Mujibur Rahman

Mujibur Rahman , 1921-75, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) political leader, prime minister of Bangladesh (1972-75), popularly known as Sheikh Mujib. Concerned that East Pakistan was unfairly dominated by West Pakistan, he helped found (1949) the Awami League to fight for East Pakistan's autonomy. His political stance led to prison terms, but also brought him immense popular support.

The conflict between East and West Pakistan climaxed after the Dec., 1970, elections, in which the Awami League won a majority. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto , leader of West Pakistan, refused to agree to demands for autonomy, and Mujib was imprisoned in West Pakistan. Civil war broke out in Mar., 1971, when Pakistani troops were sent to put down protests in East Pakistan. With the aid of India, East Pakistani guerrillas proclaimed an independent Bangladesh , and defeated the Pakistani army in late 1971 (see India-Pakistan Wars ).

Released in early 1972, Mujib became prime minister of Bangladesh, and worked toward normalizing relations with Pakistan. In the face of growing opposition, he pushed through (Jan., 1975) a constitutional change making him president with dictatorial powers, but he and several other members of his family were slain in Aug., 1975, in a military coup. His daughter, Hasina Wazed , also has served as prime minister of Bangladesh.

Mujibur Rahman (known as ‘ Sheikh Mujib’) (1920–75) Bangladeshi statesman, Prime Minister (1972–75) and President 1975. In 1949 he cofounded the Awami (People's) League, which advocated autonomy for East Pakistan. He led the party to victory in the 1970 elections, but was imprisoned in 1971 when civil war broke out. Released in 1972, he became the first Prime Minister of independent Bangladesh. After his failure to establish parliamentary democracy, he assumed dictatorial powers in 1975. He and his family were assassinated in a military coup.

Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh (b. 1920, d. 14 Aug. 1975); Prime Minister of Bangladesh 1972–5; President 1975 Born in East Bengal as the son of a landowner, he studied law at the Universities of Calcutta and Dacca. An active member of the Muslim Students' Federation since 1940, he became a founding member of the Awami League in 1949. Owing to his skills as party organizer he became the League's chairperson for East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1963, and led it to an overwhelming victory there in 1970, on a platform of greater autonomy from (West) Pakistan. The scale of the victory came to legitimize demands for independence, whereupon the Pakistani army intervened and he was imprisoned. Released by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1972, he became Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He nationalized a number of key industries, while promoting a political structure modelled on the British Parliament. He had poor administrative skills, however, which he sought to compensate by assuming presidential powers. He dissolved the Awami League and formed the Baksal movement as the only legal political organization, though he was assassinated soon after by a group of discontented army officers.