Bangabondhu,
Bangladesh and our independence have very closed relation. Bangabondhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman had one of the great nationalizes leader in the world.
Bangabondhu (http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=714) was the pioneer and
architect of independent Bangladesh and its sovereignty. His political
prudence, indomitable courage, eloquence and powerful leadership motivated the
countrymen to join in the war of liberation.
Bangabondhu proclaimed independence on March 26 in
1971 and the people dived into nine months long bloody battle and achieved the
long desired sweetest freedom, He also gave restless effort to represent an
esteemed Bangalee nation on the world stage. His golden-etched name will remain
in the history of Bangalees and Bangladesh forever. But our nation has been
waiting from 34 years for justice his brutal murders.
August
15 in 1975 is a black-chapter in the history of Bangalee nation. Bangabondhu
and his family members were ruthlessly murdered by anti liberation force and
with the help of army member in this day. And the nation incurred an
irretrievable loss. The nation is deeply shocked and full with grief for this
shameful incident. Now, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of
Bangabondhu is the main target by killer's group especially Islamic militant
group.
The country today observes National Mourning Day
on the 34th death anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabondhu, with a vow
to implement the longstanding High Court verdict in the case in connection with
his murder. The day is a public holiday. The government chalked out nationwide
programmes to observe the day at the state level. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
(she is a daughter of Bangabondhu), will visit her father's grave at Tungipara
under Gopalgonj district today. Along with ruling Awami League (AL), different
political parties, and student and socio-cultural organizations also planned
programmes to mourn the killings of Bangabondhu and most of his family members
on this day in 1975. Three separate attacks on this day 34 years ago left 24
people killed. Bangabandhu's two daughters -- Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana
-- could escape the bloodbath as they were abroad at the time. The victims also
including wife of Bangabondhu Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal,
Sheikh Jamal and nine-year-old Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal
and Parveen Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni and his
wife Begum Arju Moni, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, 13-year-old Baby
Serniabat, Serniabat's son Arif and four-year-old grandson Babu, three guests,
Bangabondhu's four domestic helps, and his security chief Col Jamil Uddin
Ahmed.
Bangabondhu united the Bangalees to throw off the
shackles of Pakistani oppression and steered them towards independence. His
stirring speech on March 7, 1971, before a crowd of lakhs ready to stake
everything for freedom, left an indelible imprint on the nation's memory. For
21 long years, his killers had been immune from prosecution due to the
Indemnity Ordinance, which was finally repealed in 1996, paving the way for
trials of the killers. A murder case was filed on October 2, 1996. In November
1998, a trial court awarded death penalty to 15 former army officers for
killing Bangabondhu and his family members. The High Court (HC) upheld the
death sentences of 12. Five of the condemned -- dismissed army personnel Lt Col
Syed Farooq-ur Rahman, Lt Col Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Lt Col Muhiuddin
Ahmed, Maj AKM Mahiuddin Ahmed, and Maj Bazlul Huda -- are behind bars while
six are hiding abroad. Another condemned Aziz Pasha died. The five condemned
convicts filed separate appeals with the Appellate Division of Supreme Court in
the last week of October 2007 against their death sentences pronounced by the
HC.Law Minister Shafique Ahmed recently told journalists that hearings of the
appeals will start soon as there is no shortage of judges in the Supreme Court
now. The condemned six still at large are Shariful Haque Dalim, AKM Mahiuddin,
Rashed Chowdhury, Nur Chowdhury, Abdul Mazed, and Moslemuddin.
In
the daily Star published a special report on 15 August of 1975. The report
says. Islamic radicalism, menacing the nation for years now, was something India
and the United States learnt to dread soon after the assassination of
Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Documents lately declassified by the US
Office of the Historian show the apprehension had its roots in the perception
that Bangabondhu's killers--all military officers--were “pro-US, anti-Soviet
Union, Islamic, and less pro-Indian than the past leadership”.
The
August 15 bloodbath in 1975 left Mujib and most of his family butchered and his
party in total disarray. It led to the assumption that Pakistan would regain
its sway on the nation it sought to subdue only a few years back. In the
context of the cold war dynamics, India and the US were also concerned that
China, which recognized Bangladesh only after August 1975, might help radical
communist elements thrive in the delta sliding into militocracy. All these
worries were reflected in a conversation between the then US secretary of state
Henry Kissinger and Indian external minister YB Chavan.
The
US Office of the Historian, which is responsible for preparation and
publication of the official historical documentary record of American foreign
policy, has transcript of the conversation that took place at the US Department
of State on October 6, 1975. There, the discussion related to the developments
in Bangladesh goes like this:
YB
Chavan: The new president [Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed] has sent us assurances
that he was standing by the same policy but we are concerned, in particular,
whether the new government will take an extreme Islamic posture. This would
create problems for the minority in Bangladesh. If the Hindus again feel
insecure, there might be a new wave of refugees. Kissinger: Is there a large
minority group in Bangladesh? Chavan: About 15%. It is a major factor. So far
the new government (after Mujib killing) has given assurances it would follow
the same policy as Mujib, but we are naturally worried about the influence of
Pakistan on Bangladesh. Kissinger: What is your impression? Chavan: They have
just announced diplomatic relations. This is a good thing. Even under Mujib we
recommended this. We never wanted an exclusive relationship with Bangladesh.
Our worry is only this: That they might try to give a different connotation to
the situation by giving an Islamic twist to things. Also the Chinese recognized
[Bangladesh] only after the coup. Frankly, we are worried. There are radical
communist elements in Bangladesh which the Chinese might try to help. Here we
hope the US and India will have a common approach.
After a while, Kissinger asked his Indian
counterpart, “What is the tendency of the [Bangladesh] military? Is it
anti-Indian?" Chavan replied, "Frankly, there is some anti-Indian
tendency, I am sorry to say." At this point, Kewal Singh, the then
secretary of Indian external affairs ministry, chipped in, "Some people
hostile to Mujib were brought back. We don't want to give the impression we are
concerned but pro-Islamic and pro-radical groups have some strength."
