Amongst tumultuous political conditions and protests, Sheikh Hasina resigned her premiership in Bangladesh and sought asylum in India.
That occasion reminds us of the same turn of events that occurred about 48 years ago when she was exiled following her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s untimely murder, together with her mother and three siblings on August 15th 1975.
Who was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman?
Affectionately called ‘Bangabandhu’, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the first president of an independent Bangladesh whose life was cut short by a mutiny carried out by some personnel of Bangladesh army who stormed his Dhanmondi 32 residence. This event marked a fundamental shift in Bangladesh’s history because it marked the first time such external interference happened into its civil politics.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman remained either a President or Prime Minister of Bangladesh from April, 1971 until his unfortunate death throughout his political career. In the general election held in undivided Pakistan in 1970, Awami League led by Sheikh Mujib won a landslide victory which enabled them to get majority seats almost all seats those were then located in what is now Bangla Desh or East Bengal.
He became prime minister of Bangladesh before establishing single party system and became president in January 1975.
Less than one year into his tenure as president, on August 15th 2017; Sheik Mujibor Rahaman was assassinated including his wife and three daughters by group soldiers.
Afterwards, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad who at that time was the commerce minister took over power declaring himself head of an interim government. He served from August 15th to November 6th 1975.
However, Ahmad’s rule lasted shortly. On November 3rd he was overthrown through a coup led by Khaled Mosharraf who served as army chief of staff. He too fell victim to mutineers from rival factions and was killed, Parami News reports.
After several more coup attempts and counter-coups, General Ziaur Rahman eventually took over power on November 7th.
