After independence

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SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN was a national hero, immensely popular among the masses. He became prime minister of independent Bangladesh after his release from a Pakistani prison. Rahman made many promises to the masses during the course of the 1970 election campaign. There were high hopes that everything would improve quickly. Rahman’s administration introduced reforms, including nationalisation. A new constitution was adopted on the basic principles of nationalism, socialism, secularism and democracy.More than a third of Bangladesh had been destroyed by civil war or the devastating cyclone. The rebuilding process began but proceeded at a very slow pace. The new government failed to control rising food prices. Serious allegations were made of rampant corruption against cabinet members and senior state officials. Corruption, nepotism and mismanagement were rife. Rahman tried to appease the people by sacking a few ministers but this half-hearted move failed to pacify the mounting anger and discontent.The first parliamentary elections were held in March 1973, with the Awami League winning a massive majority, 307 out of 315 national assembly seats. But it was losing popularity in the army, with only 20% of the vote in the military areas. In December 1974, in the face of continuing economic deterioration and mounting civil disorder, Rahman proclaimed a state of emergency, limited the powers of the legislative and judicial branches, and banned all newspapers except four government-supported papers. He introduced a one-party system, banning all the other parties.Rahman’s government tried to silence every dissenting voice. The opposition was crushed. But he had not delivered what he had promised to the masses. The project of nation building on a capitalist basis failed. Support from the army was evaporating rapidly with a strong and rising resentment among middle-ranking officers at the increasing influence of the Indian security forces.