International Affairs Sub Committee Bangladesh Awami League THE DARKEST NIGHT AND ITS AFTERMATH International Affairs Sub Committee Bangladesh Awami League Prelude 04 Darkest Night 06 Indemnity for Killers 08 Rehabilitation of Killers 10 First Attempt at Accountability 12 Justice Finally 14 Aftermath of Tragedy 19 Victims of 15 August 1975 20 15 August 1975 stands as the darkest night in the history of independent Bangladesh when the Father of the Nation and First President of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated along with almost his entire family by a group of wayward army officers as part of a larger national and international political conspiracy. This booklet gives a summary of the tragic events of that fateful night along with the prelude and aftermath of one of the most brutal acts of political violence in history. Prelude civil administration, established United Nations in September 1974. On rehabilitation centers for women 25th September, 1974 Bangabandhu victims of the war, established a trust for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the the welfare of the freedom fighters, first Bengali leader to address the undertook several measures to ensure United Nations General Assembly in food security and agricultural revolution Bangla. such as waiving tax upto certain Following a bloody war of liberation, by national and international quarters measures of land, supply of seeds and It was also a time of the cold war involving the genocide of three million counting on Sheikh Mujib’s project to fertilizers among the farmers for free between the two global superpowers, Bengali lives and the sufferings of build a ‘Sonar Bangla’ (a prosperous etc. USA and USSR. Bangabandhu, while hundreds of thousands of Bengali Bangladesh) to fail, the Father of the being a staunch anti-imperialist and women at the hands of the invading Nation was up for the task. Within three On the international stage too, Sheikh possessing a socialist ideology, was not Pakistani Army and their local and half years, the rebel political leader Mujib showed his charisma as a world interested to be drawn too much collaborators, Bangladesh secured final turned head of government showed his class statesman. In 1972 alone, directly into any side, which is apparent victory against Pakistan on 16 mettle in governance and policy Bangabandhu visited several countries from his emphasis on joining the NAM December 1971. Bangabandhu Sheikh making. to achieve recognition of the newest and maintaining a center-left Mujibur Rahman, who was arrested and state. Within three and half years of his governance system at home. Suffice it kept under Pakistani confinement Within three and a half years, among rule, Bangladesh achieved the to say, that the right wing and extreme immediately following his declaration of other accomplishments, he led the recognition of almost all countries. left-wing forces in Bangladesh Bangladesh’s independence on 26 framing of the constitution of the Under his leadership, Bangladesh chose considered him and his position to be March 1971, came back to his liberated country, rehabilitated 10 million a foreign policy which professed double threats. And conspiracies to homeland on 10 January 1972. refugees who fled to India during the ‘friendship with all, malice to none’. He destabilize his regime came from both War of Liberation, successfully oversaw ensured Bangladesh’s inclusion in the sides. Imagine the situation, Upon his return, Sheikh Mujibur the withdrawal of allied troops from Non Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Bangabandhu faced: on the one hand, Rahman was faced with the immediate Bangladeshi soil, took measures to Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), undertaking a monumental task of and mammoth task of rebuilding a re-establish the broken communication among others. His relentless diplomatic rebuilding a war-torn nation, and on the nation ravaged by war and destruction. system, started rebuilding the efforts also ensured that the infant other hand, facing off opposing political Despite various obstacles being put up destroyed infrastructure, revitalised the nation was included as a member of the forces hell-bent on his downfall. 04 The Darkest Night and Its Aftermath civil administration, established United Nations in September 1974. On rehabilitation centers for women 25th September, 1974 Bangabandhu victims of the war, established a trust for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the the welfare of the freedom fighters, first Bengali leader to address the undertook several measures to ensure United Nations General Assembly in food security and agricultural revolution Bangla. such as waiving tax upto certain Following a bloody war of liberation, by national and international quarters measures of land, supply of seeds and It was also a time of the cold war involving the genocide of three million counting on Sheikh Mujib’s project to fertilizers among the farmers for free between the two global superpowers, Bengali lives and the sufferings of build a ‘Sonar Bangla’ (a prosperous etc. USA and USSR. Bangabandhu, while hundreds of thousands