Political Career
Ahmad was elected a member of the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly in 1954 as a candidate of the United Front. After the central government of Pakistan dissolved the United Front, Mostaq Ahmad was jailed in 1954 with other Bengali leaders. He was released in 1955 and elected chief whip of the United Front parliamentary party. But with the promulgation of martial law in the country in 1958 he was arrested by the regime of Ayub Khan. During the 6 Point Movement, Ahmad would be jailed again in 1966. Following his release, Ahmad would accompany Sheikh Mujib (now the topmost leader of the Awami League) to the all-parties conference called by Ayub Khan in Rawalpindi in 1969. He was elected a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1970.
At the onset of the Bangladesh Liberation War and Mujib's arrest, Ahmad and other Awami League leaders gathered in Mujibnagar to form a government-in-exile of "Bangladesh." Syed Nazrul Islam served as acting president (Mujib was declared president), Tajuddin Ahmad served as prime minister and Ahmad was made foreign minister. In this capacity, Ahmad was to build international support for the cause of Bangladesh's independence.But his role as the foreign minister in the exiled government marred with controversy.
Read more about this topic: Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad
Famous quotes containing the words political and/or career:
“Although knaves win in every political struggle, although society seems to be delivered over from the hands of one set of criminals into the hands of another set of criminals, as fast as the government is changed, and the march of civilization is a train of felonies, yet, general ends are somehow answered.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882)
“I seemed intent on making it as difficult for myself as possible to pursue my male career goal. I not only procrastinated endlessly, submitting my medical school application at the very last minute, but continued to crave a conventional female role even as I moved ahead with my male pursuits.”
—Margaret S. Mahler (18971985)