Shawdesh Desk:

The nation observes historic March 7, a red-letter day in Bangladesh’s history, in a befitting manner today, commemorating the epoch-making speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu in 1971 had instantly united the people of the country and it worked as an indirect declaration of the country’s independence in 1971 to fight against the Pakistani oppressors.

On that day, Bangabandhu in his historic speech at a mammoth rally in the then ‘Racecourse Maidan’, now Suhrawardy Udyan, directed the freedom-loving Bangalees to wage a decisive struggle against the Pakistani oppressors.

In the 19-minute extempore speech from 4:23pm before millions of people of then East Pakistan, Bangabandhu in an unequivocal term said, “We spilled our blood … we are ready to shed more blood, the people of the country shall be freed, Inshallah!”

“Ebarer sangram amader muktir sangram, ebarer sangram swadhinatar sangram (The struggle this time is for our emancipation, the struggle this time is for our independence)”, the great leader and the greatest Bangalee of all times said.

During his deliberations amid thunderous slogans and applause, he also made a fervent appeal to the roaring people from all walks of life to make preparations for an armed struggle against the tyranny, exploitation, subjugation and deprivation by Pakistani military junta with whatever they possessed and transformed every house into a fortress.

The people were overwhelmed and imbued with the spirit of Bangabandhu’s unparalleled speech of independence regarded only as comparable with the Gettysburg Speech of slain US President Abraham Lincoln.

The people had responded spontaneously to the clarion call of Bangabandhu with the thunderous slogan- “Bir Bangalee Astra Dharo, Bangladesh Swadhin Karo” -Brave Bangalees take up arms and free Bangladesh from occupation.

This year’s observance has added a new dimension to the significance of the day as the two occasions – the celebrations of the golden jubilee of the country’s independence and ‘Mujib Barsho, birth centenary of Bangabandhu — are underway.

The day started getting more importance since 2017 as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognised the historic speech as part of the world’s documentary heritage as the landmark fiery speech of Bangabandhu inspired the Bangalees to prepare for the War of Liberation in 1971.

It was included in the Memory of the World International Register, a list of the world’s important documentary heritage maintained by UNESCO.

Bangamata Sheikh Fazilutunessa Mujib, who was martyred with Bangabandhu on the fateful night of August 15, 1975, always helped her husband with pieces of political advice, including the day the ‘Magna Carta’ of Bangladesh delivered the speech, according to their elder daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The vigorous speech inspired people of all walks of life to prepare for the war, which eventually began after the Pakistani regime on the black night of March 25 launched attacks on the unarmed Bangalees, the worst genocide in history for the next nine months.

Bangabandhu’s March 7 speech has been selected as one of the most rousing and inspirational wartime speeches in the last 2,500 years. The dynamic speech had changed the course of the country’s history.

The tantalising speech literally had a mesmerising and sparkling effect on the entire population of this soil and they became united under his capable and farsighted leadership to bravely fight for liberating the motherland from the clutches of the Pakistani occupation forces.

Although people from all walks of life irrespective of political and religious beliefs were united for the cause and began to take all-out preparations for a bloody war, they waited till the crackdown of the Pakistani occupation forces on the sleeping Bangalees on the night of March 25, defamed as the “Operation Searchlight”.

As soon as the Pakistani occupation forces started genocide, Bangabandhu declared the independence of the motherland instructing the people to put up strong resistance and fight against them till liberation is achieved.

At the instruction of Bangabandhu, the brave nation fought successfully the nine-month War of Liberation and ultimately liberated Bangladesh from the clutches of the Pakistani occupation forces on December 16, 1971, with the assistance of the allied Indian forces.

On the eve of the day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages.

Marking the day, different socio-cultural and political organisations, student and professional bodies have drawn up elaborate programmes, including placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu and holding discussions maintaining health guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The national flag will be hoisted at all public and private buildings in the country and diplomatic missions abroad as per the government’s decision.

Meanwhile, Awami League has taken various programmes to observe historic March 7 in a befitting manner.

The ruling party will hoist national and party flags atop Bangabandhu Bhaban and party offices and place wreaths at Bangabandhu’s portrait on the premises of Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi, said a press release.

A discussion will be arranged at the central office of Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue at 11:00 am.

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will chair the discussion virtually.

Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private television channels and radio stations will air special programmes while national dailies will bring out special supplements marking the auspicious occasion.