Tajuddin Ahmad

Tajuddin Ahmad (তাজউদ্দিন আহমেদ): Tajuddin Ahmad was a Bangladeshi statesman and freedom fighter. Tajuddin Ahmad served as the first Prime Minister of Bangladesh and lead the wartime Provisional Government during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Tajuddin Ahmad is regarded as one of the most influential and instrumental figures in the birth of Bangladesh, due to his leadership of the provisional government in 1971, in which he united the various political, military and cultural forces of Bangladeshi nationalism. After the liberation of Bangladesh, Tajuddin Ahmad became Finance Minister in the Mujib government in 1972. Tajuddin Ahmad resigned from the cabinet in 1974 and fell out with Mujib over the creation of the one-party system of BAKSAL. After the Mujib assassination in August 1975, Ahmad was arrested by the martial law government. Along with four other top League 

Born: (23 July 1925) Dardaria, Bengal Presidency, British India(now Kapasia, Bangladesh)

Died: 3 November 1975 (aged 50) Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Political party: Awami League (1949–1975).

Other political: All-India Muslim League (Before1949).

Affiliations: Alma mater University of Dhaka.

Religion: Islam.

In office: 11 April 1971 – 12 January 1972 (President-Mujibur Rahman, Nazrul Islam (Acting). And Succeeded by Mujibur Rahman.

Assassinated: November 3, 1975, Dhaka.

Family Detail: Tajuddin Ahmad was born in a middle class conservative Muslim family to father Moulavi Muhammad Yasin Khan and mother Meherunnesa Khanam. He had nine siblings— three brothers and six sisters. Tajuddin Ahmad is survived by his wife Syeda Zohra Tajuddin, 3 daughters Sharmin Ahmad (Reepi), Simeen Hussain (Rimi), Mahjabin Ahmad (Mimi) and only son Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj.

Political career: Tajuddin Ahmad organized protests and other activities during the Language Movement of 1952. Tajuddin Ahmad was arrested by police and imprisoned for several months. After his release, he was elected to the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly in 1954 but was arrested following the dismissal of the A. K. Fazlul Huq-led government. He would be arrested again following the imposition of martial law by Ayub Khan in 1958 after taking power in a military coup. Tajuddin Ahmed worked in the pro-democracy campaign led by the Awami League and other political parties in Pakistan. Tajuddin Ahmad organized protests against the arrest of Mujib in 1966 on charges of sedition. He participated at the round table conference in Rawalpindi convened by Ayub Khan to resolve the crisis between the government and the opposition parties. Following the restoration of democracy, he was elected member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1970.

Assassination: In 1974 Ahmad lost his cabinet post.

(1) On August 22, he was arrested with other political leaders by the regime of the new president Khondaker Mostaq Ahmed and imprisoned at the Dhaka Central Jail. On November 3, in what became infamously known as the "Jail Killing Day"

(2) When Mujib assumed the title of President and banned other political parties in 1975, Ahmad became the odd man out,[4]declining and opposing the formation of a one-party system known as BAKSAL. When Mujib was assassinated by a group of army officers on 15 August 1975, Ahmad was immediately placed under house arrest.

(3) Tajuddin Ahmad along with Syed Nazrul Islam, A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman and Muhammad Mansur Ali were killed at midnight by a group of army officers on the instruction of President Khondaker Mostaq Ahmed.

(4)The release on March 25, 2007 of a documentary, Tajuddin Ahmad: An Unsung Hero (directed by Tanvir Mokammel), reflects a growing interest in the life and works of Ahmad.

On January 6, 2009, Ahmad's son Tanjim Ahmad (Sohel Taj), was appointed Minister of State for Home Affairs, in the Awami League Administration.

Bangladesh Political Review