Members of the BPML later became prominent statesmen of Pakistan and Bangladesh, including holding offices such as the Prime Minister of Pakistan (Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, Mohammad Ali of Bogra, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Nurul Amin), Governor General of Pakistan (Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin), Chief Minister of East Bengal (Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, Nurul Amin, A. K. Fazlul Huq and Ataur Rahman Khan), President of Bangladesh (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Mohammad Mohammadullah and Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad), Vice President of Bangladesh (Syed Nazrul Islam) and Prime Minister of Bangladesh (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Tajuddin Ahmad, Muhammad Mansur Ali and Ataur Rahman Khan).

The League was created as a response to the growth of Hindu nationalist movements in India, particularly in Bengal after the 1905 partition.

One of the notable factions led by A. K. Fazlul Huq favored cooperation with the British government to achieve self-rule.

Its chief leader between 1937 and 1946 was Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, a trusted confidante of All India Muslim League president Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The conservative Nazimuddin ministry grappled with the effects of World War II, including the Bengal famine of 1943.

The party's control passed on to a more liberal and centrist faction, which included leaders H. S. Suhrawardy and Mohammad Ali of Bogra.

In the 1946 election, the BPML won a majority of 114/250 seats in the Bengal Legislative Assembly, compared to 28/60 in Sind, 75/175 in Punjab, 17/150 in the North-West Frontier Province, 54/228 in the United Provinces, 34/152 in Bihar, 31/108 in Assam, 30/175 in Bombay Presidency, 29/215 in Madras Presidency, and 4/60 in Orissa.