Chavan and Kissinger met the following day as well
and talked about Bangladesh. Almost immediately they got down to serious
talking about political ramifications of the August 15 coup d'état. Yet again,
the Indian minister said, "We are worried about Bangladesh. Radical
movements are already there. If Pakistan and China converse their efforts, this
could pose a problem. This would be a new factor in South Asia which needs
assessment." The secretary of state said, "Previously, the Chinese
were opposed to Bangladesh. They were not among Mujib's admirers." As he
asked if India had any advance indication of the coup, his opposite number
replied, "None."
Kissinger then observed, "People are always
complaining that we don't know about things in advance…They should realize that
any coup that succeeds must have fooled someone. Mujib just couldn't have
imagined that anyone would organize a coup against him. As I understand it,
your relations with Bangladesh are now good. What you are concerned about is a
future possibility.”
TN Kaul, the then Indian ambassador to the US,
added, "The danger is Pan Islamism." At one point, Kissinger said,
"The real worry would be if countries with resources like Saudi Arabia get
radical leaders. Then there would be trouble." Kaul said, "One reason
why we banned the Jamaat Islami and RSS is that these parties were getting
money from the outside." The Kissinger-Chavan meeting gives an impression
that none of the two countries had prior knowledge of the military takeover.
But the US state department's documents suggest
quite the contrary. They show that like India, the US had gathered that
something sinister was brewing, and it had even informed Bangabondhu about it.
Minutes of a staff meeting headed by Kissinger after August 15, show that the
US was well aware of the plot. There, Kissinger was heard enquiring Alfred
Atherton Jr., assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern and South Asian
affairs in 1974-1978, about the assassination. Atherton said the US had lots of
indications in March that some quarters were scheming to kill Mujib. Kissinger
asked, "Didn't we tell him [Mujib] about it?" The assistant secretary
of state said, "We told him at the time." As his boss pressed to know
if Bangabondhu was told who it was going to be, Atherton answered, "I will
have to check whether we gave him the names." At that point, Hyland of
Bureau of Intelligence and Research said, "We were a little imprecise on
that."
Referring
to the US alerting Bangabondhu to the danger of an attack on him, Atherton
said, "He [Mujib] brushed it off, scoffed at it, and said nobody would do
a thing like that to him." Kissinger remarked, "He was one of the
world's prize fools." Talking about the coup leaders, Atherton said,
"They are military officers, middle and senior officers, who are generally
considered less pro-Indian than the past leadership; pro-US, anti-Soviet."
The secretary of state responded, "Absolutely inevitable." And
Atherton went on, "Islamic. They have changed the name to the Islamic
Republic” Kissinger said, "That they would be pro-US was not inevitable.
In fact, I would have thought at some turn of the wheel they were going to
become pro-Chinese, and anti-Indian I firmly expected. I always knew India
would rue the day that they made Bangladesh independent. I predicted that since
'71."
Major
Dalim, one of the on-the-run convicted killers of Bangabondhu, in a radio
announcement soon after the killings declared the country would now be named
"Islamic Republic of Bangladesh". The declaration which eventually
did not materialise was a complete contrast to the secular ideals that stirred
Bangalees to fight for independence from "Islamic Republic of
Pakistan" in 1971.
Though
the republic's name was spared a change, its constitution soon lost secular
character. The original charter saw secularism dropped as one of its four
fundamental principles. It also had 'Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim' in the
preamble.
Even
more alarming was the scrapping of the ban on religion-based political parties.
During the rule of Ziaur Rahman, five parties including Jamaat-e-Islami, which
collaborated with the Pakistani occupation forces and committed genocide and
numerous atrocities during the Liberation War, were allowed to be in politics
again. The government of independent Bangladesh in its first decision banned
these parties that always oppose the nation's independence and thrive on
communal disturbances. In the early 80s, the country's second military ruler HM
Ershad introduced Islam as state religion, dealing a death blow to secularism.
The rise of Islamist militancy, once a fear, is a
reality now, 34 years after the August 15 carnage. During the BNP-Jamaat-led
rule in 2001-2006, Islamist outfits spread tentacles across the country thanks
to patronage from some influential leaders of the ruling alliance. Though the
BNP government woke up to the dangers of militancy towards the end of its
tenure, it was too little too late. Now the task lies with Awami League-led
grand alliance that came to power on promises that include the one to root out
militancy. And at the centre stage in the combat against militancy is Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina, who herself had been the target of several attacks.
Now the peoples of Bangladesh have don't want to
bother any late to execute the killers of Bangabondhu. In the same time we want
to see immediately the constitution of 1972 which was made after our
independence. We want to see to our loving country Bangladesh as an actual
democratic country, there will have rule of law, good governance, enough food
for our poor peoples, nutrition for all children's, there have no discrimination.
Source: the daily Star & BD
You
can agree or disagree with his political philosophy, but even his enemies have
no doubt about the patriotism of this man: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding
father of Bangladesh. He spent most of his life fighting against the injustice
bestowed upon Bangalees, first by the British, and then by the Pakistani
Panjabi military/civil junta. After the mass uprising of 1969, he was given the
title "Bangabandhu", means "Friend of Bengal". He is largely
known as Bangabandhu among the millions of Bangalees.
History
of Bangladesh is largely interconnected with the life of Bangabandhu. He was a
young political activist during the British rule. He was active in every
political event of then East Bengal/East Pakistan: the Language Movement of
1952, Jukta Front election of 1954, Student Movement of 1962, 6-Point Demand of
1966, Mass Uprising of 1969, and finally Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971
against the Pakistanis. He was imprisoned more than a decade during the
24-years of Pakistani rule.
What
the Pakistanis could not do, some corrupt military officers were able to do so
in our own soil. They killed Bangabandhu along with most of his extended family
in August 15, 1975, just after 3 and 1/2 years of independence. Two of his daughters,
Shiekh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, survived. In November 4, 1975, they killed 4
national leaders, cornerstone of our Liberation War: Syed Nazrul Islam, Taz
Uddin Ahmed, Captain Mansoor Ali, and Kamrujjaman.
Without a doubt, Bangabandhu is the greatest
Bangalee of our known history. He gave us a nation, a new country, a new
identity. Even today, he is more powerful as dead than anyone of us alive.
Credits:All of the pictures and information in
this book is contained in the book JATIR JANAK Father of the Nation, publised
by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust, Road
32, Dhanmondhi R/A, Dhaka-1209. This book was published in August 1, 1997 and
available in Muktizuddha Jadughar, Dhaka
The murderers of Bangabandhu
should be bringing back.
1920
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born in a respectable Muslim family on 17 March 1920,
in Tungipara village under the then Gopalganj subdivision (at present district)
of Faridpur district .He was the third child among the four daughters and two
sons of Sheikh Luthfur Rahman and Sheikh Sahara Khatun. His parents called him
Khoka out of affection. Bangabandhu spent his childhood in Tungipara.
1927
At the age of seven, Bangabandhu began his shooling at Gimadanga Primary
school. At nine, he was admitted to class three at Gopalganj Public School.
Subsequently, he was transferred to a local Missionary School.
1934
Bangabandhu was forced to go for a break of study when, at the age of fourteen,
one of his eyes had to be operated on.
1937
Bangabandhu returned to school after break of four years caused by the severity
of an eye operation.
1938
At eighteen Mujib married Begum Fazilatunnesa.They later became the parents of
two daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana and three sons, Sheikh Kamal,
Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Rassel. All the sons were to be killed along with their
parents on 15 August, 1975.
1939
Bangabandhu's political career was effectively inaugurated while he was a
student of Gopalganj Missionary School. He led a group of students to demand
that cracked roof of the school be repaired when 'Sher-e-Bangla' A.K. Fazlul
Haque, Chief Minister of undivided Bengal, came to visit the school along with
Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy.
1940
Sheikh Mujib joined the Nikhil Bharat Muslim Chathra Federation (All India
Muslim Students Federation). He was elected councillor for a one year term.
1942
Sheikh mujibur Rahman passed the Entrance (Corrently Secondary School
Certificate) examination. He then took admission as an intermidiate student in
the Humanities faculty of Calcutta Islamia College, where he had lodgins at
Baker Hostel. The same year Bangabandhu got actively involved with the movement
for the creation of Pakistan.
1943
Sheikh Mujib's busy and active political career took off in the literal sense
with his election as a Councillor of the Muslim League.
1944
Bangabandhu took part in the conference of All Bengal Muslim Students League
held in Kushtia, where he played an important role. He was also elected
Secretary of Faridpur District Association, a Calcutta-based organisation of
the residents of Faridpur.
1946
Sheikh Mujib was elected General Secretary of Islamia College Students Union. 1947
Bangbandhu obtained Bachelor of Arts degree from Islamia College under Calcutta
Universiy. When communal riots broke out in the wake of the partition of India
and the birth of Pakistan, Bangabandhu played a pioneering role in protecting
Muslims and trying to contain the violence.
1949
Bangabandhu took admission in the Law department of Dhaka University. He
founded Muslim Students League on 4 January. He rose in spontaneous protest on
23 February when Prime Minister Khwaja Najimuddin in his speech at the
Legislative Assembly declared: "The people of East Pakistan will accept
Urdhu as their state language." Khwaja Najimuddin's remarks touched off a
storm of protest across the country. Sheikh Mujib immediately plunged into
hectic activities to build a strong movement against the Muslim League's
premediated, heinous design to make Urdhu the only state language of Pakistan.
He established contacts with students and political leaders. On 2 March, a meeting
of the workers of different political parties was held to chart the course of
the movement against the Muslim League on the language issue. The meeting held
at Fazlul Haq Hall approved a resolution placed by Bangabandhu to form an
All-party State League Action Council. The Action Council called for a general
strike on 11 March to register its protest against the conspiracy of Muslim
League against Bangla. On 11 March, Bangabandhu was arrested along with some
colleagues while they were holding a demonstration in front of the Secretariat
building. The student community of the country rose in protest folloing the
arrest of Bangabandhu. In the face of strong student movement, Muslim League
government was forced to release Bangabandhu and other students leaders on 15
March. Following his release, the All-party State Language Action Council held
a public rally at Dhaka University Amtala on 16 March. Bangabandhu presided
over the rally, which was soon set upon by the police. To protest the police
action Bangabandhu announced a countrywide student strike for 17 March. Later,
on 19 May, Bangabandhu led a movement in support of Dhaka University Class Four
employees struggling to redress the injustice done to them by their employers.
Mujib was arrested again on 11 September.
1948
Sheikh Mujib was released from jail on 21 January. Bangabandhu extended his
support to a strike called by the Class Four employees of Dhaka University to
press home their various demands. The university authorities illogically
imposed a fine on him for leading the movement of the employees. He rejected
the unjust order. Eventually, the Anti-Muslim League candidate Shamsul Huq won
by-election in Tangailon 26 April . Mujib was arrested for staging a sit-in
strike before the Vice-Chancellor's residence. When the East Pakistan Awami
Muslim League was formed on 23 June, Bangabandhu was elected its Joint
Secretary despite his incarceration. He was released in late June. Immediately
after his release, he began organising an agitation against the prevailing food
crisis.In September he was detained for violating Section 144. Later, however,
he was freed. He raised the demand for Chief Minister Nurul Amin's resignation
at a meeting of the Awami Muslim League in October. The Awami Muslim League
brought out an anti-famine procession in Dhaka on the occasion of Pakistan's
Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan's visit to the province. Once again Bangabandhu
was arrested and jailed, this time for two years and five months for leading
the demonstration.
1952
On 26 January, Khwaja Najimuddin declare that Urdhu would be the state language
of Pakistan. Though still in jail, Bangabandhu managed to play a leading role
in organizing a protest against this announcement. From prison he sent out a
call to the State Language Action Council to observe 21 February as Demand Day
for releasing political prisoners and making Bangla the state language. He
began a hunger strike on 14 February. On 21 February the student community
violated Section 144 and brought out procession in Dhaka to demand the
recognition of Bangla as the state language. Police opened fire, killing in the
process Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar, and Shafiur, who thus became martyrs of
the Language Movement. In a statement from jail, Bangabandhu condemned the
police firing and registered his strong protest. He was on hunger strike for 13
consecutive days. He was moved from Dhaka Central Jail to Faridpur Jail to
prevent him from making contact with the organizers of the movement. He was
released from jail on 26 February.
