Background
Syed Nazrul Islam was born in 1925 at Jashodal Dampara in the Kishoreganj District (then Mymensingh District) of the province of Bengal.
Syed Nazrul Islam was born in 1925 at Jashodal Dampara in the Kishoreganj District (then Mymensingh District) of the province of Bengal.
University of Dhaka.
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. 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.
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.
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. Government-run Shahid Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College in Kishoreganj is named in his memory.
He would rise to various provincial and central party leadership positions, becoming a close confidante of the party"s leader Sheikh Mujib. 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.
After the independence of Bangladesh, Syed was appointed minister of industries, the deputy leader in parliament and a member of the constitution committee.