Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad
Encyclopedia
Khondaker Moshtaq Ahmad (also spelled Khandakar Mushtaq Ahmed and phonetically spelt Khondokar Mushtak Ahmed) (1918 – March 5, 1996) was a Bangladesh
i politician who served as the President of Bangladesh
from 15 August to 6 November 1975 after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
, the founding leader of Bangladesh. Ahmad played important roles in maintained contacts with anti-Mujib and Islamic political groups. A conservative leader, Ahmad opposed Mujib's socialism
, secularism
and pro-India
policies. Despite this, Ahmad remained in Mujib's cabinet and was appointed a member of the BAKSAL
executive committee when Mujib banned other political parties, declaring himself president.
Sheikh Mujib and all but two members of his family were assassinated
by a group of army officers on 15 August 1975, apparently with the concurrence of Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad.
Khondaker immediately took control of the government, proclaiming himself president. Several of the army officers were promoted two or three ranks ahead, e.g. Major
Syed Faruque Rahman
was promoted as Colonel
. Major General
Ziaur Rahman
, husband of Khaleda Zia
, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh
, was appointed as Chief of Staff
of Bangladesh Army
. Khondaker also ordered the imprisonment of pro-Mujib leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman
and Muhammad Mansur Ali
. He replaced the national slogan of Joy Bangla with the Bangladesh Zindabad slogan and changed the name Bangladesh Betar
to 'Radio Bangladesh'. More controversially, he proclaimed the Indemnity Ordinance
, which granted immunity from prosecution to the assassins of Mujib. Mujib's daughters Sheikh Hasina Wazed and Sheikh Rehana were barred from returning to Bangladesh from abroad. BAKSAL and pro-Mujib political groups were dissolved.
On 3 November, the four imprisoned pro-Mujib leaders were assassinated while imprisoned at the Dhaka
Central Jail. However, Ahmad was ousted from power on 6 November in a coup led by pro-Mujib military officers Khaled Mosharraf
and Shafat Jamil.
Khaled Mosharraf
regime and later by the regime of Ziaur Rahman
till 1978. Upon his release, he formed Democratic League and attempted to resuscitate his political career, but to no avail.
He spent his last years in Dhaka and died on March 5, 1996.
Ahmad was named in the investigation of the murder of Sheikh Mujib launched in 1996 by his daughter Sheikh Hasina
, who had just won the national elections and become Prime Minister of Bangladesh
. Due to his death, he was not charged or tried. Historians and critics assert that Ahmad was one of the key plotters of Mujib's murder. He is also criticised for legitimising political murders by protecting Mujib's killers. Mujib's killer Colonel
Abdur Rashid, now in self-exile in Libya
and Pakistan
, was his nephew, and another killer Colonel
Syed Faruque Rahman
was Colonel Rashid's wife's brother-in-law.
He is also known to be responsible for the heinous killing of the four national leaders, who led the country during the liberation war in absence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
, former Vice President
Syed Nazrul Islam
, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Tajuddin Ahmed and Captain Muhammad Mansur Ali
, and former interior minister
A H M Qamaruzzaman on 3 November 1975 inside the Dhaka
Central Jail, commemorated as Jail Killing Day
.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
i politician who served as the President of Bangladesh
President of Bangladesh
Since 1991, the President of Bangladesh is the head of state, a largely ceremonial post elected by the parliament. Since 1996, the President's role becomes more important after the term of the government has finished, when his executive authority is enhanced as laid down in the constitution of the...
from 15 August to 6 November 1975 after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
The assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took place in the early hours of August 15, 1975, when a group of junior Bangladesh Army officers invaded Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence with tanks...
, the founding leader of Bangladesh. Ahmad played important roles in maintained contacts with anti-Mujib and Islamic political groups. A conservative leader, Ahmad opposed Mujib's socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
, secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
and pro-India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
policies. Despite this, Ahmad remained in Mujib's cabinet and was appointed a member of the BAKSAL
BAKSAL
The Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League was a political amalgmation of the Awami League with the Krishak Sramik Party that supported President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in governing Bangladesh...
executive committee when Mujib banned other political parties, declaring himself president.
Sheikh Mujib and all but two members of his family were assassinated
Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
The assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took place in the early hours of August 15, 1975, when a group of junior Bangladesh Army officers invaded Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence with tanks...
by a group of army officers on 15 August 1975, apparently with the concurrence of Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad.
Khondaker immediately took control of the government, proclaiming himself president. Several of the army officers were promoted two or three ranks ahead, e.g. Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Syed Faruque Rahman
Syed Faruque Rahman
Syed Faruque Rahman was a Bangladeshi army officer who was the chief organiser of the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding President of Bangladesh on 15 August 1975...
was promoted as Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Ziaur Rahman
Ziaur Rahman
President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, was a Bangladeshi politician and general, who read the declaration of Independence of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971 on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He later became the seventh President of Bangladesh from 1977 until 1981...
, husband of Khaleda Zia
Khaleda Zia
Begum Khaleda Zia is the former First Lady of Bangladesh , and then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, having served from 1991 to 1996, becoming the first woman in the country's history and second in the Muslim world to head a democratic government as prime minister. She served again from 2001 until...
, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
The Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is the Head of the Government of Bangladesh. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Jatiya Sangsad Parliament, to their political party and ultimately to the electorate...
