24 Bangladesh & Global Studies

community and raise funds to help the distressed people of Bangladesh. About 40,000
people attended the concert where Harrison sang songs describing the anti-inhuman
activities of the Pak-army in our liberation war. The media of Australia, West German,
France, Italy, Japan and Canada along with Britain helped winning the support of the
world community against the atrocities of the Pakistani inavding army. Iraq also
supported Bangladesh. The people, media, and some congressmen of the United States
supported our libration war, but some of the countries opposed the war of independence.
The Role of United Nations
The main objective of the United Nations is to establish world peace and maintain
security throughout the world. When Pak-Junta Yahia Khan was jealously engaged in
slaughtering the Bengalis instead of handing over the power to the elected body of East
Pakistan, then the UN remained silent. It did not take any effective measure against the
genocide and the violation of fundamental rights. In fact, the UN had a very little power
to act on its own initiative except the five influential countries that could exercise the
veto. Its power to slate was feeble either.
The Historic Significance of the Liberation War
The liberation war of Bangladesh is a significant event in the world history. Bangladesh
was the first among the third world countries that achieved independence through armed
struggle. The people of East Bengal were the victims of oppression, repression and
exploitation since 1947 by the Pakistani rulers, but the rebellious people of this land
revolted against all the evils that came to an end with the victory in the liberation war on
16 December 1971. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman, the greatest leader of the
liberation war called for the independence on 7 March 1971 and formally declared it on
26 March, and after an armed struggle of nine months, we achieved it on 16 December
1971. The mass people of this country provided all cooperation to the freedom fighters.
As a result, the liberation war became the expression of the Bengali nationalism. The
liberation war created a new patriotic zeal among the Bengalis and different ethnic
communities living in this land, and they being inspired by this zeal, engaged themselves
in the reconstruction of a war torn country. we have got an independent country through
the war of liberation, and she has secured her position in the world map. The dream that
the Bengalis nourished for thousand years came ture through the victory in the war. The
liberation war of Bangladesh inspired the oppressed people of the world desirous of
freedom.
Section 2.2: The Rules of Bangabandhu in the Reconstruction of Bangladesh
and aftermath
The ultimate victory in the liberation war was achieved through the unconditional
surrender of the Pakistani invading army on 16 December 1971. The independent
government of Bangladesh came to Dhaka from India on 22 December and assumed
office. The country started running by the declaration of independence delivered on 10
April 1971. 10, January 1972 Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the
nation came back to independent Bangladesh and took the responsibility as the head of
the government. Reconstruction of the war torn country, administrative reformation,
rehabilitation of one crore refugees, drafting of the constitution, holding of fresh
election, sending the Mitrabahini (friendly troops) back to India, earning recognitions of
various countries etc. were the remarkable achievements of his rules. The Father of the
nation and his family were brutally killed on 15 August 1975 by some aberrant army
Bangladesh & Global Studies 25

officers as a part of implementing the conspiracy of the anti-liberation force. His two
daughters Sheikh Hasian and Sheikh Rehana were saved as they were staying outside of
the country then.
The Reconstruction Process of a war torn country
When Bangladesh achieved the Independence, it was fallen into ruins. Laments for
losing kin, outpouring of grief, and tears made the air heavy. A huge number of roads,
bridges, culverts, industries, inland ports, and sea ports were demolished. The
government treasury was found empty. The independent Bangladesh had no military or
civil aircraft. The main challenges in the newly independent nation were the
rehabilitation of one crore refugees, reconstruction of thousands of houses in the villages
and urban areas, providing food, cloth, medicine and shelter to seven crore people, and
restor law and order. The rules of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started with the
reconstruction of the war torn Bangladesh, besides, the key achievements of his
administration were as follows:

