Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Biography

In 1927, he was enrolled at the ‘Gimadanga Primary School’ and after two years he joined the ‘Gopalganj Public School’ in class three. In 1931, he was enrolled in class four at the ‘Madaripur Islamia High School’.

He had to drop out from school in 1934, due to eye surgery and his slow recovery posed hindrance in resuming school which he could do after four years.

His political calling effectually commenced in 1939, when he was studying at ‘Gopalganj Missionary School’. When Chief Minister of undivided Bengal, A.K. Fazlul Haque and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy visited the school campus, a group of students under his leadership demanded repair of damaged roof of the school.

In 1940, he joined the ‘All India Muslim Students Federation’ and was elected councillor for a term of one year.

After passing the entrance exam he enrolled at Calcutta Islamia College (at present ‘Maulana Azad College’) in 1942, and got involved in students politics.

In 1943, he became a member of the ‘Bengal Muslim League’ and toiled actively to accomplish the League’s mission of a distinct Muslim state of Pakistan.

In 1947, he completed his degree and emerged among the Muslim politicians who worked under the leadership of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy at the break of the 1946 communal violence that erupted in Calcutta. He strived to repress violence while safeguarding the Muslims.

Following the Partition of India, he joined the ‘University of Dhaka’ in the then East Pakistan as a law student and on January 4, 1948, he founded the ‘East Pakistan Muslim Students' League’.

He faced expulsion from the university and in 1949, was arrested for organising an agitation with the clerical and other menial staffs of ‘Dhaka University’ on the issue of rights of the workers.

He became the general secretary of the party on July 9, 1953, and next year he was elected a member of ‘East Bengal Legislative Assembly’ on the ticket of the coalition ‘United Front’.

On May 15, 1954, he became the agricultural and forest minister only for few days till May 29, when the ministry of the ‘United Front’ was expeditiously dismissed by the Central Government. He was again arrested on May 30, and released on December 23.

From 1955 to 1958, he remained an elected member of the second ‘Constituent Assembly of Pakistan’. In 1956, the ‘One Unit’ plan was implemented where western provinces were merged as ‘West Pakistan’ and ‘East Bengal’ became a part of ‘One Unit’ rechristened as ‘East Pakistan’. In 1956, he became the minister of commerce, industries, labour, village aid and anti-corruption but resigned in 1957.

General Ayub Khan enforced martial law on October 7, 1958, suspending the constitution. On October 11, and s Mujib was arrested. During this time he initiated ‘Swadhin Bangla Biplobi Porishad’ an underground organisation to counter the atrocities of Ayub Khan and his martial regime and to achieve an independent Bangladesh.

Mujib was released on January 8, 1972, following which he met Edward Heath, the then British Prime Minister in London, addressed international media, went to India to meet Indian President Varahagiri Venkata Giri and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and other cabinet members and then came back to Dhaka where he received a heart warming welcome.

He first became the President of the provisional government of Bangladesh and later took charge as the Prime Minister. The after-effect of rampage posed by the army of Pakistan witnessed the young Bangladesh in the middle of carnage in every way. The Bangladeshi army was gradually formed. Rigorous rehabilitation and other measures to bring the nation into normalcy were undertaken.

Gradually the nation recovered with Mujib playing a prominent role but the disastrous famine of 1974, in Bangladesh including other national issues infused dissent against his government. He was accused of nepotism while political and social unrest continued resulting in an upsurge in violence. He was blamed for killing forty thousand people by his ‘Rakkhi Bahini’. Finally an emergency was declared.

Mujib and most of his family members were assassinated on August 15, 1975, in a military coup initiated by treacherous army men and discontented members of ‘Awami League’. Daughters of Mujib however escaped the murder plot as they were in Germany.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was known for his love for animals, especially his pet pigeons. He would often spend time feeding and caring for them in his spare time.

Despite being a prominent political figure, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had a passion for cooking and was known to enjoy preparing traditional Bengali dishes for his family and friends.

He had a great sense of humor and was known for his witty remarks and jokes, which helped him connect with people from all walks of life.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was an avid reader and had a vast collection of books in his personal library. He encouraged a culture of learning and education among his supporters.

In addition to his political achievements, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was also a skilled orator and poet, known for his powerful speeches and writings that inspired a generation of Bangladeshis.