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Question 124 of 169 · World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies
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The first President of Bangladesh was:

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Answer: Option D — Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Detailed Solution

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, known as "Bangabandhu" (Friend of Bengal), was declared the first President of Bangladesh by the Provisional Government formed in April 1971.

The liberation struggle:

  • After the 1970 elections in Pakistan, the Awami League, led by Mujib, won an absolute majority but was not allowed to form the government.
  • On 25 March 1971, the Pakistani army launched a crackdown in East Pakistan, called Operation Searchlight.
  • Mujib was arrested and taken to West Pakistan.
  • Bangladesh declared independence on 26 March 1971.

Provisional Government:

  • The Provisional Government of Bangladesh was formed on 10 April 1971 and took oath on 17 April 1971 at Mujibnagar (Baidyanathtala, Meherpur).
  • Mujib was named President, though he was in prison in Pakistan.
  • Syed Nazrul Islam served as Acting President during his absence.

India's role:

  • India supported the liberation struggle and sheltered about ten million refugees.
  • The war between India and Pakistan in December 1971 ended with the surrender of Pakistani forces in Dhaka on 16 December 1971.
  • 16 December is celebrated as Victory Day in Bangladesh and Vijay Diwas in India.

After liberation:

  • Mujib returned to Dhaka on 10 January 1972.
  • He became the Prime Minister and later, in 1975, President again under a new presidential system.
  • He was assassinated on 15 August 1975, along with most of his family members, in a military coup.
  • His daughter, Sheikh Hasina, later became Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Honours:

  • Mujib is called the "Father of the Nation" of Bangladesh.
  • He was posthumously awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2020 by India.

Famous speech:

His speech of 7 March 1971 at the Racecourse Ground in Dhaka, which called for the struggle for freedom, is listed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Abu Sayeed Chowdhury became President after Mujib took over as Prime Minister.
  • ✗Ziaur Rahman and Hussain Muhammad Ershad were later military rulers and Presidents.

Quick tip

Remember: First President of Bangladesh = Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ("Bangabandhu"), declared in April 1971.

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World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers world GK: countries with their capitals, currencies and parliaments, national symbols, famous landmarks, the longest, largest and highest features of the world, and international boundary lines such as the Radcliffe, McMahon and Durand Lines. The most common questions match a country with its capital or currency, or a parliament with its name (such as the Knesset of Israel or the Diet of Japan). Revise countries continent by continent, giving extra attention to India's neighbours. Questions on boundary lines usually ask which two countries a line separates. Practise the world GK questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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