The Constitutional President
Mr. Muhammadullah, the third and the elected president of Bangladesh by the parliament in 1973. Following the emergence Bangladesh, beside Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Muhammadullah was the only other politician of Awami League who could rose the post of the President of the Republic. Muhammadullah the most trusted person of the late Bango Bundhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; was born in the year 1921 in a remote area of the united Bengal. He passed entrance exam in the local high school in the 1938 and following that he completed his college education in the Dhaka Intermediate College (now Dhaka College the most reputed under graduate educational centre) in 1940 1st division and from the Dhaka University he obtained his Degree in History (Hons) in 1943. During the remaining time of 2nd world war he was in Calcutta and worked in the Dept. of Civil Supply.
After the 2nd world war he obtained L.L.B (Bachelor of Law) from Calcutta and Dhaka University simultaneously 1948.
In 1949 he joined the Dhaka Bar during this period more than 30 Lawyer along with him tried to form Ganatantrick Dal. But attempted was failure during the same year Awami Muslim League was formed under the national leader Moulana Abdul Hamid khan Bhasani, Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardi later join the party. Mohammadullah join the party as office secretary in 1950. From 1950 till 1972 Mohammadullah always elected to the post for his quiet devotion in his party work; for that reason the grass root worker were his admirer. During the autocratic rules of Pakistani Shekh Mujib was in jail nearly about 14 years. During this time Mohammadullah run the party on his behalf by maintaining close channel with Shekh Mujib. So it is not unusual that the party worker loved him very much. Besides maintaining the post of office secretary Muhammudullah was an official treasurer of the party. All sorts of party funds were under his control during 1950 to 1972.
In 1954 Mohammadullah was given nomination for the general election by the party and the National Leader Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardi. But due to some family problem he refused it. It is worth to note that late National Leader Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardi liked him very much. As Mohammadullah was not a member of the Parliament; so when Suhrawardi become Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1956 he asked Mohammadullah that he (Mohammadullah) has got amicable personality and soft-spoken nature. It would be good for him to join diplomatic carrier and advised him to join as a Deputy High Commissioner of the India. But he refused the offer politely. Still then Suhrawardi insisted that he is too good to be a so-called politician. During 1962 movement for democracy and 1964 presidential election Mohammadullah worked hard for his party. During 6 points movement from 1966-69 Mohammadullah was only notable high official who could run the party from avoiding arrest. But he was also jailed for some months.
In the general election of 1970 Mohammadullah elected as M.C.A (Member of Constitutional Assembly) and M.P.A. As the Pakistani authority betrayed Shekh Mujib declared the war of independence indirectly 7th March and officially on 26th March. During non co-operational movement in 1971; Awami League took the authority of the East Pakistan; during this time country was ran directives of Awami League office. And Mohammadullah was the vital part of the Awami League office. During the liberation war Mohammadullah who was known as Mohammadullah Kabir in Mujib Nagar, severed as the Chief Political Advisor to the acting President of the Government exile and beside this he was Chief of Relief and Rehabilitation affair; distributed millions of Rupees to the party workers as well as man in needs effectively. He also certified any Government official who wants to join in Mujib Nagar Government but had no valid documents.
He supported the exile Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed with heavy weight. And it made possible for Tajuddin to crush Khondoker Moshtaque Ahmed effort to undermine the liberation war. Following liberation war Mohammadullah was elected as a Deputy Speaker of Constituent Assembly (Gono Parishad) for brief period. Following the death of Speaker he becomes the Speaker of Parliament under his guidance 1972 constitution was passed and approved. At 1973 Mr. Mohammadullah was elected for the post of the president of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. He had all the qualities to be a President in a country, which is run the Parliamentary Democracy. With is high view about British Parliamentary Democracy, Mr. Mohammadullah refrained him having collision with the head of the Government. In January 1975 4th Amendment passed in the Parliament. The Amendment introduced one party system instead of multi party Democracy. Amendment was passed unanimously but it was against the basic character of 72’s Constitution. So Referendum was necessary but amendment was made effective without any provision for Referendum. Presidential system was established and Bango Bundhu was made President form the very moment after passing the 4th Amendment. President was immense power including the authority to appoint or discharge Chief Justice or Justices of Supreme Court. As the 4th Amendment passed Muhammadullah resigned from the post of President and made minister of President Mujib’s Cabinet against his will. Former President Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury was also a member of Mujib’s Cabinet.
On 15th August of 1975 Bango Bundhu was assassinated alone with his family member. Khondoker Moshtaque declares himself as the President of Republic with the help of killer majors the Army officers who killed Mujib. On the evening of 15th August 1975 Mr. Mohammadullah and Abu Sayeed Chowdhury forced to join the Mustaque’s Cabinet.
Those who refused to join Mustaque’s Cabinet were killed in the Dhaka Central Jail on the 3rd November 1975. Mostaque made Mohammadullah Vice President specified moderate Awami Leaguer who liked Mujib but was against the 4th amendment. But infact he got no PortFolio in the Mustaques’s Cabinet. 6th November 1975 Mostaque Government was forced to resigned by Brigadier Khaleed Mosharraf. But that is potest of "Jail Murder " under the leadership of Muhammudullah majority members of Mustaque’s Cabinet force Mustaque to form ‘Judicial Inquiry Committee’ on ‘Jail Murder’ and also force to declare 15 August killing and declare victims jail murder as national leader.
As a result of unwanted events in our history from 25th January to 7th November 1975, Muhammadullah was disheartened and refrained himself from active politics. Even then he had tried his best to bring Bangladesh to democratic path from General Zia’s Military rule as the acting conveyor of "Democratic League " 1976-77 General Zia counted Muhammudullah with a big honor and has good contact with him 1978-81.
Muhammudullah was not active politician of 80’s but due to Zia’s earnest request he agree for the by election in 1980. Elected comfortably and join the 2nd Parliament of Bangladesh. Following the assigning of General Zia ur Rahman Justice Abdus Satter elected as the president of the Bangladesh. 1981 the day before Justice Satter ousted from power; appointed Mr. Muhammudullah as the Vice President of Bangladesh. It is on 23 March 1982. In 1991 Muhammudullah elected with good majority and join the 5th Parliament of the land.
Since 1970-91 he elected four times as the Member of Parliament. Muhammudullah was soft spoken nature and with moral character and honesty beyond our imagination.
He always kept distance from the press. Because he always thought his truthful remarks may weakened the force who are working to uphold the view of Liberation War.
In social and family life he leads a life of good Muslim. And also a true follower of Hazrat Muhammad (peace on Him) and believed in the Sufiism.
Former President Mohammadullah died at 12th November 1999 by the cardiac arrest at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases on Friday morning he was aged 78. As soon as the news of his death came the shadow of grief covered the country. He was buried at the Bonani Military Graveyard Dhaka.