POBNEWS24 Desk Report, Dhaka Mar 7, 2021 :Today is the historic 7th of March. On this day in 1971, 50 years ago, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman enchanted the Bengali nation with a 19-minute magical speech at the Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan). Then came the armed liberation war, 9 months of fighting and independence.
According to political experts, the idea that one could no longer stay with the West Pakistanis was established in the minds of Bengalis before March 7. As a result, our people were looking for a solution in independence. The question was, how will that freedom be achieved? On 7 March, standing in a huge crowd, Bangabandhu outlined the freedom struggle for the first time. In this speech, besides calling on the nation to jump into the liberation struggle, there was also direction.
On that day Bangabandhu said, ‘This time the struggle is for our liberation, this time the struggle is for freedom.’ On this day, in the presence of millions of freedom-loving people, Bangabandhu thunderously declared, ‘When I have given blood, I will give more blood, I will set the people of this country free, God willing.’
All state and political programs have been cut for over a year due to the corona infection. That is why there is no public gathering in the program of March 7. Various departments of the government will celebrate the day. The Awami League will hold a two-day program.
That speech of Bangabandhu is always something special to the Bengali nation. In 2016, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the speech as a document of world history. The organization also includes Bangabandhu’s speech on March 7 among 6 historical and important documents, documents and speeches of the world.
On March 7, 1971, the then government of Pakistan did not allow the historic speech of the Father of the Nation to be broadcast live. But the next day it was published in various newspapers. On March 7, Bangabandhu came on stage at 3:20 pm. As soon as he got up on the stage, he waved to the crowd. Then the whole Suhrawardy Udyan resounded in the voices of millions of Bengalis, ‘Your country is my country, Bangladesh is Bangladesh, your leader is my leader Sheikh Mujib, Sheikh Mujib.’ Bangabandhu began his speech in a low voice, ‘My brothers, today I have appeared before you with a sad heart ….’
In 1970, the Awami League won a landslide victory in the National Assembly elections in Pakistan. But the military ruling class did not hand over power to the Awami League and the Bengalis but engaged in various conspiracies. In response, angry Bengalis took to the streets. Bangabandhu delivered his speech on 7 March at the final stage of the foundation of Bengali nationalism, sense of nationalism and nation-building that was laid through 24 years of struggle against the state of Pakistan. Bengalis of all walks of life, including students, farmers and workers, find new inspiration. Following this, on 16 December 1971, the Bengali nation snatched victory. Independent sovereign Bangladesh was born on the world map.
Highlighting the significance of the day, the President said.
Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have given separate statements.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid said that Bangabandhu’s speech on March 7 was one of the most time-honored speeches in the world. That speech was a great mantra to break the chains of subjugation and plunge the freedom-loving people into war.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the heroic struggle of the Bengalis and the direction of the speech of the Father of the Nation in the armed liberation war was the keynote of the thunderous national unity at that time. This historic speech was the source of immense energy in the freedom struggle of Bangladesh.
Program
On the occasion of the day, the Awami League will hoist the national and party flags at Bangabandhu Bhaban and party office at 6.30 am on Sunday and pay homage to the portrait of Bangabandhu at Bangabandhu Bhaban premises at 9 am. A discussion meeting will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center on Monday at 3 pm. Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside. He will give a virtual speech.
