Dhaka Central Jail was the largest jail in Bangladesh , located in the old section of Dhaka , the country's capital. The jail has been used to house criminals as well as political prisoners , especially during the Language Movement of 1952, the 6 Point Movement , and the Bangladesh Liberation War .
147-680: However, the jail earned infamy after the killings of four political leaders — A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman , Tajuddin Ahmad , Syed Nazrul Islam and Captain Muhammad Mansur Ali — on the eve of a military counter-coup on November 3, 1975, against the regime of president Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad and army chief Ziaur Rahman , which had seized power on August 15 after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman . The slain leaders are mourned by many supporters in Bangladesh today, with
294-582: A Hindko -speaking Hazarewal family of Pashtun descent, belonging to the Tareen tribe. He was the first child of the second wife of Mir Dad Khan , a Risaldar-Major (an armoured corps JCO which was then known as VCO ) in the 9th Hodson's Horse which was a cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army . For his basic education, he was enrolled in a school in Sarai Saleh , which
441-801: A Muslim League youth worker in British India . He belonged to the Dhaka -based pro-democracy, secular Muslim League faction, which broke with the Muslim League's reactionary party line after the partition of India and the birth of Pakistan . As a member of the short-lived youth organisation the Jubo League , he actively participated in the Language Movement in 1952. In 1953, he joined the Awami Muslim League (later
588-525: A military coup , the first in the country's history . As president, Khan controversially appointed General Musa Khan to replace him as commander-in-chief, superseding decorated senior officers such as General's Adam Khan, Sher Ali Khan Pataudi and M.A. Latif Khan. He aligned Pakistan with the United States, and allowed American access to air bases inside Pakistan, most notably the airbase outside of Peshawar , from which spy missions over
735-520: A "medical visit" but made a strong plea for military aid which was not considered due to India's opposition. On 24 February 1954, Ayub signed the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) pact for Pakistan and his role in national politics, along with that of Defense Minister Mirza, began to grow In 1954, Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Bogra 's relations with the military and Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad deteriorated on issues of
882-443: A constitution that complied with the six points demand. The Awami League quickly embarked on drafting a constitution proposal accordingly before the assembly is inaugurated. Sheikh Mujib and the senior Awami League leaders, including Tajuddin, met intensely with a group of legal and economic experts for about a month at a house on the banks of the river Buriganga on which Dhaka stands. From those discussions, in which Tajuddin played
1029-666: A coup d'état, Tajuddin was arrested and assassinated on 3 November 1975, along with three senior Awami League leaders in prison. Tajuddin Ahmad Khan was born on 23 July 1925 at Dardaria, a village in the Dhaka district of the Bengal Presidency , in British India (now Gazipur District in Bangladesh ), to Maulavi Muhammad Yasin Khan and Meherunnesa Khanam in a conservative, middle class Muslim family. He
1176-518: A crucial role in lobbying for the army post selection, by presenting convincing arguments to Prime Minister Ali Khan to promote the most junior Major-General, Ayub Khan (commissioned in 1928), to the post despite the fact that his name was not included in the nomination list. Ayub's papers of promotion were approved and he was appointed the first native commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Army on 17 January 1951 by Prime Minister Ali Khan. This ended
1323-571: A general election could take place. President Ayub Khan resigned shortly after the conference, ending his 11-year rule; his commander-in-chief of the army, General Yahya Khan , who reportedly had been pulling the strings of the Round Table Conference from behind the scenes, took over as president. Yahya immediately abrogated the Constitution, imposed martial law, and promised a general election. The 1970 general election ,
1470-460: A key role in keeping the administration from becoming politicised. Tajuddin employed a number of capable diplomats in his government. In early April, he commissioned economist Rehman Sobhan to stop the economic advisor to Pakistani president Yahya Khan, economist M M Ahmad , from acquiring fresh foreign aid for Pakistan and persuade Bangladeshi officials serving at Pakistani foreign missions to switch allegiance to Bangladesh. Apart from organising
1617-690: A key role, an unofficial constitution draft came out. Meanwhile, the Awami League's victory soared the anxiety among the West Pakistani opposition parties and the military junta alike. The PPP desired for a coalition between the two. After the election, on 20 December in Lahore the PPP leader Bhutto described Punjab and Sindh as 'bastions of power in Pakistan', two states where his party had won
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#17327728747551764-697: A liaison with the United States , a key ally of Pakistan, without the Government's knowledge. With Sheikh Mujib on trial in Pakistan for high treason, the same group was also spreading the 'either freedom or Mujib' doctrine. Indian intelligence agencies had discovered the fact just before Mostaq was scheduled to lead the Bangladesh delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York . Tajuddin removed Mostaq from
1911-649: A long time. Abul Hashim succeeded Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy as the general secretary of the Bengal Provincial Muslim League in 1943. Tajuddin, still a school student in Dhaka, joined the Muslim League in the same year. Hashim envisioned the creation of a 'leftist' faction within the Muslim League against the prevailing leadership. He set out to reform the Muslim League organisation in Bengal. As part of this reform, in 1944, Hashim helped found
2058-700: A referendum, that functioned as the Electoral College , was held that asked the general public: "Do you have confidence in Muhammad Ayub Khan?". The voter turnout was recorded at 95.6% and such confirmation was used as impetus to formalise the new system – a presidential system . Ayub Khan was elected president for the next five years and decided to pay his first state visit to the United States with his wife and also daughter Begum Naseem Aurangzeb in July 1961. Highlights of his visit included
2205-636: A result, he could not take the Intermediate of Arts examination from there; instead, he took it from a private college as an irregular student in 1948 and passed, securing fourth position in East Bengal . He obtained a BA with honours in Economics from the University of Dhaka . He also took his law degree from University of Dhaka. Tajuddin lost his father at age twenty-two and took over
2352-604: A retired veteran of the Pakistan army turned Awami League politician, was appointed commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The entire cabinet returned to Kolkata on 13 April, set to take oath at some yet unoccupied place in Bangladesh. The oath taking ceremony took place on 17 April 1971, at a village along the India-Bangladesh border, called Baidyanathtala , in Kushtia district (currently Meherpur district), on Bangladeshi soil. Professor Yusuf Ali read
2499-628: A state dinner at Mount Vernon , a visit to the Islamic Center of Washington , and a ticker tape parade in New York City. A constitutional commission was set-up under the Supreme Court to implement the work on the constitution that was led by Chief Justice Muhammad Shahabuddin and Supreme Court justices . The commission reported in 1961 with its recommendations but President Ayub remained unsatisfied; he eventually altered
2646-476: A sweeping majority. So, he asserted, no central government can function without his party's support. To which Tajuddin, as the general secretary of the Awami League, replied in an official statement: The Awami League is quite competent to frame a constitution and form the Central Government. That would be done with or without the support of any party... The Punjab and Sind can no longer aspire to be