Picture 2.10: Bangabandhu in the reconstruction works of the country

Drafting of a New Constitution and its Enforcement: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahmand as the President of the country proclaimed a temporary constitution order on
11 January 1972. A Draft-Constitution Formulating Committee of 34 members was
formed in the first session of the national assembly (Ganoporishod) on 10 April 1972.
The committee drafted a constitution and submitted in the national assembly on 12
October. It was adopted and enacted in the assembly on 4 Novermber, and enforced
since 16 December 1972. The fundamental priciples of the Constitution were
democracy, socialism, secularism and nationalism. Voting rights for all, the fundamental
rights, justice and political rights, economic and social rights were also recognized in the
constitution.
The Ganoporishad: Bangabandhu brought into force an order called the Bangladesh
Ganoporishad, on 23 March 1972. All elected members of the national and provincial
assembly were considered the members of the Ganoporishad under the order. All the
necessary laws for the country were enacted and passed in the first session of the
26 Bangladesh & Global Studies

Ganoporishad started on 10 April 1972. It was a significant event in the development of

democracy in Bangladesh.
Nationalisation of abandon industries: The Pakistani industrialists set up factories
including Adamjee in the land of Bangladesh during the Pakistani rules. As the owners
of those factories left the country, the government of Sheikh Mujib natonalised all the
abandoned industries, and brought under the ownership of the state.
Natioanlisaion of the Primary Education: There were 38 thousand primary schools in
the land of Bangladesh during the Pakistani rules. The teachers who had been serving
these schools would receive very small salary from the government. Bangabandhu
nationalized all the primary schools, and with the step, the Bangladesh government took
all responsibiites of the Primary education.
A Committee for New education policy: The Bangabandhu government formed a
committee for new education policy headed by eminent scientist Dr. Kudrat-e-Khuda in
1972. The Committee submitted a policy for the scientific education in 1974. The
Bangabandhu government took the initiative to implement the modern education system.
The Relief and Rationing system: The Bangabandhu government distributed to the
affected families blankets, foods and money that came as donations from foreign
countries in 1972. He also introduced the rationing system in the village and city areas to
provide foods and other household commodities to the people in reasonable price.
The General Election of 1973: The first general election was held on 7 March 1973.
The Awami League won the election with absolute majority. The government was
formed under the leadership of Bangabandu for the second time.
New Financial Policy for five years: The Bangabandhu government formed a 5 Year
Planning Commission, and took initiatives to reform the commerce, industry, agriculture
and other sectors to rebuild a war-affected country as recommended by the Commission.
The government waived all land-taxes with arears upto 1972 .
The Second Revolution Programme for an Oppression-free Society: When
Bangladesh was busy with repairing the immeasurable loses caused by the war, hike in
oil price in the international market, food crisis and crop failure for the flood in 1973-74
put the country into a new crisis. Groups of hoarders, corrupt people and conspirators
were active in the country. The government of Bangabandhu formed Bangladesh
Krishok Shromic Awami League (BAKSAL) with the leaders and activists of the Awami
League, NAP, the Communist Party and other parties for achieving the economic
emancipation and creating an exploitation free nation. He took initiative to introduce a
new socio-economy and politics that was termed as the Second Revolution by him.
The Foreign Policy: Bangabandhu after returning from Pakistan to Dhaka on 10
January 1972 said in a statement that Bangladesh believed in peace and did not support
enmity towards anyone. He declared, ‘friendship with all, no enmity towards anybody’.
He had called upon the world community to recognise Bangladesh and assist in the
effort of reconstruction of the country. So at least 140 countries recognized Bangladesh
as a sovereign and independent country within a very short time. The Soviet Union
helped Bangladesh in sweeping landmines from the Chittagong Port. Other friendly
nations also extended their hands in providing food and relief to the distressed people.
Bangladesh & Global Studies 27

