Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad remains one of the most divisive and controversial figures in the history of Bangladesh. To some, he was a seasoned politician shaped by decades of anti-colonial struggle. To most, however, he is remembered as the man who briefly assumed the presidency of Bangladesh in the aftermath of its greatest national tragedy: the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975.
His name is inseparable from that event. While others fired the bullets, history has overwhelmingly judged Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad as the political beneficiary, enabler, and legitimiser of a violent rupture in Bangladesh’s democratic and moral foundations. More than four decades later, his actions continue to provoke anger, sorrow, and unresolved questions.
This article explores Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad in full historical context: his early political life, his role during the Liberation War, his ideological leanings, the circumstances surrounding August 1975, his brief presidency, and the enduring legacy that has shaped how he is remembered today.
Early Life And Political Background
Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad was born in 1918 in Comilla, then part of British India. Like many Bengali politicians of his generation, his political consciousness was shaped by colonial rule, nationalist movements, and the struggle for self-determination. Educated and articulate, he entered politics at a time when the subcontinent was a hotbed of ideological ferment.
In the 1940s, Mostaq aligned himself with the Muslim League, which championed the creation of Pakistan. Following the partition of India in 1947, he became involved in politics in East Pakistan, where Bengali Muslims soon realised that political power and economic control remained firmly in the hands of West Pakistan.
Over time, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad transitioned into the Awami League, joining a movement that increasingly focused on Bengali rights, autonomy, and cultural recognition. He was not among the most charismatic or mass-mobilising leaders, but he was regarded as an intelligent organiser and an experienced political operator.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Mostaq served in various capacities within the Awami League and participated in movements against the Pakistani military regime. Like many of his contemporaries, he faced imprisonment and political suppression, experiences that cemented his credentials as a veteran of the struggle.
At this stage of his life, few could have predicted that his name would one day be associated with betrayal on a national scale.
Role In The Awami League And The Road To Independence
Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad was a senior member of the Awami League during the crucial years leading up to Bangladesh’s independence. He was part of the party’s leadership circle and enjoyed access to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose towering popularity dominated Bengali politics.
However, even within the Awami League, Mostaq was known to hold views that often diverged from the party’s dominant ideology. While Bangabandhu emphasised secularism, socialism, and Bengali nationalism, Mostaq was more conservative and inclined towards maintaining stronger ties with the Islamic world and Western powers.
Despite ideological differences, he remained within the party structure and was entrusted with significant responsibilities. When the Pakistani military launched Operation Searchlight on 25 March 1971, triggering the Liberation War, Mostaq was among the political leaders who went into exile.
During the war, the provisional government of Bangladesh was formed in Mujibnagar, with Tajuddin Ahmad as Prime Minister. Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, a crucial role at a time when international recognition was vital.
It was during this period that cracks began to appear more visibly.
Controversies During The Liberation War
Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad’s role during the Liberation War remains a subject of intense debate. As Foreign Minister, his task was to rally international support for Bangladesh’s independence, particularly among Muslim-majority countries.
However, reports and historical accounts suggest that Mostaq pursued a foreign policy approach that often conflicted with the government’s official line. He was perceived as being less enthusiastic about India’s role in the war and more interested in courting support from the United States and Middle Eastern nations, even if it meant softening Bangladesh’s stance.
Some historians argue that Mostaq was uncomfortable with the secular and socialist direction of the Mujibnagar government. There are allegations that he explored alternative political arrangements that could limit Bangabandhu’s authority after independence.
While concrete evidence remains contested, what is clear is that Mostaq’s actions during the war caused mistrust among his colleagues. Tajuddin Ahmad, in particular, is believed to have viewed him with deep suspicion.
Nevertheless, the war ended in December 1971 with Bangladesh’s victory, and Mostaq returned to a liberated nation as a senior leader of the ruling party.
Post-Independence Politics And Growing Discontent
The early years of independent Bangladesh were marked by immense challenges. The country was devastated by war, its economy shattered, infrastructure destroyed, and millions displaced. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, now Prime Minister, faced the enormous task of rebuilding a nation from ruins.
Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad was appointed Minister of Commerce, later holding other cabinet positions. On the surface, he appeared loyal to the government, but ideological tensions persisted beneath the surface.
Bangabandhu’s government pursued policies rooted in socialism, state control of key industries, secularism, and close ties with India and the Soviet bloc. Mostaq, by contrast, was increasingly associated with right-leaning, pro-Western, and Islamic political sentiments.
As economic difficulties mounted, dissatisfaction grew within sections of the military and bureaucracy. Corruption, famine, lawlessness, and political repression eroded public confidence. The formation of BAKSAL in 1975, effectively turning Bangladesh into a one-party state, further alienated many.
Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad did not openly oppose Bangabandhu, but his silence and ambiguous positioning raised questions. He was seen as a man waiting for an opportunity rather than challenging the system directly.