2793-406: A talk. Mujib wanted to seize the opportunity to put forward a few demands, highlighting East Pakistan's interests to the president. Prior to the meeting, Tajuddin, a close confidante of Mujib by then, drafted the demands as a number of specific points, a precursor of the historic six-points demand. However, the demands did not make it to Ayub Khan on that occasion. Sheikh Mujib and Tajuddin attended
2940-450: A threat to Pakistan's unity. The Ayub Administration was determined to suppress six points by any means. Awami League workers, already being brutally oppressed, came under even greater persecution. Tajuddin himself was arrested in 1966, as were many other senior Awami League leaders. In 1968, while Tajuddin was still in prison, Sheikh Mujib and some others, mostly East Pakistani military officials, were arrested on charges of high treason in
3087-604: A year and three months, he returned to Dhaka and resumed his studies for his BA in economics in late 1952. With the Provincial Assembly elections due next year, Tajuddin joined the Awami Muslim League in 1953, his Jubo League comrade Oli Ahad followed; the same year, he was elected as the general secretary of the Dhaka District chapter of the party. The Awami Muslim League participated in
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#17327728747553234-699: Is denounced by critics for beginning the first of the intelligence agencies' incursions into national politics , for concentrating wealth in a corrupt few hands , and for geographically discriminatory policies that later led to the Bangladesh Liberation War . Ayub Khan was born on 14 May 1907 in Rehana , a village in the Abbottabad District of the North-West Frontier Province of British India into
3381-401: Is remembered for successful industrialization in the impoverished country. Strong emphasis on capitalism and foreign direct investment (FDI) in the industry is often regarded as the "Great Decade" in the history of the country (both economical and political history ). The "Decade of Development" was celebrated, which highlighted the development plans executed during the years of Ayub's rule,
3528-651: The 1954 provincial elections in East Pakistan , the Awami League formed the government there while West Pakistan was governed by the PML, but the PML government collapsed in 1956. He was called on to join the Cabinet as Defence Minister by Prime Minister H.S. Suhrawardy and maintained closer relations with Iskander Mirza who now had become the first President of the country after the successful promulgation of
3675-540: The Bangladesh Forces (BDF, popularly called Mukti Bahini ) was formed, with Osmani as its commander-in-chief. Young people at various locations put up armed resistance. Unable to overcome the Pakistani forces' onslaught, owing mainly to lack of heavy arms and manpower, both soon retreated into Indian territory. As Pakistani forces spread around the country, thousands of youths from occupied Bangladesh crossed
3822-711: The Constitution in 1956. In 1957, President Mirza promoted him from acting full general to the substantive rank of full general. Around this time the MoD , led by General Ayub Khan, began to see the serious interservice rivalry between the General Headquarters staff and the Naval Headquarters staff. Commander in Chief of Navy Vice-Admiral HMS Choudri and his NHQ staff had been fighting with
3969-468: The Finance ministry and the MoD over the issues of rearmament and contingency plans. He reportedly complained about Admiral HMS Choudri to President Mirza and criticized Admiral Choudri for "neither having the brain, imagination, or depth of thought to understand such (defence) problems nor the vision or the ability to make any contribution". The impasse was broken with Admiral Choudri resigning from
4116-558: The Hilal-i-Jurat (HJ) by Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan for non-combatant service and called back to General Headquarters as the Adjutant General of the army on November of the same year. General Gracey gave up the command of the Pakistan Army on 23 January 1951, under pressure of calls for "nationalisation" of the army. The Government of Pakistan had already called for appointing native commanders-in-chief of
4263-516: The Nawab family of Dhaka ; many of its members held high offices in the party. Their residential palace, Ahsan Manzil , served as the de facto party headquarters. A rift developed between the Ahsan Manzil group and the 150 Moghultuli (Muslim League) group. Khwaja Nazimuddin and his brother Khwaja Shahabuddin led the Ahsan Manzil group; both held high offices in the provincial government and in
4410-637: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP), led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto , won 81 seats in West Pakistan and appointed no candidates in East Pakistan. Tajuddin ran and was elected from his constituency. With the elections concluded, the president was to inaugurate the National Assembly, and the elected legislators were to draft a new constitution. With the Awami League being in the majority in the assembly, there remained no obstacle to writing
4557-934: The Second World War on the British side against the Imperial Japanese Army . After the Partition of British India in August 1947, he joined the Pakistan Army and was posted in East Bengal . In 1951, he became the first native commander-in-chief, succeeding General Gracey . From 1953 to 1958, he served in the civilian government as Defence and Home Minister and supported President Iskandar Ali Mirza 's decision to impose martial law against prime minister Feroze Khan's administration on 7 October 1958. Two weeks later, Khan seized presidency in
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4704-605: The Soviet Union were launched. Relations with neighboring China were strengthened but his alignment with the US worsened relations with the Soviet Union in 1962. He launched Operation Gibraltar against India in 1965, leading to an all-out war . It resulted in a stalemate and peace was restored via the Tashkent Declaration . Domestically, Ayub subscribed to the laissez-faire policy of Western-aligned nations at
4851-652: The border into India, seeking arms and training to join the fight against the Pakistani occupation force. Among the Tajuddin Government's top priorities was coordinating those ongoing war efforts. In mid-July (10 to 15) the sector commanders of the BDF met at a conference at the Bangladesh Government's headquarters on Theatre Road in Kolkata. The conference set a course for the conduct of the war in
4998-541: The print newspapers through his takeover of key opposition papers and, while Ayub Khan permitted a National Assembly, it had only limited powers. In 1961, he promulgated the "Muslim Family Law Ordinance". Through this ordinance, unmitigated polygamy was abolished. Consent of the current wife was made mandatory for a second marriage, and brakes were placed on the practice of instant divorce under Islamic tradition, where men could divorce women by saying: "I divorce you" three times. The Arbitration Councils were set up under
5145-562: The proclamation of independence , drafted by Amir-ul Islam and reviewed by Subrata Roy Chowdhury, a lawyer at the Calcutta High Court , retroactively in effect from 10 April. Answering a journalist during the ceremony, Tajuddin named the place Mujibnagar , after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Later the government-in-exile came to be popularly known as the Mujibnagar Government. Mujibnagar was abandoned quickly after
5292-481: The state religion and was viewed as a liberal constitution. It also provided for election of the president by 80,000 (later raised to 120,000) Basic Democrats who could theoretically make their own choice but who were essentially under his control. He justified this as analogous to the American Electoral College and cited Thomas Jefferson as his inspiration. The Ayub administration "guided"
