The premiership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman began on January 12 of 1972 when he was sworn in as the Prime minister after briefly serving as the President after returning from Pakistan's jail on January 10, 1972. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman served as the prime minister of Bangladesh until January 25, 1975, for three years, and later led the parliament to adopt an amendment of the constitution that made him the president of Bangladesh.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took charge as the prime minister within a month of Bangladesh's winning freedom from Pakistan after one of the deadliest wars. Bangladesh was plagued with a multitude of problems due to the war and natural calamities after the war. Most of the country's bridges were destroyed during the war and the southern part of the country was yet to recover from the 1970 Bhola Cyclone. Physical assets valuing US$1200 million were destroyed. However, Bangladesh received foreign aid of around US$1900 million from development partners from 1972 to 1975 to address these problems.
Bangladesh introduced four principles under Sheikh Mujib—Democracy, Socialism, Nationalism and Secularism—when the constitution of Bangladesh was adopted by the parliament in November 1972, within a year of independence. To attain the ideas of socialism, Bangladesh nationalized all the major industries and imposed a ceiling for private investments that significantly impacted the growth of enterprises and slowed down the economic activities inside the country. By 1974, the share of customs duty and sales tax in the total tax of Bangladesh fell down to 39%, from 48.8% of 1972. The slowing down of economic activities, politicized rent management and a devastating flood resulted in a deadly famine in 1974 that took the lives of hundreds and thousands of people.
Besides, the law and order situation deteriorated significantly and political killings were prevalent. A special paramilitary unit similar to Gestapo of Hitler, Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini, loyal to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was formed to crush dissidents. They were provided with an indemnity to arrest or search any house. Rakkhi Bahini became infamous for extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.
Bangladesh was recognized by almost every country by 1975, and became a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth and Non-Aligned Movement, gradually. However, the relationship between the key oil-rich Gulf states, as well as China, was yet to be established.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman introduced infamous repressive acts as prime minister including the Special Powers Act, 1974. Bangladesh's constitution was amended in 1973 to allow the parliament members to pass preventive detention laws. Despite the initial willingness of the government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to try the people involved in war crimes, the government declared a general amnesty in 1974 and allowed some key collaborators to walk free. Bangladesh also reached an agreement with India and Pakistan to allow the Prisoners of War of the Pakistan Army who were involved in gross violation of human rights during the war to return to their country as Pakistan promised to try them if they are found guilty of any offence.
In the last week of December 1974, Bangladesh declared a state of emergency and within a month a new amendment to the constitution was made that transformed Bangladesh from a parliamentary democracy to a presidential system. The amendment indeed, "institutionalized autocracy" and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman immediately became the "unimpeachable" President of Bangladesh replacing the incumbent president Mohammad Mohammadullah. All political parties but BAKSAL, a new form of Awami League, were banned and all but four newspapers were allowed to run with four state-appointed editors, under his Second Revolution theory. This effectively impacted the civil liberties and closed the democratic institutions of Bangladesh.
Background When Bangladesh's independence struggle started, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the most popular leader of the Bengali nationalist movement. After the Agartala Conspiracy Case was filed, his popularity skyrocketed. Riding on the wave of Bengali nationalism, he led the landslide victory of the Awami League in the 1970 Pakistani general election. Awami League won in all but 2 constituencies in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.
When the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested in the early hours of the war and was flown to a jail in Pakistan. In his absence, a group of the elected lawmakers from the Awami League rallied behind Tajuddin Ahmed and Syed Nazrul Islam, who formed Bangladesh's provisional government with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the president. Tajuddin Ahmed became the prime minister and Syed Nazrul Islam served as the acting president.
Homecoming and swearing-in The official declaration of independence by the Provisional Government of Bangladesh, endorsed by lawmakers and the freedom fighters, declared Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the president of the republic until a constitution is adopted. However, Awami League has always favoured a Parliamentary System where president holds a titular role. Therefore, after the war ended, when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to the country and took charge as the president and almost immediately adopted the Provisional Constitution of Bangladesh Order, 1972, repealing the effects of Proclamation of Independence Order. The next day he was sworn in as the prime minister of Bangladesh. He appointed a cabinet accordingly on January 12, 1972.
