Sheikh Mujib is another name of Bangladesh

Mostafijur Rahman Nasim: The 7th March Speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a speech that redesigned Bangladesh history completely. Through the speech the people of the country had got the final directive and an indomitable inspiration to fight for the liberation war against the Pakistan military rule.

The dynamic speech of Bangabandhu encouraged people of all walks of life to prepare for the war that the Pakistani regime would launch on the unarmed Bangalees on March 26 midnight, committing one of the worst genocides in the history of the world that occurred the next nine months.

On March 7, 1971, shortly before his arrest on the black night of March 25, the Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujib in his fiery and confident speech called on the freedom-loving Bangalees to wage a decisive struggle against the Pakistan tyranny.

On this day, Bangabandhu proclaimed in a thunderous voice at a mammoth rally at the Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) in Dhaka that “Ebarer sangram amader muktir sangram, ebarer sangram swadhinatar sangram (This struggle is for our emancipation, this struggle is for independence)”.

Bangabandhu spoke at a time of increasing tensions between then East Pakistan and the powerful political and military establishment of West Pakistan. The Bangalee people were inspired to prepare for a potential war of independence, amid widespread reports of armed mobilization by West Pakistan.

During the speech, Sheikh Mujib also announced the civil disobedience movement in the province, calling for "every house to turn into a fortress".

Following the Bangabandhu`s declaration, people across the country- from the capital Dhaka to remote villages- continued to raise slogans like: `Sab Kother Shesh Koth Bangladesher Swadhinata` and `Bir Bangalee Astro Dhoro, Bangladesh Mukto Koro`. Against this backdrop, President Yahya Khan came to Dhaka on 15 March to hold talks with Bangabandhu on the country`s political crisis.

In fact, the events that followed made it clear that his move for talks was just a ploy to confuse the people and buy time to finalise preparations for launching a brutal assault on the Bangalees.

Sheikh Mujib-Yahya meeting started the next day - March 16 and continued in several sessions. But the meeting failed to yield any positive outcome. And finally Bangalee nation took up arms for liberation as Bangabandhu had asked them to get prepared for.

The war eventually began 18 days later from the historic 7th March speech, when the Pakistan Army launched `Operation Searchlight` against Bengali civilians, intelligentsia, students, politicians and armed personnel.

It is worth to be mentioned here that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s historic March 7, 1971 speech that effectively declared Bangladesh’s independence has been selected as one of the most rousing and inspirational wartime speeches in the last 2,500 years.

Early life of Mujib:
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born in the village of Tungipara, Gopalganj district. He was the third child of Sheikh Lutfar Rahman and Sayera Khatun.

Sheikh Mujib had one brother, Sheikh Naser, and four sisters and his parents used to call him "khoka" (little boy) out of affection.

When he was seven years old Sheikh Mujib began his schooling at Gimadanga Primary School, and two years later was entered into `Class Three` at Gopalganj Public School. However, he survived a severe infection at an early age that had left him with a weakened heart.

In 1931, he entered Class Four at Madaripur Islamia High School, but the teenager had to be withdrawn from school in 1934, aged 14, to undergo eye surgery on one of his eye or risk becoming blind. He was admitted to Calcutta Medical College Hospital for the emergency eye operation.

Sheikh Mujib`s Political life:
As a student political leader, Mujib rose in Bengali politics and within the ranks of the Awami League. An advocate of socialism, he became popular for his opposition to the ethnic and institutional discrimination against Bengalis, who comprised the majority of Pakistan`s population. He demanded increased provincial autonomy, and strongly opposed the military rule of Field Marshal Ayub Khan.

A war against the birth of Bangladesh had been started on March 25 night and he was arrested by the Pakistan Army in the early hours of Operation Searchlight.

He joined the Bengal Muslim League in 1943. During this period, Mujib worked actively for the League`s cause of a separate Muslim state of Pakistan, and in 1946 he went on to became general secretary of the Islamia College Students Union.

Mujib left the Muslim League to join Suhrawardy and Maulana Bhashani in the formation of the Awami Muslim League, the predecessor of the Awami League. He was elected joint secretary of its East Bengal unit in 1949.

In 1953, he was made the party`s general secretary, and elected to the East Bengal Legislative Assembly on a United Front coalition ticket in 1954.

Later following Suhrawardy`s death in 1963, Mujib came to head the Awami League, which became one of the largest political parties in the then joint Pakistan.

In 1966, Mujib proclaimed a 6-point plan titled Our Charter of Survival at a national conference of opposition political parties at Lahore, in which he demanded self-government and considerable political, economic and defence autonomy for East Pakistan in a Pakistani federation with a weak central government.

Yahya Khan delayed the convening of the assembly following the political deadlock in 1971, It was on 7 March 1971 that Mujib called for independence and asked the people to launch a major campaign of civil disobedience and organised armed resistance at a mass gathering of people held at the Race Course Ground in Dhaka and after his announcement of liberation Bangladesh started to move towards the independence.

Murdering of Bangabandhu:
On 15 August 1975, a group of junior army officers invaded the presidential residence with tanks and killed Mujib with almost all his family members. And by the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation has lost an idol politician who gave birth a nation like Bangladesh.

So, it can say that if we learn from his life, we will be successful in resolving all kinds of national crisis and disasters. The life style and history of Banglabandhu always inspire us and future generation.

risingbd/Dhaka/Mar 7, 2016/Nasim