Bangladesh Political Instability and the 1975 Coup

In August 1975, Bangladesh experienced severe political instability, corruption, and a deteriorating law and order situation that ultimately culminated in the country's first military coup on August 15, 1975. This historic and violent uprising resulted in the tragic killing of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with members of his family, fundamentally altering the political trajectory of the newly independent nation.

Reflecting on the stifled political environment of that era, researcher Mohiuddin Ahmad noted to BBC Bangla that the overall atmosphere in the country had become suffocatingly unstable. Because the formation of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (Bakshal)—which replaced the Awami League to establish a strict one-party rule instead of multi-party politics—effectively closed off constitutional and peaceful avenues for resolving these grievances, a faction within the military ultimately chose the path of a coup.

The administration's efforts to manage the spiraling crisis included deploying the army to control widespread corruption, looting, and smuggling. However, military figures observed severe administrative failures on the ground. M.A. Hamid pointed out the grim reality of state relief efforts, stating that relief goods failed to reach destitute people because items like wheat, rice, and blankets were subjected to rampant theft.

Tensions between the armed forces and the ruling establishment escalated further during these operations. Mr. Hamid detailed that young military officers frequently came into conflict with influential leaders of the ruling party during this period, while these political leaders continuously lodged complaints against the military directly to Sheikh Mujib.

Mohiuddin Ahmad explained that such political dynamics generated profoundly negative perceptions among both military personnel and ordinary citizens. Instead of halting the irregularities and corruption perpetrated by his party members, Sheikh Mujib was viewed as indirectly patronizing them, compounding public frustration.

Alongside these domestic political fractures and governance failures, the security landscape was further strained by radical opposition movements. Early in 1975, Siraj Sikdar, who served as the top leader of the Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party, was killed by police, marking another violent flashpoint during a turbulent year that also saw localized state responses, such as the distribution of 271 checks to the families of martyrs from the war of liberation.