Tajuddin Ahmad, A True Patriot | তাজউদ্দীন আহমদ, বাঙালির মুক্তি আন্দোলনের বিস্মৃত এক নেতা

Tajuddin Ahmad, the first Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He has the right political ideas with the gifted quality of leadership 

Born on 23 July 1925 in the village of Dardoria in Kapasia thana of Gazipur district, 82 km northeast from Dhaka. He was a gifted and intelligent child,  From his childhood, Tajuddin was a very righteous, responsible and compassionate person. Around age 16 (1941) he memorised entire Qur'an.

When Tajuddin was in Class VI (6) he stood First in the Dhaka district scholarship examination. At the height of the world war 2 in 1942 Tajuddin Ahmad, then only 17 years old, received training in civil defence.

1944 - Completed Matriculation exam securing 12th place in the First Division in Calcutta Board. Four years later he secured 4th place in the First Division in Dhaka Board in his Intermediate examination.

His academic excellence secured Tajuddin a place in the prestigious Dhaka University (DU) to study Economics. In Dhaka University he became a student leader and a voice for the young people of newly formed East Pakistan.

He was the Founding member of East Pakistan Chhatra (Student) League. He was Student leader during Bhasha Andolon (Language Movement). In 1949 He leaved All-India Muslim League and joined East Pakistan Awami Muslim League led by Maulana Bhashani.

From 1953-1957 - He was the General Secretary of Dhaka District Awami League. Tajuddin Ahmad earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1954 and stayed on in Dhaka University to pursue a career in law. A decade later, in 1964, Tajuddin earned his Law degree.

Elected MLA after winning Provincial Election as a candidate of the Jukta (United) Front in 1954. Married Syeda Zohra Khatun 'Lily' (later Syeda Zohra Tajuddin) at 26 April 1959. They had four children, three daughters and one son.

A close confidante of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Tajuddin was the general secretary of the Awami League in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Arrested during 'Agartala Shoŗojontro Mamla' (Agartala Conspiracy Case). Released on 12 February 1969.

During 1970 election he elected as a member in National Assembly of Pakistan. The Awami League got overwhelming majority in the general election in 1970. But the rulers of Pakistan denied the verdict of the people.

Following the army crackdown and arrest of Bangabandhu on 25 March 1971 Tajuddin Ahmad left Dhaka for India with Barrister Amirul Islam. He became the Prime Minister of the Bangladesh government in exile at Mujibnagar and organised the war of liberation.

After the liberation of Bangladesh Tajuddin Ahmad returned on 22 December 1971 and became Prime Minister of the newly independent state. After the return of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman 10 January 1972 he transfer the prime minister's office to Mujib.

In the reformed cabinet, with Sheikh Mujib as prime minister, Tajuddin was put in charge of the Ministry of Finance and Planning. As minister of finance he resented foreign aid, from the United States and regarded the World Bank as an instrument of United States' domination.

According to the 1970 election manifesto spirit, in the first Bangladesh National Budget in 1972, Tajuddin declared the nationalisation of industries. With the economic crisis, Anti-Awami League sentiment was on the rise and in the new Awami League Tajuddin found himself along.

His frustration with government and his party was rising quickly and growing distance with Mujib made things worse. Sensing his frustration newly formed political party Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) offerd him to join but He declined.

On 26 October 1974, Tajuddin resigned from the cabinet. After his resignation, he remained largely inactive in politics. On 24 February 1975 President Mujib banned all political parties except one national party, called the Bangladesh Krishak Sromik Awami League (BAKSAL) to reform the country.

Tajuddin Ahmad, declined to join (BAKSAL). Despite their political differences, Tajuddin remained loyal to Mujib. House arrested after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and family assassinated.

Following the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and family on 15 August 1975, Tajuddin was immediately placed under house arrest. On 22 August, he was arrested along with fellow Awami League leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, A H M Qamaruzzaman, and Muhammad Mansur Ali and imprisoned at the Dhaka Central Jail.

Tajuddin along with the other three imprisoned leaders was killed inside the jail on 3 November 1975 by a group of army officers on the instruction of President Mostaq.

He was one man who had it in him to pick up the banner of national leadership in the darkness of the country. But he remain as tragic hero on the history of Baangladesh.