 see below

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 (1773–1774)

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

• Warren Hastings 1773 see above – 1774
• Charles Cornwallis 1786 – 1793

Governors-General of British East India Company in Bengal (1793–1854)

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 of 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 1903–1906
• Lancelot Hare 1906–1906
• Francis Slacke 1906–1908
• Sir Edward Baker 1908–1911
• Sir William Duke 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	Image	Term(s)	Party	Governor	Viceroy
1	Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq		1 April 1937 – 1 December 1941 12 December 1941 – 29 March 1943	Krishak Praja Party	Sir John Arthur Herbert	The Marquess of Linlithgow
2	Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin		29 April 1943 – 31 March 1945	Bengal Provincial Muslim League	Sir John Arthur Herbert (−1944) Sir Richard Casey (1944–)	The Marquess of Linlithgow The Viscount Wavell
3	H. S. Suhrawardy		23 April 1946 – 14 August 1947	Bengal Provincial Muslim League	Sir Richard Casey (−1946) Sir Frederick Burrows	The Viscount Wavell Earl Mountbatten

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.

Pakistani (East) Bengal (1947–1971)

Governors of East Bengal (1947–1955)

Tenure	Governor of East Bengal
15 August 1947 – 31 March 1950	Sir Frederick Chalmers Bourne
31 March 1950 – 31 March 1953	Sir Feroz Khan Noon
31 March 1953 – 29 May 1954	Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman
29 May 1954 – May 1955	Iskandar Ali Mirza
May 1955 – June 1955	Muhammad Shahabuddin (acting)
June 1955 – 14 October 1955	Amiruddin Ahmad

Chief Minister of East Bengal (1947–1955)

Tenure	Chief Minister of East Bengal	Political Party
August 1947 – September 1948	Sir Khwaja Nazimuddin	Muslim League
September 1948 – April 1954	Nurul Amin	Muslim League
April 1954 – 1955	Abul Kasem Fazlul Huq	United Front

Governors of East Pakistan (1955–1971)

In late 1954, the prime minister Muhammad Ali Bogra initiated the One Unit policy which resulted in East Bengal province being renamed to East Pakistan.

Tenure	Governor of East Pakistan	Political Affiliation
14 October 1955 – March 1956	Amiruddin Ahmad	Muslim League
March 1956 – 13 April 1958	A. K. Fazlul Huq	Muslim League
13 April 1958 – 3 May 1958	Hamid Ali (acting)	Awami League
3 May 1958 – 10 October 1958	Sultanuddin Ahmad	Awami League
10 October 1958 – 11 April 1960	Zakir Husain	Muslim League
11 April 1960 – 11 May 1962	Lieutenant-General Azam Khan, PA	Military Administration
11 May 1962 – 25 October 1962	Ghulam Faruque	Independent
25 October 1962 – 23 March 1969	Abdul Monem Khan	Civil Administration
23 March 1969 – 25 March 1969	Mirza Nurul Huda	Civil Administration
25 March 1969 – 23 August 1969	Major-General Muzaffaruddin, PA	Military Administration
23 August 1969 – 1 September 1969	Lieutenant-General Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, PA	Military Administration
1 September 1969 – 7 March 1971	Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan, PN	Military Administration
7 March 1971 – 6 April 1971	Lieutenant-General Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, PA	Military Administration
6 April 1971 – 31 August 1971	Lieutenant-General Tikka Khan, PA	Military Administration
31 August 1971 – 14 December 1971	Abdul Motaleb Malik	Independent
14 December 1971 – 16 December 1971	Lieutenant-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, PA	Military Administration

Chief Minister of East Pakistan (1955–1971)

Tenure	Chief Minister of East Pakistan	Political Party
August 1955 – September 1956	Abu Hussain Sarkar	Krishan Sramik Party
September 1956 – March 1958	Ataur Rahman Khan	Awami League
March 1958	Abu Hussain Sarkar	Krishan Sramik Party
March 1958 – 18 June 1958	Ataur Rahman Khan	Awami League
18 June 1958 – 22 June 1958	Abu Hussain Sarkar	Krishan Sramik Party
22 June 1958 – 25 August 1958	Governor's Rule
25 August 1958 – 7 October 1958	Ataur Rahman Khan	Awami League

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.