5439-628: The "bastion of power". If we are to move towards a better future, such claims should be avoided as they generate unnecessary and harmful controversy. Unable to secure any compromise on six-points from the Awami League leadership in the previous months, on 1 March, Yahya Khan postponed the inaugural session of the National Assembly on 3 March, indefinitely. Sheikh Mujib immediately called for non-cooperation by his people, effectively taking control of East Pakistan. Mujib kept issuing regular directives to people and party workers. Tajuddin, Kamal Hossain, and Amir-ul Islam were put in charge of drafting
5586-407: The 1950s and, working with Prime Minister Ali Khan , forged a military alliance with the United States against regional communism. His obsession towards modernization of the armed forces in the shortest time possible saw relations with the United States as the only way to achieve his organizational and personal objectives as he argued against civilian supremacy that would affect American interests in
5733-610: The 1960s, the Pakistani military acquired American‑produced conventional weapons such as Jeep CJs , M48 Patton and M24 Chaffee tanks, M16 rifles , F-86 fighter airplanes, and the submarine PNS Ghazi ; all through the US Foreign Military Sales program. In 1961, President Ayub started the nation's full‑fledged space program in cooperation with the air force, and created the Suparco civilian space agency that launched sounding rockets throughout
5880-406: The 1960s. Ayub prioritized nuclear power generation over the use of nuclear technology for military purposes. He reportedly spent ₨. 724 million on the civilian Karachi Nuclear Power Plant and related education of engineers and scientists. Ayub Khan filled more and more civil administrative positions with army officers, increasing the military's influence over the bureaucracy. He expanded
6027-428: The 1970 election manifesto spirit, in the first Bangladesh National Budget in 1972, Tajuddin declared the nationalisation of industries. This came under strong criticism. One of the major arguments against it was that nationalised industries would be unable to find enough skilled manpower to run them. Tajuddin and his fellow planning commission member Nurul Islam argued that if private enterprises can find manpower within
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6174-556: The 1st chief martial law administrator from 1958 to 1962 and the 3rd Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army from 1951 to 1958. Khan's presidency ended in 1969 when he resigned amidst widespread protests between 1968 and 1969. Born in the North-West Frontier Province , Khan was educated from the Aligarh Muslim University and trained at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst . He fought in
6321-449: The Awami League delegation led by Mujib. At this conference, the Awami League's six points again came under strong opposition from the West Pakistani politicians. On 13 March, in the concluding session, Ayub Khan approved the federation proposal, however, he refused to comment on the autonomy of the provinces as the six points demanded, citing it as a matter that only elected legislators could decide. This effectively postponed it until
6468-555: The Awami League joined a front of democratic parties, called the National Democratic Front (NDF), against Ayub's military regime and ceased functioning as an individual party. In 1964, after Suhrawardy's death, Mujib, the general secretary of the Awami League, revived it as a party in the face of opposition by some senior leaders. Mujib's influence in the Awami League only increased with Tajuddin as his 'right-hand man'. The 1965 India-Pakistan War severely damaged
6615-632: The Awami League), a dissident offshoot of the Muslim League. The following year, he was elected a member of the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly. As a close confidante, he assisted Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in revitalising the Awami League into a secular political party during Ayub Khan 's regime in the late 1960s. As the General Secretary of the Awami League from 1966, Tajuddin coordinated the party during
6762-528: The Ayub regime's prestige. The opposition parties of Pakistan sought to exploit the situation by negotiating with the junta for more democratisation; they called for a conference in Lahore on 3 February 1966 and invited rising Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to win the league's support. Meanwhile, just before the conference, President Ayub Khan visited Dhaka at the end of January 1966 and invited East Pakistani political leaders, including Sheikh Mujib, to
6909-840: The Bangladesh government the day after the cabinet took their oaths. As promised, Ali and 70 employees at the Deputy High Commission swore allegiance to the Bangladesh Government, turning the Pakistan High Commission on 9 Circus Avenue into the Bangladesh Mission in Kolkata for good. The mission came to house part of the government's offices, most importantly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Starting in Dhaka and other major cities on 25 March, Pakistani forces occupied most of Bangladesh by late April, creating an influx of refugees into
7056-524: The Bangladesh government, he replied, having consulted with Amir-ul Islam the day before, that a provisional government had been formed with Sheikh Mujib as its president with the senior Awami League leaders who had attended the Mujib-Yahya talks as cabinet members. Tajuddin presented himself as the prime minister. Except for Sheikh Mujib, the whereabouts of the other members was unknown. Two crucial resolutions were reached in that meeting: India opened its borders to Bangladeshi refugees saving millions of lives in
7203-419: The Burma Campaign; however, he was soon temporarily suspended without pay from that command for visible cowardice under fire. In 1946, he was posted back to British India and was stationed in the North-West Frontier Province . In 1947, he was promoted to Brigadier and commanded a brigade in South Waziristan . When the United Kingdom announced the Partition of British India into India and Pakistan, he
7350-419: The Gano Azadi League, a civil rights organisation with a small following, in July 1947, a month before the partition of India. In contrast to the Muslim League, the organisation took progressive views on many issues, like the economy, culture, and education. Apart from Tajuddin, other founding members of the Gano Azadi League included Oli Ahad and Mohammad Toaha . In the newly independent Pakistan, Tajuddin
7497-403: The Indian prime minister as an outrageous act sidelining them. On returning to Kolkata, on 8 April, Tajuddin found and met the group of leaders, including A H M Qamaruzzaman, and informed them of the Delhi meeting's outcomes, including the provisional government. Some of the leadership present there questioned Tajuddin's legitimacy as prime minister. The youth leader Sheikh Mani rejected
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#17327728747557644-447: The Lahore Conference and put forward the revised version of those points as the six-point demand to the committee. They called for a new constitution, ensuring autonomy of provinces on key matters like monetary policy and defence instead of the prevalent absolute central governance. West Pakistani leaders present there received the six points with absolute disappointment; they viewed it as a secessionist proposal and refused to raise it in
7791-414: The Language Movement of 1952, emerged as East Pakistan's most promising political party. Leaving his studies unfinished, Tajuddin left Dhaka in 1951 to work as a master at a school in Sreepur , close to his home in Gazipur. The school was in poor condition. During his visits to Dhaka at that time, besides taking part in political activism, he often lobbied for managing government aid for the school. After
7938-406: The Muslim League party office in Dhaka at 150 Moghultuli Lane. The office became a haunt for the party's progressive young dissidents, including Tajuddin, led by Kamruddin Ahmed , a schoolteacher and later a lawyer. As one of the four 'full-time' party workers, Tajuddin helped Kamruddin publish the party newspaper. Traditionally, the Muslim League in Dhaka and East Bengal at large was dominated by
8085-414: The Partition and joined the 150 Moghultuli group. Among them Sheikh Mujibur Rahman , who had enrolled in Dhaka University and a few others, founded the East Pakistan Muslim Students' League (popularly called the Students' League) on 4 January 1948. Tajuddin joined the party as a founding member. At the same time, as a frequenter of Dhaka's political circles, Tajuddin was drawn increasingly towards
