"Ebarer sangram amader muktir sangram, ebarer sangram swadhinatar sangram
(Struggle this time - 1971 - is a struggle for emancipation, the struggle is a struggle for Independence]", Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had asserted in his fiery speech -- March 7th, 1971)
The venue was then famous as the Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan).
Mujib also had said: "Turn every house into a fortress, resist the enemy with everything you have ...
Having mastered the lesson of sacrifice, we shall give more blood. God willing [Inshallah], we shall free the people of this land".
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| Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's March 7 : Photo - social media |
In October 2017; in a significant move at the global level the historic 7th March speech of the 'Father of the Nation' of Bangladesh was included in the Memory of the World International Register, a list of world's important documentary heritage maintained by UNESCO.
It is argued on merits that the psychological impact of the speech cannot perhaps be fully understood by those who were 'not victims' of the Pakistani atrocities.
It is stated with a matter of pride by the Awami League leaders (now in exile) that the Mukti-joddhas (freedom fighters) carried the speech of Mujib (of March 7th, 191) in their hearts, and for those who heard it repeatedly through its broadcast on Swadhin Bangla Betar (radio broadcast by Awami League leaders from hiding).
"Bangabandhu took us on a journey towards a future where we would be free, able to laugh, play, live, and grow in a place that would be our very own," says Mahfuz Anam editor and publisher of 'The Daily Star' in an article.
He also writes:
"In the general election of 1970, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman received the mandate from the people of Pakistan to govern the country as its prime minister. President Gen Yahya Khan acknowledged this and declared him to be the “future prime minister of Pakistan.” Tragically, a conspiracy soon began.
"Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who emerged with the majority of seats in West Pakistan, was too proud, too arrogant, and too self-centred to accept the reality that Sheikh Mujib would be Pakistan’s prime minister. Along with some Pakistani generals, he was determined not to allow that to happen.
"Bhutto invited Yahya to his home in Larkana, Sindh, where he spent several days persuading Yahya to postpone the convening of the National Assembly. On March 1, Yahya declared an indefinite postponement of the National Assembly’s first session. Thus began the final act to deprive the Bangalees of their legitimate right to power."
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| Mujib's daughter Hasina and former PM Khaleeda Zia |
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, was assassinated at his home in Dhanmondi 32 on August 15, 1975, following which military dictator Major General Ziaur Rahman assumed power.
Former PM Sheikh Hasina, Mujib's eldest daughter -- now ousted and staying in India - was in Germany then and hence she survived.
Mujib was to visit Dhaka University and a grand ceremonious welcome awaited him on Aug 15th. In fact, even a 'citation' in Bangla was prepared.
Addressing the Bangabandhu, as Mujib was popularly known, the citation read: "You've said you want to turn Dhaka University into the National University. We want your kind sympathy, goodwill and consideration in this regard."
But that was never read out because the nascent country's national hero never visited the university.
The then Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) vice president, Mujahidul Islam Selim, in the early morning of August 15, 1975, received a phone call from the dean office of the arts faculty, "which informed him that Dhanmondi 32 was under attack".
Paradoxically, Mujib had enrolled himself in the university in December 1947 but varsity authority in 1949 had expelled him and several other students on charges of "instigating" a movement launched by class-four employees, demanding increase of salaries and allowances.
It was many years later only in 2010, the university authority withdrew the expulsion order, terming it "undemocratic and unjust".
Under the much discredited interim regime under 'western puppet' Yunus; the historic Dhanmondi 32 residence of Bangladesh’s founding father was destroyed by protesters on February 5-6, 2025.
The home, turned into a museum, was set on fire and demolished following a "bulldozer procession".
It may be mentioned that the International Advisory Committee (IAC), responsible for recommending whether or not a document qualifies for inclusion on the Memory of the World International Register, during its meeting from Oct 24 to 27 - 2017 had recommended the 7th March speech of Mujib for inscription on the Memory of the World International Register.
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| Modi and Sheikh Hasina : New Delhi - 2023 |
ends
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