POBNEWS24, Dhaka 17 Mar 2025 : Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s 105th birthday is on 17 March. On this day in 1920, he was born in a noble Muslim family in Tungipara village of Gopalganj district. His father was Sheikh Lutfar Rahman, mother was Sayera Khatun. He is awarded the title of Father of the Nation of Bangladesh and has made immense contribution to the freedom struggle.
Under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 and he took charge as the first President of the country. His leadership and life of struggle are forever remembered in the history of Bangladesh.
This day was also celebrated as “National Children’s Day” every year during the Awami League government and various programs and activities were organized for children.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s life was a symbol of struggle, sacrifice, and fighting spirit. Since his childhood, he was active in politics and the freedom movement. Born on March 17, 1920 in Tungipara, Gopalganj, Sheikh Mujib entered politics by participating in the anti-British movement. He was influenced by various political leaders from his student days and later started his political career by joining the Muslim Students Federation.
His leadership began with the East Pakistan Muslim Chhatra League, established in 1948. However, the most important moment of his political life was his historic March 7 speech on the eve of the 1971 Liberation War, in which he called for a struggle for independence. Responding to his call, the entire Bengali nation participated in the Liberation War and the country became independent on December 16.
Bangabandhu went to jail many times in his life, for waging a movement against the Pakistani government. He spent almost 13 years of his 24-year political career in jail. While he was in prison, he celebrated several of his birthdays, but he never celebrated his birthday in a special way. He would celebrate his birthday simply, but with his family cooking his favorite food and his political colleagues wishing him well.
Bangabandhu was assassinated along with his family on August 15, 1975. Even after his assassination, he will remain immortal in the history of Bangladesh because it was under his leadership that the Bengali nation was able to dream of independence and it became a reality.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s political career began at a very young age. He entered politics by joining the All India Muslim Students Federation in 1940 and was elected General Secretary of the Calcutta Islamia College Students Union in 1946. Later, on January 4, 1948, he founded the East Pakistan Muslim Student League, which was an important milestone in his political journey.
One of the most important steps in his political career was the Six-Point Movement in 1966 and the Mass Uprising in 1969. These movements brought him immense popularity among the Bengali nation, and in the 1970 elections, he became the undisputed leader of the Bengalis.
On 7 March 1971, Bangabandhu delivered a historic speech at the Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan), where he said, “This time’s struggle is our struggle for liberation, this time’s struggle is our struggle for independence.” This speech inspired the Bengali nation to fight for liberation and although he was later arrested by Pakistani troops on 25 March, Bangladesh gained independence on 16 December after a 9-month armed liberation war.
In 1972, Bangabandhu returned to the country and started working to rebuild Bangladesh. Unfortunately, however, his efforts at reconstruction did not last long. He was killed along with his family by assassins’ bullets on 15 August 1975, which is a deeply tragic event in the history of Bangladesh.
Bangabandhu was also imprisoned several times in his political career. He spent a total of 4,682 days in prison for leading the anti-Pakistan movement. He was in jail for almost 13 years of his political life, and during this time he spent 8 of his birthdays in prison. He spent his 30th (1950), 31st (1951), 39th (1959), 40th (1960), 41st (1961), 42nd (1962), 47th (1967), and 48th (1968) birthdays in jail.
Bangabandhu’s life and struggle will forever be remembered in the history of Bangladesh, and his contribution is a sign of his deep love for the nation and country.
Awami League leaders and activists held a jhatika procession in the capital on the occasion of the 105th birthday of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The procession was held from the Segunbagicha area of the capital to the front of the Income Tax Department Tax Zone-5 at around 6 am on Monday. The presence of more than fifty Awami League leaders and activists was observed.
After the procession, the leaders and activists scattered in different directions. At that time, they kept raising various slogans including ‘Happy Happy Happy Day, Bangabandhu’s Birthday’, ‘Who says there is no Mujib, Mujib is all over Bengal’, ‘One Mujib in every country, one lakh Mujib in every house’, ‘Sheikh Sheikh Sheikh Mujib, take it, take it, take it, take it, salute’, ‘Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu’.
At that time, the leaders and activists scattered in different directions.
At that time, the leaders and activists said, we were forced to hold a quick procession due to the fear of arrest by this illegal government. Thousands of our leaders and activists have been arrested across the country. We are being oppressed and tortured. However, whatever this government does, the Awami League will return very soon, God willing.
In addition, quick processions have been held in many places in Bangladesh to mark the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
