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.

One-party rule under BAKSAL

Sheikh Mujib proved to be a charismatic leader, but inept to face the challenges that the country was facing after the war. His government was plagued by corruption, intrigue, infighting, and an insurgency by the ultra-left activists as well as reactionary forces that opposed independence. The economy was devastated by a famine in 1974, and some exaggeraeted accounts of the famine contributed to further discredit his government. Also, Countries that opposed the emergence of Bangladesh (most notably the China, USA, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan) took advantage of the instability and provided support to the subversive forces.

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In 1975, Sheikh Mujib attempted to regain control by declaring a state of emergency. The legislature rubber-stamped an amendment to the constitution completely diverting it from the democratic principles of the country. Mujib declared himself president for life and outlawed all political parties except the Awami League. A paramilitary force, loyalist to the party, was raised that was ruthlessly used to subdue any opposition. This force was responsible for many extra-judicial killings of mainly left-wing extremists. His assassination later in the year ended the promise of a secular, modern, democratic nation.

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