Sajjad Hossain Sabuj
The year has come to an end, and one of the most historic days in the history of the Bengali nation is March 17, the day when the great architect of independence, the greatest Bengali of all time and the undisputed leader of the exploited and deprived people of the world, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was born. Today is the 106th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On this day in 1920, this great hero of Bangladesh’s independence was born in a noble Muslim family in Tungipara, Gopalganj district.
The 106th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is being celebrated in Bangladesh for the second time in a hostile political environment after the Awami League government was toppled through meticulous design or conspiracy by both domestic and foreign forces on August 5, 2024. This day has been celebrated as National Children’s Day across the country since 2009. But after assuming power on August 8, 2024, the interim government canceled this celebration. After the so-called anti-discrimination student movement in July 2024, Bangabandhu’s daughter and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to leave the country on August 5, and then on August 8, the interim government under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Yunus took power. Later, for the second time, the darkness of inhumanity descended on the life of the nation, which still continues. The Bengali nation witnessed this darkness once again after Bangabandhu and his family were killed on August 15, 1975. After August 5, 2024, hundreds of Awami League leaders and activists were killed, imprisoned, sued and subjected to extreme torture. All the top leaders of the opposition party were filled with jails. The entire country turned into a prison. Thousands of leaders and activists left their homes and countries and were forced to take refuge in various countries including India, Nepal, the UK and the US. All the symbols of the Liberation War, including the number 32, known as the cradle of all the country’s movements and struggles, were mixed with the ground. All the sculptures of Bangabandhu were thrown over. The activities of the Awami League, Chhatra League and other organs and associate organizations were banned.
Although there is a different and hostile environment prevailing in the country at present, there is no doubt that billions of Bengalis around the world will remember Bangabandhu with respect and love. Examples of this are already being seen on social media. Millions of people, regardless of party affiliation, have paid tribute to Bangabandhu on the eve of his birthday and made various posts. It can be said that social media, especially Facebook, is full of pictures of Bangabandhu and extraordinary pictures, analyses and comments posted on him by different people. Special discussion programs have been organized on him on talk shows and YouTube.
Even after 75, the same situation was created. For 21 long years, his birth and martyrdom anniversaries were not allowed to be celebrated, and his historic March 7 speech was banned. The new generation was deprived of knowing the correct history of the freedom struggle and the liberation war. They were presented with a distorted history of independence. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started his political career in 1940 by joining the All India Muslim Students Federation. In 1946, he was elected the general secretary of the Calcutta Islamia College (now Maulana Azad College) students’ union. In 1949, he was elected joint secretary of the then East Pakistan branch of the Awami Muslim League. In 1953, he was elected general secretary of the party and in 1954, he was elected a member of the East Bengal Legislative Assembly on the ticket of the United Front.
This undisputed leader, who was vocal throughout his life for the rights of the Bengali nation for taking a stand for justice, had to be imprisoned many times in his political life. He led every democratic and freedom movement, including the 1952 Language Movement, the 1954 United Front elections, the 1958 anti-military rule movement, the 6-point and later 11-point movements of 1966 and the 1969 mass uprising, and was given the title Bangabandhu. Under his courageous and far-sighted leadership, the Bengali nation gradually began to prepare for the independence movement. Although the Awami League achieved an absolute victory in the 1970 general elections, the then Pakistani military junta did not hand over power but began various oppressions on the Bengali nation. Bangabandhu called for a struggle for independence in his historic March 7 speech of 1971.
This has been recognized as a world heritage through its inclusion in the UNESCO International Memory of the World Register. On the other hand, on March 26 (midnight of March 25), he officially declared the independence of Bangladesh and the Liberation War began under his leadership in 1971. Through a nine-month bloody war, the much-desired victory and independence of the Bengalis were achieved. He was awarded the Julio Curie Medal by the World Peace Council for his contribution to the unceasing struggle for equality, friendship, independence, democracy and world peace. In a BBC survey, he was elected the greatest Bengali of all time. When Bangabandhu started taking various initiatives to achieve the economic liberation of the people of war-torn independent Bangladesh, at the very moment when the defeated forces in the war of independence and the vested interests started a heinous conspiracy against him and as part of that conspiracy,
he was killed along with most of his family members by some army officers at his residence in Dhanmondi on August 15, 1975. In the eyes of the world media, Bangabandhu was a man born in a short time. This unique leader was also called the ‘symbol of freedom’ or the ‘rhythmmaker of politics’. Foreign admirers, staunch critics and even enemies praised him in their own languages. The late Fidel Castro, the legendary Cuban revolutionary leader of the 20th century, compared Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the Himalayas. Former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadir Gama, while evaluating this great leader of Bangladesh, said, ‘South Asia has gifted the world many teachers, philosophers, skilled statesmen, political leaders and warriors in the last few centuries. But, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman surpasses all, his place is fixed at the highest seat of all time. ‘Bangabandhu was a leader of the people and made the highest sacrifice in their service. The title Bangabandhu given to him reflects the deep love of the people of the country for this patriotic leader.’ Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee wrote such a comment in the comment book after visiting the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum on Road No. 32, Dhanmondi,
on March 4, 2013. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in the comment book that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led his people in the freedom struggle through his inspiring and infinitely courageous leadership. Indian National Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said, ‘I pay tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a visionary leader and statesman. He fought for freedom with unwavering courage, ignoring adversities and adverse conditions.’ West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum during her visit to Bangladesh. During this time,
she wrote in the comment book that Bangabandhu is a burning inspiration in the minds of every freedom-loving, mother tongue-respecting person in the subcontinent. He is the chief commander of the Liberation War, the architect and father of the independent People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Mamata said, Bangabandhu has brought the Bengali language to one of the greatest status on the world stage. He is that rare leader whom all people, regardless of religion, bow down to and are blessed. Although the then West Pakistani military leadership portrayed Bangabandhu as a ‘traitor’, history confirms his true position when his one-time arch-enemy called him a ‘great patriot’. Major General Tozammel Hossain Malik, a former Pakistani (Balochistan) officer who participated in the war against the freedom fighters in 1971, later wrote in his memoirs, ‘In fact, Mujib was not a traitor (although he was portrayed that way in Pakistan). He was a great patriot for his people.’
