Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Bangla: ??? ?????? ?????) (March 17, 1920 – August 15, 1975), popularly known as Sheikh Mujib, was a nationalist leader in the former East Pakistan and the founder of the independent Bangladesh. He was born in Gopalganj, Bengal (now in Bangladesh). His political career began almost immediately with Pakistan's independence, as co-founder of the East Pakistan Muslim Students' League, a student orgaization affiliated with the Muslim League. His secular and nationalistic ideals led him to found the Awami League (party of people) in the 1950s. A follower of H.S. Suhrawardy, Sheikh Mujib was a popular Bengali muslim leader who was far removed from the ideologies of the feudal leaders that dominated the political landscape at that time.

Assassination

On August 15, 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, several members of his family including minors, and his personl staff and political confidantes were killed in a military coup. Although first given the appearance of an act of revenge by a group of disgruntled junior army officers, facts emerging later present evidence of a long-planned conspiracy. Some cabinet ministers, bureaucrats wary of civilian power, and military leaders later claiming the full glory of the war of independence participated in what appears to be a plan initiated and executed by the then Dhaka station-chief of the CIA. (See and other books by Anthony Mascarenhas). Mujib was replaced by one of the conspirators, his former minister of commerce and of land revenue Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad. The only survivors in his immediate family were two of his daughters, who were away in West Germany at the time.

Related Topics:
August 15 - 1975 - Military coup - Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad - West Germany

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The coup leaders were protected from prosecution by an ordinance titled Indemnity Ordinance promulgated by the military government, which gave legal protection to the coup leaders. In 1996, Sheikh Mujib's daughter, Sheikh Hasina, was elected prime minister. Following the revokation of the Indemnity ordinance by the parliament, a murder case was lodged. Some of the main conspirators of the coup including Colonel Syed Faruque Rahman were arrested, while others including Colonel Rashid fled abroad. The verdict gave capital punishment to the main leaders of the coup (Khandaker Moshtaq Ahmed died by natural causes before the trial).

Related Topics:
1996 - Sheikh Hasina - Khandaker Moshtaq Ahmed

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