Tajuddin Ahmed was the first prime minister of Bangladesh from 11 April 1971 until 13 January 1972. On the night 25th of March, 1971 the Pakistani Army attacked the civilian Bengalies in what was then East Pakistan. The leader of Awami League, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was arrested and taken to West Pakistan. The independence of Bangladesh was declared and the liberation war started. On 17th april, in a mango orchard of Meherpur, the government of Bangladesh was sworn in with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the president, Nazrul Islam as the acting president in the absence of Sheikh Mujib and Tajuddin as its prime minister. The government kept functioning from Kolkata, India until Bangladesh became independent on the 16th of December, 1971. In liberated Bangladesh, Tajuddin continued to be part of the government, though his position in it declined. Sheikh Mujib was assasinated in a military coup on 1975. Many of his main aides including Tajuddin and Nazrul Islam were arrested. On November 3rd, 1975, Tajuddin Ahmed and Nazrul Islam were assasinated in the prison with two other collegues.