Syed Nazrul Islam

Syed Nazrul Islam সৈয়দ নজরুল ইসলাম سید نذرالا اسلام
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1st Vice President of Bangladesh
In office 17 April 1971 – 12 January 1972
President	Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Prime Minister	Tajuddin Ahmad
Preceded by	Post created
Succeeded by	Revived in 1977 with Justice Abdus Sattar
Personal details
Born	1925 Kishoreganj, Bengal Presidency, British India (now in Bangladesh)
Died	3 November 1975 (aged 49–50) Dhaka, Bangladesh
Political party	Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (1975)
Other political affiliations	All-India Muslim League (Before 1949) Awami League (1949–1975)
Alma mater	University of Dhaka
Religion	Islam

Syed Nazrul Islam (Bengali: সৈয়দ নজরুল ইসলাম Soiod Nozrul Islam) (1925 – 3 November, 1975) was a Bangladeshi politician and a senior leader of the Awami League. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, he was declared as the Vice President of Bangladesh by the Provisional Government. He served as the Acting President in the absence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Early life

Syed Nazrul Islam was born in 1925 at Jashodal Dampara in the Kishoreganj District (then Mymensingh District) of the province of Bengal. He obtained degrees in history and law from the University of Dhaka and was an active student political leader in the Muslim League. Syed captained his college's cricket and hockey teams and participated in the Pakistan movement. He entered the civil service of Pakistan in 1949 but resigned in 1951 to work as a professor of history at the Anandmohan College in Mymensingh, where he also practised law. Sayed Ashraful Islam is son of Sayed Nazrul Islam.

Political career

Syed Nazrul's political career began when he joined the Awami Muslim League and participated in the Language Movement in 1952, for which he was arrested by Pakistani police. He would rise to various provincial and central party leadership positions, becoming a close confidante of the party's leader Sheikh Mujib. He was jailed during the Six Point Demand movement. He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1970, where he served briefly as deputy leader of the majority. Following the arrest of Mujib on March 25, 1971 by Pakistani forces, Syed escaped to Mujibnagar with other party leaders and proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh. Mujib was elected president of Bangladesh but Syed would serve as acting president, with Tajuddin Ahmed as prime minister. Syed played a key role in leading the nationalist cause, coordinating the Mukti Bahini guerrilla force and winning support from India and other nations.

After the independence of Bangladesh, Syed was appointed minister of industries, the deputy leader in parliament and a member of the constitution committee. When Mujib banned other political parties and assumed sweeping powers as president in 1975, Syed was appointed vice president and became a chief organiser of the BAKSAL party and Mujib loyalist groups.

Death

Following the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975 Syed fled underground with other Mujib loyalists such as Tajuddin Ahmed, A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman and Muhammad Mansur Ali, but was ultimately arrested by the regime of the new president Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad. The four leaders were imprisoned in the Dhaka Central Jail and assassinated on November 3 under controversial and mysterious circumstances. This day is commemorated every year in Bangladesh Jail Killing Day. Captain (relieved) Kismat Hashem was sentenced to life in prison for the killings. He died due to cardiac arrest in Canada.

Legacy

Government-run Shahid Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College in Kishoreganj is named in his memory.

References

Political offices
Preceded by Mujibur Rahman	President of Bangladesh Acting 1971–1972	Succeeded by Abu Sayeed Chowdhury
Preceded by none	Vice President of Bangladesh 1971–1972	Succeeded by Abdus Sattar