Abul Kashem Khan

Who was Abul Kashem Khan?

Abul Kashem Khan, best known as A. K. Khan, was a Bengali industrialist and politician. In 1945, he founded the Chittagong-based A K Khan Group, one of Bangladesh's leading conglomerates. Khan served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, and a federal minister of Pakistan from 1958 to 1960. From 1962 to 1968 he was an opposition member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. His sons took part in the Bangladesh Liberation War and served as ministers in several Bangladeshi governments.

Abul Kashem Khan was born in Chittagong during British rule. He obtained Bachelor of Law Degree from Presidency College, Calcutta University Standing first class second in order of merit. He practised as a junior with Shere -e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq. He entered the Bengal Judicial Service in 1935, when he entered business during Second World War. After the end of colonial rule, he established many industries in insurance, banking and shipping. He was a chairman of Pakistan International Airlines.