8232-429: The Provisional Government of Bangladesh in 1971 and headed it, operating in exile in India, as its prime minister. In independent Bangladesh, Tajuddin served as the Minister of Finance and Planning in Sheikh Mujib's Cabinet from 1972 to 1974. He was also a member of the committee drafting the Constitution of Bangladesh . He resigned from the cabinet in 1974 to live a quiet life. Following Sheikh Mujib's assassination in
8379-425: The Second World War and the Hindu-Muslim communal riots in Bengal in 1946. In August 1947, India was partitioned, and Pakistan was born as a result, causing mass migration and violence. Pakistan consisted of two geographically non-contiguous wings , thousands of miles apart. The far larger West Wing (current Pakistan), adjacent to the western border of India, comprised four provinces, and only East Bengal constituted
8526-398: The Supreme Court's Chief Justice Munir justified the coup under the doctrine of necessity , Ayub sent the military into the presidential palace and exiled Mirza to England. This was largely done with the support of: Admiral A. R. Khan , General Azam Khan , Nawab of Kalabagh Amir Khan , General Dr. Wajid Khan , General K. M. Sheikh, and General Sher Bahadur. Air Vice Marshal Asghar Khan
8673-426: The Tajuddin government declared that all enlisted and non-enlisted freedom fighters would be inducted into a National Militia. His administration quickly embarked on the immediate task of restoring law and order in the newly independent country. Released from nine months of imprisonment in Pakistan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to Dhaka on 10 January 1972. Tajuddin and Mujib met privately on 11 January to decide
8820-482: The UN delegation and sacked him later in December, after the war. In September, 40 members of the national and provincial assemblies of the South Zone, issued a statement expressing dissatisfaction on Tajuddin's performance as prime minister and demanded his resignation from the cabinet and Awami League. After nine months of war, the Pakistani forces in Bangladesh surrendered at Dhaka on 16 December 1971. Tajuddin and his cabinet returned from Kolkata to Dhaka, now
8967-410: The armed forces from the interference of the politicians, and to unify the provinces of West Pakistan into one unit." The controversial One Unit Scheme integrated the four western provinces into one political entity, West Pakistan , as a counterbalance against the numerically superior population of East Bengal , which was renamed East Pakistan. The province of Punjab supported the project, but all
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#17327728747559114-412: The army, air force , and navy and dismissed deputation appointments from the British military . The General Headquarters sent the nomination papers to the Prime Minister's Secretariat for the appointment of commander-in-chief . There were four senior officers in the race: Major General's Akbar Khan , Iftikhar Khan , Ishfakul Majid , and Nawabzada Agha Mohammad Raza . Among these officers Akbar
9261-462: The bordering states of India, most notably in West Bengal and Tripura. The number of refugees would eventually reach ten million. As the war broke out, Bengali soldiers serving in various Pakistani battalions revolted and put up armed resistance against Pakistani forces all over Bangladesh. Rebel commanders of these battalions, unaware of the establishment of a provisional government, met along with Colonel M A G Osmani on 4 April. At that meeting,
9408-537: The borders, most of them built by the British Army during the Second World War. After picking up cabinet members Muhammad Mansur Ali, Abdul Mannan , and Syed Nazrul Islam from various places on the way, on 11 April, the entourage arrived in Agartala , capital of the Indian state of Tripura , where many other Awami League leaders had taken refuge, including Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad and Colonel M A G Osmani . Before reaching Agartala, during Tajuddin and his group's stop in Shiliguri on 10 April, Golok Majumdar arranged
9555-401: The broadcast of Tajuddin's first radio speech as the prime minister of Bangladesh from a clandestine radio station. The speech was recorded in Delhi from a draft prepared by Islam and Rehman Sobhan , an Awami League economist who also escaped Dhaka after the 25 March crackdown and made it to Delhi. In his speech, Tajuddin informed the people of Bangladesh of the formation of the government and
9702-413: The capital of the newly independent Bangladesh, on 22 December 1971. In an address at the Dhaka airport that day and at the Dhaka Secretariate the following day, Tajuddin declared Bangladesh would be built upon the principles of socialism , democracy and secularism . On 23 December, recognising the sacrifice of the freedom fighters and their tremendous potential in building the newborn nation,
9849-416: The characteristics and the future of Pakistan, envisioning new political parties. Members of that group, notably Oli Ahad and Mohammad Toaha, founded the Jubo League, a youth organisation, at a youth convention that took place in March 1951. Tajuddin was elected a member of the Jubo League executive committee at its first annual council later that year. East and West Pakistan came into a major conflict over
9996-455: The coming months. The irregular guerrilla warriors were named Gono Bahini (popularly called Muktijoddha or "Freedom Fighter") and the regular force was named "Regular Force" (popularly called Mukti Fouj ). Under Tajuddin's premiership, many Bengali bureaucrats, diplomats and military officers serving Pakistan defected to the new Government of Bangladesh. The Government soon established a capable civil administration. On 27 July, Tajuddin, as
10143-411: The committee in charge of drafting the Constitution of Bangladesh . As minister of finance, Tajuddin strongly resented foreign aid, particularly from the United States. He regarded the World Bank as an instrument of United States' domination. During World Bank president Robert McNamara's visit to Bangladesh in 1972, Tajuddin's response was cold, and their meeting ended bearing no fruit. According to
10290-401: The conference. In the party council of the Awami League on 14–15 March 1966, Sheikh Mujib was elected president and Tajuddin its general secretary. Promulgated by the Awami League, six points became the voice of the East Pakistani people, their charter of emancipation, while getting little support in West Pakistan. The military junta and the West Pakistani political parties viewed six points as
10437-436: The conference. Ayub Khan rejected the opposition party forum's plea for Mujib's release citing legal difficulties. A legal battle ensued between the Awami League and the junta over Mujib's release. Faced with popular pressure, the conference was postponed. On 17 February 1969, Tajuddin, just released from imprisonment, joined his two Awami League comrades, lawyers Kamal Hossain and Amir-ul Islam , who were already leading
10584-531: The constitution so that it was entirely different from the one recommended by the Shahabuddin Commission. The constitution reflected his personal views of politicians and the restriction of using religions in politics. His presidency restored the writ of government through the promulgated constitution and restored political freedom by lifting the martial law enforced since 1958. The new constitution respected Islam , but did not declare Islam as
10731-486: The country led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto . Following protests in East Pakistan , Ayub resigned in March 1969 and appointed Yahya Khan . Later, fighting a brief illness, he died in 1974. Khan remains the country's longest-serving president and second-longest serving head of state . His legacy remains mixed; his era is often dubbed the "Decade of Development". Khan is credited with economic prosperity and industrialisation. He
10878-556: The country the same must be the case for public enterprises and imposed their policies accordingly. Ayub Khan (general) Political views Elections President of Pakistan Political Affiliations [REDACTED] Mohammad Ayub Khan (14 May 1907 – 19 April 1974) was a Pakistani four-star rank general and politician who served as the 2nd President of Pakistan from 1958 to 1969. He rose to prominence following his 1958 Pakistani coup d'état against President Iskandar Ali Mirza . He also served as
