The Agartala Conspiracy Case: A Tale of Sedition and Liberation

In the politically charged atmosphere of Pakistan during the late 1960s, a case emerged that would alter the course of history for the region. The Agartala Conspiracy Case, as it came to be known, was a pivotal moment in the struggle for autonomy in East Pakistan, led by the charismatic Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his Awami League. It was 1968, and the government of Pakistan, under the rule of Ayub Khan, accused Rahman and 34 others of a conspiracy to undermine the stability of Pakistan. This dramatic legal battle unfolded against the backdrop of a country on the brink of transformation.

The Accusation

In early 1968, the Pakistani government filed charges of sedition against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of the Awami League, and 34 other individuals. The indictment alleged that Rahman and his associates conspired with India to destabilize Pakistan. The case, officially titled "State vs. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others," became widely known as the Agartala Conspiracy Case due to the alleged meetings in Agartala, a city in India's Tripura state, where the conspirators supposedly sought Indian military support for East Pakistan's secession.

On February 22, 2011, Shawkat Ali, one of the accused, addressed the Bangladesh parliament, asserting the truth of the charges. He confirmed that Navy Steward Mujibur Rahman and Educationist Mohammad Ali Reza had indeed traveled to Agartala to garner Indian support for Bangladesh's independence.

The Accused

The case implicated a diverse group of 35 individuals, including prominent political figures and civil servants. Among them were:

• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
• Ahmed Fazlur Rahman, CSP
• Steward Mujibur Rahman
• Commander Moazzem Hossain
• Former LS Sultanuddin Ahmad
• LSCDI Nur Mohammad
• Flight Sergeant Mahfiz Ullah
• Corporal Abdus Samad
• Former Havildar Dalil Uddin
• Ruhul Quddus, CSP
• Flight Sergeant Md. Fazlul Haq
• Bibhuti Bhushan Chowdhury (alias Manik Chowdhury)
• Bidhan Krishna Sen
• Subedar Abdur Razzaque
• Former clerk Mujibur Rahman
• Former Flight Sergeant Md. Abdur Razzaque
• Sergeant Zahurul Haq
• A.B. Khurshid
• Khan Mohammad Shamsur Rahman, CSP
• AKM Shamsul Haque
• Havildar Azizul Haq
• Mahfuzul Bari
• Sergeant Shamsul Haq
• Colonel Shamsul Alam
• Captain Mohammad Abdul Muttalib
• Captain Shawkat Ali
• Captain Khondkar Nazmul Huda
• Captain A. N. M. Nuruzzaman
• Sergeant Abdul Jalil
• Mahbub Uddin Chowdhury
• Lieutenant M. Rahman
• Former Subedar Tajul Islam
• Ali Reza
• Captain Khurshid Uddeen Ahmed
• Lieutenant Abdur Rauf

The Plot Unfolds

The alleged conspiracy was masterminded by Sheikh Mujib as an effort to spark an armed revolution against West Pakistan, ultimately striving for secession. Two of the accused, Navy Steward Mujibur Rahman and educator Mohammad Ali Reza, traveled to Agartala to seek Indian assistance. The plot was uncovered by Lieutenant Colonel Shamsul Alam, the commander of the East Pakistan Detachment of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). When an officer from the East Bengal Regiment attempted to assassinate Alam, he narrowly escaped, earning the Sitara-e-Basalat for his bravery.

In the sweep of arrests that followed, over 1,500 Bengalis were detained in connection with the plot. By January 1968, the Home Department of Pakistan revealed a scheme to incite an armed revolt and destabilize the nation. Sheikh Mujib and others were arrested on May 9, 1968, although the supposed conspiracy with India for East Pakistan's secession was never conclusively proven.

The Trials

Initially, the Pakistani authorities intended to court-martial the accused, many of whom were military personnel. However, in a bid to implicate politicians before the 1970 elections and ensure transparency, a civil trial was chosen. The number of accused was narrowed to 35, and they were transferred to the secure confines of the Dacca Cantonment.

On June 19, 1968, the trial commenced under a special tribunal, with laws amended to favor the prosecution. The tribunal, led by Justice S.A. Rahman, along with Justices M.R. Khan and Maksum-ul-Hakim, heard the case within a secured chamber. Attorney General Tafazzal Hossain Khan and former Foreign Minister Manzur Quader represented the government. British lawyer Thomas Williams joined local attorneys to challenge the tribunal's formation. Several approvers admitted to providing false evidence under state coercion.

Public perception saw the trial as a ploy by the Pakistani government against East Pakistan's autonomy movement. Mass protests erupted, demanding the withdrawal of the case and the release of prisoners. The government postponed the trial's conclusion, initially set for February 6, 1969, due to mounting unrest.

Tragedy struck on February 15, 1969, when a Pakistani havildar shot and killed Sergeant Zahurul Haq in his jail cell. The news incited a mob to torch government buildings, resulting in the destruction of some case files. Faced with mounting pressure, the government withdrew the case on February 22, 1969, and the accused were released the following day. At a grand reception at Race Course Maidan, Sheikh Mujib was felicitated with the title of "Bangabandhu."

The Aftermath

The Agartala Conspiracy Case and the ensuing popular uprising significantly contributed to the downfall of Ayub Khan's government and fueled the flames of Bengali nationalism, ultimately leading to the Bangladesh Liberation War. In recognition of his sacrifice, Zahurul Haq was honored by having a residential hall at the University of Dhaka named after him.

In 2010, and again on the case's anniversary in 2011, Shawkat Ali confessed in parliament that they had indeed conspired for East Pakistan's secession. Parliamentarian Tofail Ahmed reflected that had the case not been filed, the plot might have achieved independence without bloodshed, crediting the Deputy Speaker with planning the nation's liberation.

Sources

For further reading and detailed references, please visit the original Wikipedia article here.