Tale of an iron lady

Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib was married to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at her tender age. She contributed to all movements from language movement to independence of Bangladesh as life partner of Banganbandhu. We liberated the country under the leadership of Bangabandhu, but it is very sad that in long struggle of independence, the leader was in prison as a political leader.

Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib maintained the family of the great leader and gave inspiration, courage and power to Bangabandhu. She maintained link between Bangabandhu and AL, Students 'League and other organizations during the days of his imprisonment. And so, Banganbandhu could decide rightly in time, but few researches are made on her. In the article, let me discover her manifold contributions to the Independence of Bangladesh.

After the creation of Pakistan, Bangabandhu had to suffer imprisonment for language movement and other struggles for the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent country. At that time, Begum Mujib maintained the family, nurtured the child, paid attention to the study of children, took care of relatives and sent money for Bangabandhu from family property. After the election of 1954, Bangabandhu joined as Minister of the then Government but resigned after few days. Then his family was staying in Dhaka. In his autobiography, we find that he came home and shared the matter of his resignation and his wife Begum accepted the decision cordially.

In 1946, a disastrous riot was held in Kolkata, Bihar, Nowakhali and then Begum Mujib was sick and hoped that her husband would be with him for few days, but for saving lives, Bangabandhu almost gave his life for the destitute. Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy took steps to rehabilitate a huge number of destitute riot affected people from Bihar to Bangla and requested Bangabandhu to go Bihar.

Then, when Mujib informed the matter to Begum Mujib by letter, she allowed Bangabandhu to go without any tension. It is Bangabandhu who dreamt of an independent Bangladesh and he emerged with 6 points for the rights and self-independence of people but later to kill Bangabandhu and his associates, the Pakistani oppressors initiated Agartala Conspiracy case against them. Due to inspiration of Begum Mujib, Banganbandhu continued six points movement and survived.

Begum Mujib inspired Bangabandhu and therefore it was possible for him to declare 6 points and continue movement and due to Begum Mujib's encouragement and support, Bangabandhu could move forward. For Agartala conspiracy case, the families of Bangabandhu and other were afraid of, but Begum gave courage and inspiration to the accused family. This type of contribution is therefore rare in the history of world.

In 1969, on the movement of mass upsurge, Ayub khan initiated a round table meeting and proposed to free Bangabandhu. But Begum Mujib realized the desire of the people of the country and advised Bangabandhu not to be free on parole and assured him that people of the country will make him free and later because of mass upsurge, Bangabandhu got released. People of the country termed this beyond dispute leader as Bangabandhu.

In the election of 1970, Bangabandhu got mandate of the people of the country but Yahia khan, the oppressor of Pakistan closed the meeting of National Assembly scheduled to be held on the 1st march 1970. On the 2nd March, the national flag of independent Bangladesh was flown in Dhaka University by the student movement council. On the 3rd March, manifesto of independence was declared in the presence of Bangabandhu by the council. On the 23rd March the flag of independence was flown and student -people handed over the national flag to Bangabandhu and he flew it in his residence Dhanmondhi 32.

On 25 March, the Pakistani army attacked the people of Bangladesh and then on the first hour of 26 March, Bangabandhu declared the independence of Bangladesh and called upon the people to fight. The dream of freedom met reality. On 7th, 23rd, 25th march Begum Mujib told Sheikh Mujib to do whatever his mind and heart wants and also inspired him not to move back. This inspiration made Bangabandhu stronger and he moved forward without fear. It should be mentionable that Begum Mujib inspired Sheikh Mujib to write his experiences in diaries which later was published as a book named Bangabandhur Atmajiboni (autobiography).

During liberation war Begum Mujib and her family members were imprisoned in a old house of Dhanmondhi-18. Sheikh Kamal left the house. Sheikh Kamal fought as an assistant of general M.A.G Osmani, Sheikh Jamal joined BLFA (Mujib Bahini).The junior leaders of BLFA were trained in Haflong of Asam and the senior leaders of (it) were trained in (Tandua). Sheikh Fazlul Hoque Moni, Sirazul Alam Khan, Abdur Razzakj, Tofail Ahmed and in total 83 total senior leaders were trained in Kalshi of Dertadun. In that training Sheikh Jamal was with us.

The Pak army had at last surrendered to freedom fighters and friendship alliance on the 16th December, 1971. The senior territorial leaders, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Abdur Mannan, the first home minister of Bangladesh and I myself landed down in Dhaka on 18th December. Late Abdul Mannan went towards Tangail and Abdur Razzak and Tofail Ahmed were determined that they should meet the family members of Bangabandhu. I accompanied them.

While visiting them Begum Mujb requested us to take dinner with her. We took our dinner in the house altogether. On the next day Abdur Razzak and Tofail Ahmed went to other places but I stayed there for two days (19 and 20 December). Staying 36 hours there is the most memorable day in my life and it gave me a golden chance to realize the hardship endured by Bangabandhu's family. I will never forget the moments I passed. That time, Begum Mujib did not know that his husband was alive and he thought that he might not come back and that was her hardest time.

I could remember the people's leader Sheikh Hasina did not sit on the table even after request, because she was serving food and taking care of the guests. I had met the leader -Sheikh Hasina many times; I have found her meritorious, prudent and dynamic. I will never forget the cordiality, affection and care I got from Bangabandhu family.

After coming back to Bangladesh, Bangabandhu, first, went to his beloved people and then to family. Begum Mujib co-operated his husband. One more thing is mentionable here that, she never made her presence prominence in state functions but she was present in the airport to welcome Indira Gandhi to express gratitude.

Under the leadership of Gandhi, India had given all out support during the independence of Bangladesh. In August 15, 1975, she along with her husband and family members lost life and it is treated as a darkened day in the history of Bangladesh. The legend Sheikh Fazilatunnesa is great part of our history and she is the mother of Bengal.


The writer, a freedom fighter, is a former University professor and ambassador