| has abstract
| - The premiership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman began on January 12 of 1972 when he was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh after briefly serving as the President after returning from Pakistan's jail on January 10, 1972. He served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh until January 25, 1975, for three years, and later led the parliament to adopt an amendment of the constitution that made him the President of Bangladesh, effectively for life. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took charge as the Prime Minister within a month of Bangladesh's winning freedom from Pakistan after one of the deadliest wars. Bangladesh was plagued with endless problems due to the war and natural calamities after the war. Most of the country's bridges were destroyed during the war and the southern part of the country was yet to recover from the 1970 Bhola Cyclone. Physical assets of US$1200 million were destroyed. However, Bangladesh received foreign aid of around US$1900 million from development partners from 1972 to 1975 to address these problems. Bangladesh introduced four principles under Sheikh Mujib- Democracy, Socialism, Nationalism and Secularism- when the constitution of Bangladesh was adopted by the parliament in November 1972, within a year of independence. To attain the ideas of socialism, Bangladesh nationalized all the major industries and imposed a ceiling for private investments that significantly impacted the growth of enterprises and slowed down the economic activities inside the country. By 1974, the share of customs duty and sales tax in the total tax of Bangladesh fell down to 39%, from 48.8% of 1972. The slowing down of economic activities, politicized rent management and a devastating flood resulted in a deadly famine in 1974 that took the lives of hundreds and thousands of people. Besides, the law and order situation deteriorated significantly and political killings were prevalent. A special paramilitary unit similar to Gestapo of Hitler, Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini, loyal to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was formed to crush dissidents. They were provided with an indemnity to arrest or search any house. Rakkhi Bahini became infamous for extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Thanks to his efforts Bangladesh was recognized by almost every country by 1975, and became a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth and Non-Aligned Movement, gradually. However, the relationship between the key oil-rich Gulf states, as well as China, was yet to be established. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman introduced some of the repressive acts as Prime Minister that still haunt the people of the country including the Special Power Act, 1974. Indeed, Bangladesh's constitution was amended in 1973 to allow the parliament members to pass preventive detention laws. Despite the initial willingness of the government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to try the people involved in war crimes, the government declared a general amnesty in 1974 and allowed some key collaborators to walk free. Bangladesh also reached an agreement with India and Pakistan to allow the Prisoners of War of the Pakistan Army who were involved in gross violation of human rights during the war to return to their country as Pakistan promised to try them if they are found guilty of any offence. In the last week of December 1974, Bangladesh declared a state of emergency and within a month a new amendment to the constitution was made that transformed Bangladesh from a parliamentary democracy to a presidential system. The amendment indeed, ‘institutionalized autocracy’ and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman immediately became the ‘unimpeachable’ President of Bangladesh replacing the incumbent President Mohammad Mohammadullah. All political parties but BAKSAL, a new form of Awami League, were banned and all but four newspapers were allowed to run with four state-appointed editors. (en)
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