The Muslim period in Sylhet began in 1303 A.D. and it continued till 1765 A. D. when the district became a British territory. Sylhet came under the domination of the Muslims in 703 Hijri/1303 A.D. during the reign of Sultan Shamsuddin Firuz Shah of Lakhnauti. The names of the famous sufi-saint Hazrat Shah Jalal and the commander Syed Nasiruddin are associated in connection with the conquest of Sylhet. At that time Sylhet was the kingdom of the Hindu Raja named Gour Gobinda. Though it is often stressed that the conquest of Sylhet began with the incident of sacrificing the cow by on e Muslim inhabitant of Sylhet named Burhanuddin, it could not be the main cause behind the invasion. After a close examination of the history of the Indian conquest of the Muslims it appears that the main reason behind the conquest of Syleht lies in the fulfillment of the imperialistic design of expanding the Muslim empire. When attacked, Rja Gour Gobinda after putting some resistance fled from Sylhet taking shelter in the jungle. Soon after the conquest of Muslim army advance towards Taraf (south Sylhet), then under the control of Achak Narayan. Getting this information Achak Narayan fled from Taraf with his family. In the meantime, the Muslim force encamped somewhere near Murabundh on the bank of the Khowai river. However, they did not either chase Gour Gobinda or Achak Narayan. Enen they did not attempt to extend their conquests to Jainta or Laur. As a result during the region of Sultan Shamsuddin Firuz Haha, the authority of Muslims was established only at Sylhet and Taraf. Here it it to be noted that though Laur at that time was not under the domination of the Muslims, it lost l its independent status after the Muslim occupation of Gaur and Taraf. No detailed history is known. Only it is known that the Hindu leader Darbar Singh of Jagannathpur under Laur and Gobinda Singh of Baniachong accepted Islam, the Muslim rule started at Laur and it continued there till it came under the British.
Sultan Shamsuddin Firuz Shah is especially remembered in the history of Sylhet for during the period of his rule Islam spread quickly in Sylhet. He died in 1322. After his death his son Ghyasuddin Bahadur ascended the throne of Lakhnauti. During this time Sultan Ghiyasuddin Tughluq of
In 1352 Shamsuddin Iliyas Shah, Sultan of the
After the early Iliyas Shahin rule, the rule of Shihabuddin Bayazid and his son begn. Shihabuddin Bayazid Shah was in power from 1412 to 1415. After him, his son Alauddin Firuz Shah was on the throne for a few months only (1415). Form 1415-1436, the rule of Raja Ganesh and his descendants was established in Sylhet.
The Iliyas Shahi dynasty was again reinstated after the assassination of Nasir Khan in the person of Nasiruddin Mahmud in 1436. So the rule fo the later Iliyas Shahi dynasty was re-established in Sylhet. Five sultans of this dynasty exercised their authority over this district from 1436 to 1487. They are (1) Nasiruddin Mahmud (1436-1460), (2) Rukunuddin Barak Shah (1460-1474, (3) Shamsuddin Yusuf Shah (1478-1481), (4) Sikadar Shah (1481- for three days only) and (5) Jalaluddin Fateh Shah (1481-1487). During this period capable and experienced offices were appointed to run the administration in Sylhet. Of them Wazir Makbul Khan, Khan Muazzam, Khurshid Khan, Mahaliyan Nawbat Ali, Dastur majlis Alam and mukarrab-ud-Daulah Malik-ud-din were very remarkable.
After the later Iliyas Shahi rule for Abyssinian Sultans ruled Bengal from 1497 to 1493 and as such they also exercised their authority over Sylhet district. The names of these four Sultans were (1) Barbak Shahjada (1487-1488 for six months only), (2) Saifuddin Firuz Shah (1488-1490), (3) Mahmud Shah (1490-1491) and (4) Mujaffar Shah (1491-1493).
By terminating the Abyssinian rule, Wazir Syed Hussain became the Sultan the Sultan and ascended the throne ofBengal in 1493 under the title of Alauddin Hussain Shah. At that time the district of Sylhet naturally came under his authority. His reign ushered in a new era in the history of Bengal . During the period of his peace and tranquility were restored through the kingdom. He reigned until 1519. After his death, his son Nusrat Shah became the sultan. His reign(1519-1531) was also very remarkable in the history of Bengal . The last two sultans of this dynasty were Aladuuin Firuz Shah (1532-1533) and Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah (1533-1538). The region of Mahmud Shah was regarded as the period of transition in the history of Bengal . Due to the pressure of the Afghan rising under the leadership of Sher Khan, the Hussain Shahi rule over Sylhet likewise over Bengal and the era of independence for long two hundred years came to an end.
