Why Does Awami League Ignore Tajuddin's Legacy?

As I was reading through the history of the Awami League and the Liberation War, I found myself thinking about how things might have unfolded without two key figures: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Tajuddin Ahmad. Both played critical roles in shaping Bangladesh, but their contributions were fundamentally different. What if either of them had never been born?

Let’s start with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was a phenomenal orator and a visionary leader who could rally people like no one else. His Six-Point Movement(although developed by Tajuddin) in 1966 gave Bengalis a clear path toward autonomy and, eventually, independence. His leadership inspired millions to believe in the dream of a free Bangladesh. But here’s the thing: when the war began on March 25, 1971, Mujib wasn’t there. He was arrested and taken to West Pakistan. From that point forward, his role in the Liberation War was symbolic at best. He didn’t lead the war, plan its strategies, or organize the global support that was critical to its success.

Now let’s imagine the war without Tajuddin Ahmad. It’s a far more frightening scenario. When Sheikh Mujib was taken, the independence movement was leaderless and in complete chaos. It was Tajuddin who stepped up, formed the Mujibnagar Government, and took on the enormous task of leading the war effort. He secured support from India, coordinated the Mukti Bahini, and ensured the movement didn’t crumble. Without Tajuddin, it’s hard to imagine the war being successful—or even happening in an organized way.

If you compare these two scenarios, the absence of Sheikh Mujib might have delayed the independence movement, but another charismatic leader could have risen to rally the masses. On the other hand, without Tajuddin Ahmad, the war likely would have fallen apart. The strategy, the diplomacy, and the operational backbone of the movement—all of it came from Tajuddin.

So why is it that Tajuddin Ahmad’s contributions are so overlooked? Even after the war, his widow, Syeda Zohra Tajuddin, held the Awami League together after Sheikh Mujib’s assassination in 1975. She worked tirelessly to rebuild the party(later hijacked by Hasina) at a time when many others disappeared or stayed silent. And yet, the Tajuddin family remains in the shadows of history, while the Sheikh family is glorified beyond reason.

Sheikh Hasina has often said, “Ei desh amar bāp shadhin korechhe” (“This country was liberated by my father”), which frankly makes no sense when you look at the facts. Sheikh Mujib’s role in the war was non-existent after March 25 (maintaining respect to his pre 71 role). The success of the Liberation War came from leaders like Tajuddin Ahmad and countless fighters(i.e. MAG Osmani) who risked their lives. So why is the narrative so skewed?

Why do Awami League supporters blindly revere the Sheikh family while ignoring families like the Tajuddins, whose contributions were, in many ways, far greater?