Bangabandhu dreamt of secular Bangladesh

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Speakers at a meeting yesterday recalled Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with deep gratitude for his relentless efforts to turn South Asian region into a model of secularism.

“Bangabandhu wanted to establish peace across the world using humanity, tolerance, and beauty of Islam,” said Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique.

Addressing the discussion as the chief guest, he said establishment of Islamic Foundation in the war-ravaged Bangladesh amply proved love and passion of Bangabandhu, the architect of modern Bangladesh, for Islam, a religion of peace and harmony.

Islamic Foundation organised the view-exchange meeting on “Contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for Spreading Islam” at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.

Chaired by Director General of Islamic Foundation Shamim Mohammad Afzal, the meeting was addressed, among others, by eminent journalist ABM Musa, Advisory Editor of the Daily Ittefaq and Chairman of Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) Habibur Rahman Milon, and President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and Secretary General Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan also took part in the discussion.

Joint Secretary General of BFUJ and special correspondent of the Daily Amader Samoy Saiful Islam Talukder presented the keynote paper in the function.

Recalling his personal relation with Bangabandhu, journalist ABM Musa said it was Bangabandhu who bought a ship “Hizbul Bahar” to carry the hajj pilgrims soon after the country’s independence. But, he regretted that the ship was later used for smuggling, taking liquors and pleasure trips.

Journalist Habibur Rahman Milon,BFUJ President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and Secretary General Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan also spoke.

Source : BSS

Historic March 7 today

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The nation will observe the historic March 7 on Monday in a befitting manner, commemorating the fiery and soulful address of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on this day in 1971 when he made a clarion call to the people to fight against the Pakistani occupation forces to achieve the long-cherished independence.

Before a mammoth rally at the then Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) on March 7 in 1971, Bangabandhu in a virtual announcement of independence declared, “— ebarer sangram amader muktir sangram, ebarer sangram swadhinatar sangram (our struggle this time is the struggle for independence, our struggle this time is the struggle for liberation)”.

Bangabandhu, who became the undisputed leader of the then Pakistan following the massive victory of his party Awami League in the 1970 general elections, had to call upon his people to prepare for a fight when the Pakistani centrists were dilly- dallying to hand over power to the then majority party.

In the meantime, the Islamabad authorities were amassing modern arms and weapons in the then East Pakistan in a bid to resist the Bangalees who were fighting for their rightful causes since the creation of Pakistan in 1947.

Bangabandhu’s historic address on March 7 in fact mobilized the whole nation to wage an allout non-cooperation movement in the then East Pakistan, preparing for a bloody war against the Pakistani Army to achieve the independence. The whole nation, except a few pro-Pakistani elements, fought the Pakistani army for long nine months from March 25 in 1971 till achieving the ultimate victory on December 16 the same year.

Bangabandhu formally declared the independence of Bangladesh at 00-30 hours on March 26 (the night following March 25) in 1971 at his historic 32, Dhanmondi residence here. He was immediately arrested by the Pakistani authorities after declaration of the independence. Later, Bangabandhu was taken to the then West Pakistan where he had to spend long nine months in a dark condemned cell of a Pakistani jail.

President M Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in their separate messages on the occasion stressed the need for upholding the true spirit of the country’s hard-earned independence and sovereignty being imbued with the spirit of the Father of the Nation’s historic March 7 address.

The address of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) on March 7, 1971, motivated the people highly and inspired them to the War of Liberation, they said.

The President and the Prime Minister said Bangabandhu’s proclamation of independence of the country on March 26, 1971, the Charter of Emancipation of the Bengali nation, was continuation of his March 7 address.

The day is historic and memorable and it would ever be remembered by the Bengali nation, they said. They also expressed firm belief that Bangabandhu’s March 7 address would remain as a source of inspiration for the nation for ever.

Bangladesh Awami League has drawn up elaborate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner. The day’s progarmmes will begin with hoisting of national and party flags at Bangabandhu Bhaban and central office of the party at 6.30 am. It will be followed by placing wreaths at the portrait of the Father of the Nation in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban at 7 am.

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will address as the chief guest a discussion organized by her party at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 3 pm.

Different associate organizations of the party including Mohila Awami League, Awami Jubo League, Jubo Mohila League, Krishak League, Chhatra League, Sramik League, Sechchhasebak League and Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote and different socio- cultural organizations have also chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion.

Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private TV and radio stations will air special programmes, while national dailies will publish articles highlighting the significance of the day. Besides, Bangabandhu’s March 7 address and the inspirational patriotic songs of the War of Liberation will be played across the country.

News Source: BNN

‘March 7 speech one of the best in world’

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DHAKA, March 7 (BSS) – Mass communication experts and psychologists said a perfect match of people’s desire and incredible manifestation of modern communication concepts made Bangabandhu’s March 7, 1971 speech one of the world’s most notable addresses.

“A lucid and detailed explanation about the events unfolding at the time made this speech withstand the test of logic for all times to come . . .(it) was not only the greatest speech in Bengali language, it is one of the best in the entire world,” Dhaka University vice chancellor Professor Arefin Siddiqui said as the nation recalled the address delivered on this day 41 years ago.

