Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is officially recognized by the Awami League as having been born on March 17, 1920, in Tungipara, a village of Gopalganj sub-town, which later became a district.

He was the third of six children born to Sheikh Lutfar Rahman and Sahera Khatun, and was affectionately called “Khoka” by his family.

His early years were spent in the quiet village of Tungipara, where he grew up to become one of the most pivotal figures in the history of Bangladesh.

However, discrepancies have emerged regarding the date and place of his birth, as shown in an image of his passport, which was released by the Awami League government during its tenure.

According to the passport, his birthdate is listed as September 9, 1921, and his birthplace is Faridpur.

When questioned about the conflicting information, an official from Bangladesh's Immigration and Passport Department explained to Bangla Outlook that during Sheikh Mujib’s lifetime, passports were handwritten, making it impossible to verify the details without access to the original passport record book.

Despite repeated assurances from another passport official that efforts would be made to locate the passport, no updated information was forthcoming, as the official had since been transferred.

Major General Nurul Anwar, Director General of the Immigration and Passport Department, declined to comment when asked whether Sheikh Mujibur Rahman possessed a Bangladeshi passport or about the specifics of his birthdate.

Details in the passport displayed at Bangabandhu corner

Meanwhile, a copy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s passport, issued by the Pakistani government, is said to be kept in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

During the tenure of the Awami League, a large photograph of this passport was prominently displayed in a section of the ministry dedicated to the leader, known as the "Bangabandhu Corner."

Beneath the image, the caption reads: “Bangabandhu’s Passport.”

The passport in question lists Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth date as September 9, 1921, in Faridpur, and notes his profession as “Landlord.”

It also bears a “canceled” stamp, further adding to the intrigue surrounding his personal records.

After Sheikh Hasina's departure to India, the "Bangabandhu Corner," which had prominently displayed a large photograph of the passport in the Secretariat, was dismantled.

Asaduzzaman Khan, the Home Minister during the Awami League government, admitted that neither he nor his ministry were aware of the passport's display.

However, he acknowledged the confusion surrounding several aspects of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s life, including the exact duration of his imprisonment.

Asaduzzaman explained that their government had made efforts to verify and record the details, but faced challenges along the way.

He also pointed out that, before the introduction of Bangladesh’s single birth registration system, it was difficult to confirm the exact age or birthdate of many individuals.

During the Awami League's tenure, March 17 was officially celebrated as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birthday, a day marked as National Children’s Day across Bangladesh and at diplomatic missions abroad.

However, no official explanation has been found regarding the origins of this date, or how March 17 came to be chosen as his birthday.

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