1975 army chief Safiullah faces ire for switching loyalty to killers of Bangabandhu

The Sector Commanders’ Forum Convenor KM Safiullah has faced the ire of discussants at a programme for switching allegiance to the regime installed after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.

Safiullah had been the army chief when some rogue army officers killed the Father of the Nation along with most of his family members on Aug 15 that year.

He had pledged allegiance to the government that took charge after the Bangabandhu’s killing, but lost his job after some days.

The retired major general became an MP after two decades on the ticket of the Bangabandhu’s Awami League.

Safiullah was presiding over a discussion titled ‘Bangabandhu, Liberation War and Bangladesh’ at the National Press Club organised by the Forum on Sunday, a day before the National Mourning Day.

Krishak League Advisory Council Member Abdul Hye Kanu raised question about Safiullah’s role in 1975 when the former army chief was recounting the events of that year.

Safiullah said the then chiefs of the three forces had been ‘compelled’ to support the then government of Khondakar Mushtaq Ahmad.

“But sir, why didn’t you choose death instead while they were taking your signature?” Kanu asked.

Safiullah stood up and replied, “I said we had been compelled to pledge allegiance. What had you (Kanu) done at the time?”

His retort sparked a heated argument among those present at the programme. Many, including Food Minister Qamrul Islam, tried to calm Kanu down.

“Brother Kanu, please sit down. We all feel sad about the matter. We all are pained,” Qamrul said.

“I had been an activist. I had protested and spent days in jail,” Kanu said.

Though Safiullah has been speaking how ‘helpless’ he was for failing to do what he should have done, many Awami League leaders criticise him for supporting the Khondakar Mushtaq government.

The Bangabandhu’s nephew, Awami League Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, MP, who survived the Aug 15 massacre, recently termed Safiullah a ‘coward and traitor’.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, speaking at the discussion, demanded a commission to investigate the role Khondakar Mushtaq, late president Ziaur Rahman and others ‘related to the assassination of Bangabandhu’ had played during the Liberation War.

Qamrul slated Gen Zia’s wife, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, for celebrating her birthday on Aug 15.

“It’s natural that Khaleda Zia will celebrate the birthday. Because the politics she does was born on Aug 15. Zia came to the power because of this. It’s natural that she will become a monster,” Qamrul said.

The minister also demanded trial of the international actors behind the Bangabandhu’s killing.