11025-446: The country's farmland to onetime tenant farmers. In Karachi , around 100,000 refugees displaced by the partition of India were moved from slums to new housing colonies. His administration also eliminated the need for bribes , known as "tea money" in Pakistan, to access government officials, contributing to a reduction in corruption within Pakistan's government relative to other Asian nations during his tenure. An oil refinery
11172-594: The country. During 1960–66, the annual GDP growth was recorded at 6.8%. Several hydroelectric projects were completed, including the Mangla Dam (one of the world's largest dams), several small dams and water reservoirs in West Pakistan, and one dam in East Pakistan, the Kaptai Dam . President Ayub authorized planning of nuclear power plants . Dr. Abdus Salam , supported by the President, personally approved
11319-420: The coup the next morning; only U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan James M. Langley was kept fully informed of political developments in the country. Ayub justified his part by declaring that: "History would never have forgiven us if the present chaotic conditions were allowed to go on any further," and that his goal was to restore a democracy that the "people can understand and work", not to rule indefinitely. When
11466-472: The crippling birth rate, and take appropriate steps, including land reforms and technological innovation, to develop agriculture so that the country could feed itself". Ayub finally "restored civil administration", although he maintained the Presidency and relied on an intricate web of spy agencies to maintain supremacy over the bureaucracy, including calling upon civilian intelligence agencies. In 1960,
11613-484: The date informally known as " Jail killing day ." Before British rule , there was a Mughal fort at the site of the current jail. In 1788, the fort was renovated, and converted into a jail. Until 1836, the Kotowali Police station was also co-located here. Records from 1833 show that the capacity of the jail at that time was 800 inmates. However, the jail had an average of 526 inmates every day. The Dhaka jail
11760-480: The difficulties. Yahya accepted the offer, and Kamal Hossain and Tajuddin met his experts and made some progress. Troops and arms were being concentrated from West Pakistan. Mujib urged Yahya to stop the reinforcements, warning him of the consequences. The Awami League leadership expected that on 24 March final negotiations would take place, however, that day passed with no meeting. On 25 March they learned that Yahya's delegation had secretly left Dhaka, leaving
11907-503: The directives. Non-cooperation was an immediate success; people spontaneously defied a curfew imposed by the Army. On 7 March 1971, however, in a historical speech in front of a massive gathering, Sheikh Mujib called for an indefinite general strike, asking his people to be prepared for any emergency and issued an ultimatum to the military junta. On 15 March, Tajuddin, as the general secretary of Awami League, issued 35 directives to
12054-491: The discussions unfinished, killing any hope for a peaceful settlement. Though Yahya Khan promised to resume talks on 25 March, everybody was apprehensive that an armed conflict was imminent. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman kept ordering his workers to escape to safety. Despite Tajuddin's and others' repeated insistence, Mujib refused to escape until 25 March, fearing it would be used as a pretext to massacre innocent Pakistanis. Tajuddin also remained in Dhaka until 25 March,
12201-476: The economy. Pressure built up to reconstruct the cabinet which eventually witnessed General Ayub Khan becoming the defence minister and Iskander Mirza as home minister in October 1954. Ayub Khan disdained civilian politicians, whose factional infighting had for years prevented adoption of a constitution. He wrote that he reluctantly joined the cabinet as defence minister with "two clear objectives: to save
12348-521: The elected legislators. Tajuddin was among Sheikh Mujib's delegation in the Mujib-Yahya talks to settle the constitutional disputes between East and West Pakistan and transfer power to the elected National Assembly . Following the Pakistani army's crackdown on the Bangladeshi population on 25 March 1971, Tajudddin escaped to India. In the absence of Sheikh Mujib, he initiated the set up of
12495-638: The election in a coalition with some other parties (called the United Front or Jukta Front ), with their joint 21-point election manifesto, embodying many popular demands. Tajuddin, running on the Jukta Front ticket, was elected from his constituency, defeating the general secretary of the East Pakistan Muslim League, Fakir Abdul Mannan, by an overwhelming three to one proportion of the vote. At his twenty-nine, he became one of
12642-480: The failure of land reforms and a weak taxation system meant that most of this growth landed in the hands of the elite. In 1965, Khan entered the presidential race as the Convention Muslim League 's candidate to counter the opposition candidate Fatima Jinnah . Ayub won the elections and was re-elected for a second term. In 1967, disapproval of price hikes of food prompted demonstrations across
12789-662: The family responsibilities. With British rule in India nearing its end and Hindu-Muslim tensions on the rise, in 1940 the political party All-India Muslim League brought about the Pakistan Movement , which demanded a separate state for the Muslims of India. Founded in 1906, in Dhaka, the Muslim League's leadership came mostly from the feudal elites. Headquartered in Kolkata, the Bengal Provincial Muslim League, had had little grassroots organisation or activity in Bengal for
12936-473: The first of its kind in Pakistan after years of military rule, was held on 7 December 1970. Of the 300 parliamentary seats of the National Assembly , East Pakistan and West Pakistan constituted 162 and 138 seats respectively. The Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, secured 160 out of 162 seats in East Pakistan and none in West Pakistan, still becoming the majority. Its closest contender,
13083-508: The following year it was included under the Bangladesh National Museum . In 2015, a ruin from the period of Muslim rulers was found in the prison area, and the following year, an archaeological excavation was undertaken. The jail has been shifted to the new Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj in July, 2016. In 2017 a project was undertaken to preserve the prison grounds for historical needs. The design by Form Three Architects
13230-408: The future leadership. As was the popular wish, Tajuddin happily agreed to transfer the prime minister's office to Mujib. Though Mujib initially proposed a presidential government, at Tajuddin's insistence, he accepted a parliamentary system. In the reformed cabinet, with Sheikh Mujib as prime minister, Tajuddin was put in charge of the Ministry of Finance and Planning. He was also appointed a member of
13377-489: The idea of a provisional government, believing only a legitimate government could muster the international support necessary for the liberation war. On 10 April, accompanied by Amir-ul Islam, Sheikh Mani and others, he boarded an old Dakota plane borrowed from the Indian government and set off in search of other cabinet members scattered around the borders. Flying at low altitudes, the plane stopped at various airstrips at
13524-400: The idea of the cabinet outright. Instead, he proposed setting up a revolutionary council dedicated to conducting armed resistance only. Amir-ul Islam explained the inadequacy of the revolutionary council and the necessity of a legal government. After this, and following Qamaruzzaman's mediation, most of the leadership at the meeting accepted Tajuddin's proposal. Tajuddin remained committed to
13671-588: The infamous Agartala Conspiracy Case . In the face of the mass popular uprising of 1969 , the Ayub regime began showing signs of compromise. On 1 February 1969, Ayub Khan announced a conference (popularly known as the Round Table Conference or RTC), in Rawalpindi, on 17 February 1969 with the opposition parties, including the Awami League. The Awami League declared the RTC would not gain credibility with their president, Mujib, imprisoned and refused to attend
