Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad - Political Career

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.

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