of Bengali Bangladesh) to fail, the Father of the being a staunch anti-imperialist and women at the hands of the invading Nation was up for the task. Within three On the international stage too, Sheikh possessing a socialist ideology, was not Pakistani Army and their local and half years, the rebel political leader Mujib showed his charisma as a world interested to be drawn too much collaborators, Bangladesh secured final turned head of government showed his class statesman. In 1972 alone, directly into any side, which is apparent victory against Pakistan on 16 mettle in governance and policy Bangabandhu visited several countries from his emphasis on joining the NAM December 1971. Bangabandhu Sheikh making. to achieve recognition of the newest and maintaining a center-left Mujibur Rahman, who was arrested and state. Within three and half years of his governance system at home. Suffice it kept under Pakistani confinement Within three and a half years, among rule, Bangladesh achieved the to say, that the right wing and extreme immediately following his declaration of other accomplishments, he led the recognition of almost all countries. left-wing forces in Bangladesh Bangladesh’s independence on 26 framing of the constitution of the Under his leadership, Bangladesh chose considered him and his position to be March 1971, came back to his liberated country, rehabilitated 10 million a foreign policy which professed double threats. And conspiracies to homeland on 10 January 1972. refugees who fled to India during the ‘friendship with all, malice to none’. He destabilize his regime came from both War of Liberation, successfully oversaw ensured Bangladesh’s inclusion in the sides. Imagine the situation, Upon his return, Sheikh Mujibur the withdrawal of allied troops from Non Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Bangabandhu faced: on the one hand, Rahman was faced with the immediate Bangladeshi soil, took measures to Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), undertaking a monumental task of and mammoth task of rebuilding a re-establish the broken communication among others. His relentless diplomatic rebuilding a war-torn nation, and on the nation ravaged by war and destruction. system, started rebuilding the efforts also ensured that the infant other hand, facing off opposing political Despite various obstacles being put up destroyed infrastructure, revitalised the nation was included as a member of the forces hell-bent on his downfall. The Darkest Night and Its Aftermath 05 these renegade officers with lucrative Kamal, Jamal’s wife Rosy Jamal, brother diplomatic posting and other of Bangabandhu Sheikh Naser, a special government benefits. In his dying branch police officer named Siddikur confession before execution for the Rahman, Colonel Jamil, and army killing of Sheikh Mujib, self-confessed soldier Syed Mahbubul Haque. killer and then military officer Abdul Majed stated that Ziaur Rahman was Almost simultaneously the assassins behind the 1975 assassination. attacked the house of the nephew of Declassified documents also now show Bangabandhu, Sheikh Fazlul Hoque that the US Embassy, or at least sections Moni and killed him and his pregnant of it, were contacted by the plotters in wife Arju Moni. They also attacked the their planning stages. house of the brother-in-law of Bangabandhu Abdur Rab Serniabat Three killing operations were carried out and killed Serniabat and his daughter by the disgraced soldiers on that fateful Baby, son Arif Serniabat, grandson night. In their principal operation at the Sukanta babu, son of Serniabat’s elder Darkest residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh brother Sajib Serniabat and a relative Mujibur Rahman in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bentu Khan. Baby Serniabat (15), Arif the killers mercilessly gunned down Serniabat (11), Sheikh Russel (9), Sukanto Bangabandhu, his wife Sheikh Fazilatun Abdullah (4), unborn child of pregnant Nessa, eldest son Sheikh Kamal, son Arju Moni (0) were the children killed on Sheikh Jamal, youngest son Sheikh 15th August 1975. Night Russell, Sheikh Kamal’s wife Sultana According to the confessional power using ilegal and/or violent means. statements of the accused and other evidence presented in court and Rashid, Dalim and Moshtaque research on primary and secondary approached the then Deputy Chief of sources from that era, it becomes clear Staff Major General Zia with their plans. that the three main executors of the In his confessional statement to the trial plan of 15th August 1975 were Syed court on the killing of Sheikh Mujib, Farooqur Rahman, Shariful Haque Farooq stated that Khandakar Rashid Dalim and Khandkar Abdur Rashid. informed him that Deputy Army Chief They had, in their aid, a number of General Ziaur Rahman would also wayward and brain-washed low ranking support them if Sheikh Mujib was killed. army officials. Their principal political In an interview with Anthony backing came from the traitor Mascarenhas on England’s ITV, Faroque Khondkar Moshtaque Ahmed, then the and Rashid described their meetings Commerce Minister in Sheikh Mujibur with Zia prior to the August coup.