13818-457: The law examination from prison and earned a BA degree in Law . After his return from prison, he was elected as the social welfare and cultural secretary of Awami League in 1955. Pakistan framed its Constitution in 1956, more than eight years after its independence, under which a general election was supposed to be held in early 1958. In 1958, however, a military junta, led by General Ayub Khan ,
13965-430: The law in the urban and rural areas to deal with cases of: (a) grant of sanction to a person to contract a second marriage during the subsistence of a marriage; (b) reconciliation of a dispute between a husband and a wife; (c) grant of a maintenance allowance to the wife and children. Industrialization and rural development through constructing modern national freeways are considered his greatest achievements and his era
14112-431: The legal proceedings, on their flight to Rawalpindi to negotiate Mujib's release. Despite its initial objections, the Ayub government eventually conceded and agreed to release Mujib unconditionally so that he could attend the Round Table Conference. Finally, authorities released Sheikh Mujib, the unanimous leader of East Pakistan, from prison on 23 February 1969. Tajuddin attended the Round Table Conference as part of
14259-430: The liberation war, over the nine months, Tajuddin had to deal with various problems originating from within his party. As Sheikh Mujib did not explicitly name his successor in his absence, a faction within the Awami League denounced his premiership from the beginning; they continued with their relentless efforts to discredit him. A lack of coordination among various government bodies arose on occasion. The Chhatra League ,
14406-439: The mid-1950s, the Awami Muslim League had been turning towards secularism; it dropped 'Muslim' from its name in 1955, becoming known as the Awami League. It became vocal over the economic disparity between East and West Pakistan and began gaining popularity among the masses. In the Awami League, Tajuddin became close to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, one of the founders of the party. Since 1962, following party President Suhrawardy's policy,
14553-494: The much smaller East Wing (current Bangladesh), adjacent to the eastern edge of India. Abul Hashim and Shaheed Suhrawardy opposed the partition of Bengal and did not migrate to Pakistan immediately. Even though it was leading the Pakistan cause, the Muslim League's inadequacy to lead Pakistan as a nation was apparent to factions within it. A faction of the 150 Moghultuli Lane-based Muslim League skeptics, led by Kamruddin Ahmed, formed
14700-639: The national political arena. He witnessed the marginalization of his 150 Moghultuli faction of the Muslim League at their leader Hashim and Suhrawardy's absence in the political scene of East Bengal and the Ahsan Manzil group's rise. In 1949, the 150 Moghultuli faction cut ties with the Muslim League and founded the Awami Muslim League (later the Awami League) with Maulana Bhashani , a Muslim cleric turned politician, as its president. Tajuddin admired Maulana Bhashani but showed little interest in his party initially. He and his disillusioned former Muslim League fellows kept meeting regularly at their haunts, speculating on
14847-423: The navy in protest as a result of having differences with the navy's plans of expansion and modernization. Suhrawardy and Feroz began campaigning to become prime minister and president in the upcoming general elections. Meanwhile, the conservative Pakistan Muslim League , led by its President Abdul Qayyum Khan , was threatening to engage in civil disobedience. These events were against President Mirza hence he
14994-612: The night Yahya secretly left Dhaka and the Pakistan Army cracked down on the Bangladeshi population there, killing thousands of people. Like the entire nation, the Awami League's leadership was taken by surprise; they scattered, each busy finding their own path to safety, and losing contact with one another for a few days. On the night of 25 March, Tajuddin and his trusted long-time comrade Amir-ul Islam left their homes and families and went into hiding. They secretly left Dhaka on 27 March for neighbouring India. Tajuddin came to learn days later that Sheikh Mujib had been arrested on
15141-446: The night of 25 March. Before his arrest, he broadcast the independence of Bangladesh in a radio message. After a perilous journey, mostly on foot through Kushtia and Chuadanga , Tajuddin and Amir-ul Islam crossed the Indian border on 30 March. At the border outpost the regional head of the Indian border security force ( BSF ), Golok Majumdar received them. Majudmar immediately transported them to Kolkata with him. There, on
15288-551: The night of 30 March and the next day, Tajuddin and Islam had discussions with BSF chief Rustamji , who had come from Delhi after learning of their arrival. On 1 April, Tajuddin and Islam, accompanied by Majumdar, left for Delhi aboard a military cargo plane. In Delhi, Tajuddin met with India's Prime Minister Indira Gandhi , on 4 April. At their second meeting the following day, Gandhi informed him that Sheikh Mujib had been arrested and transported to Pakistan though Pakistan had not made this official yet. Asked about
15435-454: The oath ceremony as participants feared a raid by Pakistani forces. The government settled in Kolkata, in exile, for the rest of the war—briefly at a house on Ballyganj Circular Road and then at 8 Theatre Road. On 15 April, Tajuddin secretly met Hossain Ali, the deputy high commissioner of Pakistan, in Kolkata. Tajuddin persuaded Ali, along with his Bengali staff, to switch allegiance to
15582-535: The other provinces protested against it and its centralisation of power. Opposition was particularly strong in East Bengal, where it was seen as an attack on the democratic principle of political egalitarianism . In 1955, Prime Minister Bogra was dismissed by Governor-General Malik Ghulam Muhammad and he was succeeded by the new Prime Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Ali as the Defence Minister. After
15729-473: The party. Their propaganda, aided by The Azad newspaper, the Muslim League's mouthpiece, labelled Hashim and his followers as communists in disguise. Both groups contested elections in district party committees. In the 1944 Dhaka district committee elections, Tajuddin helped Kamruddin and the Moghultli group win a surprising victory against Shahabuddin's intrigues. The Pakistan Movement intensified after
15876-432: The people. On the same day, Yahya Khan arrived in Dhaka and a series of meetings took place between them until late March. Mujib assured Yahya that his party would not harm West Pakistan's interests. He also pressed Yahya to withdraw the declaration of martial law immediately; Yahya refused, claiming legal difficulties with that. Mujib offered his assistants, Tajuddin and Kamal Hossain, to meet Khan's legal experts to sort out
16023-467: The prime minister, issued an order (GA/810/345) that divided occupied Bangladesh into nine administrative zones, called Zonal Administrative Councils, for administrative convenience. On another order, issued on 18 September, the number was increased to eleven. Each zonal council was chaired by an elected legislator and several administrative officers were appointed by the Government under him. Amidst occasional pressures from within his party, Tajuddin played
16170-474: The principal town in East Bengal, for further studies. In Dhaka, he went to Saint Gregory's High School , where he matriculated in 1944, securing 12th position in undivided Bengal. After matriculation, Tajuddin briefly lost interest in formal education because of his activism, pausing his studies for three years. At his mother's insistence, he resumed his studies and was admitted to Dhaka College . There he attended classes irregularly because of his activism. As
16317-434: The private consortium companies and industries, and is credited with creating an environment where the private sector was encouraged to establish medium and small-scale industries in Pakistan. This opened up avenues for new job opportunities and thus the economic graph of the country started rising. He oversaw the development and completion of mega projects such as hydroelectric dams , power stations , and barrages all over