Election of 1973 Bangladesh's first government led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was composed of the members of parliament who were elected in the 1970 Pakistan elections before the independence. The national assembly was indeed a constituent assembly and after the adoption of the constitution, a new election became imminent. Hence on November 4, 1972, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared an election to be held on March 7, 1973. There was a ban on religion-based politics and only a few parties were in the state of running a campaign. Fourteen parties participated in the election with around a thousand candidates. There were 120 independent candidates as well. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as the prime minister, had access to every resource of the country. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman addressed 27 rallies between February 13 and February 28, 1973. He was seen campaigning with a helicopter in almost every district while his competitors were struggling to field candidates in such a short time.
There was an election in 288 seats and 11 Awami League candidates were elected unopposed as it was alleged that some of the candidates could not even file their nomination due to intimidation from ruling Awami League leaders. The election was marred with violence and ballot stuffing. Awami League opted for an ‘electoral strategy of overkilling the opposition’ and won 293 seats.
Political scientist Rounaq Jahan opined, The Awami League followed an electoral strategy of overkilling the opposition. Its policy of putting maximum pressure to win every parliamentary seat virtually wiped out the opposition parties from the parliament. The marginal representation of opposition in parliament had a dysfunctional impact on the fledgling parliamentary system. It diminished the opposition's stake in the system.
The voter turnout was 54.9%, which was slightly larger than that of the 1970 election. After the election, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was sworn in as the prime minister of Bangladesh on March 16, 1973. A new cabinet was formed with the old-guards of Awami League. Tajuddin Ahmad, A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman, Syed Nazrul Islam, Mansur Ali, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad and M. A. G. Osmani, all the leaders who served as minister in the Provisional Government of Bangladesh took charges of different ministries. Sheikh Mujib's brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat became the minister of Minister of Power, Flood Control and Irrigation.
Key policy measures
Socialist economy
Under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh opted for a socialist economy, commanded by the state. On March 26, 1972, the government decided to nationalize 86% of the country's industrial assets, including 70 jute mills, 72 textile factories, 3 paper mills, 17 sugar mills and 4 major gas fields. In addition to that ceilings were imposed on private investment and ownership of lands. Besides, to support the small farmers, an exemption of taxation was declared for the owners of less than twenty-five of land. The stock market was shut down after the independence and all the banks were nationalized. The government initially imposed a ceiling on salary as well. Bangladesh Bank took an expansionary fiscal policy to match the socialist economic ideas that the government was pushing.
The wholesale nationalisation paved the way for corrupt rent-seeking, however. Patronage became the chief consideration in the distribution of managerial jobs and licenses for industries. Instead of capabilities, loyalties became the parameter for distributing crucial licenses for trading and enterprises. On the other hand, the local entrepreneurs whose factories were nationalised fell into a predicament since they were left with no assets. Latifur Rahman, the founder of Transcom Group, who used to own a jute mill which was taken away in 1972, even had to bring a ceiling fan from his home and hire furniture to start his office after the wholesale nationalization of industries.
Reconstruction and rehabilitation The war of 1971 and the cyclone of 1970 practically destroyed a huge amount of infrastructures that had to be rebuilt. Bangladesh urged its friends and the international community to contribute to the reconstruction of the country. The Soviet Union sent 800 mariners to clear off the mines from Chattagram Sea Port to make it usable and by 1974, the port was ready to be used. India sent some officials in early 1972 to run the country as Bangladesh lacked efficient professionals. India also helped Bangladesh to mend some roads and bridges.
The United States, despite their role in supporting Pakistan during the liberation war, provided a sizeable amount of food grains and aid equivalent to US$824 million. USD 1.4 million was provided to the Cholera Research Laboratory and a developmental loan of US$30 million was approved in January 1975 to buy seeds and fertilizers. USAID provided funds for the coastal embankment project and the repair and overhaul of the Siddhirganj Power Plant which was damaged during the war. The World Bank agreed to sponsor the development of the Ashuganj Fertilizer Factory, a project that was partially supported by the United States. The roads and bridges between Dhaka and Aricha were repaired with U.S. support.
The Sheikh Mujib administration enforced a decree to restore the judicial activities in the country in January 1972. The government also waived all due land taxes for cultivable lands to revive the rural economy at the earliest. In addition to that, the government waived housing taxes in urban areas to expedite the rebuilding of damaged infrastructures. The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh was established in the same year to conduct trading activities. The rebuilding of schools and educational institutions started after the war with donors' support. A project was taken to buy and print textbooks and reference books.
To rehabilitate the freedom fighters, Bangladesh Freedom Fighter Welfare Trust was founded in 1972. A rehabilitation centre was opened in Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
Secular education