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| 15 August 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theCold War and1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency | |||||||
 Grave of the victims atBanani Graveyard,Dhaka | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Government of Bangladesh |  Bangladesh Army (mutineers) | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman X Jamil Uddin Ahmed † Kazi Mohammed Shafiullah A. N. M. Nuruzzaman | Khondaker Mostaq AhmadSayed Farooq-ur-RahmanKhandaker Abdur RashidShariful Haque Dalim | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Death(s) : 47+ Injuries : 48+ | Death(s) : 3 Injuries : 1 | ||||||
| Trial Accused : 24 Capital punishment : 12[3][4][5] | |||||||
Amilitary coup was launched inBangladesh on August 15, 1975, by mid-ranking army officers in order toassassinate President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[6][7] Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, also known as Mujib, was the country's founding president, but post-independence his administration grew corrupt and reportedly increasingly authoritarian until he established aone-party state led by the socialistBangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League.[1][2] Mujib was killed during the coup, along with many of his family members who were living in Bangladesh at the time, but he was survived by his two then-expat daughters, one of whom was future prime ministerSheikh Hasina.[8][9] The officers were led by Capt.Abdul Majed, MajorSyed Faruque Rahman, MajorKhandaker Abdur Rashid and MajorShariful Haque Dalim.[8]
Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, one of Mujib's close associates and cabinet ministers, took control of the government immediately following the coup with support of the officers and declared himselfPresident of Bangladesh.[10] Under martial law, he made a proclamation on 20 August to amend the constitution to omit the provision for the legal basis for the one-party system.[11] He reportedly praised the assassin officers, calling them "Children of the Sun", and proclaimed theIndemnity Ordinance, which granted them immunity from prosecution.[12][13]
TheAll-Pakistan Awami League won the1970 Pakistani general election, but Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the party's leader, was denied by the Pakistani government the position of theprime minister of Pakistan; this was a result of long-time vocal opposition between Bengali citizens of Pakistan and the West Pakistan-basedEstablishment. As the democratic demands and protests continued, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivereda speech on 7 March that brought the Bengalis together to become prepared for a war of independence. On 25 March 1971, as part ofOperation Searchlight, thePakistan Army launched an armed operationkilling intellectuals in Dhaka University; the following day, high-level East Pakistani officials declared Bangladesh's independence fromPakistan,[14] triggering the 9-month1971 war that ended with the surrender ofPakistani Forces in Bangladesh to an allied force of Bangladesh Mukti Bahini andIndian Armed Forces.[15] In 1973, Sheikh Mujibur'sBangladesh Awami League won thefirst parliamentary election in independent Bangladesh by a landslide, but accusations of rigging grew.[16]
In 1973, Shariful Haque Dalim and his wife were involved in a scuffle with the sons ofGazi Golam Mostafa, a leader of the Awami League, at a function at theDhaka Ladies club. In retaliation, some officers and soldiers of the Lancer unit and 2 Field Artillery Regiment of the Bangladesh Army attacked Golam Mostofa's residence. As a result, Major Dalim, MajorS.H.M.B Noor Chowdhury, and other officers were charged with breach of discipline. Major Dalim had sought help from President Sheikh Mujib but was refused. MajorSultan Shahriar Rashid Khan resigned from the army over the incident. Major Dalim and Major Noor were among the officers who lost their commissions over the charges of indiscipline.[17]
In 1974, Sayed Farooq had become dissatisfied with the Awami League government. He would often discuss his dissatisfaction with Major GeneralZiaur Rahman who was the deputy chief of army staff. Ziaur Rahman had suggested that Faruque should "do something" about the situation in one such meeting.[18]
Abdur Rashid was able to communicate with Commerce Minister Khandaker Moshtaque Ahmed about the situation in the country. Rashid, Dalim, and Moshtaque decided that they must dissolve the one-party system, BAKSAL and remove Sheikh Mujib from power. Rashid informed Faruque, who agreed with the plan, and he was also told that Major General Zia would support them.[18]
On 15 August 1975, President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was scheduled to attend the convocation ceremony ofDhaka University in the morning.[19] Before the day on 14 August there was bomb attack in Dhaka University which was suspected to be an attack by theJSD. That night, the president's eldest sonSheikh Kamal and the security forces were busy securing the university campus.[19] On the same day, anIndian military helicopter was reported crashed nearNoakhali after hitting a bird, killing the pilot and some of the passengers.[19] Although tension prevailed in various parts of Dhaka city, the situation inDhaka Cantonment was observed to be normal.[19]