Another army officer, Major Siddique Salik, spokesperson of the then Pakistani junta, recalled Bangabandhu’s historic and epoch-making March 7 speech with great respect. Salik writes in his book, ‘After Bangabandhu’s speech at the Racecourse Maidan, a crowd of people headed home. They looked as if they were coming out of a mosque or church after hearing the hopeful message.
On the dark night of August 15, 1975, the great architect of independence, the greatest Bengali of all time and the undisputed leader of the exploited and deprived people of the world, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was killed along with his family at the historic house number 32 by a few unruly members of the army with the direct support of the anti-independence forces. Due to his tragic murder, the sun of Bengal’s independence set once again after the Battle of Palashi. Along with this, the peace, development and progress of the country were halted. The murderous Mushtaq clique took Bangladesh back to its pre-independence state. The anti-independence Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams and the war criminals of 71 came to power in a flash.
By issuing the infamous Immunity Ordinance, they blocked the path to the trial of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of August 15. For almost 21 years, a kind of dictatorial regime prevailed in the country in military-civilian guise. This austerity continued until the Awami League came to power again in 1996. During this time, the mention of Bangabandhu’s name was banned on state television and radio. Countless leaders and activists of the Awami League were killed and maimed. Thousands of dedicated leaders and activists of Mujib’s ideology had to spend years in prison. After returning to the country on May 17, 1981, Bangabandhu’s worthy daughter Sheikh Hasina again organized the party leaders and activists and started a movement to restore democracy in the country.
After a long 21-year movement and struggle and the sacrifices of countless leaders and activists, democracy returned to the country. On June 12, 1996, after fair and impartial elections under the caretaker government, the Awami League, which led the liberation war, came to power again. After coming to power, Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina took many groundbreaking steps to bring smiles to the faces of the exploited and deprived people of the country. As a result, the country started its journey on the path of development again. In addition, various initiatives were taken to highlight Bangabandhu’s unforgettable contribution to the great Liberation War, the country’s independence struggle and the language movement in front of students and the young generation. Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 speech began to be broadcast on television and radio and other media.
Through this, the correct history of the Liberation War and the unforgettable contribution of the Father of the Nation to the freedom struggle were re-established in its own glory to the new generation and the general public of the country. The attempts of military-civilian dictators to erase the correct history of the Liberation War and the unforgettable contribution of Bangabandhu to the freedom struggle failed. This has once again proven that no one can erase history. The correct history will be revealed to the people one day or another. As long as this world survives and the Bengali nation survives, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib will remain forever awake in the hearts of billions of people around the world, including Bangladesh, for his immortal feats.
Bangabandhu, sacrificing all his happiness and sorrows, fought his whole life for the much-desired independence of the country and for bringing smiles to the faces of the exploited, deprived and neglected people, and spent 14 long years in jail. His great sacrifice for independence and the people will forever be written in golden letters in the history of the Bengali nation.
This is why the renowned poet of the subcontinent, Annadashankar Roy, has composed a poem in homage to Bangabandhu and has written—“As long as the Padma, Meghna, Gauri and Jamuna flow, your glory, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will live.” Bangabandhu, the Bengali language, the Bengali nation and the independence of Bangladesh are one and inseparable and are woven from the same thread. No one can ever separate one from the other, nor is it possible. After Bangladesh became independent, there have been many attempts and attempts to erase the great struggle, sacrifice and contribution of Bangabandhu. But the Bengali nation has repeatedly thwarted those attempts and attempts by offering deep and boundless respect and love to him.
National poet Kazi Nazrul Islam wrote in his famous poem “Shakhi Tulir Bal” – “As often as you kill me, I will be born again, I will become a great sun, I will write a new history”. Based on the great similarity between this line of the poem and Bangabandhu’s great struggle and sacrifice, it can be said that even if Bangabandhu is killed, no one can ever erase his ideals and dreams from this world. This is an established truth.
Bangabandhu means Bangladesh. He is not the sole asset of any party, this asset belongs to the entire Bengali nation. Denying him means denying the Bengali nation, the independence and history of Bangladesh. Paying homage to him means paying homage to the Bengali nation and independence. So, on this birthday of the Father of the Nation, let us all pay humble homage to him and take a new oath to realize the dream of establishing a happy, prosperous and poverty-free Sonar Bangla that he had.
The author is a senior journalist and former press minister at the Bangladesh Embassy in the United States.
@119271694856236 এটাও পোস্ট করবে । সবুজ ভাইয়ের লেখা ।
