Sarkar, Abu Hossain (1894-1969) lawyer, politician, chief minister of East Bengal (1955-56). Abu Hossain Sarkar was born at Rangpur in 1894. His early education was hampered due to his active participation in politics as an activist of swadeshi movement when he was arrested (1911). He passed the entrance examination in 1915. Having obtained his graduation and B.L degree he joined the Rangpur district bar.

He was elected a member of the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly in 1954 as a candidate of united front. He was for sometime the Minister of Health in the central cabinet of Pakistan headed by chaudhury mohammad ali in 1955.

Abu Hossain Sarkar was the chief minister of East Bengal from June 1955 to August 1956. Some of the outstanding measures of his government include the recognition of 21 February as Shaheed Dibash and its declaration as a public holiday, laying of foundation stone of the Central Shaheed Minar at the premises of Dhaka Medical College Hostel, and the establishment of bangla academy. Consequent upon the rise of price and shortage of foodgrains in the market allegedly caused by revocation of food rationing system by his government, there was a hunger march in the street of Dhaka, and he resigned on its very face (30 August 1956). He was the leader of opposition parliamentary party in the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly, and the president of the Krishak Sramik Party from 1956 to 1958. He fell a victim to the EBDO imposed by the military government of mohammad ayub khan. He played a vital role in floating the National Democratic Front (NDF) headed by huseyn shaheed suhrawardy in 1962, and had active participation in the movement for the restoration of democracy in the country. Abu Hossain Sarkar died in Dhaka on 17 April 1969. [Mofakkhar Hossain Khan]