In the heart of Kolkata, at 8 Shakespeare Sarani—formerly known as 8 Theatre Road—stands a building whose walls once echoed with the pulse of a nation's liberation. Today, it is known as Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, a site of spiritual and cultural significance named after Indian nationalist and spiritual master Sri Aurobindo. However, in 1971, during Bangladesh's Liberation War against the genocidal Pakistani military regime, it served a very different purpose: it was the wartime headquarters of the first government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, popularly known as the Mujibnagar Government. It was here that the first prime minister of Bangladesh, Tajuddin Ahmad, led the war for independence with unmatched resolve, humility, and vision.
Though the mango grove at Baidyanathtala in Meherpur was named Mujibnagar by Tajuddin Ahmad and declared the first capital of Bangladesh, the government was compelled—due to the intensifying war situation and bombardment in surrounding areas—to relocate its operational base to 8 Theatre Road. Tajuddin Ahmad declared that wherever the government moved during the war, it would carry the name Mujibnagar, in honour of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was in prison in Pakistan and made the president of the first government. Thus, this Kolkata address became the de facto Mujibnagar—the first capital in exile.
The building, then under the ownership of the Government of India and used by the Border Security Force (BSF), was transformed into a sovereign space. Within its modest rooms, Tajuddin Ahmad ran a government-in-exile that became one of the most principled, successful and effective administrations in Bangladesh's history. He lived in a small, austere room adjacent to his office, washing his own clothes and refusing the comforts of family life. He had taken a solemn vow: until Bangladesh was free, he would not return to his family or indulge in personal comfort. His leadership was not only strategic but deeply moral.
From this very building, some of the most consequential decisions of the war were made. It was here that the National Advisory Committee was formed, with Tajuddin Ahmad as its convenor and Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani as its chairman. This committee played a pivotal role in uniting political forces and strengthening the liberation movement. On November 21, 1971, the decision to formally establish the Bangladesh Armed Forces was taken here. From here, Acting President Syed Nazrul Islam and Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad wrote to Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi requesting formal recognition of Bangladesh. Her affirmative response, received at this very building, marked a turning point in the war.
This recognition was not only a bilateral milestone—it reverberated across the globe. The Bangladesh Liberation War unfolded against the backdrop of the Cold War, where the United States, the Soviet Union, and China each held differing positions. From 8 Theatre Road, appeals were made that reached far beyond South Asia, shaping debates in the United Nations and influencing humanitarian responses worldwide. The plight of one crore refugees in India drew international media coverage, mobilising civil society groups in Europe and North America, and making Bangladesh's struggle a matter of global conscience.
Perhaps most significantly, it was within these walls that Tajuddin Ahmad laid down three non-negotiable conditions for the entry of Indian allied forces into Bangladesh: first, that India must recognise Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state; second, that military operations would be conducted under a joint command of the Indian Army and the Mukti Bahini; and third, that Indian forces would withdraw as soon as instructed by the Bangladesh Government (Tajuddin Ahmad's speeches, in Tajuddin Ahmad Itihasher Pata Theke, edited by Simeen Hussain Rimi, Dhaka, Pratibhas, 1999, p387, 411-412). These conditions were accepted, underscoring the Mujibnagar Government's insistence on sovereignty, dignity, and mutual respect—even while operating from exile. As Barrister Amir‑ul Islam later noted in his interview published in Tajuddin Ahmad: Aloker Anontodhara (edited by Simeeen Hussain Rimi. Pratibhas, 2006, p87), that even the allied troops did not enter France during the Second World War under any conditions—an observation that highlights Tajuddin Ahmad's foresight in securing Bangladesh's sovereignty through clearly defined terms for India's allied forces.
In insisting on sovereignty and equality, the Mujibnagar Government aligned Bangladesh's liberation with broader global struggles for decolonisation and self-determination. Just as African nations were asserting independence and Vietnam was resisting external domination, Bangladesh's leaders at 8 Theatre Road positioned their cause within a worldwide movement for dignity and freedom. This global resonance gave the liberation war moral weight far beyond its borders.
Indian diplomat and former Foreign Secretary J.N. Dixit later recalled in his book Liberation and Beyond: Indo Bangladesh Relations and in his interview in "Itihasher Sattya Sandhane" (edited by Matiur Rahman, Dhaka, Prothoma Prokashan, p213) that it was Tajuddin Ahmad and Syed Nazrul Islam who proposed to the Indian government the formal recognition of Bangladesh and formation of the joint command. He also recalled Tajuddin strongly opposed the Indian Army's proposal for a unified command structure. His principled stand, taken from within this very building, was a testament to their statesmanship and courage. Despite being guests in a foreign land, they earned India's respect as equals.
This building also bore witness to internal strife. It was here that conspirators within the political fold attempted to undermine—and even assassinate—Tajuddin Ahmad (Muyeedul Hasan, Muldhara 71, Dhaka, The University Press Limited, 1986, p145).Yet, he remained steadfast, running the government with discipline, transparency, dedication and vision. He initiated the National Militia Project, composed of freedom fighters, to prepare them for post-war nation‑building and to act as the country's third defence pillar alongside the military and police. His vision was rooted in justice, law, and order—not retaliation. After Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's return from prison, he abandoned the militia project; instead, a controversial Rakkhi Bahini was formed. Sheikh Mujib also issued a general amnesty without parliamentary consultation, allowing collaborators and war criminals to escape justice.
Despite the monumental role this building played in the victory of Bangladesh, its legacy remains largely unmarked. After the war, the property eventually came under the custodianship of Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. In 2018, I submitted a letter to the board of trustees and the board of directors of the property through an intermediary, respectfully requesting that a commemorative plaque be installed to honour the building's role as the wartime headquarters of the Mujibnagar Government and where Bangladesh's first prime minister lived. Though no formal reply was received, an officer noted that such a request should come through the Government of Bangladesh. While earlier efforts to preserve the historic site did not succeed, the responsibility to safeguard its legacy remains. The government can continue to pursue formal recognition and custodianship in due course, while civil society can at least work towards placing a memorial plaque to honour the role the site played during the Liberation War. Preserving this legacy will help ensure that the democratic principles born of that struggle are remembered with dignity and protected from distortion.
Preserving 8 Theatre Road is about contributing to global heritage. Nations worldwide safeguard sites that symbolise their fight for freedom—whether it is the wartime headquarters of Charles de Gaulle in London or the preserved independence landmarks of African states. By honouring this building, Bangladesh will affirm its place in that global tapestry of liberation, reminding the world that its victory was achieved through principled leadership and international solidarity.
Sharmin Ahmad is daughter of Tajuddin Ahmad and founder of One Light Institute and a peace educator dedicated to preserving Bangladesh's liberation history.
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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