Nation to observe historic March 7 tomorrow

The nation is set to observe the historic March 7 tomorrow, commemorating Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's landmark speech in 1971 which was touted as the indirect declaration of Bangladesh's independence.

This year the observance of the day will be more significant as the nation is gearing up to celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation on March 17, BSS reports.

The fiery speech of Bangabandhu on March 7 at a mammoth rally in the then "Race Course Maidan", now Suhrawardy Udyan, inspired the freedom-loving Bangalees to prepare for the Liberation War by directing them to wage a decisive struggle against the Pakistan occupation forces. 

The war began after the Pakistan Army launched "Operation Searchlight" on March 25 against unarmed Bangalee civilians, intellectuals, students, politicians, and armed personnel.

On October 30 in 2017, the UNESCO recognised the historic speech as part of the world's documentary heritage by including it in the Memory of the World International Register.

In the 19-minute extempore speech from 4.23 pm before millions of people of former East Pakistan, Bangabandhu in unequivocal term said, "We spilled our blood…we are ready to shed more blood, the people of the country shall be freed, Inshallah!"

"Ebarer sangram amader muktir sangram, ebarer sangram swadhinatar sangram" (The struggle this time is for our emancipation, the struggle this time is for our independence), Bangabandhu said.

The people were overwhelmed and imbued with the spirit of Bangabandhu's unparalleled speech of independence regarded only as comparable to the Gettysburg Speech of slain US President Abraham Lincoln.

The whole nation responded spontaneously to Bangabandhu's call with thunderous slogan "Bir Bangalee Astra Dharo, Bangladesh Swadhin Karo" (Brave Bangalees take up arms and free Bangladesh from occupation).

Bangabandhu's March 7 speech has been selected as one of the most rousing and inspirational wartime speeches in the last 2,500 years.

According to political analysts, the speech was not only a call for the Bangalee nation to fight for freedom, it was rather a direction for all nations.

To mark the day, different socio-cultural and political organisations, student and professional bodies have drawn up elaborate programmes. The ruling Awami League has also drawn up different programmes to observe the day.

The Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television, as well as private television channels and radio stations, will air special programmes while national dailies will bring out special supplements marking the auspicious occasion.