16464-766: The project in Karachi while the project in East Pakistan never materialized. Extensive education reforms were supposedly carried out and 'scientific development efforts' were also supposedly made during his years. These policies could not be sustained after 1965, when the economy collapsed and led to economic declines which he was unable to control. Ayub introduced new curricula and textbooks for universities and schools. Many public-sector universities and schools were built during his era. He also introduced agricultural reforms preventing anyone from occupying more than 500 acres of irrigated and 1000 acres of unirrigated land. His administration, redistributed approximately 23 percent of
16611-405: The public was informed, public reactions were mixed. The immediate crackdown on smuggling, corruption, and trafficking won Ayub plenty of support from the commoners. The middle-class and the upper-middle class were more apprehensive. President Mirza himself was apprehensive, though for a different reason. He had been contemplating replacing Ayub Khan, and it seems that Ayub knew. Immediately after
16758-511: The region as a result of an election. The Central Intelligence Agency leased Peshawar Air Station in the 1950s and spying into the Soviet Union from the air station grew immensely, with Ayub's full knowledge, during his presidency. When these activities were exposed in 1960 after a U-2 flying out of the air station was shot down and its pilot captured by the USSR, President Ayub was in
16905-625: The regional service of the Indian state radio, for a broader audience. Reunited in Agartala, the Awami League leadership pondered the cabinet agenda and distributing cabinet offices. In the absence of President Sheikh Mujib, Syed Nazrul Islam served as acting president, Khondaker Mostaq took the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qamarauzzaman was given the State Minister's office, Mansur Ali the Finance Minister's, and Colonel Osmani,
17052-465: The regular forces at various places. Sector Commanders of the regular forces and Osmani urged the government to bring them under the same command. Tajuddin himself expressed his concern about Mujib Bahini to Indian officials on occasion and to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at their meeting on 22 October. The situation, however, never improved. By August, Minister of Foreign Affairs Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad and his cohorts at his ministry secretly established
17199-513: The simmering dispute resurged in 1951. The ruling Muslim League provincial government, led by Nurul Amin , who succeeded Nazimuddin as the chief minister in 1948, again sided with West Pakistan. Tajuddin, as a Jubo League worker and an early participant of the movement, was elected a member of the University State Language Action Committee to advance Bengali as a state language, set up the in early 1951 by
17346-529: The size of the army by more than half from the early 1960s to 1969, and maintained a high level of military spending as a percentage of GDP during that period, peaking in the immediate aftermath of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 . The main feature of Ayub Khan's foreign policy was prioritized relations with the United States and Europe. Foreign relations with the Soviet Union were downplayed. He enjoyed support from President Dwight Eisenhower in
17493-467: The state language question within a month of Pakistan's independence in 1947. West Pakistan leaders, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, advocated for Urdu as the only state language of multilingual Pakistan. In response to protests from various intellectual and political bodies of Bengali -speaking East Bengal, the state language decision was postponed for a while. However, as authorities continued efforts to push Urdu in various guises,
17640-504: The student wing of the Awami League, workers united under a separate force, initially called the Bangladesh Liberation Force (BLF) and later Mujib Bahini . Though initially commissioned by Osmani to recruit youths for the regular Bangladesh Forces, they eventually emerged as an independent armed force, under the auspices of the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Mujib Bahini clashed with
17787-557: The students of the Dhaka University. The movement got its spark on 27 January 1952 as Prime Minister Khwaja Nazimudduin of Pakistan declared that, “the state language of Pakistan shall be Urdu and no other language.” On 21 February 1952 , police opened fire on protest processions at various places, killing several protesters. Police raided the Jubo League's office on 21 and 22 February; Tajuddin, who
17934-421: The then minister of defence, seized power in a coup d'état . Ayub Khan declared himself president and chief martial law administrator. Four years later, in 1962, he instituted a new constitution , abrogating the old one, legitimising his junta's rule. He also reformed the election process in his favour and brutally suppressed democratic activities. Tajuddin was arrested in 1958, just after Ayub Khan took over and
18081-482: The time. Khan privatised state-owned industries, and liberalised the economy generally. Large inflows of foreign aid and investment led to the fastest-growing economy in South Asia. His tenure was also distinguished by the completion of hydroelectric stations , dams, and reservoirs . Under Ayub, Pakistan's space program was established, and the country launched its first uncrewed space-mission by 1962. However,
18228-484: The transitional role of British military officers. Although the Pakistani government announced the appointment of the navy's native commander in chief in 1951, it was Ayub Khan who helped Vice-Admiral HMS Choudri to be appointed as the first native navy commander in chief, also in 1953. The events surrounding Ayub's appointment set the precedent for a native general being promoted out of turn, ostensibly because he
18375-555: The tumultuous late 1960s and early 1970s, suffering imprisonment on several occasions. He formulated the early draft of the historic six-points demand that would eventually lead to the birth of Bangladesh . He coordinated the Awami League's election campaign for the 1970 Pakistani general election , in which the League gained a historic parliamentary majority. He also coordinated the non-cooperation movement of March 1971 precipitated by President Yahya Khan 's delay in transferring power to
18522-479: The upcoming days when Pakistani aggression reached outside major cities, and India allowed the Bangladesh Government to operate within Indian territory. The Indian government also promised to help the Bangladeshi liberation war by any means possible. While Tajuddin was in Delhi, part of the Awami League leadership congregated in Kolkata. Many of them, notably the youth and student leaders, viewed Tajuddin's meeting with
18669-427: The war's progress. He praised the spontaneous armed resistances taking place at the various parts of the country and recognized their leaders. He also gave instructions to the people on the conduct of the war. Describing the Pakistani army's onslaught, Tajuddin asked the international community to express solidarity with the freedom struggle of Bangladesh. The speech was broadcast again the next day on Akashvani Kolkata,
18816-405: The youngest elected legislators of the assembly. The Jukta Front won a majority in the election, ending the Muslim League's dominance in East Pakistan. However, within months of taking office, the central government dissolved the Jukta Front cabinet on the pretext of conspiring to secede by its chief minister A. K. Fazlul Huq . Tajuddin was arrested following the dismissal of the cabinet. He took
18963-715: Was Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri , who served as the Chief of the Army Staff (India) from 1962 to 1966 while Ayub was the president of Pakistan. After the standard probationary period of service in the British Army , he was appointed to the British Indian Army on 10 April 1929, joining the 1/14th Punjab Regiment Sherdils , now known as the 5th Punjab Regiment. He was promoted to lieutenant on 2 May 1930 and to captain on 2 February 1937. During World War II , he