1953
On 9 July, Mujib was elected General Secretary of East Pakistan Awami League at
its council session. Efforts were made to forge unity among Moulana Bhashani,
A.K.Fazlul Huq and Shaheed Suhrawardy with the objective of taking on the
Muslim League at the general elections. To achieve this goal, a special council
session of the party was called on 14 November, when a resolution to form the
Juktha Front(United Front) was approved.
1954
The first general election were held on 10 March. The United Front won 223
seats out of a total of 237, including 143 captured by the Awami League.
Bangabandhu swept the Gopalganj constituencey, defeating the powerful Muslim
League leader Wahiduzzaman by a magin of 13,00 votes. On 15 May, Bangabandhu
was given charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests when the new
provincial government was formed. On 29 May the Central Government arbitrarily
dismissed the United Front Ministry. Bangabandhu was again arrested once he
landed at Dhaka airport after a flight from Karachi on 30 May. He was freed on
23 December.
1955
Bangabandhu was elected a member of the legislative Assembly on June. The Awami
League held a public meeting at Paltan Maidan on 17 June where it put forward a
21-point programme demanding autonomy for East Pakistan. On 23 June, the
Working Council of the Awami League decided that its members would resign from
the Legislative Assembly if autonomy was not granted to East Pakistan. On 25
August, Bangabandhu told Pakistan's Assembly in Karachi: "SIR, YOU WILL
SEE THAT THEY WANT TO PLACE THE WORD 'EAST PAKISTAN' INSTEAD OF 'EAST BENGAL'.
WE HAVE DEMANDED SO MANY TIMES THAT YOU SHOULD USE BENGAL INSTEAD OF PAKISTAN.
THE WORD 'BENGAL' HAS A HISTORY, HAS A TRADITION OF ITS OWN. YOU CAN CHANGE
ONLY AFTER THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONSULTED. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT THEN WE
HAVE TO GO BACK IN BENGAL AND ASK THEM WHETHER THEY ACCEPT IT. SO FAR AS THE
QUESTION OF ONE-UNIT IS CONCERNED IT CAN COME IN THE CONSTITUTION. WHY DO YOU
WANT IT TO BE TAKEN UP JUST NOW ? WHAT ABOOUT THE STATE LANGUAGE, BENGALI? WE
WILL BE PREPERED TO CONSIDER ONE-UNIT WITH ALL THESE THINGS. SO, I APPEAL TO MY
FRIENDS ON THAT SIDE TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO GIVE THEIR VERDICT IN ANY WAY, IN
THE FORM OF REFERENDUM OR IN THE FORM OF PLEBISCITE." On 21 October, the party
dropped the word Muslim from its name at a spacial council of the Bangladesh
Awami League, making the party a truly modern and secular one. Bangabandhu was
re-elected General Secretary of the Party.
1956
On 3 February, Awami League leaders, during a meeting with the Chief Minister,
demanded that the subject of provincial autonomy be included in the draft
constitution. On 14 July, the Awami League at a meeting adopted resolution
opposing the representation of the military in the administration . The resolution
was moved by Bangabandhu. On 4 September, an anti-famine procession was brought
out under the leadership of Bangabandhu defying Section 144. At least 3 people
were killed when police opened fire in hte procession in Chawkbazar area. On 16
September, Bangabandhu joined the coalition government, assuming the charge of
Industries, Commerce, Labour, Anti-Corruption and Village Aid Ministry.
1957
On 30 May, Bangabandhu resigned from the cabinet in response to a resolution of
the Party to strengthen the organization by working for it full-time. On 7
August, he went on an official tour of China and the Soviet Union.
1958
Pakistan's President, Major General Iskandar Mirja, and the chief of Pakistan's
Army, General ayub Khan, imposed martial law on 7 October and banned politics.
Bangabandhu was arrested on 11 October. Thereafter he was continiously harassed
through one false case after another. Released from prison after 14 months, he
was arrested again at the jail gate.
1958
Bangabandhu was released from jail after he won a writ petition in the High
Court. Then he started underground political activities against the marital law
regime and dictator Ayub Khan. During this period he set up an underground
organization called "Swadhin Bangla Biplobi Porishad", or Independent
Bangla Revolutionary Council, comprising outstanding student leaders in order
to work for the independence of Bangladesh.
1962
Once again Bangabandhu was arrested under the Public Security Act on 6
February. He was freed on 18 June, following the withdrawal of the
four-year-long martial law on 2 June. On 25 June, Bangabandhu joined other
national leaders to protest the measures introduced by Ayub Khan. On 5 July, he
addressed a public rally at Paltan Maidan where he bitterly criticised Ayub Khan.
He went to Lahore on 24 September and joined forces with Shaheed Suhrawardy to
form the National Democratic Front, an alliance of the opposition parties. He
spent the entire month of October travelling across the whole of Bengal along
with Shaheed Suhrawardy to drum up public support for the front.
1963
Sheikh Mujib went to London for consultations with Suhrawardy, who was there
for medical treatment. On 5 December, Suhrawardy died in Beirut.
1964
The Awami League was revitalized on 25 January at a meeting held at
Bangabandhu's residence. The meeting adopted a resolution to demand the
introduction of parliamentary democracy on the basis of adult franchise in
response to public sentiment. The meeting elected Maulana Abdur Rashid
Tarkabagish as party President and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib as General
Secretary. On 11 March, an All-party Action Council was formed. Bangabandhu led
a committee to resist communal riots. Following the riots he took the
initiative to start a vigorous anti-Ayub movement. Bangabandhu was arrested 14
days before the presidential election.
1965
The government charged Sheikh Mujib with sedition and making objectionable
statements. He was sentenced to a one year jail term. He was later released
on an order of the High Court.
1966
On 5 February, a national conference of the opposition parties was held in
Lahore. Bangabandhu placed his historic 6-point demand before the select
committee of the conference. The 6-point demand was a palpable charter of
freedom of the Bengali nation. On the first day of March, Bangabandhu was
elected President of the Awami League. Following his election, he launched a
campaign to obtain enthusiastic support for the 6-point demand. He toured the
entire country . During his tour he was arrested by the police and detained
variously at Sylhet, Mymensing and Dhaka several times, During the first
quarter of the year he was arrested eight times. On 8 May, he was arrested
again after his speech at a rally of jute mill workers in Narayanganj. A
countrywide strike was observed on 7 June to demand the release of Bangabandhu
and other political prisoners. Police opened fire during the strike and killed
a number of workers in Dhaka, Narayanganjand Tongi.
