These are some of the famous politicians in the history of Bangladesh from before and after the independence of the country.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the founder of Bangladesh. He was one of the principal organizers behind the formation of the East Pakistan Muslim Students League (est. 1948). After partition 1947, he admitted to the University of Dhaka and was expelled from university in 1949. He revived the Awami League after the death of Mr. H.S. Suhrawardy in 1963.
On June 17, 1968 Bangabandhu was removed from Dhaka Central Jail to Kurmitola Cantonment and was charged with conspiring to make Bangladesh independent with the help of India. This case is known as the Agartala Conspiracy case. He was the No. 1 accused in the case. During the second term in jail, Mujib’s charisma grew so much that a mass uprising took place in his favor in early 1969. The general elections of December 1970 made Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the sole spokesman of East Pakistan.
On 7 March 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (soon to be the prime minister) delivered a speech at the Racecourse Ground (now called the Suhrawardy Udyan). He closed his speech saying, “Our struggle is for our freedom. Our struggle is for our independence.” This speech is considered the main event that inspired the nation to fight for its independence.
On 25 March, Sheikh Mujib was arrested and taken away to West Pakistan. But just before he was arrested, he sent out a call for the Liberation War to begin. On 15 august 1975, a group of army adventurers assassinated him along with all his other family members. He is considered the father of the nation.
Golam Azam opposed the independence of Bangladesh before and during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War out of a desire to prevent further divisions of the Muslim community. He is alleged to have led the formation of the Shanti Committee, Razakar, and Al-Badr to thwart the Mukti Bahini that fought for the independence of the country. On 11 January 2012, he was arrested on charges of committing war crimes in Bangladesh Liberation War by the International Crimes Tribunal, and is currently under prosecution.
Major Ziaur Rahman
Ziaur Rahman played a brilliant role in the War of Liberation both at the level of planning and execution. Major General Ziaur Rahman on behalf of Mujib declared independence from Kalurghat radio station at Chittagong. He was the commander of 1 no sector up to June 1971. Later he became the head of Z-Force. In June 1972, he was made Deputy Chief of Staff of the armed forces of Bangladesh.
Ziaur Rahman became Chief Martial Law Administrator on 19 November 1976, when Justice Sayem relinquished his position and ultimately, the President of Bangladesh on 21 April 1977, when President Sayem resigned.
Ziaur Rahman introduced and popularized the new concept of Bangladeshi nationalism. On 1 September 1978, a new political party, Bangladesh nationalist party (BNP), was launched with Zia as its chairman. SAARC was the outcome of his efforts, which was formally launched in Dhaka in 1985. He was assassinated in Chittagong on 30 May 1981 in an abortive army coup. He lies buried at Sher-e-Banglanagar, Dhaka.
General Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani, popularly known as Banga Bir General M.A.G. Osmani. He was promoted to Major rank in 1942 and later he engaged the world war two at the Barma sector. 7 October 1947, after partition he joined the Pakistani Army. He was appointed a deputy to the Chief of General Staff of the army 1949.
He joined the Awami League in 1970. With the formation of mujibnagar government on 17 April 1971, Osmany was appointed to the Bangladesh Armed Forces and of the Liberation Forces as commander in chief. In 1973, he was elected as a member of National Parliament and he also resigned from the cabinet in 1974 and primary membership of Awami League. Under the treatment of cancer in England a lifelong Osmany died on 16 february 1984.
Sheikh Hasina is the current prime minister of Bangladesh. She is the eldest of 5 children of Sheikh Muzibur Rahman, and the widow of famous nuclear scientist Wazed Miah. She is acting as president of Awami League – one of the major political parties in Bangladesh since 1981. She was served as prime minister in 1996-2001 for the first time, and again elected at 2008.
Widow of Major Ziaur Rahman, head of BNP, one of the major political party in Bangladesh, current opposition leader of the parliament. She served 3 times as prime minister 1991-1996, 1996 (4 Months lasting govt.), 2001-2006.