By Afshain Afzal

Greatest leader of Bangladesh and Pakistan, Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rahman was born on 17 March 1920 at the village Tungipara, Gopalganj, known as his birthplace located in Bengal (presently District Faridpur, Bangladesh). He was a graduate of Islamiyah College, Calcutta in 1947. He became one of the most prominent student political leaders in the province and worked as General Secretary of the Islamiyah College Students Union. Since his child hood he was a diehard supporter of Bengal Provincial Muslim League. In 1943, he became member of the All-India Muslim League Council and worked under direct directions of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He was a staunch supporter of the oppressed class. After the creation of Pakistan, he worked as close aid of Quaid-e-Azam. He was too much inspired from the deeds and actions of Mohammad Ali Jinnah. During pre-partition era he used to sell pro-Pakistan weekly newspaper MILLAT on the streets of Dhaka to support the cause of Pakistan. He was one of the pioneers of East Pakistan Muslim Students League.

After the tragic death of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1948, the Awami Muslim League was formed under the leadership of Maulana Bhashani and Sheikh Mujib-ur- Rahman was among one of the founding Joint Secretaries. Maulana Bhashani was a great friend of Quaid-e-Azam since in 1934, rendered his services from Assam branch Muslim League and devoted his whole life for Pakistan movement. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman remained General Secretary of the Awami Muslim League from 1953 to 1966 and its President from 1966 to 1974. He also worked as an activist of the Suhrawardhy-Hashim faction of the Muslim League.

An initial advocate of democracy Mujib-ur-Rehman rose to the ranks of the Awami League and East Pakistani politics as a charismatic and forceful orator. Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rahman entered parliamentary politics first in 1954 through his election as a member of the East Bengal Legislative Assembly. He was also a member of the Pakistan Second Constituent Assembly (1955-1958). During the elections of 1965, he joined hands with Maddar-e-Millat Miss Fatima Jinnah and opposed dictatorial rule of General Ayub Khan. He and his party launched the campaign of Fatima Jinnah in East Bengal during her elections and because of him and other Bengali leaders Fatima gained more votes from East Bengal as compared to West Pakistan. He himself was elected as the Member of the National Assembly and always opposed the activities of the Pakistani establishment in the Parliament.

During the War of 1965, as loyal Pakistani he did every possible thing which could be done for Pakistani forces against India. He fully supported the cause of Pakistan which is evident from his past speeches. Many amongst the Pakistani politicians were anti Quaid-e-Azam and anti-Fatima and did not allow her to win the elections Notwithstanding, Mujib-ur-Rahman stood side by side with Fatima Jinnah as solid rock. Fatima Jinnah died in July 1967 and afterwards there was no one to protect the rights of the people of West Pakistan.

In the General elections held on 7 December 1970, the Awami League under Mujib-ur-Rehman's leadership won a massive majority in the provincial legislature, thus forming a clear majority in the 1970 national elections, despite leading his party to a major victory in the elections, Mujib-ur- Rahman was not invited to form the government. Following political deadlock, on 25 March 1971, he was arrested by the Pakistan Army in an Operation Searchlight, despite the fact that he was loyal to Pakistan. During his nine-month detention, insurgency erupted and an attempt was made by Pakistan Army to crush Bengali nationalists who were demanding their political rights. An all-out civil-war broke out between the Pakistan Army and East Pakistani nationalists in which USA played a major role in the disintegration of Pakistan by funding anti-Pakistan fifth columnist elements in refugee camps inside India and non-Muslims in East Pakistan. In the meantime, India forces also intervened and it led to the liberation of East Pakistan as an independent nation, “Bangladesh” in 1971.

He is rightly called the "Father of the Nation" in Bangladesh. He served as the first President of Bangladesh and later on as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 17 April 1971 until his assassination in a military coup d'état on 15 August 1975. His body was transported to his native village and orders were issued to bury him along with the wooden coffin but being a staunch Muslim his burial ceremonial was done in accordance with the Islamic rituals. Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman's funeral was held on 16 August 1975 in Tungipara and he was laid to rest beside the graves of his father, Sheikh Lutf-ur-Rahman and mother, Sayera Khatun. Keeping aside the conspiracy theories, the tragic death of Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rahman was a great loss not only to Pakistan but whole subcontinent due to his services for the supremacy of democracy and humanity. He will always be remembered as top Pakistani and Bangladeshi leader.