**From Muktijoddha to Murgijoddha
**From Muktijoddha to Murgijoddha How Bangladesh’s Awami League Went from Liberation Heroes to a Regime Accused of Loot, Lies & Authoritarianism** The Bangladesh Awami League (AL) is widely credited as the party that led the country to independence in 1971 under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman . But for decades since, critics argue that the party’s rule has been marked by corruption, authoritarianism, nepotism, rights abuses, and economic mismanagement — transforming Muktijoddha (freedom fighters) into what detractors derisively call Murgijoddha (chicken warriors).* southasiajournal.net +1 ⚡ 1. Historical Roots: Post-1971 Governance & Criticisms a. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Early Power After independence, Mujib became Bangladesh’s first leader. Critics point to: Accusations of nepotism and corruption , including promotion of relatives and party loyalists to powerful posts. There were persistent rumours (later recorded in contemporary accounts) that Mujib’s...