In the early hours of 15 August, the mutineers decided to divide into teams, and each team was to be given specific instructions and targets.[17] They created roadblocks around the target areas using tanks.[19] The President's residence was attacked at 5:30 AM.[19] The coup was going to happen at midnight. FormerDGFI chief Brigadier Rauf was the first to get such a hint through sources around 2 to 3 AM. but reportedly remained inactive.[19] The army chiefK. M. Shafiullah claimed, fearing the unknown, Brigadier Rauf immediately left his home and took safe shelter with his family behind the house under a tree who came out in the morning and narrated various unrelated 'stories' to cover up his failure making statements in the newspapers.[19] The head of military intelligence, Lieutenant Colonel Salauddin, received news of the movement of soldiers and tanks between 4:30 AM and 5 AM. Then he rushed to the house of Army Chief Shafiullah and informed him of the situation. Army Chief Shafiullah kept calling the President, but could not get through. Then he kept calling everywhere.[19] The Army Chief got Brigade CommanderShafaat Jamil on the phone at 5:30 AM. He ordered Shafaat to move the 1st Bengal and 4th Bengal Regiments to resist the mutineers, but Shafaat Jamil remained inactive claiming that the army chief did not give him any order.[19] Then the Army chief also spoke to DGFI chiefJamil Uddin Ahmed on the phone. The DGFI chief rushed to the spot after receiving the President's call and was killed by the mutineers.[19] The army chief got the president on the phone at around 5:50 AM. The President informed him that his house was under attack. It was around 5:55 AM. After that, there was no response on his phone.[19] Shafiullah heard gunshots on the phone and the connection was lost soon after.[19] Then Shafiullah called Deputy Army Chief Ziaur Rahman and BrigadierKhaled Mosharraf and asked them to come to his house. He also called the Air Chief, the Naval Chief and the station commander of Dhaka Cantonment ColonelHamid. Then he rushed to the office. But in the end failed to mount any effective resistance against the rebels. The President was killed at around 6 am.[19]
Colonel Hamid wrote, The total surprise, suddenness and scale of the attack left all the forces, including theNational Defence Force, thepolice, theBDR, and other forces stunned and terrified thinking it to be a coup by thearmy.[19] Thus, no one refrained from taking any immediate action without observing the situation well.[19] Also the unarmored tanks were primarily used to instill fear and psychological attack on the resisters.[19] On the other hand, the army chief failed to take a quick decision. He wasted unnecessary time on telephone calls and conversations at the critical moment. The point is, he did everything, but could not move a single soldier from the cantonment to rescue the president.[19] However, it is understandable that he was suffering from great tension due to the horror of the incident. Perhaps he became a little nervous due to excitement.[19] Moreover, the insecurity of the President's residence and the failure of intelligence were largely responsible for the death of President Sheikh Mujib.[19] The radio announcement of Mujib's assassination created terrible psychological pressure in Dhaka and all over the country. Everyone was confused by this. The announcement was also made in the name of the army. Which was a big 'bluff'.[19] The participating soldiers followed the orders of their officers, unaware of the coup.[19]
The operation at thepersonal residence of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was led by MajorA. K. M. Mohiuddin Ahmed. MajorBazlul Huda was placed in the team as he was the adjutant to the 2nd Field Regiment of Artillery, which was guarding the home of the President. The team also included MajorS.H.M.B Noor Chowdhury.[18] Captain Abul Bashar, who was in charge of the guards, had served under Major Dalim.[20]
Soldiers attacking from outside, targeting the house, began firing. Some of the guards were killed defending the residence after the mutineers tried to force their way in.[21] The police on duty also started firing back.[19] Sheikh Mujib came down in the middle of the gunfire and started talking to the police on duty. Everyone assumed that these were sneak attacks by theJSD and thePBSP.[19] According to the police on duty, Bangabandhu thought that maybe the army men had come to help him this time. So, thinking that he would be 'same raid', he ordered the police to stop firing, and then went upstairs. When the police stopped firing on the order of the President, the attackers easily entered the residence.[19]Sheikh Kamal was injured defending the residence, and was executed by Captain Huda after the attackers had crossed into the compound. Sheikh Mujib asked "what do you want?" to the mutineers. Major Noor and Captain Huda shot Sheikh Mujib as he was coming down the stairs. Sheikh Mujib's son, LieutenantSheikh Jamal, Jamal's wife Rosy, Sheikh Kamal's wife Sultana Kamal, and Sheikh Mujib's wifeSheikh Fazilatunnesa were taken to the bathroom on the first floor. They were shot and killed there by MajorAbdul Aziz Pasha and RisaldarMoslemuddin. Major Faruque promoted Captain Huda to major andSubedar MajorAbdul Wahab Joardar to lieutenant on the spot. Faruque had arrived and left on a tank.[20][22][23] ColonelJamil Uddin Ahmad, military secretary to the president, was killed on the way to Bangabondhu Residence after he was called by Sheikh Mujib.[24]
