Month of independence begins today

Staff Correspondent: March, the month of English calendar year, has much significance to the `Bangalee` nation, has begun.

The historical month of independence begins today when the nation will be observing the 46th anniversary of independence on the 26th March paying the highest homage to the war heroes who made Bangladesh a sovereign state.

March is depicted in the country's history as a month of grief as well as inspiration and dedication for the freedom of the country and the people.

Amid deteriorating political situation and increasing demand for freedom of the country from Pakistan's misrule, the first version of Bangladesh's national flag was hoisted at Dhaka University for the first time on March 2 by the Dhaka University Students' Union.

The formal struggle for independence began this month after Bangabandhu`s 7th-March historic speech and the massacre of Bangalees by Pakistani forces at the dark night of 25 March 1971.

In this month, the Banglalee nation received a clear guideline and framework for independence from Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who delivered the historic speech at Race Course ground (now Suhrawardy Uddyan), urging the Bangalees to get prepared to fight for achieving emancipation, if need be, through armed struggle.

During his speech, Bangabandhu told the sea of people at Race Course, "This struggle is for our freedom. This struggle is for our independence". He also announced the civil disobedience with the call for "turning every house into a fortress".

The Bengali people were inspired to prepare for a potential war of independence amid widespread reports of armed mobilization by Pakistani junta.

The war eventually began 18 days later, when Pakistani Army launched "Operation Searchlight" against Bangalee civilians, intelligentsia, students, politicians and armed personnel at the dark night of March 25, 1971. The Pakistani occupation force arrested Bangabandhu at early hours of that night and he was sent to Pakistan jail in the next couple of days.



Risingbd/Dhaka/March 1, 2017/Mukul