Bangladesh's Independence Day: A long way to freedom

Patriotism is the theme for the 26 of March. Many poets have taken on the subject over the years and their words, even in part, have been engrained in the minds of millions of our people. Like famed poet Walt Whitman, on this day, I hear Bangladesh is singing the varied patriotic songs. The day what belongs to the day-at night the parties of young fellows, robust, friendly are on singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs for Bangladesh.As proud flags are raised with the hoist, when fireworks are set to be ignited, and patriotic eyes become all moist; as we pledge the flag and anthems sing, and celebrate the sound of freedom's ring... Thank brave people for Independence Day! Today we celebrate independence.

 Thanks to those who came before. Those brave men who fought and died in each and every war. Freedom always comes at a price, and while we celebrate, we should tip our hats to the heroes who made our country born. Here is our honour to the builders-the builders of the past; here is our honour to the builders that built ships to last; here is our honour to the captain, and honour to the crew; and here is our double-column headlines to the ships that battled through.

Today is an auspicious day for our country because on this day, we are entering the 51 years of our Independence. Today we re-dedicate ourselves to the progress and prosperity of our nation; to the welfare of all our people; and today we salute our beloved bicolour flag. On 26 March, 1971 the independence of Bangladesh was declared and the Liberation War began.

The people of then-East Pakistan took part in this war to liberate Bangladesh from the oppression of military leaders of Pakistan. Independence for Bangladesh was gained through a nine-month civil war against the Pakistani Army, which resulted in the loss of about 3 million lives. The Freedom Fighters, with military support from India and former Soviet Union, defeated the Pakistani Army on 16 December in the same year. Thus, Bangladesh came into being.

But the people of Bangladesh discovered their identity through the Language Movement in 1952. The struggle to establish their identity and national spirit began soon after 1947, when the British left India dividing it into two countries: India and Pakistan. Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, was part of Pakistan, which was put together by combining two geographically, culturally, and linguistically separate groups of people.

The people of Bangladesh soon realised that being a part of Pakistan, which was created on the two nation theory, there was little scope for the distance culture of Bengalis to flourish. The Bangla language is the most important vehicle of the cultural expression for the people of this land. The refusal of the central government in West Pakistan to grant official status to the Bangla language became the focal point of struggle.

In the national elections of December 7, 1970, the Awami League won 160 out of 162 seats in the-then East Pakistan and would have had a clear majority in the new assembly of Pakistan. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the majority party leader of the Pakistan National Assembly. The military rulers of Pakistan refused to allow the Awami League to form a government. A flagitious conspiracy was plotted by the then Pakistani military dictator president Yahya Khan along with Pakistan's People's Party chief Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Even though a conspiracy was being planned, General Yahya Khan was careful not to let this be known.

 A full-scale movement of non-cooperation with the military government began on early March, 1971 under the able and dynamic leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Thus, Bangladesh plunged into a gory war seeking its own birth.
The Pakistan Army began their genocide by attacking the innocent Bengalis of Dhaka city and then the whole land of Bangladesh with their sophisticated weapons.

 The dwellers of Dhaka city never confronted such unimaginable cruelty. They systematically massacred thee million Bengalis and unleashed a brutal war against us to prevent our shoot for independence. But the brave people of this beloved land did not let the dream of encircled flag of red and green fall down to dust. During the nine months struggle which ensued ten million refugees fled into India.  Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was imprisoned in West Pakistan.

A Bangladesh Government in exile was established. The Bengalis started smart and courageous guerrilla warfare. At one point, India and Soviet Union also got involved in the war. The actual military campaign of India took place in December and lasted only ten days. The Indian Army launched a massive offensive against the Pakistani forces to support the Bangladesh movement. On December 16, 1971, the Pakistan army surrendered.

The Bangladesh Liberation War is a significant part of the history of the country, and lasted from 26 March 1971 until 16 December 1971. War broke out during this time between East and West Pakistan. West Pakistan became Pakistan by the end of the war, and East Pakistan is known today as Bangladesh.

 Finding a rattling ally in India and Soviet Union, Bangladesh's forces were able to drive the West Pakistani armed military and their both local and foreign mango-twigs from our territory and gain our independence as Bangladesh. But our independence came with a heavy price and uttermost sacrifice, and a story of heroism and courage that every citizen of Bangladesh should know about and feel smashing chivalric.

Every year the Government, different organisations and institutions take elaborate programmes to celebrate the day on a befitting manner. The national flag is hosted in all important offices, buildings, institutions and shops. All-important places are tastefully decorated. Meetings and seminars are held to explain the importance of the day. On this day we pay rich tributes to the memory of the day. On this day we also pay rich tributes to the memory of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the sake of our independence.

Bangladesh today has yet to exorcise the demons of 1971. Many of the anti-Islamist-evil-reactionary and anti-liberation forces in the guise of humans who collaborated with the Pakistan army and murdered countless Bengalis have established their strong and wealthy positions in the soil of Bangladesh during 15 years of military dictatorial regimes. After 1991 national polls, their mango-twigs who ruled the country have further ravaged the country to destroy the unexpended spirits of our glorious Liberation War of 1971.

Today the secular Bangladesh that was born from the ashes of 1971 is under threat. It is under threat from the same forces that helped perpetrate the genocide of 1971. The future of a secular Bangladesh hangs in the balance today. In 1971, Bangladeshis learnt the evils of both racism and religious extremism. It is a lesson we should not forget at our own peril. Many of these griffins have yet to face justice for the irremissible crimes they committed continuing at full strength or intensity.

On this Auspicious Day, let all of us remember the spirit of the Independence Day and see to establish just laws in the country to build it as a country which rightly be called "Golden Bangladesh." 26 March is the Independence Day of Bangladesh. It is a red-letter day in the history of Bangladesh. It is a public holiday. This day is observed all over the country and also all over the world. It celebrates the country's declaration of independence from Pakistan in the wee hours on 25 March 1971.

We must never forget those who sacrificed the best years of their youth, and countless others who made the ultimate sacrifice so that succeeding generations may enjoy their freedoms. We must sail to the coast of vision with deep and silent sentiment in favourable waves by the side to uphold our country's pride. With the mast of the ship like flag fluttering to reach where everyone's dreams are fulfilled with different cultures moving in same direction; for, the ship to reach the destination where people are fed with knowledge and country moves forward as its age being the one to be proud to live on and with our hopes shine.


Anwar A Khan is an independent political analyst who writes on
politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs.