In 1901, after returning from East Bengal (now Bangladesh), Vivekananda had said to Premananda, “I have left East Bengal for you.” It was a prophetic statement. Every year from 1913 to 1917, Premananda visited East Bengal, sometimes alone and once with Brahmananda. Swami Ashokananda recorded: “His visits were all epic events. Wherever he went, thousands of people — old and young, Hindus and Muslims — were attracted to him. And when he would leave a place, even after a visit of only a few days, people would run after him, crying. He probably would be going off in a horse carriage, and they would run to keep up with him. For miles people would follow him like that, shedding tears as if someone very near to them were dying. These are the real miracles of the spirit. He would just pull their hearts out; he bought them up, as it were, with his love — Hindus and Muslims alike.” As a result of Premananda’s extensive preaching in East Bengal, many young men joined the Ramakrishna Order.
Premananda was an illumined soul, and he was beyond caste, creed, and religious sect. Knowing his universal attitude, the Muslim Nawab Salimulla of Dhaka invited Premananda to his palace. Premananda carried the Master’s prasad to the Muslim devotees. He met the Begums (Muslim women of royal families) in the palace of Nawab Gani, told them the life story of Sri Ramakrishna, and shared his message of the harmony of religions. Salimulla had read Swami Vivekananda’s works and was attracted to the activities of the Ramakrishna Mission. He invited Premananda to consult with him about opening a centre in Dhaka for Muslim youths. Salimulla’s sister, Begum Akhtara Banu, donated some money for the construction of the Ramakrishna Math in Dhaka, in her father’s memory. Later some Muslim women became very drawn to Premananda and visited Belur Math.
….Observing Premananda’s great enthusiasm for preaching, Brahmananda cautioned him not to overdo it, as his body was very fragile. To this Premananda said: “I am perfect, eternally free. I am a follower of Swamiji, and it is he who asked me to carry the message of Sri Ramakrishna to every village.” On another occasion, Premananda asked Holy Mother: “Mother, I don’t have any learning, but people from various places invite me to speak. What shall I do?” Mother replied: “My son, don’t worry. The Master will speak sitting on your tongue. He is with you.” (Source: God Lived with Them)