1968
The Pakistan government instituted the notorious Agartala Conspiracy Case
against Bangabandhu and 34 Bengali military and CSP officers. Sheikh Mujib was
named accused number one in the case that charged the arrested persons with
conspiring to bring about the secession of East Pakistan from the rest of
Pakistan. The accused were kept detained inside Dhaka Cantonment.
Demonstrations started throughout the province province demanding the release
of Bangabandhu and the other co-accused in the Agartala Conspiracy Case. The
trial of the accused began on 19 June inside Dhaka Cantonment amidst tight
security.
1969
The Central Students Action Council was formed on 5 January to press for the
acceptance of the 11-point demand of Bangabandhu. The council initiated a
countrywide student agitationto force the government to withdraw the Agartala
Conspiracy Case and release Bangabandhu. The agitation gradually developed into
a mass movement. After months of protests, violation of Section 144 and
curfews, firing by the police and the EPR and a number of casulties, the
movement peaked into an unprecedented mass upsurge that forced Ayub Khan to
convene a round-table conference of political leaders and annnounce
Bangabandhu's release on parole. Bangabandhu turned down the offer of release
in parole. On 22 February, the central government bowed to the continued mass
protests and freed Bangabandhu and the other co-accused. The conspiracy case
was withdrawn. The Central Students Action Council arranged a reception in
honour of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 23 February at the Race Course(Suhrawardy Uddyan).
At this meeting of one million people, Mujib was publicly acclaimed as
Bangabandhu(Friend of Bengal). In his speech on the occasion, Bangabandhu
pledged his total support to the 11-point demand of the students.
On 10 March Bangabandhujoined the round- table conference called by Ayub Khan
in Rawalpindi. At the conference, Bangabandhu placed the 6- point demand of his
party and the 11-point of the students and said "To end the people's anger
there is no alternative to the acceptance of the 6-point and 11-point demand
and the granting of regional autonomy." When the Pakistani polititians rejected his demand he left the conference on 13
March .The next day he returned to Dhaka . On 25 March Gen. Yahya Khan seized
power and imposed martial law. On 25 October, Bangabandhu went to London on a
three week organizational tour. On 5 December, Bangabandhu declared at a
discussion meeting held to observe the death anniversary of Shaheed Suhrawardy
that henceforth East Pakistan would be called Bangladesh. He added "There
was a time when all efforts were made to erase the word 'Bangla' from this land
and its map . The existance of the word 'Bangla' was found nowhere except in
the term Bay of Bengal. I, on be half of Pakistan, announce today that this
land will be called 'Bangladesh' instead of 'East Pkistan '."
1970
Bangabandhu was re-elected President of the Awami League on 6 January. The
Awami League at a meeting of the working committee on 1 April decided to take
part in the general elections scheduled for later that year. On 7 June,
Bangabandhu addressed a public meeting at Race Course ground and urged the
people to elect his party on the issue of the 6-point demand . On 17 October,
Bangabandhu selected the boat as his party 's elections symbol and launched his
campaign through an election rally at Dhaka's Dholai Khal. On 28 October, he
addressed the nation over radio and television and called upon the people to
elect his party's candadates to implement the 6-point demand. When a deadly
cyclonic storm hit the coastal belt of Bangladesh, killing at least one million
people, Bangabandhu suspended his election campaign and rushed to the aid of
the helpless people in the affected areas. He strongly condemned the Pakistani
rulers' indifference to the cyclone victims and protested against it. He called
on the international community to help the people affected by the cyclone. In
the general elections held on 7 December, the Awami League gained an absolute
majority. The Awami League secured 167 out of 169 National Assembly seats in
the Provincial Assembly.
1971
On 3 January, Bangabandhu conducted the oath of the people's elected
representatives at a meeting at the Race Course ground. The Awami League
members took the oath to frame a constitution on the basis of the 6-point demand
and pledged to remain loyal to the people who had elected them. On 5 January,
Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, the leader of the majority party, the People's Party, in
the then West Pakistan, announced his readiness to form a coalition government
at the centre with the Awami League. Bangabandhu was chosen as the leader of
his party's parliamentary party at a meeting of the National Assembly members
elected from his party . On 27 January, Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto arrived in Dhaka
for talks with Bangabandhu. The talks collapsed after three days of
deliberation. In an announcement on 13 February, President Yahya Khan summoned
the National Assembly to convene in Dhaka on 3 March. On 15 February, Bhutto
announced that he would boycott the session and demanded that power be handed
over to the majority parties in East Pakistan and West Pakistan. In a statement
on 16 February, Bangabandhu bitterly criticised the demaned of Bhutto and said,
"The demand of Bhutto sahib is totally illogical. Power has to be handed
over to the only majority party, the Awami League. The people of East Bengal
are now the masters of power."
On 1 March, Yahya Khan abruptly postponed the National Assembly session,
prompting a storm of protest throughout Bangladesh. Bangabandhu called an
emergency meeting of the working committee of the Awami League, which called a
countrywide hartal for 3 March. After the hartal was successfully observed,
Bangabandhu on 3 March called on the President to immediately transfer power to
his party.
On 7 March, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, addressed a mammoth publicrally
at the Race Course ground, where he declared: "THE STRUGGLE NOW IS THE
STRUGGLE FOR OUR EMANCIPATION, THE STRUGGLE NOW IS THE STRUGGLE FOR OUR
INDEPENDENCE. JOI BANGLA ."
In this historic speech, Bangabandhu urged the nation to break the suckles of
subjugation and declared, "SINCE WE HAVE GIVEN BLOOD, WE WILL GIVE MORE
BLOOD. INSHALLAH, THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY WILL BE LIBERATED..... TURN EVERY
HOUSE INTO A FORT. FACE(THE ENEMY) WITH WHATEVER YOU HAVE."
