Bangabandhu made main declaration of independence through 7 March speech: PM

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said Bangabandhu gave the main declaration of independence and encouraged the freedom-loving people to an armed war through the historic 7 March speech.

“Through the speech, father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave the main proclamation of independence and sever all relations with Pakistan,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the chairperson of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust, was presiding over a seminar at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh Auditorium in the capital in the afternoon.

“Through the speech,” she added, “Bangabandhu not only presented an independent country to the nation, he also told that what will be its future,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina urged all to take the country forward by following Bangabandhu’s directives and ideology.

The father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust and the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum jointly organised the seminar titled “7 March speech of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Political Poet and Immortal Poem” on the occasion of the historic 7 March.

University Grants Commission chairman professor Abdul Mannan presented the keynote.

Vice chancellor of Jahangirnagar University professor Farzana Islam and associate professor of Dhaka University’s international relations department Niloy Ranjan Biswash and chairperson of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum Painter Hashem Khan took part in the discussion on the keynote.

Member secretary of the trust Sheikh Hafijur Rahman delivered the welcome address, while chief executive officer of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum Mashura Hossain gave the vote of thanks.

The prime minister said through the 7 March speech, the father of the nation gave all directives to the nation. “He also outlined what Bangalees will have to do,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu feared that after the speech he may not remain alive and be killed as the Pakistanis made such ill attempts many times.

“That’s why Bangabandhu left making all arrangements for war and I’m its silent witness,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, said the then student leaders, who are now alive, explained in different ways about the 7 March speech of Bangabandhu.

The former student leaders in their interviews with newspapers said that before the rally, Bangabandhu had discussed with the ‘NUCLEUS’ about the speech. “Their words made me laugh as they are saying like insane,” she said.

In this connection, the prime minister recalled the role of her mother.

“Just before the rally, my mother told Bangabandhu that you’ve struggled the entire life and you know well what the people want and what you will have to do for them and none other than you know better,” she said.

“My mother also told Bangabandhu that many people will say many things, but you don’t need to listen to all words … you will say the words which will come from your mind,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the military dictators banned the speech after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975. “But ignoring all hurdles, the leaders and workers of Awami League played this speech,” she said, adding none can erase the history and suppress the truth.

The premier said there is no other speech in the world which the people heard years after years. “Forty-eight years have passed (since the delivering of speech), but the appeal of the address is still immense and the people are inspired with it,” she said.

Talking about UNESCO’s recognition to the historic 7th March Speech of Bangabandhu as the world’s documentary heritage, the prime minister said the speech has been placed in an UN body as an invaluable document of the human civilisation.

“It’s a great and rare honour for the people of Bangladesh,” she said.

Quoting Bangabandhu that nothing could be achieved without sacrifice, the prime minister said the country earned independence through the sacrifice of Bangabandhu and the millions of people. “But this independence almost went in vain after 1975,” she said.

“After long 21 years, we got a scope of telling about the spirit of the liberation war and playing and practicing the songs which were played during the liberation war,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the youth force who were under the darkness after 1975 came forward and “we started our journey towards the light again.”

The prime minister said the military dictators not only killed Bangabandhu, they also erased his name after his assassination. “Some generations were misguided by the military rulers after the killing of the father of the nation,” she said.

About the appeal of the speech, the prime minister said: “I’ve been listening to the speech for 48 years, but whenever I hear, it seems to me that I listen to it afresh.”

Sheikh Hasina said this speech provides courage and great strength to the people to work and make sacrifice for the country.

Professor Abdul Mannan in his keynote said Bangabandhu uttered “Ebarer sangram, swadinatar sangram, ebarer sangram muktir sangram” as he wanted independence of the country.

The UGC chairman said Bangabandhu would have been identified as a coward, had he not made this declaration.

“Bangabandhu had said he wants independence, not the prime ministership and he turned the unarmed nation into an armed one,” he said.

Source: bss