Awami League under Mujib's leadsership won a massive victory in 1970 election, in State Legislature ande centre. But were not allowed to form the govt. On March 7, 1971,Mujib called for independence and asked the people to launch a major campaign of civil disobedience and organised armed resistance at a mass gathering of people held at the Racecourse Greound in Dhaka The Mukti Bahini and other militias amalgamated tgo form a new Bangladeshi army to which Indian forces transferred control on March 17. Mujib described the war as the biggest human disaster in the world claiming the deaths of 3 million people and rape of more than 200,000 women.
Bangladesh achieved recognition from major countries of the world including United Nations.
He charged the provisional Parliament to write a new constitution and proclaimed the four fundamental principles of "nationalism,secularism,democracy and socialism."
Mujib nationalised hundreds of industries and companies as well as abondoned land and capital and intiated land reformaimed at helping millions of poor farmers.
Major efforts were launched to rehabilitate an estimated 10 million refugees. A constitution was procaimed in 1973 and elections were held which resulted in Mujib and his party gaining absolute majority. A five year plan was released in 1973, focussed state investment in Agrculture, rural infrastructure and cottage industries.
But gradually Mujib began moving closer to political Islam in state and personal principles, though the state was committed to secularism. Mujib went to Lahore in 1974 to attend the OIC (organisation of Islamic conference).
In 1974, Bangladesh experienced the deadliest famine killing around 1.5 million peoplesin Hunger.It was a major source of discontent against Mujib's Govt. Amartya Sen commented that it was not for the food shortage but for the weak governance and democratic practices.