That opportunity came in the darkest possible manner.
The Assassination Of Bangabandhu And August 15, 1975
On the early morning of 15 August 1975, a group of mid-ranking army officers launched a brutal coup in Dhaka. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, was assassinated along with most of his family members at his residence on Dhanmondi Road 32.
The scale of the massacre was unprecedented. Women, children, and unarmed civilians were killed. Only Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana survived, as they were abroad at the time.
Within hours of the assassination, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad was sworn in as President of Bangladesh.
The speed with which this transition occurred has fuelled decades of suspicion. There was no constitutional process, no public mandate, and no national consensus. The killers were not only protected but rewarded.
Mostaq’s first actions as President would define his place in history.
Presidency And The Indemnity Ordinance
Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad’s presidency lasted just 83 days, but the damage inflicted during this brief period was profound and long-lasting.
One of his earliest and most infamous acts was the promulgation of the Indemnity Ordinance. This law granted immunity to the assassins of Bangabandhu, ensuring they could not be prosecuted for their crimes.
This single decision cemented Mostaq’s reputation as a collaborator in the coup. Rather than condemning the massacre or seeking justice, he legitimised it through legal protection.
Under his leadership, Bangladesh underwent a dramatic ideological shift. The principles of secularism were undermined, symbols of the Liberation War were marginalised, and references to Bangabandhu were systematically erased from public life.
Mostaq reportedly referred to Bangabandhu as a “fallen dictator”, a statement that shocked a nation still in mourning.
He also facilitated the release of war criminals and Islamist leaders who had opposed independence in 1971, further alienating the pro-Liberation War constituency.
Relationship With The Military And Foreign Powers
Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad’s presidency was heavily dependent on the military officers who carried out the coup. He lacked popular legitimacy and relied entirely on force and political manoeuvring to remain in power.
Internationally, his government sought to reorient Bangladesh’s foreign policy. Relations with India cooled, while efforts were made to improve ties with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Western nations.
There is evidence to suggest that certain foreign powers were more comfortable dealing with Mostaq than with Bangabandhu’s socialist-leaning government. However, Mostaq never managed to secure broad international recognition or stability.
Within the military itself, power struggles intensified. Senior officers grew uneasy with the dominance of the coup leaders and the instability they brought.
On 3 November 1975, just months after taking office, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad was overthrown in another coup.
Downfall, Arrest, And Political Isolation
Following his removal, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad was arrested and imprisoned. The new regime sought to distance itself from the excesses of August 15, though justice remained elusive for decades.
Mostaq spent years in detention, largely cut off from political life. Unlike Bangabandhu, whose legacy grew stronger with time, Mostaq faded into isolation.
He was eventually released but never regained significant political influence. Attempts to rehabilitate his image failed, as public sentiment remained overwhelmingly hostile.
Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad died in 1996, the same year that Sheikh Hasina returned to power and initiated the process to repeal the Indemnity Ordinance and prosecute Bangabandhu’s killers.
History, by then, had already delivered its verdict.
Historical Judgement And National Memory
In Bangladesh’s collective memory, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad occupies a singularly negative position. He is widely regarded not merely as a failed leader, but as a symbol of betrayal.
Unlike other controversial figures, his actions are directly linked to the assassination of the nation’s founder. This association has proven impossible to escape.
Textbooks, documentaries, academic research, and public discourse consistently portray him as a cautionary example of ambition divorced from morality.
Even among critics of Bangabandhu’s later governance, there is near-universal agreement that nothing could justify the events of August 15 or Mostaq’s role in legitimising them.
Lessons From Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad’s Legacy
The story of Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad offers profound lessons about power, ideology, and responsibility.
First, it demonstrates how ideological differences, when combined with ambition and opportunism, can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
Second, it highlights the fragility of young democracies, particularly when institutions are weak and the military holds disproportionate influence.
Finally, it serves as a reminder that history does not judge leaders solely by their intentions or early struggles, but by their actions at moments of moral crisis.
Mostaq had been a freedom fighter, a minister, and a senior leader. Yet one decision, one moment of alignment with violence and illegitimacy, erased decades of political service.
Conclusion
Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad’s life is a study in contrast and contradiction. From anti-colonial activist to cabinet minister, from Liberation War leader to president by coup, his journey reflects both the complexity and tragedy of Bangladesh’s political history.
His brief presidency represents a rupture that Bangladesh has spent decades trying to heal. The pain of August 15, 1975, remains deeply embedded in the national psyche, and Mostaq’s name is forever linked to that wound.
History is unforgiving when leaders place personal ambition above national values. In the case of Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, the judgement has been clear, consistent, and enduring.
He is remembered not for what he once stood for, but for what he ultimately became. merely to study the past, but to reflect on the political choices that continue to shape South Asia today.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is based on publicly available historical sources and interpretations. The content does not represent political advice, endorsement, or advocacy. Any errors or omissions are unintentional.