In the event of a vacancy, the Governor-General could appoint an acting Governor (usually the chief justice of Dhaka High Court) until a permanent replacement was selected.

His executive powers extended to matters within the legislative competence of the Provincial Legislature, ensuring that administrative decisions aligned with existing laws.

Additionally, any powers previously granted to courts, judges, officers, or local authorities under Pakistani laws remained unaffected by the Governor’s executive control.

His responsibilities included: The Governor had the authority to reject provincial legislation if it was deemed inconsistent with national interests or security concerns.

[7]The province had an Advocate-General, appointed by the Governor: Background Legislative elections were held in East Bengal between 8 and 12 March 1954, the first since Pakistan became an independent country in 1947.

[8] The opposition United Front led by the All-Pakistan Awami League and Krishak Sramik Party won a landslide victory with 223 of the 309 seats.

On March 25, East Pakistan governor Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman asked Krishak Sramik Party leader A. K. Fazlul Huq to form the ministry.

The United Front ministry and the Legislative Assembly were dissolved and East Bengal was put under direct governor's rule by Governor-General Malik Ghulam Muhammad on May 30.

The first action under Governor's Rule involved arresting prominent opposition figures labeled as communist though martial law was to be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

[12] A significant emphasis was placed on countering what the central government labeled as communist threats, despite the lack of credible evidence supporting these claims.

The administration planned to intensify propaganda efforts by establishing two new radio stations in East Bengal and expanding its informational outreach.

[12] On the economic front, the government aimed to win public support by ensuring the availability of essential commodities such as food, cloth, kerosene, mustard oil, and salt at subsidized rates.

However, the immediate impact of governor’s rule was widespread political repression, with around 1,600 united Front leaders and activists, including 30 members of the legislature, being arrested.

[12] The Awami League, however, returned to power on its own on 30 August 1956 with Ataur Rahman Khan as chief minister, but only to resign a few months later Political PartyLegend President (1891-1977) (British Administrator) A.S.M.