The guards surrendered after a brief firefight and were lined up outside the house. Major Noor shotSheikh Nasser, the brother of Sheikh Mujib, in the reception area bathroom. Major Pasha ordered aHavilder to killSheikh Russel, who was crying for his mother. A witness reported soldiers searching the house. A dead policeman was seen at the entrance. Major Huda went to Sher Shah road atMohammadpur to order 10 coffins from carpenters. Major Huda also removed the bodies the next day through an army escort.[20]
Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani was the nephew of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and viewed as a likely successor. He was killed in his home along with his wife, Begum Arzu Moni, who was believed to be pregnant at the time. His sonsSheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash survived.[25] His home on Road 13/1 in Dhanmondi was surrounded by 20-25 army personnel on 15 August 1975.[26][27]
Abdur Rab Serniabat, a former minister of water resources and brother-in-law of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was killed in his home in Mintoo road, Dhaka at 5:00 am. His home was attacked by a team that was led by Major Aziz Pasha, Captain Majed, Major Shahriar Rashid, and Captain Nurul Huda. Serniabat's nephew Shahid Serniabat, daughter Baby Serniabat, grandson Sukanto Abdullah Babu, and son Arif Serniabat were also killed in the attack. Three domestic servants were also killed in the attack. His son,Abul Hasnat Abdullah, survived the attack and nine other people were injured in the household.[26][27]
Artillery under command of Fauque fired mortar shells towardsDhanmondi and Mohammadpur. In Mohammadpur, 14 people died from the mortar fire near Sher Shah Suri road.[26]
Major Farooq attacked theJatiya Rakkhi Bahini camp with 26 tanks under his command. The Rakkhi Bahini surrendered without incident, Faruque moved towards the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after the neutralization of the Rakkhi Bahini was completed.[28]
The main office ofBangladesh Betar (radio) in Dhaka was attacked by the mutineers early in the morning. They quickly disarmed the police stationed there and took control of the radio. Major Dalim and Major Shahriar were in charge of the operation at the radio station. They controlled the flow of information from there.[29]
Curfew was imposed after Mujib's death was announced onBangladesh Radio nationwide.[30]Khandaker Mostaq Ahmad addressed the nation from the radio station. His speech, written byTaheruddin Thakur, announced the formation of a new government led by him. Following him, the Chief of the army, his deputy, the chief of naval staff, the chief of the air force, the police chief and Bangladesh Rifles pledged their allegiance to the new government. Khandaker Moshtaque appointed GeneralM. A. G. Osmani as his defence adviser. GeneralZiaur Rahman was made the chief of army staff on 24 August 1975 andKhalilur Rahman was made the first Chief of Defence Staff of Bangladesh Army.[17]
On 26 September 1975, Khandaker Moshtaque proclaimed theIndemnity Ordinance which protected those involved in the coup legal protection. On 5 October 1975, theJatiya Rakkhi Bahini (Absorption in the Army) Ordinance was passed with strong support from Ziaur Rahman; which absorbed the Rakkhi Bahini into the Bangladesh Army.[31]
On3 November 1975, the situation had grown tense with some officers of the Bangladesh Army led by Brigadier GeneralKhaled Mosharraf and ColonelShafaat Jamil launching a coup to remove the mutineers and restore order to the Army. JusticeAbu Sadat Mohammad Sayem replaced Khandaker Moshtaque as president and Mosharraf was made the chief of army staff. The mutineers in the morning hadkilled former presidentSyed Nazrul Islam, former prime ministerTajuddin Ahmed and ministersM Mansur Ali andAHM Qamruzzaman inDhaka Central Jail where they were locked up since the mutiny on 15 August. Zia was placed under house arrest. On 4 November the mutineers were provided safe passage to Bangkok.[32][33]
On7 November 1975, Khaled Mosharraf was killed in another coup that restored Ziaur Rahman to the chief of army staff. The coup was led by the revolutionary soldier's organisation and ColonelAbu Taher.[34] Taher himself was executed for the killing of Khaled under the government formed by Major General Zia on 21 July 1976, in order to restore discipline in the Army and prevent any further coups.[35]
In 1976, the military government of Bangladesh provided the coup plotters with diplomatic jobs.A. K. M. Mohiuddin Ahmed was made the second secretary of the embassy inAlgeria,Rashed Chowdhury was made the consulate general inJeddah in Saudi Arabia,S. H. M. B. Noor Chowdhury was made the second secretary in the embassy inTehran,Shariful Haque Dalim was made the first secretary to the embassy in Beijing, andAbdul Aziz Pasha was made the first secretary to the embassy inBuenos Aires, Argentina. They held the positions until 1996, when the Bangladesh Awami League formed the government and recalled them to Bangladesh. They refused to comply and as a result were fired from their positions.
