Lesson 2/23 min
The Agartala Case
To stop the Six Points gaining ground, Ayub Khan's government charged Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his associates with sedition. The charge: plotting at Agartala in India to break East Pakistan away.
The case
- Title of the case: “State vs Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others”
- Filed: 3 January 1968; Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was named as an accused on 18 January
- 35 accused in all
- Accused no. 1 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, no. 2 Lt. Commander Moazzem Hossain, no. 17 Sergeant Zahurul Haq
- Trial began: 19 June 1968, in Dhaka Cantonment
- Head of the special tribunal: Justice S. A. Rahman
- Counsel for Sheikh Mujib: the British lawyer Sir Thomas Williams
How it ended
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 15 February 1969 | Sergeant Zahurul Haq is shot dead in custody in Dhaka Cantonment |
| 22 February 1969 | The case is withdrawn in the face of the mass movement; Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is freed |
| 23 February 1969 | At the Racecourse ground, Tofail Ahmed gives Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the title ‘Bangabandhu’ |
Did you know?: The movement's slogan was: “We will break the prison locks and bring Sheikh Mujib out.”
Watch out: Many books give accused no. 2 the rank ‘Lt. Colonel’. Moazzem Hossain was a Lieutenant Commander in the navy.
Check yourself
How many people were accused in the Agartala Case?
At a glance
- 1
The Agartala Case was filed on 3 January 1968 against 35 accused.
- 2
Its official title was “State vs Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others”.
- 3
Sergeant Zahurul Haq was killed on 15 February 1969 in Dhaka Cantonment.
- 4
The case was withdrawn on 22 February 1969.
- 5
On 23 February 1969 Tofail Ahmed gave Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the title ‘Bangabandhu’.