Bahadur Khan (Masnad-i-Ala)  Afghan zamindar of Hijli, was one of the renowned bara-bhuiyans (twelve zamindars) of Bengal. His territories covered an area now forming the Kathi sub-division of Midnapore district in West Bengal. His capital at Hijli, on the bank of the Rasulpur river, was a strong fortified post. His uncle and predecessor Salim Khan had tendered nominal submission to Subahdar islam khan (1609). Bahadur Khan proved to be more refractory than the other neighbouring zamindars. He was glorified with the title of Masnad-i-Ala, and loved to regard himself as an independent sultan. During the viceroyalty of qasim khan chisti (1614-1617) the task of reducing Bahadur was entrusted to Mirza Makki, the faujdar of Burdwan, with no satisfactory result. Bahadur Khan openly rebelled in the time of ibrahim khan fath-i-jang (1617-1624) and defied the authority of the Subahdar of Bengal, as his estate was included in the Subah of Orissa. Muhammad Beg Abakash, faujdar of Burdwan, was sent to subdue Bahadur Khan. Meanwhile Bahadur received the help of 1000 cavalry from his personal friend Mukarram Khan, then leaving Bengal for Orissa as Subahdar. This enabled Bahadur Khan to thwart all the efforts of the Mughal commander to subdue him or dislodge him from his fortified post in Hijli. At this another army under Mirza Ahmed Beg was sent against him. Unable to resist the combined attack Bahadur Khan gave up hostilities and sued for peace. He personally came to Jessore to tender submission to the Subahdar, who re-instated him in his Jagir (1621) on payment of a fine of Rupees three lakhs.

Bahadur Khan held an extensive coastal area from the Rupnarayan to the Suvarnarekha rivers. In 1651, on taking charge of Orissa in addition to Bengal, shah shuja demanded an enhancement of tribute. Bahadur Khan was arrested for delay in payment, and Hijli was captured. Bahadur was kept in prison at Dhaka. But in the confusion caused by the war of succession, he escaped (1659) and recovered his estate. Khan-i-Dauran, the governor of Orissa, assisted by Bengal viceroy mir jumla, defeated and captured Bahadur Khan (1661). He was confined in Ranthambor fort. shaista khan restored him to liberty and his estate in 1667. [Muazzam Hussain Khan]