19110-590: Was a Bangladeshi politician. He led the Provisional Government of Bangladesh as its prime minister during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, and is regarded as one of the most instrumental figures in the birth of Bangladesh . He is known for his unwavering leadership and strategic acumen. He played a crucial role in organising the war efforts. His contributions continue to be celebrated in Bangladesh’s history and politics. Tajuddin began as
19257-619: Was a resident student of Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall in Dhaka University . The political atmosphere was grim in East Bengal. From the beginning, tensions developed between East and West Pakistan over various issues. The ruling Muslim League provincial government, led by the chief minister Khwaja Nazimuddin , mostly sided with West Pakistan on various issues. The university became an important centre of political activism; as usual Tajuddin became an enthusiastic participant in them. Many Kolkata-based pro-Hashim workers migrated to Dhaka after
19404-434: Was able to introduce submarines and slowly modified itself by acquiring warships. However, Ayub drastically reduced funding of the military in the 1950s and de-prioritized nuclear weapons in the 1960s. The military relied on donations from the United States for major weapons procurements. Major funding was made available for military acquisitions and procurement towards conventional weaponry for conventional defence . In
19551-506: Was about 4 miles from his village. He used to go to school on a mule 's back and was shifted to a school in Haripur , where he started living with his grandmother. He went on to study at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and while pursuing his college education, he was accepted into the Royal Military College, Sandhurst on the recommendation of General Andrew Skeen ; he trained first in India and then departed for Great Britain. Ayub Khan
19698-487: Was asked by General Ayub Khan to join the Generals to demand Mirza's resignation, but Asghar Khan declined the request, stating that he "found the whole exercise distasteful." The regime came to power with the intent of instituting widespread reform. Like Mirza, Ayub advocated for greater centralization of power, and his ruling style was more American than British. He "vowed to give people access to speedier justice, curb
19845-417: Was converted into the central jail for East Bengal . After the proclamation of Bangladeshi Independence by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1971, pro-independence guards working at the jail freed inmates from the prisons, prompting the Pakistani army to attack and take control of the jail. After the establishment of Bangladesh , the prison returned to its original form. A jail museum was opened here in 2013 and
19992-452: Was established in Karachi. These reforms led to 15% GNP growth of the country that was three times greater than that of India. Despite the increase in the GNP growth, the profit and revenue was gained by the famous 22 families of the time that controlled 66% of the industries and land of the country and 80% of the banking and insurance companies of Pakistan. During the Ayub era, the navy
20139-584: Was finalized in a competition held for the proposed project and work on the project was inaugurated in 2019. According to the design, a cultural center and multipurpose complex will be constructed and in the prison area. Two museums are included in the proposed plan. A Bangladeshi TV series, Karagar was shot at this former jail in 2022. This prison-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Tajuddin Ahmad Tajuddin Ahmad (23 July 1925 – 3 November 1975)
20286-623: Was fluent in Urdu, Pashto, English, and his regional Hindko dialect. Ayub Khan was admitted to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1926. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 2 February 1928 in the 19th Punjabis of the 14th Punjab Regiment (better known as 1/14th Punjab Regiment) of the British Indian Army – before this he was attached to the Royal Fusiliers . Amongst those who passed out with him
20433-533: Was imprisoned for a year. Under Ayub's rule, the suffering and deprivation in East Pakistan increased. West Pakistan dominated politics, administration, commerce, industry, and education; West Pakistan's cities, like Lahore , Karachi , Rawalpindi , became centres of decision making, thrived as centres of trade, commerce and opportunity. The East Pakistan capital, Dhaka, was relegated to near obscurity. West Pakistani business persons dominated major East Pakistan businesses involved in jute and tea, for example. Since
20580-478: Was nearing its end and Bengal was battered by famines, communal tensions and other problems. It was a hotbed of anti-British activism. Against this backdrop, his political activism began at a very early age, sometimes interrupting his studies. The anti-British activists of Bengal were his earliest political inspiration. After attending a few schools in Gazipur, Tajuddin moved to Dhaka , his district headquarter and
20727-461: Was one of the most senior serving officers in the British Indian Army who opted for Pakistan in 1947. At the time of his joining, he was the tenth ranking officer in terms of seniority with service number PA-010. In the early part of 1948, he was given the command of the 14th Infantry Division in the rank of acting major-general stationed in Dacca , East Pakistan . In 1949, he was decorated with
20874-520: Was promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1942 and was posted in Burma to participate in the first phase of the Burma Campaign in 1942–43. He was promoted to the permanent rank of major on 2 February 1945. Later that year, he was promoted to temporary colonel and assumed the command of his own regiment in which he was commissioned to direct operations in the second phase of
21021-481: Was residing in the office at that time, barely avoided arrest. As a result of the movement, the government conceded and granted Bengali status as a state language. Despite its critical role in the Language Movement, the Jubo League was unsuccessful as a mainstream political party. Its members made their way into other established political parties. Many of them joined the Awami Muslim League, which after
21168-538: Was the eldest of nine siblings—three brothers and six sisters. The Bengal province, the eastern frontier of India , consisted of two conceptual regions: the West Bengal had a Hindu majority population and housed the provincial capital Kolkata , a thriving centre of trade and culture; East Bengal , Tajuddin's home, was an impoverished hinterland of West Bengal, with a mostly poor Muslim peasant population. During Tajuddin's formative years, British rule in India
21315-638: Was the least ambitious of the generals in the line of promotion and the most loyal to civil government at that time. In 1953, Ayub visited Turkey, his first foreign visit as an army commander in chief, and was said to have been impressed with Turkish military tradition; he met only with the Turkish Defence minister during his visit. Thereafter, he went to the United States and visited the US State Department and Pentagon to lobby for forging military relations . He termed this visit as
21462-608: Was the senior, having been commissioned in 1920. As the tenure of General Gracey was nearing its end at the close of 1949, he approached Akbar Khan to succeed him. However, Akbar declined, citing that the position was beyond his competence. The next candidate in line was Akbar's younger brother, General Iftikhar Khan . However, Iftikhar died in an air crash before he could take office, resulting in Gracey's extension, with General Ayub Khan succeeding him following his retirement. Defence Secretary Iskandar Mirza at that time played
21609-428: Was willing to dissolve even Pakistan's One Unit for his advantage. On 7 October 1958, President Mirza abrogated the Constitution of Pakistan of 1956 after sending a letter to Prime Minister Feroz announcing a coup d'état and appointed General Ayub Khan as Chief Martial Law Administrator . Two weeks later, Ayub would carry out his own coup d'état against Mirza. Most of the country's politicians only became aware of
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