Indian (West) Bengal (1947–present)

Governors of West Bengal

Sl. No.	Name	Took office	Left office
1	Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari	15 August 1947	21 June 1948
2	Kailash Nath Katju	21 June 1948	1 November 1951
3	Harendra Coomar Mookerjee	1 November 1951	8 August 1956
4	Phani Bhusan Chakravartti	8 August 1956	3 November 1956
5	Padmaja Naidu	3 November 1956	1 June 1967
6	Dharma Vira	1 June 1967	1 April 1969
7	Deep Narayan Sinha (acting)	1 April 1969	19 September 1969
8	Shanti Swaroop Dhavan	19 September 1969	21 August 1971
9	Anthony Lancelot Dias	21 August 1971	6 November 1979
10	Tribhuvana Narayana Singh	6 November 1979	12 September 1981
11	Bhairab Dutt Pande	12 September 1981	10 October 1983
12	Anant Prasad Sharma	10 October 1983	16 August 1984
13	Satish Chandra (acting)	16 August 1984	1 October 1984
14	Uma Shankar Dikshit	1 October 1984	12 August 1986
15	Saiyid Nurul Hasan	12 August 1986	20 March 1989
16	T. V. Rajeswar	20 March 1989	7 February 1990
(15)	Saiyid Nurul Hasan	7 February 1990	12 July 1993
17	B. Satyanarayan Reddy (additional charge)	13 July 1993	14 August 1993
18	K. V. Raghunatha Reddy	14 August 1993	27 April 1998
19	Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai	27 April 1998	18 May 1999
20	Shyamal Kumar Sen	18 May 1999	4 December 1999
21	Viren J. Shah	4 December 1999	14 December 2004
22	Gopalkrishna Gandhi	14 December 2004	14 December 2009
23	Devanand Konwar (additional charge)	14 December 2009	23 January 2010
24	M.K. Narayanan	24 January 2010	30 June 2014
25	D. Y. Patil (additional charge)	3 July 2014	17 July 2014
26	Keshari Nath Tripathi	24 July 2014	29 July 2019
27	Jagdeep Dhankhar	30 July 2019	Incumbent

Chief Ministers of West Bengal

Key:	INC Indian National Congress	BC (UF) Bangla Congress (United Front)	CPI(M) Communist Party of India (Marxist)	AITC All India Trinamool Congress

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Political Party
1	Prafulla Chandra Ghosh	15 August 1947	14 January 1948	INC
2	Bidhan Chandra Roy	14 January 1948	1 July 1962	INC
	President's rule	1 July 1962	8 July 1962
3	Prafulla Chandra Sen	8 July 1962	15 March 1967	INC
4	Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee	15 March 1967	2 November 1967	BC (UF)
(1)	Prafulla Chandra Ghosh	2 November 1967	20 February 1968	Independent (Progressive Democratic Alliance)
	President's rule	20 February 1968	25 February 1969
(4)	Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee	25 February 1969	19 March 1970	BC (UF)
	President's rule	19 March 1970	2 April 1971
(4)	Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee	2 April 1971	28 June 1971	INC
	President's rule	28 June 1971	19 March 1972
5	Siddhartha Shankar Ray	19 March 1972	21 June 1977	INC
6	Jyoti Basu	21 June 1977	6 November 2000	CPI(M) (Left Front)
7	Buddhadeb Bhattacharya	6 November 2000	13 May 2011	CPI(M) (Left Front)
8	Mamata Banerjee	20 May 2011	Incumbent	AITC

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.

Key

Political parties

•   Bangladesh Awami League / BAKSAL
•   Bangladesh Nationalist Party
•   Jatiya Party

