Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Bengali: শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান Shekh Mujibur Rôhman‎), (March 17, 1920 – August 15, 1975) was a Bengali politician and statesman who was the founding leader of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League and served as the first President of Bangladesh, and later as Prime Minister. He is popularly referred to as Sheikh Mujib (shortened as Mujib or Mujibur, not Rahman), with the honorary title of Bangabandhu (বঙ্গবন্ধু Bôngobondhu, "Friend of Bengal"), and widely revered in Bangladesh as the founding father of the nation. He was assassinated by a group of junior army officers on August 15, 1975, along with most of his family, while acting as President of Bangladesh.