The Withdrawal of the Indian Mitrabahini (Friendly Troops): The Indian army
participated in the liberation war of Bangkadesh as the Mitrabahini (Friendly Troops).
They played a very important role in defeating the Pakistani army, but Bangabandhu
requested Indira Gandhi, the prime minister of India to take back the troops, and did not
give the local and international communities any chance to make false propaganda. They
left Bangladesh in March 1972 for India, and the image of Bangladesh became bright in
the international sphere for quick withdrawal of the Indian troops.
Bangladesh in the International community: Bangladesh became a member of the
Commonwealth in 1972. It got the membership of the United Nations in 17 September
1974. Bangabandhu delivered his speech in Bangla in the general assembly for the first
time in the history of the UN. Bangladesh got the membership for Non Aligned
Movement (NAM). Bishwa Shanti Porishad (The World Peace Council) awarded him
the Julio Kuri Peace Prize. Then Bangladesh was adorned with honour in the
international level.
Bangabandhu and the Awami League had to face the conspiracies inside and outside the
country and the natural calamities as well to run a newly independent nation ravaged by
war. The government achieved a significant success in different fields during their short
tenure.
The Background of Formulating the Constitution of 1972
The Constitution is the top most document of a country. It reflects the purpose, mission
and vision of a state. As the head of the government, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman proclaimed a temporary constitution order on 11 January 1972. The
parliamentary form of government was established
Group work: Describe the various
under this order instead of the Presidential form of
government. The key features of this temporary aspects and objectives of the
Temporary Constitution Order.
constitution order were as follows:
This order was the temporary constitution order of Bangladesh. It would be enforced
immediately. It would be applicable to the whole country. A Ganoporishad would be
formed to draft a constitution for Bangladesh. There would be a cabinet to run the
administration. The prime minister would be its chief. The President would be the titular
head. The President proclaimed ‘Bangladesh Ganoporishad Order’ on 23 March 1972 to
prepare a constitution in which the aspiration and dream of the nation would be
reflected. As per the order, the members elected in the national and provincial assembly
in the general election of 1970 would be the members of the Ganoporishad. The main
objective of the Ganoporishad would be to prepare the constitution. At the first session
of the Ganoporishad on 10 April 1972, a 34 member committee called A Draft-
Constitution Formulating Committee headed by Dr. Kamal Hossain was formed. A
female member was also included in the committee. Suranjit Sengupta, a then leader of
the NAP (Mozaffar) was the member of the committee. The Committee sought
suggestions about the constitution from the organisations and the interested persons.
The draft-constitution was placed as a bill at the second session of the Gano Porishad on
12 October 1972, and it was adopted on 4 November 1972 and enforced since 16
December (the Victory Day). While addressing on the Constitution, Bangabandhu said,
‘this Constitution is written with the blood of the martyrs, and it will remain alive as a
symbol of aspiration and dream of the people.’ It is worth mentioning that Pakistan took
28 Bangladesh & Global Studies

9 years (1947-1956), and India took 3 years (1947-1949) to promulgate their

constitutions after the partition, but the Bangabandhu government presented a
constitution to the nation only in ten months.
The Characteristics of the Constitution of 1972
The original Constitution of 1972 was significant for the distinctive characteristics of
independence and sovereign Bangladesh. The original Constitution of 1972 was
prepared with the characteristics given below:
The Constitution of 1972 was written, and it was a non-changeable in terms of
amendments. Four fundamental principles of state policy were written in it. Nationalism,
democracy, socialism, and secularism constituted the foundation of state policy. The
state would secure the basic necessities of life including food, clothing, shelter,
education, and medical care. Defending the fundamental rights of the people is the main
characteristic of this constitution. Protection of rights to life and personal liberty,
freedom of movement, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, freedom of thought
and conscience, and of speech, freedom of religion, rights to property were ensured in
this constitution. Bangladesh was described in the constitution as a unitary state to be
known as the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The National Parliament would be the
sovereign body to enact laws. ‘All powers in the Republic belong to the people,’─ this
declaration established the people’s sovereignty. The Constitution was stated as the
supreme law of the Republic. The Supreme Court can nullify any law inconsistent with
the constitution describing it as unconstitutional and uphold the honour and the
supremacy of the constitution. The parliamentary democracy was introduced with.
According to the article no. 77, the parliament, by law, may provide for the
establishment of the office of Ombudsman. In the Constitution of Bangladesh,
irrespective to caste and creed, any person who is not less than 18 years of age, under the
‘one person one vote policy’ can administer his/her voting right in the general election.In
this constitution, the principles of the state, cooperative, and private ownership were
stated. The Parliament will be of the single assembly. In different times, various
governments had amended the constitution for 15 times. Of these amendments, the fifth
amendment by the late President Ziaur Rahman, the seventh and the thirteenth
amendments of General Ershad were nullified by the Supreme Court.
The Brutal Killing of 15 August 1975
The Bengali nation experienced a brutal and heinous killing on 15 August of 1975. At
the dawn, a section of aberrant and ambitious
officers of the Bangladesh army by the Group work: Describe the brutality of
provocation of the anti-liberation force the killing of 15 August.
assassinated Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Group work: Describe the reasons of
Rahaman, the founder of Bangladesh and the killing of the Father of the nation.
father of the nation at his own residence on the
road no. 32 of Dhanmondi. No family member of Bangabandh present in the house
remained alive. Even Rasel, an innocent child of 10 years old was not spared of the
bullets of the cruel killers. When Bangabandhu was proceeding with the ambition of
making a modern, oppression and corruption free state with his ‘Second Revolution’
programmes by uniting the nation, some conspirators hiding in the country organized the
assassination of 15 August with the help of the local and the international reactionary
Bangladesh & Global Studies 29

