Mashiur Rahman (prime minister)

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Mashiur Rahman (9 July 1924 – 12 March 1979), also known as Jadu Mia (Man of Magic), was a senior minister, with the rank and status of prime minister in charge of the Ministry of Railways, Roads and Highways of Bangladesh from 29 June 1978 to 12 March 1979.[1] He was the founder of Bangladesh Jatyiotabadi Dal, the whole process of transition to multi-party democracy was his brainchild. He named the party and the election symbol was given to the party from his party NAP. He also made the formal Declaration of Independence of Bangladesh from his party NAP (there were two major political parties in the then East Pakistan, one National Awami Party, NAP and Awami League), on the 23 March 1971, when Sheikh Mujib was still negotiating for the premiership of Pakistan with the military junta of Pakistan, not giving the formal declaration despite people's determination for a free, independent country.

Mashiur Rahman
মশিউর রহমান
Jadu Mia
যাদু মিয়া
Mashiur Rahman
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
In office
29 June 1978 – 12 March 1979
PresidentZiaur Rahman
Preceded byMuhammad Mansur Ali
Succeeded byShah Azizur Rahman
Member of Parliament
for Rangpur-1
In office
19 February 1979 – 12 March 1979
Preceded byAbdur Rouf
Succeeded byShawfikul Ghaani Shawpan
Member of the National Assembly for Rangpur-V
In office
8 June 1962 – 25 March 1969
Deputy Leader of the Opposition of Pakistan
In office
1962–1964
Personal details
Born(1924-07-09)9 July 1924
Rangpur, Bengal, British India
(now Rangpur, Bangladesh)
Died12 March 1979(1979-03-12) (aged 54)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
NationalityBritish Indian (1924-1947)
Pakistani (1947-1971)
Bangladeshi (1971-1979)
Political partyBangladesh Nationalist Party (1978)
Other political
affiliations
Muslim League (Before 1954)
National Awami Party (1954–1978)
RelativesShawfikul Ghaani Shawpan (son)
Mansura Mohiuddin (daughter)
Alma materUniversity of Dhaka

Early life and education edit

Rahman was born into nobility on 9 July 1924, in Rangpur, British India (now Khaga Khari Bari village of Dimla Upazila of Nilphamari District, Bangladesh).[1] After passing his Entrance Examination from Rani Brindarani High School in Dimla, Rangpur, Mashiur Rahman would go on to pursue his higher education at Dhaka University.[2]

 
Young politician Mashiur Rahman in Pakistan

Political career edit

Pakistan Era (before 1971) edit

Rahman was an elected member of National Assembly of Pakistan in 1962 and led the assembly as deputy leader of the opposition. He was arrested in 1963 for his involvement in the anti-government movement.

 
Mashiur Rahman and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Rangpur
 
Jadu Mia with President Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry in Pakistan

Before the liberation war, in 1971, Rahman formally declared Bangladesh's independence and called for forming an all-party government at a public gathering at Paltan Maidan on 23 March. He became Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani's deputy leader in the National Awami Party in the same period.[3]

 
Mashiur Rahman in 1954 (centre at back row)

Bangladesh Era (after 1971) edit

After Bhashani died in 1976, Rahman became the president of the Bhashani faction of the National Awami Party. And in 1978, when he joined the Jatiyotabadi Front (Nationalist Front) with a huge portion of the National Awami Party (Bhashani), the party was dissolved, and remained so until it was revived after almost three decades in 2006 by his eldest son, Shawfikul Ghaani Shawpan.[4] He was a founding convening committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and instrumental in the founding of the party. In the 1979 General Election, he ran and won in the Rangpur-1 seat becoming a Member of Parliament. Despite plans and Ziaur Rahman's wish to appoint him prime minister, following his sudden death on 12 March 1979, Shah Azizur Rahman was appointed to the office on 15 April 1979.[5]

 
Mashiur Rahman visiting Premier Zhou Enlai in China

After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, the post of Prime Minister of Bangladesh was abolished.[citation needed] When Ziaur Rahman, who came to power in November 1975, became the President of Bangladesh on 21 April 1977, a ministerial system was re-established, and Mashiur Rahman served as a senior minister with the rank and status of prime minister in charge of the Ministry of Railways, Roads and Highways of Bangladesh from 29 June 1978 to 12 March 1979.[1][6] Mashiur Rahman left a historical mark on strategic foreign partnerships and trade.

Personal life edit

Rahman was married to Sabera Mashiur Rahman and Amina Mashiur Rahman. He had 11 children, 5 sons and 6 daughters.[7] His eldest son, Shawfikul Ghaani Shawpan, was a minister in the governments of President Ziaur Rahman and President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, while his eldest daughter, Mansura Mohiuddin, was a two time member of parliament.[8][9]

Death edit

Rahman died on 12 March 1979 in office as Senior Minister with the rank and status of Prime Minister. After his death, a three-day state mourning was observed and he was given a state funeral, being buried with full honours including a 19-gun salute.[10] Many foreign dignitaries and heads of state wrote condolence letters after his sudden death, including former US president Jimmy Carter.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Jadu Mia played pivotal role in transition to democracy after 1975: discussants". New Age. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 22 March 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Childhood". Mashiur Rahman (Jadu Mia). Mashiur Rahman Research Foundation (MRRF).
  3. ^ Badrul Ahsan, Syed (17 November 2013). "Remembering the Red Moulana". The Daily Star. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Bhasani followers plan party rebirth". bdnews24.com. 20 December 2006.
  5. ^ Ahmed, Rumi (30 May 2011). "Ziaur Rahman: the kind of statesman we need now". bdnews24.com (Opinion). Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Moshiur Rahman's birth anniv today". New Age. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Family and Life of Mashiur Rahman". Mashiur Rahman Research Foundation.
  8. ^ "Ex-minister Shafiqul Ghani no more". The Daily Star. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  9. ^ যাদু মিয়ার বড় মেয়ে মনসুরা মহিউদ্দিন মারা গেছেন. jagonews24.com (in Bengali).
  10. ^ "Death and Legacy of Mashiur Rahman Jadu Mia". Mashiur Rahman Research Foundation.