Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani

Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani (April 12, 1939 – August 15, 1975) was a Bangladeshi politician. He was the nephew of the founding father of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the founder of Mujib Bahini^[1] one of the major guerrilla forces of the Bangladesh Liberation War. He founded Jubo League the youth wing of Bangladesh Awami League.^[2]

Early life

Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani was born in Tungipara, Gopalganj District in 4 December 1939.^[3] He studied in Nabakumar Institution in Dhaka.^[3] Later, he studied at Jagannath College (HSC, 1958) and BM College (BA, 1960).^[3]

Political career

The founding chairman of Jubo League. Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni was born on December 4, 1939 and later he served as general secretary of the then East Pakistan Chhatra League from 1960 to 1964.^[3] His contribution to spearhead the historic student movement against autocratic ruler Ayub Khan’s military regime produced an immense effect. He played a pivotal role during the six-point movement in 1966. He was a student leader and general secretary of Student League.^[4] In the first week of April 1971 he along with three other Awami League leaders escaped to Kolkata. The leaders were Tofael Ahmed, Abdur Razzak and Shirazul Alam Khan. They organized the Mukti Bahini in India to liberate Bangladesh.^[5] Moni and P. N. Banerji then joint director of Research and Analysis Wing(east) set up the Mujib Bahini as a counterbalance to former East Pakistan army officers in the Mukti Bahini. Members of the Mujib Bahini would go on to form Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini.^[6] He took part in the war of liberation in 1971 as the commander of Bangladesh Liberation Front. He initially supported the formation of a revolutionary council instead of an interim government which was against the wishes of Tajuddin Ahmed. He eventually had to give up on that and the interim government was formed.^[7] He was considered part of the inner circle of President Sheikh Mujib and was seen loyal to him. This was the reason given for his assassination.^[8] Sheikh Moni was the author of several novels, one of which was later made into a film “Obanchita”.

Journalism

Mani was the founder of the daily news paper "Dainik Banglar Bani".^[9]

Death

Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani, along with his wife Arzu Moni, was assassinated during the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a military coup on August 15, 1975.^[10] He lived two kilometers away from Sheikh Mujib in Dhanmondi. The attack on his house was witnesed by Mahfuz Anam editor of The Daily Star. His two sons - Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, now an Awami League lawmaker, and Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, an acamedician by profession - survived the attack, as they were hiding under a bed. His wife who was thought to be pregnant was also killed.^[11]

Taposh was three years and eight months old, while Parash was around five years.. Taposh was elected to the Jatiya Sangsad in Bangladesh General Election, 2008 from the Dhaka-12 constituency.^[12]

Criticism

Sheikh Fazlul Haque was given lucrative positions in the Government formed by Sheikh Mujib. When private trade with India was banned to slow inflation, Fazlul Haque actively engaged in it with Mujib's blessings. He was seen as an attempt by Muib to form a dynasty.^[13]

Legacy

Shahid Sheikh Moni Memorial International Chess Tournament which was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2015 was named in his memory.^[14] An auditorium in Gopalganj, Bangladesh was named after him.^[15]

References