He said Bangabandhu completed his timeless speech in 19 minutes by uttering between 58 and 60 words per minute while in broadcasting theory, 60 words per minute is considered to be an ideal.
“There were no annoying repetitions in the speech of 1,107  words. There were no unnecessary articulations – only the gist or  core points. However, repetition at one or two places had reinforced the inner meaning of the speech . . . this was an amazing event in the context of theoretical application of communication science,” he said.

His comments came as BSS sought to analyse the address from the perspective of mass communication science and psychology coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the event.

Siddiqui said the Bangabandhu quite adeptly adopted a conversational style while delivering this speech in order to attract the audience and he raised questions at different stages of the speech and the ‘speech idioms’ appropriate for mass communication were correctly applied in this address.

“The fluent and extempore speech delivered in a lucid language and style was the principal document of our liberty . . . It was a dialogue between the people of Bangladesh and their undisputed leader on the eve of Bangladesh’s birth,” said the professor of mass communication of Dhaka University.

He said according to communication theorists the audience orientation and recent happenings should be highlighted in the opening words and “this reference to the audience found marvelous  expression in his epoch- making speech”.

“It was possible for Bangabandhu alone to deliver such an  ostentatious, direction giving, poetic speech without any break  and without taking any help from notes while standing in the middle of a sea of people. That is why, the international periodical ‘Newsweek’ termed Bangabandhu as a ‘Poet of Politics’ in the cover story of its 5 April 1971 issue,” Siddiqui recalled.

Professor of psychology Dr Azizur Rahman of Dhaka University said the political events since 1952 had largely set the people’s mind while the nationalist movement under Bangabandhu’s leadership largely set the stage for the historic speech.

“The language of the speech was easy and lucid . . . it was  well thought-out, organized and logical . . . this was an incomparable speech in the world history,” he said.

Professor of contemporary history Dr Anwar Hossain said the  colloquial words Bangabandhu used in his speech created a bridge  between him and his audience

He used body language raising his forefinger, colloquial words evading the pure accent to be connected with the people . . . The speech of only 19 minutes was a superb specimen of his statesmanship,” Hossain said.

Remembering 7th March of 1971

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Seminar on Speech Made by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 7th March 1971 A seminar was held on March 5, 2005 under the auspices of ‘Jatir Janak Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust’ at the auditorium of Institute of Engineers packed to its full capacity at 4 p.m. Three hour long seminar, participated by leading intellectuals of the country, was presided over by AL Chief Jananetri, as she is dearly called by her followers, Mrs. Sheikh Hasina, president of the memorial trust. The keynote article entitled “Bangabandhur Satoi Marcher Bhasan : Amar Aniyata Bhabna” (The 7th March Speech of Bangabandhu: My random thoughts) was presented by Professor Dr. Ajoy Roy, a physicist and our MM member. The discussants included Historian Prof. A. F. Salahuddin Ahmed, educationist Prof. Mustafa Nurul Islam, Mr. Ashrafuzzaman Khan, a nanogerian Director General (retd) of Bangladesh Radio, freedom fighter Major (retd) Rafiqul Islam, BU, Dr. Abul Barkat, professor of economics of DU, and Prof. Momtaz Latif. With non stop applause and vibrating slogans, the daughter of Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina entered the Hall right at 3-55 p.m. The proceedings of the seminar started immediately.

The 25-minutes duration article presented by Professor Roy set the tune of the proceedings and mood of the audience; it was presented with eloquence, emotion and solemnity demanded by the occasion- but based on facts and information and punched with recitation from the parts of historic speech of Bangabandhu delivered on March 7, 1971 in presence of not less than one million people of all cross-section of the society whom we call ‘mass’. He
stressed that speech delivered at the race course was a finest example of extempore speech ever delivered by a national leader made before an emotionally chocked mass of not less than one million. The speech emanated from the core of his heart for his people whom he loved so much. The speaker ended his with a quotation “Ekti Bangladesh, Tumi Jagrata Janatar Ekti Bangladesh, Tumi Jagrata Bismoy”

As the author finished his speech, he was greeted with non-stop applause from the emotionally chocked audience. Each of the discussants dealt some aspect of the historic speech of 7th March form different angle. As for example Prof. Barkat of economics department stressed that by the term emancipation (Mukti) in his last but most important sentence of his speech Bangabandhu meant the economic self reliance for the common men. And this could not be achieved unless the East Pakistan attained political freedom from the West Pakistani economic oppressor.