, was appointed as Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of Bangladesh Army
Bangladesh Army
The Bangladesh Army is the land forces branch and the largest of the three uniformed service of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities in support of Bangladesh's security and defense strategies including defense of the nation's...
. Khondaker also ordered the imprisonment of pro-Mujib leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman
A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman
Abul Hasnat Muhammad Qamaruzzaman was a Bangladeshi politician, senior government minister and a leading member of the Awami League...
and Muhammad Mansur Ali
Muhammad Mansur Ali
Muhammad Mansur Ali was a Bangladeshi politician who was a close confidante of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh...
. He replaced the national slogan of Joy Bangla with the Bangladesh Zindabad slogan and changed the name Bangladesh Betar
Bangladesh Betar
Bangladesh Betar is the state-owned radio broadcasting organisation of Bangladesh. It was also known as Radio Bangladesh between 1975 and 1996.-History:...
to 'Radio Bangladesh'. More controversially, he proclaimed the Indemnity Ordinance
Indemnity Act
The Indemnity Act of Bangladesh was formulated to give immunity from legal action to the persons involved in the assassination of president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman...
, which granted immunity from prosecution to the assassins of Mujib. Mujib's daughters Sheikh Hasina Wazed and Sheikh Rehana were barred from returning to Bangladesh from abroad. BAKSAL and pro-Mujib political groups were dissolved.
On 3 November, the four imprisoned pro-Mujib leaders were assassinated while imprisoned at the Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
Central Jail. However, Ahmad was ousted from power on 6 November in a coup led by pro-Mujib military officers Khaled Mosharraf
Khaled Mosharraf
Khaled Mosharraf was a Bangladeshi military officer who was a the Sector Commander of BDF Sector 2 and K-Force Brigade Commander during the Bangladesh War of Liberation. He was awarded Bir Uttam for his gallantry actions during the war...
and Shafat Jamil.
Later life and legacy
Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad would be imprisoned by the Major GeneralMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Khaled Mosharraf
Khaled Mosharraf
Khaled Mosharraf was a Bangladeshi military officer who was a the Sector Commander of BDF Sector 2 and K-Force Brigade Commander during the Bangladesh War of Liberation. He was awarded Bir Uttam for his gallantry actions during the war...
regime and later by the regime of Ziaur Rahman
Ziaur Rahman
President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, was a Bangladeshi politician and general, who read the declaration of Independence of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971 on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He later became the seventh President of Bangladesh from 1977 until 1981...
till 1978. Upon his release, he formed Democratic League and attempted to resuscitate his political career, but to no avail.
He spent his last years in Dhaka and died on March 5, 1996.
Ahmad was named in the investigation of the murder of Sheikh Mujib launched in 1996 by his daughter Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina is a Bangladeshi politician and current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She has been the President of the Awami League, a major political party, since 1981. She is the eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh and widow of a reputed nuclear...
, who had just won the national elections and become Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
The Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is the Head of the Government of Bangladesh. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Jatiya Sangsad Parliament, to their political party and ultimately to the electorate...
. Due to his death, he was not charged or tried. Historians and critics assert that Ahmad was one of the key plotters of Mujib's murder. He is also criticised for legitimising political murders by protecting Mujib's killers. Mujib's killer Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Abdur Rashid, now in self-exile in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, was his nephew, and another killer Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Syed Faruque Rahman
Syed Faruque Rahman
Syed Faruque Rahman was a Bangladeshi army officer who was the chief organiser of the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding President of Bangladesh on 15 August 1975...
was Colonel Rashid's wife's brother-in-law.
He is also known to be responsible for the heinous killing of the four national leaders, who led the country during the liberation war in absence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
, former Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
Syed Nazrul Islam
Syed Nazrul Islam
Syed Nazrul Islam was a Bangladeshi politician and a senior leader of the Awami League. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, he served as the acting President of Bangladesh in the absence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.-Early life:...
, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
The Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is the Head of the Government of Bangladesh. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Jatiya Sangsad Parliament, to their political party and ultimately to the electorate...
Tajuddin Ahmed and Captain Muhammad Mansur Ali
Muhammad Mansur Ali
Muhammad Mansur Ali was a Bangladeshi politician who was a close confidante of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh...
, and former interior minister
Interior minister
An interior ministry is a government ministry typically responsible for policing, national security, and immigration matters. The ministry is often headed by a minister of the interior or minister of home affairs...
A H M Qamaruzzaman on 3 November 1975 inside the Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
Central Jail, commemorated as Jail Killing Day
Jail Killing Day
Jail Killing Day is observed by the Awami League of Bangladesh and many other political organization on November 3 each year. It commemorates the killing of four Awami League leaders: former Vice President Syed Nazrul Islam, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Tajuddin Ahmed and Captain Mansur...
.
See also
- Military coups in BangladeshMilitary coups in BangladeshBangladesh has faced several military coups since its independence from Pakistan in 1971.-15 August:The coup of 15 August 1975 was organized by officers of Bangladesh Army. They were led by Major Syed Faruqe Rahman and Major Rashid...
- Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur RahmanAssassination of Sheikh Mujibur RahmanThe assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took place in the early hours of August 15, 1975, when a group of junior Bangladesh Army officers invaded Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence with tanks...
- Indemnity ActIndemnity ActThe Indemnity Act of Bangladesh was formulated to give immunity from legal action to the persons involved in the assassination of president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman...