What do you think were the causes behind the revolution of November 7, 1975?
On March 26, 1971, under the leadership of Major Ziaur Rahman, the army first rebelled against the Pakistani forces. That night, he gathered everyone and said, “We revolt.” Then we all plunged into the struggle for freedom. On the other hand, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman surrendered to the Pakistanis. During the war, he would not even return to Bangladesh. The general public fought against the Pakistanis. After the war, he went to London and then to Delhi before returning to Bangladesh. Upon returning, instead of relying on the armed forces, he formed the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini (a paramilitary force). He also created the Mujib Bahini to suppress the people. This led to growing discontent within the army. Although he had spent most of his life speaking out against genocide and oppression and for good governance, he started acting in self-contradictory ways.
In this context, a group of army officers killed him on August 15 [in 1975]. One of the reasons behind his death was that he had deviated from his promises and established a one-party system, Baksal. As a result, his fate was sealed. The officers who killed him made his friend, Khondaker Mostaq [Ahmad], the new president. These officers were later confronted by Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf, who staged a coup. He declared himself a major general and took over as the army chief. Major General Ziaur Rahman, then army chief, was placed under house arrest. However, the general soldiers did not accept Khaled’s coup, and thus there was a counter-coup. The leaders of this counter-coup restored Ziaur Rahman’s honour and offered him the position of army chief. In this situation, he once again assumed the responsibility of army chief.
Was the November 3 coup really about restoring the chain of command within the army? And how did a counter-coup happen just days later?
The November 7 revolution was about liberating the country from the clutches of the Awami League. Brig Gen Khaled Mosharraf staged a coup on November 3 with the help of foreign powers to serve the interests of the Awami League. The army had been functioning with great discipline under Ziaur Rahman, an exceptionally competent individual. He had been appointed the deputy army chief during Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s time because of his capabilities. He was essentially meant to be the army chief. However, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman broke seniority rules and made [KM] Shafiullah the army chief instead. After what happened on August 15, things were going well in the army, but then Khaled Mosharraf staged a coup on November 3 to bring back the Awami League’s interests. After Khaled Mosharraf took over, there was complete chaos in the army for the next three days, which led to his death.
Why were the murderers of Bangabandhu sent abroad after November 7?
After the November 3 coup, those involved in the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman requested that they be given jobs and sent abroad. Even some of the rebels wanted the assassins of Sheikh Mujib to leave the country. Ziaur Rahman, at the time, thought that if sending a few people abroad would restore peace to the country, then it was a reasonable solution. The decision was made to restore peace and order in the country and bring discipline back to the army. There was no other alternative at that point.
Why was Ziaur Rahman so popular among soldiers?
Ziaur Rahman declared Bangladesh’s independence on March 27, 1971. He was the first officially acting president of Bangladesh. During the nation’s darkest hour, he provided direction. When the Pakistani army attacked our people and bombarded Dhaka University, many were killed. The entire nation was in a state of despair. It was at this moment that Major Zia’s declaration of independence united the entire nation. People from all walks of life joined the Bangalee soldiers. Ziaur Rahman was a frontline fighter, and as a result, he earned great popularity among both the military and the general public.
How do you see JaSad’s role in the November 7 revolution?
JaSad’s Gonobahini in Dhaka was led by Hasanul Haq Inu, while Col Abu Taher was in charge in the rest of the country. When Abu Taher was serving in the army, he enlisted thousands of members of Gono Bahini in artillery, engineering, and medical corps. His goal was to stage a coup and seize power with Ziaur Rahman at the front. However, soldiers and the public did not accept this; they had faith in Ziaur Rahman’s leadership.
Did the November 7 revolution pave the way for Ziaur Rahman to become directly involved in politics?
Ziaur Rahman never intended to engage in politics. Under his leadership, the Bangladesh Army transformed from five brigades to five divisions. He reorganized the army, navy, and air force. He played a significant role in the country’s agricultural and industrial revolutions, canal excavations, and restoring law and order. Over time, his involvement in running the country led him into direct politics. At that point, returning to the military was no longer an option; the only path forward was to continue moving ahead, not back.
Who do you think was involved in the killings of Khaled Mosharraf and other officers?
When Major General Khaled Mosharraf, Lt Col Haider and Col Huda fled from Bangabhaban, the entire city of Dhaka rejoiced. Fearing for their safety, they ran towards Savar and took refuge in the 10th Bengal Regiment. They thought they might be safe there because it had been under Khaled Mosharraf’s command. However, Ziaur Rahman knew they were in Savar. He called there and instructed that no harm should come to his officers and that they should not be tortured, oppressed or killed. He asked that they be safely returned to him. But the soldiers stationed there disregarded Ziaur Rahman’s instructions and killed them. Ziaur Rahman had no involvement in their deaths, as he was in Dhaka and they were in Savar at the time.
Do you see any similarities between the July uprising and the November 7 revolution?
The November 7 revolution was different from this revolution. In the November Revolution, the army, navy, and air force, along with the public, rose together. The entire nation was united in this revolution too. However, the armed forces and police were not as involved as they had been in the previous one. There are significant differences between the two revelations. Nevertheless, I would say that both were historic revolutions. There was a revolution in 1975 against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, while the 2024 one was against his daughter. This did not start overnight; it began 15 years ago, and we gradually brought it to this stage. In the final phase, students and the public led the revolution.