groups. They understood that Bangabandhu would be successful in materialising the

‘Second Revolution’ as was successful in the liberation war. They hatchd a plot to
reverse the political direction of the country. The Pakistani communal ideal was re-
established through the killing. It was the most heinous and anti-human crime. It was the
part of a secret conspiracy. Bangladesh fell into a deep political crisis after the killing of
15 August. The day is our national mourning day.
The Black Stain in the History of Bangladesh and the Gruesome Murder in the Jail
(15 August-3 November)
Khondokar Mostak Ahmed, the then minister for commerce assumed power as the
President after the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the
nation and the President of the country. After five days of assuming the power, the
martial law was declared in the country. Four national leaders led the liberation war were
arrested on 22 August 1975. General Ziaur Rahman was appointed as the chief of army
staff replacing General K M Shafiullah on 24 August. Ban on politics and the political
parties was imposed by an order on 31 August. Khondokar Mostak Ahmed declared an
ordinance inconsistent with the constitution and justice on 26 September 1975. It was
called ‘The Indemnity Ordinance’ to save the killers of 15 August from the trial. The
junior army officers who were involved in the killing on 15 August started interfering in
the state affairs staying at the President building instead of returning to the barrack. A
chaotic situation prevailed in the country. Brigadier Khaled Mosarraf took initiative to
restore the chain of command in the army. An army revolution took place on 3
November of 1975 under his leadership. Khondoker Moshtak resigned his post on 5
November. A S M Sayem, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court took oath as the new
President on 6 November.
The Heinous Killing in Jail (3 November. 1975)
The killers involved in the assassination of 15 August illegally entered the Dhaka
Central Jail with the permission of Khondokar Mostak Ahmed and brutally killed the
four national leaders ─ Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain M Mansur Ali and
A H M Qamaruzzaman who led the nation in the war of liberation. It was another black
stain in the political history of Bangladesh. This
heinous killing created an adverse reaction among the Group work: Identify the
people and the army of the country. This incident reasons of killings in the jail on
accelerated the fall of Mostak regime. The killers 3 November 1975.
were forced to leave the country. The killing was the implementation of a blue print of
the anti-liberation force of 1971 and the local and international groups conspiring against
the independent Bangladesh. The aim of those killings was to destroy the success and
glory of the armed struggle of 1971, and make a vacuum of leadership in the country and
restore the ideals of Pakistan. The one and the same quarter initiated both the killing
missions of 15 August and 3 November.
Section 2.3: The Martial Law Administration (1975-1990)
The martial law prevailed in the country from 15 August 1975 to 6 December of 1990.
Dissolving the Constitution of the country Khondokar Mostak, Justice Sayem, General
Ziaur Rahman, Justice Ahsan Uddin, and General Ershad assumed power in different
times. Keeping the martial law in force, General Ziaur Rahman (1975-1981) and General
H M Ershad (1982-1990) succeeded in holding the election and established the civilian