He advised the people to prepare themselves for a guerilla war against the
enemy. He asked the people to start a total non-cooperation movement against
the government of Yahya Khan. There were ineffectual orders from Yahya Khan on
the one hand, while the nation, on the other hand, received directives from
Bangabandhu's Road 32 residence. The entire nation carried out Bangabandhu's
instructions. Every organization, including government offices, banks,
insurance companies, schools, colleges mills and factories obeyed Bangabandhu's
directives. The response of people of Bangladesh to Bangabandhu's call was
unparalleled in history. It was Bangabandhu who conducted the administration of
an independent Bangladesh from March 7 to March 25.
On 16 March, Yahya Khan came to Dhaka for talks with Bangabandhu on the issue
of transfer of power. Bhutto also came a few days later to Dhaka for talks. The
Mujib-Yahya-Bhutto talks continued until 24 March. Yahya Khan left Dhaka in the
evining of 25 March, in secrecy. On the night of 25 March, the Pakistan Army
cracked down on the innocent unarmed Bangalis. They attacked Dhaka University,
the Peelkhana Headquarters of the then East Pakistan Rifles and the Rajarbagh
Police Headquarters.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman read out a wireless message, moments after
the crackdown began, declaring the independence of Bangladesh as 25 March gave
away to 26 March . His declaration was transmitted over wireless to the country
"THIS MAY BE MY LAST MESSAGE, FROM TODAYBANGLADESH IS INDEPENDENT. I CALL
UPON THE PEOPLE OF BANGLADESH WHEREVER YOU MIGHT BE AND WITH WHATEVER YOU HAVE,
TO RESIST THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION TO THE LAST. YOUR FIGHT MUST GO ON UNTIL THE
LAST SOLDIER OF THE PAKISTAN OCCUPATION ARMY IS DRIVEN OUT THE SOIL OF
BANGLADESH. FINAL VICTORY IS OURS."
He called upon all sections of people, including Bengali military and civilian
personnel, students, workersa nd peasants, to join the resistance against the
occupation Pakistan army. This message of Bangabandhu was immediately disseminated
throughout the country through radio equipment under specialarrangements. The
same night jawans and officers in Chittagong, Comilla and Jessore cantonments
put up resistance to the Pakistan army after receiving this message.
Bangabandhu's declaration was broadcast by Chittagong radio station. The
Pakistan army arrested Bangabandhu from his Dhanmandi residence at 1:10 a.m.
and whisked him away to Dhaka cantonment. On 26 March he was flown to Pakistan
as a prisoner. The same day, General Yahya Khan, in a broadcast banned the
Awami League and called Bangabandhu a traitor.
On 26 March M.A. Hunnan, an Awami League leader in Chittagong, read out
Bangabandhu's declaration of independence over Chittagong Radio. On 10 April,
the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Bangladesh was formed with
Bangabandhu as President.
The revolutionary government took the oath of office on 17 a pril at the
Amrakanan of Baidayanathtala in Meherpur, which is now known as Mujibnagar.
Bangabandhu was elected President, Syed Nazrul Islam Acting President and
Tazuddin Ahmed Prime Minister. The liberation war ended on 16 December when the
Pakistani occupation forces surrendered at the historic Race Course ground
accepting defeat in the glorious war led by the revolutionary government in
exile. Bangladesh was finally free.
Earlier, between Aaugust and September of 1971, the Pakistani janta held a
secret trial of Bangabandhu inside Lyallpur jail in Pakistan. He was sentenced
to death. The freedom loving people of the world demanded absolute security of
Bangabandhu's life. Once Bangladesh was liberated, the Bangladesh government
demanded that Bangabandhu be released immediately and unconditionally. A number
of countries, including India, and the Soviet Union and various international organizations
urged the release of Bangabandhu. Pakistan had no right to hold Bangabandhu,
who was the architect of Bangladesh had been recognised by many countries of
the world.
1972
The Pakistan government freed Bangabandhu on 8 January 1972. Bangabandhu was
seen off at Rawalpindi by Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, by now Pakistani's President.
The same day Bangabandhu left for London en rout to Dhaka. In London, British
Prime Minister Edward Heath met him. On his way back home from London
Bangabandhu had a stop-over in New Delhi, where he was received by Indian
President V.V. Giri and Prime Minister Indira Gandi.
A memorable reception was accorded to Bangabandhu when the Father of the Nation
reached Dhaka on 10 January. From the airport he drove straight to the Race
Course ground where he made a tearful address before the country. On 12
January, Bangabandhu became Bangladesh's Prime Minister. On 6 February he left
for a visit to India at the invitation of the Indian government. After twenty
four years the Dhaka University authorities rescined his expulsion order and
accorded him the Universities's life membership.
On 1 March he went to the Soviet Union on an official visit. The allied Indian
army left Dhaka on 17 March at the request of Bangabandhu. On 1 May he announced
a raise in the salary of class three and four employees of the government. On
30 July Bangabandhu underwent a gall bladder operation in London. From there he
went to Geneva. On 10 October the World Peace Council conferred the Jullio
Curie award on him. On 4 November, Bangabandhu announced that the first general
election in Bangladesh would be held on 7 March, 1973. On 15 December
Bangabandhu's government announced the provition of according state awards to
the freedom fighters. On the first anniversary of liberation the Constitution
of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh was adopted. Among the important
achievements of the Bangabandhu government: The re-organization of the
administrative system, adoption of the constitution, rehabiliation of one crore
people, restoration and development of communication system, expansion of
education, supply of fre books to students upto class five and at low price to
students up to class eight, effective ban on all anti-Islamic and anti-social
activities like gambling, horse races, liquor, establishment of Islamic
foundation, re-organization of Madrassa Board, establlishedment of 11,000
primary schools, nationalization of 40,000 primary schools, establishment of
women's rehabilitation centre for the welfare of distressed woman. Freedom
Fighters Welfare Trust, waiving tax upto 25 bighas of land, distribution of
agricultural inputs among farmers free of cost or at nominal price,
nationalization of banks and insurance companies abandoned by the Pakistais and
580 industrial units, employment to thousands of workers and employees,
construction of Ghorashal Fertilizer Factory, primary work of Ashugangj Complex
and establishment of othe new industrial units and reopening of the closed
industries. Thus Bangabandhu sucessfully built an infrastructure for the
economy to lead the country towards progress and prosperity. Another landmark
achievement of the Bangabandhu government was to gain recognition of almost all
countries of the world and the United Nations membership in a short period of
time.
