Sheikh Mujib and his life history

Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman

Who is Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman?

Sheikh Mujib, real name Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman, (March 17, 1920 – August 15, 1975) (شيخ مجيب الرحمان) was a politician and freedom fighter of Bengal. He was the president and then Prime Minister of Bangladesh. 

Family life of Sheikh Mujib:

Sheikh Mujib, the charismatic leader of the people of Bangal, was born on March 17, 1920 in Tungipara, a village in Gopalganj, a district in Bengal, to Sheikh Lutuf ur Rehman, a clerk and Sayera khatoon. Sheikh Mujib was the third among four sisters (Fatima Begun, Asia Begum, Amena Begum, and Khadija Hussain) and one brother, Shaikh Naser. Mujib is said to have married an eighteen-year old girl. It is true. He was 14 and Fazilatunnesa (Renu), his cousin and subsequent wife, hardly 8-year-old when they both got married. Consequently, The couple had three sons-Sheikh Kamal, Shaikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel, and two daughters-Shaikh Rehana and Shaikh Haseena (the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh). During his whole political career, Sheikh Fazilatunnesa, also known as 'Bangamata'.

Education of Sheikh Mujib:

Sheikh Mujib got primary education from Gopalganj.  During the primary, he fought with the principal over administrative issues and took a procession to remove him, that too, at around 12. Though, nothing happened to the principal, he was dropped out of the school for about four years. However, his exclusion from school was because of his health issues. 

Sheikh Mujib passed his matriculation from Gopalganj Missionary School in 1942 and did bachelor of Arts from Government Islamia college Calcutta in 1947. Later, he went to Dhaka university to study Law. But, because of excessive involvement in politics, forceful speeches, hunger strikes, and little or no attention to study, he was excluded from the University and could not complete his education.

Sheikh Mujib's Political Career: 

Like Hitler, Mujeeb too had God-gifted political talent and was a convincing orator who could influence the masses in his perspective. By nature, Mujib was energetic and spirited.Shaikh Mujibur Rahman got involved in politics when he was barely 19 years old or so. During the college days, his political career started by joining the India Muslim Students Federation in 1940.  However, Shaikh Mujib's formal politics began in 1949 when he joined the Muslim League, and took active part in the struggle of Pakistan. He rode bicycle all the day to work for the creation of Pakistan. Further, from this platform, he also advocated greater political and economic freedom for East Pakistan.

Six-points of Sheikh Mujib:

Shaikh Mujib was a strong advocate of provincial autonomy under federation. In this connection, his famous six points to strengthen provinces came to surface. It was during All Parties Conference called by Chaudhary Muhammad Ali at Lahore in 1966 to overview the Tashkent Declaration signed by Ayub Khan. In the meeting, Mujib first time presented his six points. Mujib was not satisfied with the discussion in the conference and left it in anger, saying that every time Bengal was being ignored by leaders of West Pakistan. Subsequently, the 6-point proposal became the Magna Carta for the people of Bengal. Later six points were published and Mujib pursued the points to demand the provincial autonomy of Bengal.

→ Representation of provinces would be based on population in the federal legislature.

→ Only foreign affairs, defense and currency would be in the domain of the federal government.

→ Either two currencies for the two wings or a single one with a separate Federal Reserve System for each wing.

→ The power of tax-collecting should rest with the provinces, with a little share would go to the federal government.

→ Separate accounts of foreign exchange earnings for each wing.

→ East Pakistan would have militia or paramilitary force under its jurisdiction.

The six-points were seen as the control of politics and economy by West Pakistan military. Resultantly, Mujib on that pretext was sent behind the bars, which was more like a second home to him, having spent more than a decade within its confines as a political prisoner. It is also believed that the creator of six-points was not Mujib himself, but some other foreign powers were also involved. A few are of the opinion that six-points were written by a group of CSP officers from East Pakistan. No matter what was the reality, but six-points were proved one of the main reasons of the fall of Dhaka.

Agartala Conspiracy Case:

A sedition case filed by Ayub khan against Sheik Mujib and 34 other members, accusing them in conspiring with India against the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1968. Mujib, according to the case, along with 28 personals including military officials and civil servants, went to Agartala, India and there they allegedly planned to destabilize Pakistan.

The official name of the case was the State v/s Shaikh Mujib-ur-Rehman, commonly known as Agartala Conspiracy Case. In favor of Mujib, there was turmoil, strikes, and uprising across Bengal and East Pakistan Rifles took to the streets. There was anarchy-like situation across Bengal. President Ayub couldn't withstand the civil pressure and withdrew the case on 22 February 1969. It also resulted at the end of Ayubi era in 1969. The man who first uncovered the case was Lt. Col Shamsul Alam, the commander of ISI East Pakistan. The whole event turned a blessing in disguise for Mujib as he emerged as a sole hero for Bengali people. In a large public meeting in Dhaka on 23 February 1969, two days after his release, the student leadership of Dhaka University declared him as 'Bangabandhu', meaning 'Friend of Bengal'. From then on, he began to be called Bangabandhu.

