March renews calls to thwart evil forces

March is the month of bloodshed and rising of Bengali nation like sparks of fire against the Pakistani occupation forces. The ultimate struggle for independence began on this month. March was a quite eventful month in 1971. After achieving the rights of mother language in 1952, Six Points in '66 and Mass Upsurge in '69, the country was heading towards independence and it was felt obvious in the month of March.

The Bengali nation established resistance against the occupation forces of Pakistan in this month. The Bangalees were dreaming of independence throughout the month of March. On March 1, the then president Yahya Khan, in a radio speech, postponed the inaugural session of the National Assembly scheduled to be held on March 3. The entire country rose up in protest of the announcement. In the face of student's demand, the architect of independence, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announced an all-out hartal (strike) for March 2 and 3 and a rally on March 7 at the Race Course Maidan, now Suhrawardy Udyan.

On March 7 in 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his forceful, inspiring speech at the Race Course Maidan. In a thunderous voice, Bangabandhu declared, "Ebarer Sangram Amader Muktir Sangram, Ebarer Sangram Swadhinatar Sangram" (The struggle this time is for our emancipation, the struggle this time is for independence). He also told all Bangalees to be ready with whatever they had.

Bangalees, who were eagerly waiting for the nation's independence, fighting against Pakistan's long-term exploitation, torture and discrimination, imbued with their leader's directives of 7 March, started taking preparation. The Pakistani rulers kept showing excuses to hand over power to the elected representatives and wasting time in name of discussions with the leader of the majority party Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

On the fateful night of March 25 in 1971, the Pakistani military junta launched the “Operation Searchlight” and mercilessly killed the Bangalee members of East Pakistan Rifles and police, students and teachers as well as thousands of common people in Dhaka city. In the wake of the Pak army action, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence of Bangladesh through EPR wireless at 00-30 hours on March 26 (the night following March 25) in 1971 from his Road-32 residence at Dhanmondi in Dhaka, just before his arrest.

Following the declaration, the whole nation, except a few pro-Pakistani elements, joined the War of Liberation. Bangalees fought the 9-month long liberation war and ultimately Bangladesh was freed from the Pakistani occupation forces on December 16 in 1971 with the cost of three millions lives and the honours of numberless women.

Every year, March shows us new paths as a token against torture, persecution and oppression. However, the black shadow of terrorism and militancy is being spread throughout the country for the resurrection of the defeated forces of the Liberation War and negative politics. We have to take the country forward and establish it as Sonar Bangla by thwarting these evil forces and uprooting them from the soil of Bangladesh.

risingbd/DHAKA/Mar 2, 2017/Ali Nowsher/Augustin Sujan