Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (17 March 1920 – 15 August 1975), widely known as Bangabandhu (Friend of Bengal), was the founding father of Bangladesh and the driving force behind the country's independence from Pakistan in 1971. He served as the first Prime Minister and later President of Bangladesh. Born in Tungipara, Gopalganj district, Mujib was involved in politics from a young age, joining the All India Muslim League while still a student. He became a key leader of the Bengali nationalist movement in East Pakistan and the president of the Awami League. In the 1970 general elections, the Awami League won a landslide victory, winning 167 out of 169 seats in East Pakistan. However, the Pakistani military government refused to transfer power. On March 26, 1971, Mujib declared Bangladesh's independence in a historic speech, leading to a nine-month liberation war. On December 16, 1971, Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation. Mujib served as the first Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1972 to 1975. He faced enormous challenges in rebuilding a war-torn country, including massive refugees, destroyed infrastructure, and a devastated economy. He was assassinated on August 15, 1975, in a military coup, along with most of his family members. His daughter Sheikh Hasina survived because she was abroad. In 2020, the Bangladeshi government declared him Bangabandhu officially. His portrait appears on the Bangladeshi taka, and his legacy as the father of the nation is celebrated annually.