Falling to His Own Choices

In Mujib's Blunders, written by Manash Ghosh, the fatal missteps of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are laid bare.

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Be it his misplaced trust, sidelining of loyalists, flirtation with Islamists, or pursuit of Pakistani recognition—everything paved the path for betrayal, conspiracies, and his tragic assassination. Excerpts:

During Mujib's visit to Calcutta on 6 and 7 February in 1972, he had invited Mrs Gandhi to visit Dacca at her earliest convenience. In his speech at the Dacca farewell parade held by departing soldiers of the Indian Army he had said, 'Bengalis of all class and sections were waiting eagerly to welcome her and accord her a grand reception as she was no longer just a leader of India but of all persecuted people in the world.'

Mrs Gandhi arrived in Dacca within five days of the Indian troops' withdrawal, which coincided with Mujib's birthday. On her arrival she conveyed on her personal behalf and also on behalf of 55 million Indians their good wishes on his 52nd birthday. The two-day official visit—17 to 19 March—unveiled new vistas of co-operation and friendship between the two countries.

Addressing a mammoth public reception accorded to her in the historic Race Course Maidan, Mrs Gandhi said, 'Come what may, Indo-Bangladesh friendship will always remain intact. Nobody can drive a wedge between us. This was in response to Mujib's apprehension that 'countries and forces inimical to both India and Bangladesh would do everything possible to disrupt our ties and create bad blood in our relations and friendship. Then turning towards Mrs Gandhi, Mujib went on to say,