Fri Jun 27 18:06:50 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text, focusing on the Indian perspective as requested:
**Summary:**
A new book by veteran journalist Manash Ghosh sheds light on the mysterious death of Phanindra Nath Banerjee, a high-ranking officer in India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), in Dhaka in 1974. Banerjee, known as Nath Babu, was Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s direct liaison with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh. Ghosh’s book, “Mujib’s Blunders: The Power and the Plot Behind His Killing,” suggests that Banerjee’s death, officially attributed to a heart attack, may have been linked to a conspiracy to assassinate Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which ultimately occurred in August 1975. The book posits that Banerjee may have uncovered the plot and that those involved saw him as an obstacle. The incident was never thoroughly investigated, and Bangladeshi officials were reportedly instructed to avoid discussing the cause of death with the media.
**News Article:**
**Indian Spy’s Death in Dhaka May Hold Key to Mujib Assassination: New Book**
*New Delhi, June 27, 2025* – The death of a top Indian intelligence officer in Dhaka in 1974 may be connected to the subsequent assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, according to a new book by veteran journalist Manash Ghosh.
“Mujib’s Blunders: The Power and the Plot Behind His Killing,” reveals details surrounding the mysterious death of Phanindra Nath Banerjee, a Joint Director of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). Banerjee, known as Nath Babu, served as Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s direct emissary to Sheikh Mujib.
Ghosh writes that Banerjee was found dead in his hotel room in Dhaka in July 1974. Officially, his death was attributed to a heart attack, but Ghosh suggests a more sinister possibility: that Banerjee uncovered a plot to overthrow and assassinate Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“They probably suspected that Nath Babu had got wind of the conspiracy,” Ghosh writes, suggesting those involved viewed the Indian agent as a threat to their plans. The book alleges that certain Bangladeshi military officers, who were allegedly involved in the conspiracy, were in contact with certain Western embassies in Dhaka and were lobbying for “regime change.”
The author highlights the lack of a thorough investigation into Banerjee’s death, noting that Bangladeshi officials were instructed to remain silent about the cause.
The book raises troubling questions about the events leading up to the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the role played by external actors.
First Piper 