Bangladesh Would Not Have Been Created If Bangabandhu Was Not Born

 

An emblem of Bangladesh liberation, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman played a pivotal role in the Bangladeshi independence movement freeing the people of East Pakistan from West Pakistan’s oppression. Dubbed “Father of the Nation” for his pivotal role in the Bangladeshi independence movement, he is revered around the world with the honorific title of “Bangabandhu” (“Friend of Bengal”). His 104th birth anniversary is being celebrated today.

Born on 17 March 1920, Mujib became a folk hero in Bangladesh, and his name became imprinted in the popular consciousness of its people quite early in his life. By the time he was elected a member of the East Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1953 from the constituency of Gopalganj, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had become legendary in his part of Bengal for his capacity to work tirelessly for Bengalis and their mother tongue, Bangla.

He had endeared himself to his people by then and subsequently by his capacity to protest against injustice and the discriminatory policies of West Pakistani leaders, enduring seemingly endless jail terms. Through the 1950s and 60s spearheaded the “Six Points Movement” for autonomy for East Pakistanis, Agartala case, Eleven Points movement of the students he endured years of imprisonment, until mass agitation to achieve autonomy forced the Pakistani authorities to concede to elections and release him as their undisputed champion.

In the end of the speech he declared independence indirectly mentioning the fighting spirits and heroic nature of the Bangalees, “Remember: Since we have already had to shed blood, we"ll have to shed a lot more of it; by the grace of God, however, we"ll be able to liberate the people of this land. The struggle this is a struggle for freedom—the struggle this time is a struggle for emancipation.” On 30 October 2017, UNESCO recognized Mujib’s 7 March Speech as part of the world’s documentary heritage.

West Pakistan’s leadership declared martial law, banned the Awami League and ordered the Pakistan Army to arrest Mujib and other Bengali leaders and activists. Yahya Khan’s Army launched Operation Searchlight to curb the political and civil unrest.

On 26 March, even as the army began its brutal crackdown, in a radio broadcast Mujib asked his fellows to create resistance against the Army occupation, “Pakistan Army have suddenly attacked the Pilkhana EPR Headquarter and the Rajarbagh Police Lines as well as killed many innocents in Dhaka… I am asking help to all the nations of this world. Our freedom fighters are valiantly fighting against the foes to save their motherland. In the name of Almighty Allah my last request and order to you all is to fight for independence till death. Ask your brothers of Police, EPR, Bengal Regiment and Ansar to fight with you. No compromise, the victory is ours. Execute the last foe from our holy motherland. Carry my message to all the leaders, activists and the other patriots from every corner of the country. May Allah bless you all. Joy Bangla.”

Mujib was arrested without charges and taken to West Pakistan after midnight and despite international pressure, the Pakistani government refused to release or negotiate with him.

Following Indian intervention in December, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Pakistani Army surrendered to the joint force of Bengali Mukti Bahini and the Indian Army, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto responded to international pressure and released Mujib on 8 January 1972.

The philosophical position of Bangabandhu is known as Mujibvada and consists of four core principles of democracy, socialism, secularism and nationalism. Throughout his political life, he propagated these principles and gave them an institutional form by incorporating those principles in the constitution of Bangladesh.

When he was assassinated by renegade army men and malcontents of his own party on August 15, 1975, successive military governments tried to blot out his image publically. Following his death, succeeding governments offered low-key commemorations of Mujib, and his public image was restored only with the election of an Awami League government led by his daughter Sheikh Hasina in 1996. But their machinations to erase him from the minds of his people failed miserably.

Bangabandhu cherished the dream of independent and self-reliant Bangladesh all his life which his capable daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working hard to achieve. Bangladesh would not have been created if Bangabandhu was not born.

Bangabandhu’s capable daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is walking on the path of development, progress and prosperity by facing various domestic and foreign challenges. She is making relentless efforts to build a progressive, democratic and non-communal Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty. The government is working to successfully implement four foundations to build a smart Bangladesh. These are Smart Citizens, Smart Economy, Smart Government, and Smart Society. Apart from this, the plan of how the delta will be in the year 2100 has been undertaken.

All work in Smart Bangladesh will be done through technology. Where every citizen will be proficient in using technology. Smart Bangladesh of 2041 will be a cost-effective, sustainable, intellectual, knowledge-based and innovative Bangladesh. We always promise to build the country in the spirit of the liberation war, we talk about the realization of Bangabandhu's dream, but the new generation has to understand, what is the nation building in the spirit of the liberation war. Bangabandhu's dream was to build a corruption-free country. Building a non-discrimination society in a non-communal spirit. Ensuring food, clothing, shelter, education, and medical care for all. The spirit of the liberation war, the spirit of the freedom fighters should be inculcated in the hearts of these young children. With their hands, this country will one day become a corruption-free, violence-free, discrimination-free Bangabandhu's Golden Bengal.


Erina Haque is a columnist and a
human rights activist.