The Bhola Cyclone(1970):

To add fuel to the fire, the deadliest cyclone, the Bhola, hit Bengal in late November 1970, claimed around 500000 lives and caused irreparable infrastructural loss, and displacement. Yahya Government failed to provide adequate relief to East Pakistan. Shaikh Mujib was not satisfied with the measure taken by west Pakistan to address the disaster, so Mujib thought that East Pakistan was being treated as a colony. This helped Mujib mustering the sympathy from the disaster, saying that East Pakistan was always left alone by West Pakistan in time of need.

General Election of 1970:

The first general elections in the country were held in 7 December 1970. Two major parties of the country–PPP led by Zulfiqar Bhutto and the Awami League by Mujib– took active part in the election. Sheikh Mujib presented his six-points as an agenda to the manifesto of the Awami League. Mujeeb fought from two constituencies of Dhaka, NA-111 & NA-112 with the symbol, boat. His pro-Bengal campaign worked, and manged to win the election, securing 160 out of 162 from the reserved seats of Bengal, while Bhutto took 81 out of 138 seats. The elections are considered free and fair election in the country. As a result, the Awami League won the majority seats in the National Assembly.Thus, Mujib was supposed to form a new single-party government. However, the PPP of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was reluctant to sit as an opposition leader at any cost, leading to the bloody civil war. On 20 December 1970 in Lahore, Bhutto said that without the PPP cooperation, no government could be made at the center. Neither any constitution could be framed. Bhutto's insist on power-sharing continued.

Due to the differences between the AL and the PPP, the political deadlock was lingering and the unrest rising in the East Pakistan. The Power struggle between Z.A Bhutto, Yahya Khan and Shaikh Mujib got tense, as all three wanted to control power in any shape or form. To resolve the disputations, the session of National Assembly was set on 3 March 1971 by Yahya khan, but it was postponed, resulting in the mass demonstration across East Pakistan as Bengali realized that army never wanted to transfer power to them. To appease Mujib, Yahya twice requested him to come to Islamabad for the resolution of the differences, but Mujib adamantly refused.

“By 1 March 1971, when the scheduled National Assembly session was postponed by the President, we all had realized that our struggle for autonomy had shifted gear: it was now a struggle for independence”.

On one side the marauding Pakistan army and their local collaborators were ready with their mechanized killing machines and on the other side–a fearless, indomitable hero-igniting the flame of freedom into the hearts of the unarmed Bengali. He emerged to be the sole symbol of an entire nation. That day, on 7th March 1971, he was no longer a simple individual or a leader, rather he embodied a thousand year history of the entire Bengali Nation and transformed himself as an echo for his people. He is the first sovereign Bengali to govern a state by the power of his people.

Mujib on March 7, 1971, in Dhaka addressed a rally asking the people to prepare for the struggle of independence. The speech at the rally was so forceful that it filled the people with new zeal and zest. The speech united the nation and called for freedom. On his clarion call, Bengali took out of their homes with shroud dress to liberate their motherland. His 7th March address has been included in UNESCO's 'Memory of the World Register'.

On March 15, 1971, Yahya came to Dhaka to talk to Mujib to pull Pakistan out of political deadlock. A week later, Bhutto also joined them. The trilateral talks went in vain, and Yahya khan secretly left Dhakka on 24 March. Yahya khan on 26 March addressed the nation in which he called Mujib as Traitor (Gaddar).

Here in Bengal the AL started a Quasi Government.

Mufti Bahini & Sheik Mujib:

Mujib tried his best to reach a solution before he started struggle for the liberation based on the results of 1970 election that gave him a clear mandate to become the prime minister but failed. Mujib formed a private army under Mufti Bahini, a retired Afghani colonel. Members of AL and students in a significant number became its part. Later it was named as Mufti Bahini meaning 'army for independence'. The militant group, the Mufti Bahini, was brought in front of Mujib with the help of India. yahya sent Mujib to jail. There was strikes unrest across Bengal. A. L announce sensation from West Pakistan. As circumstances in East Pakistan were getting out of control, General yahya khan launched military action, commonly known as Operation search light, to suppress the riots.

Operation Search Light:

Like Operation Blitz, Operation Search Light was a planned military operation carried out by the Pakistan army to suppress the Bengali nationalist movement in 1971, especially the East Pakistan Riffle and the leaders of the AL to halt them to come to power. The operation caused precious innocent lives. It was no less than a massacre in Bengal.

The operation was termed as the “1971 Bangladesh genocide”, claiming more than 50000 people including Bengali intelligentsia, nationalist civilians, students of Dhaka university, and A. L supports. It is also said that around 2 lacks bengali women were rapped. The massacre caused 10 million refuges to flee to India. 

