Bangabandhu

#Bangabandhu

#Bangladesh

#SheikhMujiburRahman

“Bangabandhu” (Bôngobondhu, meaning “Friend of Bengal”) is the honorific title of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975), the founding father of Bangladesh.

He played a pivotal role in the creation of the nation in 1971 and remains a central figure in South Asian history.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Key Facts

Field Details

Full Name Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Honorific Title Bangabandhu (“Friend of Bengal”) — given officially in 1969

Born 17 March 1920, Tungipara, Bengal Presidency (British India)

Died 15 August 1975, Dhaka — assassinated in a military coup

Political Role 1st President (1971), later Prime Minister (1972–75) of Bangladesh

Party Awami League (founding leader)

#AwamiLeague

His Role in Bangladesh’s Independence

1. Language Movement (1948–52)

Advocated for Bengali as an official language in Pakistan.

Became a student leader during protests against Urdu-only policy.

2. Six-Point Movement (1966)

Proposed autonomy for East Pakistan, focusing on economic and political self-rule.

The plan was seen as a blueprint for East Pakistan’s eventual independence.

3. 1970 General Elections

Awami League, under Mujib, won a majority in Pakistan’s National Assembly.

The West Pakistani leadership refused to hand over power, causing political crisis.

4. Historic 7 March Speech (1971)

Mujib called for civil disobedience:

“This time the struggle is for our emancipation! This time the struggle is for our independence!”

5. Declaration of Independence & Liberation War

On 26 March 1971, following a brutal crackdown by the Pakistan Army (Operation Searchlight), Bangladesh’s Liberation War began.

Mujib was arrested and imprisoned in West Pakistan during the war.

After Bangladesh’s victory in December 1971, he returned in January 1972 to lead the new nation.

Legacy and Governance

Laid foundations for a secular, socialist, democratic constitution (1972).

Faced challenges: famine, corruption, opposition movements.

Introduced one-party rule (BAKSAL) in 1975 — controversial shift criticized for authoritarianism.

Assassinated along with most of his family on 15 August 1975 by rogue army officers.

Legacy and Commemoration

Aspect Details

National Mourning Day 15 August — annual memorial for his assassination

Institutions Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangabandhu Satellite-1, etc.

Family His daughter Sheikh Hasina is the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh

UN Recognition 7 March Speech included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register (2017)

100th Birth Anniversary Celebrated as Mujib Borsho (2020–2021), declared by UN and Bangladesh

#7Pillars

Symbol of Nationalism

Mujibur Rahman is often called:

The “George Washington of Bangladesh”

The “Father of the Nation” (Jatir Janak)

His image is central to Bangladesh’s identity, similar to Gandhi in India or Mandela in South Africa.

Would you like the full text of the 7 March speech, or a comparison with Jinnah, Nehru, or Gandhi?

#Jinnah