Syed Faruque Rahman
Encyclopedia
Syed Faruque Rahman (died 28 January 2010) 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. Rahman led a group of junior army officers who overthrew Sheikh Mujib's regime and installed Khondaker Mushtaque Ahmed as president.
, Rahman was the lead organiser of a group of junior officers who were disenchanted with the rule of Bangladesh's founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The plotters accused Sheikh Mujib of corruption, nepotism and ruling as a dictator, and criticised his pro-India
and pro-Soviet stance in foreign affairs. Supported covertly by senior cabinet minister Khondaker Mushtaque Ahmed, Rahman led an attack on Mujib's residence, killing him and his entire family, with the exception of two of Mujib's daughters, Sheikh Hasina
and Sheikh Rehana. Immediately after the killing, the officers installed Khondaker Mushtaque Ahmed as the new president of Bangladesh.
, who ousted Khondaker Mushtaque. However, the 6 November 1975 coup against the Mosharraf by Col. Abu Taher
brought Maj. Gen. Ziaur Rahman to power, who appointed Syed Faruque Rahman and the other assassins to positions of power in the armed forces and diplomatic corps. In 1979, the Bangladeshi parliament under Ziaur Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party
converted the Indemnity ordinance into an official act of parliament.
In the 1980s, Rahman was forced out of the army and into retirement. After the assassination of Ziaur Rahman
in 1981, Rahman returned to active politics by founding the Freedom Party and running for the presidency against Lt. Gen. Hussain Muhammad Ershad in 1986
.
. Under her party's majority, the Indemnity Act was repealed and a court case initiated over the killing of Mujib and his family. In 1998, the Dhaka High Court sentenced Syed Faruque Rahman to death. After the Awami League's defeat in the 2001 general election, the BNP government of Begum Khaleda Zia slowed down the proceedings in the Mujib murder case. After Sheikh Hasina returned to power in 2009, the court case was re-started. After Rahman's plea for clemency was denied by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh
, he was executed along with other plotters on 28 January 2010.
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...
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...
, the founding 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...
on 15 August 1975. Rahman led a group of junior army officers who overthrew Sheikh Mujib's regime and installed Khondaker Mushtaque Ahmed as president.
Plot
Holding the rank of MajorMajor
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. ...
, Rahman was the lead organiser of a group of junior officers who were disenchanted with the rule of Bangladesh's founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The plotters accused Sheikh Mujib of corruption, nepotism and ruling as a dictator, and criticised his 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...
and pro-Soviet stance in foreign affairs. Supported covertly by senior cabinet minister Khondaker Mushtaque Ahmed, Rahman led an attack on Mujib's residence, killing him and his entire family, with the exception of two of Mujib's daughters, 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...
and Sheikh Rehana. Immediately after the killing, the officers installed Khondaker Mushtaque Ahmed as the new president of Bangladesh.
Indemnity
As president, Khondaker Mushtaque Ahmed issued the Indemnity Ordinance, which prohibited any investigation and prosecution of the killing of Sheikh Mujib. Rahman was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and held a position of power in the new regime until it was overthrown in a counter-coup by pro-Mujib officers led by Maj. Gen. Khaled MosharrafKhaled 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...
, who ousted Khondaker Mushtaque. However, the 6 November 1975 coup against the Mosharraf by Col. Abu Taher
Abu Taher
Lieutenant Colonel Abu Taher a communist and a left-leaning radical activist of the Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal, responsible for the Soldiers Uprising and the radical breakout that occurred in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh on Nov 7th 1975...
brought Maj. Gen. Ziaur Rahman to power, who appointed Syed Faruque Rahman and the other assassins to positions of power in the armed forces and diplomatic corps. In 1979, the Bangladeshi parliament under Ziaur Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Bangladesh Nationalist Party
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party , commonly referred to as the BNP, is the mainstream center-right political party in Bangladesh. BNP ruled Bangladesh total 18 years since her independence, the longest than any other party in Bangladesh...
converted the Indemnity ordinance into an official act of parliament.
In the 1980s, Rahman was forced out of the army and into retirement. After the assassination of Ziaur Rahman
Assassination of Ziaur Rahman
Ziaur Rahman, the president of Bangladesh, was assassinated by a faction of officers of Bangladesh Army, on May 30, 1981, in the south-eastern port city of Chittagong. Zia went to Chittagong to arbitrate a clash between the local leaders of his party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party...
in 1981, Rahman returned to active politics by founding the Freedom Party and running for the presidency against Lt. Gen. Hussain Muhammad Ershad in 1986
Bangladeshi presidential election, 1986
Presidential elections were held in Bangladesh on 15 October 1986. The result was a victory for Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who won 84.1% of the vote. Turnout was 54.9%.-Results:...
.
Trial and execution
In 1996, the Awami League under the leadership of Mujib's daughter, Sheikh Hasina won the general election and became the Prime Minister of BangladeshPrime 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...
. Under her party's majority, the Indemnity Act was repealed and a court case initiated over the killing of Mujib and his family. In 1998, the Dhaka High Court sentenced Syed Faruque Rahman to death. After the Awami League's defeat in the 2001 general election, the BNP government of Begum Khaleda Zia slowed down the proceedings in the Mujib murder case. After Sheikh Hasina returned to power in 2009, the court case was re-started. After Rahman's plea for clemency was denied by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Supreme Court of Bangladesh
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh is the highest court of law in Bangladesh. It is composed of the High Court Division and the Appellate division, and was created by Part VI Chapter I of the Constitution of Bangladesh adopted in 1972. This is also the office of the Chief Justice, Appellate Division...
, he was executed along with other plotters on 28 January 2010.
See also
- Jail Killing DayJail Killing DayJail 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...
- Bangladesh: A Legacy of BloodBangladesh: A Legacy of BloodBangladesh: A Legacy of Blood is a book written by journalist Anthony Mascarenhas. The book chronicles the bloody coups and uprisings in the post-independence Bangladesh. The book focuses on the two towering figures of Bangladeshi politics, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman...
, by Anthony Mascarenhas