1973
The Awami secured 293 out of the 300 Jatiya Sangsad(parliament) seats in the
first general elections. On 3 September, the Awami League, CPB and NAP formed
Oikya Front(United Front). On 6 September, Bangabandhu travelled to Algeria to
attend the Non-aligned Movement Summit Conferrence.
1974
The Peoploe's Republic of Bangladesh was accorded membership of United Nations.
On 24 September, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman addressed the UN General
Assembly in Bangla.
1975
On 25 January country switched over to the presidential system of governance
and Bangabandhu took over as President of the republic. On 24 February,
Bangladesh Krishak Awami League, comprising all the poliotical parties of the
country, was launched. On 25 February, Bangabandhu called upon all parties and
leaders to join this national party. He felt the need for making Bangladesh a
self-reliant nation by reducing dependence on forign aid. So he overhauled the
economic policies to achieve the goal of self-reliance by reducing dependence
on foreign aid. So he overhauled the economic policies to achieve the goal of
self-relaince. He launched the Second revolution to make independence
meaningful and ensure food, clothing, shelter, medicare, education and jobs to
the people. The objectives of the revolution were: elimination of corruption,
boosting production in mills, factories and fields, population control and
established of national unity.
Bangabandhu received an unprecedented response to his call to achieve economic
freedom by uniting the entire nation. The economy started picking up rapidly
within a short time. Production oncreased. Smugling stoped. The prices of
essentiala came down to within parchasing capacity of the common man. Imbued
with new hope, the people unitedly marched forward to extend the benefits of
independence to every doorstep. But that condition did not last long.
In the pre-dawn hours of August 15 the noblest and the greatest of Bangalees in
a thousand years, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of
Bangladesh and the Father of the Nation, was assassinated by a handful of
ambitious and treacherous military officers. On that day, Bangabandhu's wife, a
noble woman, Begum Fajilatunnesa; his eldest son, freedom fighter Sheikh Kamal;
second son Lt. Sheikh Jamal; youngest son Sheikh Russel; two daughters-in-law,
Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal; Bangabandhu's brother Sheikh Nasser;
brothe-in-law and Agriculture Minister Abdur Rab Serniabat and his daughter
Baby Serniabat; Bangabandhu's nephew, youth leader and journalist Sheikh Fajlul
Huq Moni and his pregnant wife Arju Moni; Bangabandhu's security officer Brig.
Jamil and a 14-year-old boy Rintoo were killed. In all, the killers slaughters
16 members and relatives of Bangadhu's family.
Martial law was imposed in the country after the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman. Democracy was done away with and basic rights were snached
away. Thus began the politics of killing, coups and conspiracy. The people's
rights to food and vote were taken away. There is interntional provision to
hold trial of killers to protect human rights in the world. But unfortunately
in Bangladesh, a martial law ordinance was decreed(Indemnity Ordinance)
exempting the self-confessed killers of Bangabandhufrom any trial. Having captured
power illigally through a military coup, Gen. Ziaur Rahman debased the
Constitution by incorporating the notorious Indemnity Ordinance in the Fifth
Amendment to the Constitution. He rewarded the killers with jobs in Bangladesh
diplomatic mission abroad. The Indemnity Ordinance was repealed by Parliament
only after the Awami League led by Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina
returned to power in 1996. August 15, 1975 is the blackest day in our national
life. The nation observes this day as National Mourning Day.
15 August 1975
On 25 January
country switched over to the presidential system of governance and Bangabandhu
took over as President of the republic. On 24 February, Bangladesh Krishak
Awami League, comprising all the poliotical parties of the country, was
launched. On 25 February, Bangabandhu called upon all parties and leaders to
join this national party. He felt the need for making Bangladesh a self-reliant
nation by reducing dependence on forign aid. So he overhauled the economic
policies to achieve the goal of self-reliance by reducing dependence on foreign
aid. So he overhauled the economic policies to achieve the goal of
self-relaince. He launched the Second revolution to make independence
meaningful and ensure food, clothing, shelter, medicare, education and jobs to
the people. The objectives of the revolution were: elimination of corruption,
boosting production in mills, factories and fields, population control and
established of national unity.
Bangabandhu
received an unprecedented response to his call to achieve economic freedom by
uniting the entire nation. The economy started picking up rapidly within a
short time. Production oncreased. Smugling stoped. The prices of essentiala
came down to within parchasing capacity of the common man. Imbued with new
hope, the people unitedly marched forward to extend the benefits of
independence to every doorstep. But that condition did not last long.
In the pre-dawn
hours of August 15 the noblest and the greatest of Bangalees in a thousand
years, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh and the
Father of the Nation, was assassinated by a handful of ambitious and
treacherous military officers. On that day, Bangabandhu's wife, a noble woman,
Begum Fajilatunnesa; his eldest son, freedom fighter Sheikh Kamal; second son
Lt. Sheikh Jamal; youngest son Sheikh Russel; two daughters-in-law, Sultana
Kamal and Rosy Jamal; Bangabandhu's brother Sheikh Nasser; brothe-in-law and
Agriculture Minister Abdur Rab Serniabat and his daughter Baby Serniabat;
Bangabandhu's nephew, youth leader and journalist Sheikh Fajlul Huq Moni and
his pregnant wife Arju Moni; Bangabandhu's security officer Brig. Jamil and a
14-year-old boy Rintoo were killed. In all, the killers slaughters 16 members
and relatives of Bangadhu's family.
Martial law was
imposed in the country after the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Democracy was done away with and basic rights were snached away. Thus began the
politics of killing, coups and conspiracy. The people's rights to food and vote
were taken away. There is interntional provision to hold trial of killers to
protect human rights in the world.
