The story of the rise and fall of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is one of the most fascinating and tragic of modern times. A towering personality, the undisputed leader of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) ‘Bangabandhu’ Mujibur Rahman had all the ma kings and charisma of a world leader ~ a dream which unfortunately remained unfulfilled. Sheikh Mujib galvanised the entire Bengali speaking people of Pakistan to launch a move ment for autonomy for East Bengal (then East Pakistan) and restoration of Bengali pride by making Bengali the official language of East Bengal in place of Urdu (which was not in any case, understood by the common people).

The ‘Language Movement’ started by students in Dacca University (now Dhaka), which had seen many bloody battles and brute suppressions, culminated into a full-scale autonomy movement. Sheikh Mujib became the unchallenged hero of the masses and his party, Awami League based on secular and democratic principles became the most popular political front. General Elections based on guided democracy were held for both the wings of Pakistan ~ Z.A. Bhutto of Pakistan Peoples’ Party leading the West and Sheikh Mujib of Awami Party leading the East ~ as part of a deal struck between the military junta and the political parties for restoration of democracy and popular governments in Pakistan.

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The results of the general elections were spectacular and most unexpected by the West Pakistan rulers. Mujib Rahman’s Awami League Party won more than 90 per cent of seats of East Pakistan and secured an absolute majority in the National Assembly of Pakistan at Islamabad. The results were not acceptable either to the military regime or to Bhutto who was assured by the Army top brass and was himself certain about becoming the next Prime Minister of Pakistan.

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The possibility of Mujibur Rahman becoming the Prime Minister of the united Pakistan had to be eliminated because the administrators of West........

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