Other factions

•   Military
•   Independent

Status

•   Acting President

Presidents of Bangladesh

	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office		Party
	Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975)	—	17 April 1971	12 January 1972	Bangladesh Awami League
	Syed Nazrul Islam (1925–1975)	—	17 April 1971	12 January 1972	Bangladesh Awami League
	Abu Sayeed Chowdhury (1921–1987)	—	12 January 1972	24 December 1973	Bangladesh Awami League
	Mohammad Mohammadullah (1921–1999)	—	24 December 1973	27 January 1974	Bangladesh Awami League
		1974	27 January 1974	25 January 1975
	Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975)	—	25 January 1975	15 August 1975 (assassinated in a coup d'état.)	BAKSAL
	Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad (1918–1996)	—	15 August 1975	6 November 1975 (deposed.)	Bangladesh Awami League
	Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem (1916–1997)	—	6 November 1975	21 April 1977	Bangladesh Awami League
	Ziaur Rahman (1936–1981)	1977 1978	21 April 1977	30 May 1981 (assassinated.)	Military / Bangladesh Nationalist Party
	Abdus Sattar (1906–1985)	—	30 May 1981	20 November 1981	Bangladesh Nationalist Party
		1981	20 November 1981	24 March 1982 (deposed.)
	Hussain Muhammad Ershad (1930–2019)		24 March 1982	27 March 1982	Military
	Ahsanuddin Chowdhury (1915–2001)	—	27 March 1982	10 December 1983	Independent
	Hussain Muhammad Ershad (1930–2019)	1985 1986	11 December 1983	6 December 1990	Military / Jatiya Party
	Shahabuddin Ahmed (born 1930)	—	6 December 1990	10 October 1991	Independent
	Abdur Rahman Biswas (1926–2017)	1991	10 October 1991	9 October 1996	Bangladesh Nationalist Party
	Shahabuddin Ahmed (born 1930)	1996	9 October 1996	14 November 2001	Independent
	Badruddoza Chowdhury (born 1932)	2001	14 November 2001	21 June 2002	Bangladesh Nationalist Party
	Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar (born 1931)	—	21 June 2002	6 September 2002	Bangladesh Nationalist Party
	Iajuddin Ahmed (1931–2012)	2002	6 September 2002	12 February 2009	Independent
	Moeen U Ahmed		11 January 2007	12 January 2007	Military
	Zillur Rahman (1929–2013)	2009	12 February 2009	20 March 2013 (died in office.)	Bangladesh Awami League
	Abdul Hamid (born 1944)	—	14 March 2013	24 April 2013	Bangladesh Awami League
		2013	24 April 2013	24 April 2018
		2018	24 April 2018	Incumbent

Prime Ministers of Bangladesh

	Name (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Election	Term of office		Tenure	Party
	Tajuddin Ahmad (1925–1975)		—	11 April 1971	12 January 1972	276 days	Bangladesh Awami League
	Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975)		1973	12 January 1972	25 January 1975	3 years, 13 days	Bangladesh Awami League
	Muhammad Mansur Ali (1919–1975)		—	25 January 1975	15 August 1975 (deposed.)	202 days	BAKSAL
Post abolished (15 August 1975 – 29 June 1978)
	Mashiur Rahman (1924–1979)		—	29 June 1978	12 March 1979 (died in office.)	256 days	Bangladesh Nationalist Party
	Shah Azizur Rahman (1925–1988)		1979	15 April 1979	24 March 1982 (deposed.)	2 years, 343 days	Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Post abolished (24 March 1982 – 30 March 1984)
	Ataur Rahman Khan (1907–1991)		—	30 March 1984	9 July 1986	2 years, 101 days	Jatiya Party
	Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury (1928–2006)		1986	9 July 1986	27 March 1988	1 year, 262 days	Jatiya Party
	Moudud Ahmed (born 1940)		1988	27 March 1988	12 August 1989	1 year, 138 days	Jatiya Party
	Kazi Zafar Ahmed (1939–2015)		—	12 August 1989	6 December 1990	1 year, 116 days	Jatiya Party
Post abolished (6 December 1990 – 20 March 1991)
	Khaleda Zia (born 1945)		1991 1996 (Feb)	20 March 1991	30 March 1996	5 years, 10 days	Bangladesh Nationalist Party
	Muhammad Habibur Rahman (1928–2014)		—	30 March 1996	23 June 1996	85 days	Independent
	Sheikh Hasina (born 1947)		1996 (Jun)	23 June 1996	15 July 2001	5 years, 22 days	Bangladesh Awami League
	Latifur Rahman (1936–2017)		—	15 July 2001	10 October 2001	87 days	Independent
	Khaleda Zia (born 1945)		2001	10 October 2001	29 October 2006	5 years, 19 days	Bangladesh Nationalist Party
	Iajuddin Ahmed (1931–2012)		—	29 October 2006	11 January 2007	74 days	Independent
	Fazlul Haque (born 1938)		—	11 January 2007	12 January 2007	1 day	Independent
	Fakhruddin Ahmed (born 1940)		—	12 January 2007	6 January 2009	1 year, 360 days	Independent
	Sheikh Hasina (born 1947)		2008 2014 2018	6 January 2009	Incumbent	16 years, 53 days	Bangladesh Awami League

See more

• History of Bengal

Sources

• Dasgupta, Gautam Kumar; Biswas, Samira; Mallik, Rabiranjan (2009). Heritage Tourism: An Anthropological Journey to Bishnupur. A Mittal Publication. p. 21. ISBN 978-8183242943.
• Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Subahdar". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 28 February 2025.

• Barpujari, H. K., ed. (1990). The Comprehensive History of Assam: From the Pre-historic Times to the Twelfth Century A.D. Vol. 1. Guwahati: Publication Board, Assam.