Mujib was again sent to jail, leading to the Bengal liberation War led by Mufti Bahini. Mufti Bahini with help of India and Pak army came face to face. Finally, “Operation Changiz Khan” pushed Pakistan into the war with India on December 3,1971. The war broke out between India, Pakistan, and Bengal. After 18 days long war, PAK army under General Niazi surrendered unconditionally and 93000 army personals were taken hostage, and 130000 sq km were under Indian army. Later Bhutto freed 900000 army prisoners and 130000 sq km from Indian through Simla Agreement. As a result, Pakistan was divided and Bengal got independence. The new county, Bangladesh, emerged on the map of the world. Yahya khan resigned, handing over the reigns of the country to Bhutto.

The ignominious defeat, secession of Bengal and the hostage of 90000 army personnel proved how far Bhutto, Ayub, Yahya and Niazi were correct in their vision and politics!

Assassination / Death of Mujib: 

The novice state with new challenges and difficulties was hard for Sheikh Mujib to face. The country was struggling with Social problems. Rehabilitation of refuges and remote areas was gruesome. Further, Mujib was blamed for nepotism and corruption. Political and military woes were also there. Shortage of food across Bengal led to famine. The famine is said to be the key factor in the assassination of Shaikh Mujib. Famine claimed more than 1.5 million people who died of starvation, poor health condition, malaria, inflation, etc. Further, Mujib failed to fulfill the promises he made to people before the election. He was accused of killing of thousands of people on January 25, 1975, as he imposed emergency. To rescue people, a group of army came forward and attacked Mujib's home.

Just four years later of the independence, the father of the nation was killed mercilessly in his house in Dhanmondi 15 August 1975. Almost all security person and family person including his 11-year-old son Shaikh Russel were also killed in the assault. Two daughters of Mujib, Sheikh Haseena and Shaikh Rehana were spared as they were abroad at that time. The deceased body of Mujib's family was laying there for three days. 

The Eldest daughter Sheikh Haseena wajid is the current and third-time consecutive prime minister of Bangladesh. The assassination of “Bangladedhu" is one of the darkest chapters in the annuls of the history. August 15 is marked as The National Mourning Day. The killing of father of the nation pushed the country into a political deadlock for the years to come.

A province with around 60% of the population of the country and 70% revenue generation with as little as 30% investment on it was struggling for its survival and identity. Even their ancestral language Bengla was at risk. But due to a charismatic personality with sincerity to the nation and love for the people made his big dream come true.

Sheikh Mujib as president & prime minister: 

Bhutto who took power in West Pakistan, released Mujib on January 8,1972. During his journey to Dhaka via London and Delhi, he was warmly welcomed at both places. When reached home, Shaikh Mujib was hailed as a hero of the Bengalis. He took charge as the president of Bangladesh on 12 January 19171 and then Prime Minister in 1972. On assuming the power, Mujib proclaimed the four fundamental principles-”nationalism, secularism, democracy and socialism,” which came to be known as “Mujibism". He also earned the titled as Farther of the nation and "Bangladedhu" (the Friend of Bengal).

Bangabandhu embarked on the dream journey of building prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Bengal of Gold).  

Services of Sheikh Mujib:

In 1949, when Muslim League was formed, it was named as “Awami Muslim League”. Later on October 1955, the word “Muslim” was dropped and renamed as just “Muslim League”. Sheikh Mujib further suggested that instead of Islamic republic of Pakistan, it should be only Republic of Pakistan.

It was Mujib who strongly protested when Quaid e Azam visited Bangladesh in March 1948 and declared Urdu as the national language of Pakistan. 

It was Sheikh Mujib who opposed the Martial Law imposed by Ayub Khan in 1958. As a result, he was arrested and imprisoned for a year and half. 

Through the Muslim League, he was elected to the East Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1954 and became the minister for agriculture. 1n 1955, he became the member of second constituent Assembly of Pakistan.

During the presidential election campaign between Ayub khan and Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah in 1966, he openly supported Fatima Jinnah. He was in charge of election campaign from her side. Sheikh Mujib called General Tikka khan as the “butcher” of Bengal.

Hugging Sheikh Mujib at the Non-Aligned Summit in Algiers in 1973, Fidel Castro, Cuban Leader, remarked,”I have not seen the Himalayas. But I have seen Shaikh Mujib”.

In february 1974, Mujib visited Lahore, Pakistan to attend the OIC meeting. Surprisingly both, ZA. Bhutto and Sheikh Mujib were seen hand in hand and smiling. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Rahman receives guard of honor at Lahore prior to his attendance to the second summit of OIC held between 22–24 February 1974.

Pakistan was kicked out of SEATO and SEATO Alliances due to the genocide in East Pakistan.

Pakistan faced arm sanction from many countries because of military action in East Pakistan by West Pakistan.

His famous books:

The Prisoner's Diaries.

The Unfinished Memoirs.

During his lifetime, he earned the titles like the 'leader of the oppressed'. Fidel Castro, resembled his personality with the towering Himalayas. The world media called him the 'Poet of Politics'. The nation acknowledged him as the 'Father of the Nation' and the students of Dhaka university accepted him as 'Bangabandhu'. His life is a guideline for the past, present and the future.

For more reading: Mir Sadiq