Taking part in the discussion Major (retd) Rafiqul Islam said that he took the historic speech as ‘go ahead signal’ foe all out war against Pakistani occupation. And started the war of independence when moment came- not waiting for any other call from another major. Mr. Ashrafuzzaman Khna narrated the dramatic situation when the military people surrounded the Radio broadcasting station just 10 minutes before Bangabandhu arriving at the race course. As the leader proceeded toward the microphone, the army officers ordered the radio staff not to broadcast the speech of Bangabandhu directly. Fortunately however the entire speech was tape recorded at the race course by the technicians of the Dhaka Radio station. This recorded speech was broadcast on the following day from all radio stations throughout East Pakistan. So the message of independence spread just like fire. Crores of Bengalis heard Bangabandhu clarinet call “Ebarer Sngram Amader Muktir Sabgram, Ebarer sangram Swadhinatar Sangram”

(Present struggle- struggle for our emancipation, Present struggle- struggle for independence). Mr. Khan recalled that when he informed Sheikh Mujib that his speech would be broadcast at 8-30 a.m. on March 8, he invited Mr. Khan to come to his residence so that they together listen the historic speech. And they did with Begum Mujib and other inmates of the family.

Professor Mustafa Nurul Islam evaluated the speech of Bangabandhu as one of the greatest speech ever delivered by a national leader- probably it would top the list as this speech won us the independence- a free Bangladesh. The learned professor said that at this critical hour when evil forces are engulfing Bangladesh the young generation must draw its inspiration from the speech of 7th March.

Thanking Prof. Roy, the main author of the theme of the seminar for his beautiful presentation punched with facts and figures, and other participants, the president of the seminar Sheikh Hasina winded up the discussion. In her concluding speech she urged upon the youth to be united with the spirit in which Bangabandhu urged and inspired the then youths on 7th March 34 years back to face the evil forces. Similarly the present evil forces must be met with the spirit of 7th March of seventy one, and this must be done unitedly with all forces believing in spirit of war of liberation, democracy, secularism and Bengali nationalism. Referring to the spread of terrorist fundamentalism she asked the government to arrest two Jamati ministers in the government in order to get true information about the terrorists and terrorism.

Covering Bangabandhu’s 7 March speech

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Only a few reporters get the rare opportunity of covering a historic event that reshapes history and leads a nation towards freedom and I am proud of being one of them. Because, I had the privilege of covering the 7 March address of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the then Race Course Ground in 1971.

Long 40 years have elapsed since 7 March 1971, but the whole scenario including the mammoth gathering of freedom loving people and the epoch-making address by the Bangabandhu, the poet of politics, are still fresh in my mind. I consider it as the most glorious success of my life as a journalist that I had the opportunity to cover Bangabandhu’s 7 March address which is compared by many with the Gettysburg address of Abraham Linkon.

I was then a senior staff reporter of the daily Ittefaq, attached to Bangabandhu for covering the political developments. As usual I was assigned to cover the 7 March speech of Bangabndhu. Much before his address was delivered, the whole Race Course, now Suhrawardy Udyan turned into a human sea. I still wonder, how about one million people of all ages and from all parts of the country, many carrying ‘lathis and baithas’ in hands and all chanting thunderous slogans of ‘Joy Bangla,’ and ‘Joy Bangabandhu’ had gathered in the Race Course Ground that day. It seemed to us that only a small number of people of Dhaka, then a small city, stayed back in their homes that day.

The historic rally at Race Course Ground was held in the backdrop of a volatile political situation. Awami League led by Bangabandhu won a landslide victory in the December polls to the Pakistan National Assembly. But soon it became clear that the military rulers led by General Yahya Khan and beefed up by Z. A. Bhutto were unwilling to transfer power. Yahya had convened the opening session of National Assembly in Dhaka on 3 March 1971. But in a sudden radio broadcast on 1 March he postponed the scheduled Assembly session sparking the eruption of vehement public protests across Bangladesh against his decision.

Amid angry slogans by people on the streets for independence, Bangabandhu gave a call for launching people’s movement. Students on 2 March hoisted the first flag of Independent Bangladesh on the Dhaka University campus. On the following day, Swadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad read out the Manifesto of Independence at a Paltan meeting.

Then amid continued hartal and movement on the streets came the unforgettable 7 March 1971. I had the opportunity to cover about 150 public meetings of Bangabandhu across the country before and after the 1970 elections. But never before I had seen Bangabandhu in such a revolutionary appearance as on 7 March. In my opinion history allows a great leader to appear in such revolutionary image and with such decisive address only once in a lifetime. And for Bangabandhu the day was 7 March and the address was the one delivered on that day.

Bangabandhu in his address narrated the stories of deprivation of and repression on the People of Bangladesh and urged the people to turn every house into a fort and get ready with whatever is available to fight the enemy. He vowed, “As we have shed blood, we would give more blood, but must we liberate the people of Bangladesh”. As the elected leader of 75 million people Bangabandhu declared amid thunderous applauses of the people, “The struggle this time is for emancipation, the struggle this time is for liberation”.

Bangabandhu in his address tactfully stopped short of making unilateral declaration of independence in order to avert a possible massacre of the people starting from Race Course that very day. He took time and left the avenue open for eventual ‘talks’ only on strategic ground. This showed another aspect of Bangabandhu’s prudence, political sagacity and love for his people.

Bangabandhu’s 7 March address gave the nation the guideline for armed struggle for liberation. And from that point of view 7 March address was the informal declaration of independence which was given the final shape by him in the early hours of 26 March, 1971.

Author : Amir Hossain,. The writer is a Joint Editor, daily sun.