Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was Born March 17, 1920 & Died August 15, 1975, was a Bengali politician and the founding leader of Bangladesh, considered the father of the nation. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He is popularly referred to as Sheikh Mujib, and with the honorary title of Bangabandhu. A student political leader, Mujib rose in East Pakistani politics and within the ranks of the Awami League as a charismatic and forceful orator. An advocate of socialism, Mujib became popular for his leadership against the ethnic and institutional discrimination of Bengalis. He demanded increased provincial autonomy, and became a fierce opponent of the military rule of Ayub Khan. At the heightening of sectional tensions, Mujib outlined a 6-point autonomy plan, which was seen as separatism in West Pakistan. He was tried in 1968 for allegedly conspiring with the Indian government but was not found guilty. Despite leading his party to a major victory in the 1970 elections, Mujib was not invited to form the government. After talks broke down with President Yahya Khan and West Pakistani politician Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Mujib was arrested and a guerrilla war erupted between government forces and Bengali nationalists aided by India. An all out war between the Pakistan Army and Bangladesh-India Joint Forces led to the establishment of Bangladesh, and after his release Mujib assumed office as a provisional president, and later prime minister. Even as a constitution was adopted, proclaiming socialism and a secular democracy, Mujib struggled to address the challenges of intense poverty and unemployment, coupled with rampant corruption. Amidst rising popular agitation, he banned other political parties and declared himself president for life in 1975. After only seven months, Mujib was assassinated along with his family by a group of army officers.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a Glance
Alternate name(s):
Bangabandhu (Friend of Bengal)
Date of birth:
March 17, 1920
Place of birth:
Tungipara, Gopalganj District, British India
Date of death:
August 15, 1975 (aged 55)
Place of death:
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Movement:
Bengali Language Movement Six point movement Bangladesh Independence Movement
Major organizations:
Awami League BAKSAL
Notable prizes:
Julio Curie award

Great Lalon Fakir

The details of Lalon's early life are controversial and impossible to verify. Lalon also recorded very little information about himself, as he considered his spiritual endeavors to be a private matter. As a result, accounts of Lalon's life are often contradictory and unverifiable. However, a general backstory of Lalon's early life exists in the popular culture. Around the age of sixteen he was found floating by the bank of Kaliganga river, suffering from Smallpox. He was taken to the home of Maulana Malam Shah and his wife Matijan, who brought him up. Lalon was in a near comatose state for many months and when he recovered lapsed into complete amnesia from which he never recovered in life. Though Lalon's origins are unclear, it is believed that he had no formal education and lived in extreme poverty.