By terminating the Abyssinian rule, Wazir Syed Hussain became the Sultan the Sultan and ascended the throne of
Sher Khan captured Bengal in 1538. As a result, of this occupation, the district of Sylhet also came under his authority but soon he lost the territory. In 1539, Sher Khan recaptured Bengal by defeating the Mughal Emperor Humayun in the battle of Chausa and employed Nawajesh Khan as the ruler of Bengal (October, 1939). Nwajesh Khan reinstalled the rule of Shur dynasty in most parts of Bengal . In 1540, Sher Shah finally defeated Emperor Humayun and ascended the throne of Delhi Delhi
It appears from an analysis of the coin of Sher Shah that Sylhet was not under his control from the middle of his reign. It is evident from the numismatic source that during the period concerned one Sultan Barak Shah ruled in the areas of Sylhet and Mymensingh. Besides it is to be noted that the mints of Sher Shah were no mints in the North-East and South-East areas, it is supposed that these areas were not under his domination.
After the death of Sher-Shah, his son Islam Shah ascended the throne of Delhi Bengal . It is known that during this period, an Afghan, Sulaiman Khan by name came to Bengal and after conquering some parts (Dhaka , Mymensingh and some marshy areas of Sylhet) founded his independent rule. After the death of Islam Shah, a civic war started among the Afghans for the throne of Delhi Bengal declared independence (1553). At that time, Sylhet was also included under his authority. The rule of the Shur dynasty in Bengal continued till 1564. Afterwards there started the rule of the Karrani dynasty.
It is not certain whether Sylhet was under the Karrani rule or not at the beginning of the rule of that dynasty. But it is known that Isa Khan received zamindari of Bhati during the reign of Taj Khan Karrani. The western side of Sylhet was under his zamindari. At that time, the name of Fateh Khan is mentioned as the Zamindar of Taraf (South-west part of Sylhet) it is also known that the North and North-western side of Sylhet was under the rule of Bayajid Karrani II.
The rule of the Karrani dynasty ended in 1576 when the Mughal army defeated Daud Khan Karrani in the battle of Rajmahal. But then he Mughal authority was not established over the whole ofBengal . Only the North and West Bengal came under the Mughal domination. At that time, the remaining parts of Bengal including Sylhet were under the control of the anti-Mughal zamindars who were known as Bara Bhuiyan. These zamindars particularly Isa Khan fought continually against the Mughals during the reign of Emperor Akber. After the death of Isa Khan, his son Musa Khan settled down his rule in Bhati areas. During his time some of his associated received some lands from him as a mark of friendship.
Of them, Anwar Khan and Husain Khan of Baniachong (Hobigonj), Usman Khan of South Sylhet, Bayzid Karrani of Central andNorth Sylhet , Pahlwan of Matang (in the region of Hobigonj), Malahi Khan of Maulvibazar were well-known. They ruled their respective areas independently. During the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, his Subadar (governor) Islam Khan subdued the Bara Bhuiyans and brought the whole of Bengal along with Sylhet under the Mughal Empire. After the inclusion of the whole of Bengal under the Mughals twenty two Subadars including Islam Khan ruled Subah Bengal. After them, the rule of the Nawabs began in Bengal from 1727.
When Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah was defeated in the battle of Palashi in 1757, the rule of the English started inBengal . However, for a while they ruled Bengal through their chosen Nawabs. In 1765, after acquiring Diwani from the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam, the East India Company started to rule Bengal in the real sense. Thus Sylhet also came under the rule of the East India Company.
It is not certain whether Sylhet was under the Karrani rule or not at the beginning of the rule of that dynasty. But it is known that Isa Khan received zamindari of Bhati during the reign of Taj Khan Karrani. The western side of Sylhet was under his zamindari. At that time, the name of Fateh Khan is mentioned as the Zamindar of Taraf (South-west part of Sylhet) it is also known that the North and North-western side of Sylhet was under the rule of Bayajid Karrani II.
The rule of the Karrani dynasty ended in 1576 when the Mughal army defeated Daud Khan Karrani in the battle of Rajmahal. But then he Mughal authority was not established over the whole of
Of them, Anwar Khan and Husain Khan of Baniachong (Hobigonj), Usman Khan of South Sylhet, Bayzid Karrani of Central and
When Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah was defeated in the battle of Palashi in 1757, the rule of the English started in
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