TheBangladesh Nationalist Party returned to power in 2001 and reinstated the officers who had been dismissed in 1996 to their diplomatic positions.[36]
Colonel Farooq, ColonelSultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, and former state minister Taheruddin Thakur were arrested on 14 August 1996, the same year Bangladesh Awami League returned to power. Three months later, the indemnity act was removed and the trial began.[37]
AFM Mohitul Islam, personal assistant to President Sheikh Mujib, filed a charge against the mutineers with Dhanmondi Police Station on 2 October 1996. TheCriminal Investigation Department started investigating the case the next day. The CID pressed charges against 20 people on 15 January 1997.[37]
On 12 March 1997, the trial started with six accused in jail and 14 being outside the country. Zobaida Rashid, wife of Khandaker Abdur Rashid, was relieved of charges after she filed a number of appeals, reducing the accused to 19. Other cases filed with the High Court challenged the legality of the trial court and its location, the cancellation of the indemnity act, which delayed the trial. Major Huda was bought from Thailand in 1998, through the signing of an extradition treaty between Thailand and Bangladesh. Dhaka district Justice Kazi Golam Rasul, sentenced 15 accused to death on 8 November 1998. Appeals were filled with Bangladesh High Court. On 14 November 1998 the High Court delivered a split verdict with JusticeMd Ruhul Amin upholding the death penalty of 10 of the convicts, JusticeABM Khairul Haque upholding the death penalty of all 15. The case was referred to a third Justice,Mohammad Fazlul Karim, who broke the tie by sentencing 12 of the accused to death.[37]
Then Chief Justice Ruhul Amin constituted an appeal court with five justices: JusticeSurendra Kumar Sinha, Justice Md Abdul Aziz, JusticeMd Tafazzul Islam, Justice BK Das, and JusticeMd Muzammel Hossain. The verdict of the Appellate Division confirmed the death sentences of the 12 convicts on 19 November 2009. Three sought presidential pardons but were refused. On 27 January 2010, Bangladesh Supreme Court refused the convicts application for review. On 28 January 2010, five of the convicts in custody were executed.[37] The hanged wereSultan Shahriar Rashid Khan,AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed,Mohiuddin Ahmed,Sayed Farooq-ur-Rahman,Bazlul Huda.
On the 7 April 2020, Captain Abdul Majed who was hiding inKolkata, India, was arrested atMirpur by theCounter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of theDhaka Metropolitan Police. He was sent toDhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj, and was executed by hanging a few days later on the 12 April 2020.[38]
Lawrence Lifschultz characterized this incident as an outcome of theCold War between theUnited States-influencedPakistan and theSoviet Union-influencedIndia.[39] Since 1975, Bangladesh had been under different military governments, with democracy being partially restored a few times and permanently in 1990.[16]
Sheikh Hasina andSheikh Rehana, the two daughters of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, survived the assassinations of their family as they were inWest Germany in August 1975. Sheikh Hasina was subsequently elected five times Prime Minister of Bangladesh, in 1996, 2009, 2014, 2018, and January 2024.[40] Her regime ended in self-imposedexile followinga series of violent protests in 2024.[41]
[The] fourth group, the most powerful of the lot, proceeded towards Savar, near Dacca, to repel the anticipated counter-attack by the Security Forces. It did run against some resistance at Savar. But once the shelling took toll of eleven people, the leaderless Security Force surrendered.