But unfortunately in Bangladesh, a martial
law ordinance was decreed(Indemnity Ordinance) exempting the self-confessed
killers of Bangabandhufrom any trial. Having captured power illigally through a
military coup, Gen. Ziaur Rahman debased the Constitution by incorporating the
notorious Indemnity Ordinance in the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution. He
rewarded the killers with jobs in Bangladesh diplomatic mission abroad. The
Indemnity Ordinance was repealed by Parliament only after the Awami League led
by Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina returned to power in 1996. August 15,
1975 is the blackest day in our national life. The nation observes this day as
National Mourning Day.
15th August is the National Mourning Day. At the fateful
night of August 15
in 1975, the cruelest
assassination of history took place.
The founding architect of Bangladesh,
Father of the Nation, the Glorious Leader of Liberation War, Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman was assassinated along with all the members of his family then
in Dhaka and other leaders. Anti-Liberation and reactionary international
forces with the help of their local henchmen staged this most brutal murder of
all times. The anti-liberation reactionary and counter-revolutionary forces
usurped the state-power through the assassination of Bangabandhu on August 15,
1975.
The killers brutally murdered not only Bangabandhu, but
also his wife Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal
and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-Law Sultana Kamal and Parvin Jamal. Seventeen
more dear and near ones of Bangabandhu, including his brother Sheikh Abu Naser,
brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Haq Moni, Moni’s wife
Arju Moni, Shahid Serniabat, Baby Serniabat, Arif Serniabat, Sukanto Abdullah
Babu, security
officerColonel Jamil Uddin Ahmed and Abdul Noim Khan Rinto were also
killed during the world’s most heinous terrorism. Bangabandhu’s daughters,
incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, survived the carnage
as they were in Germany at that time.
The hyenas did not even spare the life of Bangabandhu’s
nine- year-old minor son Sheikh Russel who was awarded a swarm of bullets on
his soft chest when he cried out in fear of the horror and requested the
killers to take him to his mother.
After 15th August 1975, there came another cataclysmic
event that struck Awami League very seriously and led to a temporary vacuum in
the leadership: four national leaders, Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, M. Mansur Ali and A.H.M. Kamaruzzaman
were killed in Dhaka Central Jail by the same conspirators who had killed
Bangabandhu.
From that day, the Bangalees have been holding the shock
in their hearts as a source of strength to take revenge of this barbaric
assassination by fulfilling the dream of
Bangabandhu who wanted to turn Bangladesh into Sonar Bangla, a peaceful abode of
teeming millions in this part of the world. The nation this year is observing
the day in a different atmosphere as the five
death row convicts of the murder trial of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were hanged in the early hours of January 28 putting an end
to the darkest chapter of the nation’s history.
============================================
Begum
Fazilatunnesa (Birth: Tungipara, Gopalganj., Aug 8, 1930) – Begum Fazilatunnesa
was the wife of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, mother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Hasina says her mother was actively involved in forwarding the cause of
Bangladesh's independence and bent on making her husband's dream come true.
Sheikh Kamal
(Birth: Gopalganj, Aug 5, 1949) – Sheikh Kamal was the eldest son of Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman. He was a freedom fighter. He was the founder of Abahani Krira
Chakra. He also played significant roles in the 1966 movement for
self-determination, and the 1969 mass uprising.
Sultana Kamal
Khuku (Birth: Dhaka, 1951) - Sultana Kamal Khuku was the wife of Sheikh Kama.
She had a BSS (Hons) from Dhaka University. She was an established athlete. She
won several national prizes in long jumps with records.
Sheikh Jamal
(Birth: Gopalganj, Apr 28, 1954) – Sheikh Jamal was the second son of Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman. While being under house arrest with his mother in July, 1971,
he fled to free zone and participated in liberation war.
Parveen Jamal
Rosy (Birth: Sylhet, 1956) – Parveen Jamal Rosy was the wife of Sheikh Jamal
and daughter of Bangabandhu's younger sister Khadeza Hossain. She was studying
at Badrunnesa Ahmed College. Her father was Syed Hossain serving as the
establishment ministry secretary under Bangabandhu government.
Sheikh Russel
(Birth: Oct 18, 1964) - Sheikh Russel was the youngest son of Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman. He was a 10 year-old student at Dhaka University Laboratory High
School.
Sheikh Abu Naser
(Birth: Tungipara, Gopalganj, Sept 1928) - Sheikh Abu Naser was the younger
brother of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was a renowned businessman in Khulna.
Abdur Rab
Serniabat,( Birth: Barisal, Chaitra, 1327) – Abdur Rab Serniabat was the
husband of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's third sister Amena Begum. Bangabandhu
appointed him as agriculture minister in 1973. He had a significant role in
reforms in agriculture.
Sheikh Fazlul
Haque Moni (Birth: Tungipara, Gopalganj, Dec 4, 1939) – Sheikh Fazlul Haque
Moni was the eldest son of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's elder sister. He was the
founding chairman of Awami Juba League.
Begum Arzu Moni
(Birth: Barisal, Mar 15, 1947, Barisal) – Begum Arzu Moni was the wife of
Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni. She sat MSS exams in political science in Dhaka
University in 1975.
Baby Serniabat
(Birth: Barisal, May 20, 1960) - Baby Serniabat was the youngest daughter of
Abdur Rab Serniabat. She was a class-nine student of Laboratory High School in
Dhaka University.
Shahid Serniabat
(Birth: Barisal, Mar 26, 1940) - Shahid Serniabat was a nephew of Abdur Rab
Serniabat. He was the correspondent to Dainik Bangla in Barisal.
Abdul Nayeem
Khan Rintu (Birth: Barisal, Dec 1, 1957) - Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu was a cousin
of Amir Hossain Amu. He sat SSC exam under Barisal Zilla School in 1975.
Arif Serniabat
(Birth: Mar 27, 1964) - Arif Serniabat was the youngest son of Abdur Rab
Serniabat. He was a class-four student of Laboratory High School in Dhaka
University.
Sukanto Abdullah
Babu (Birth: Gauranadi, Barisal, June 22, 1971) – Sukanto Abdullah Babu was a
grand son of Abdur Rab Serniabat.
Col. Jamaluddin
Ahmed (Birth: Gopalganj, Feb 1, 1933) - Col. Jamaluddin Ahmed was the chief
security officer of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
