Hiren Pandit: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is a charismatic leader, under his strong and courageous leadership, Bangladesh attained independence in 1971. As the father of the nation, the founder of the state, or the leader of the great liberation war Bangabandhu held the place of dignity and respect in the soul of the nation.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the charismatic leader of Bangladesh, because of his visionary leadership, realized at the beginning of March 1971 that war against the Pakistanis was inevitable. Therefore, on March 7, 1971, he instructed the people of Bangladesh to plunge into the war of liberation. He said, “This time the struggle is for our freedom, this time the struggle is for our independence.” In this speech, the picture of the killing, oppression, and torture of Bengalis towards Bengalis became concrete. In the face of the enemy, he instructed the Bengali nation, ‘Be ready with whatever you have.’ Inspired by this hypnotic speech of the Father of the Nation, the Bengali nation started taking preparation for starting a liberation war with weapons.
The historic inflammatory speech of this earth-shaking thunderbolt of only 19 minutes on March 7 was a thousand years of passion, a thousand years of dreams, a reflection of a thousand years of aspirations, which was a firm promise to liberate Bengalis. Bangabandhu uttered in a radiant voice, ‘When we have given blood, we will give more blood, we will set the people of this country free, Inshaallah.’ It was the historic speech under the leadership and direction of Bangabandhu that inspired the freedom-loving Bengali nation to plunge into the armed struggle of the great liberation war against the occupying Pakistanis and it was through this speech that the future destiny of the Bengalis became clear.
Bangabandhu gave the speech in a very symbolic style. On the one hand, he told the freedom fighters to be ready for a long struggle, on the other hand, he showed the thumbs up to the Pakistani rulers. Bangabandhu was not only a wise politician, he was a world-class diplomat. In his speech on March 7, he expressed everything like a diplomat. He says the last 23 years are a history of deprivation. He spoke about the language movement, the elections of ’54, the military rule of ’56, the six points of ’66, the mass revolution of ’69, the elections of ’70, and the deprivation of Bengalis in Pakistan at that time. Gave an unwritten speech.
Many people say Bangabandhu was absent in our liberation war. They never judge, the liberation war of Bangladesh was a war of expulsion of foreign aggressors and enemies from the interior of an independent country led by an elected representative. After independence on March 26, 1971, it took us 9 months to drive out those enemies. December 16 is our Victory Day because we were able to drive them out.
The declaration of independence by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the leader of Bangladesh on 26 March is the basis of the Declaration of Independence of Bangladesh. The full constitution of Bangladesh was written based on this declaration. So, the 9-month war that took place in Bangladesh in 1971 was a war to liberate our independent country from the occupying forces. All the people of an independent country who came through elections fought this war.
The country called Independent Bangladesh, which was born on March 26, 1971, is clearly stated in the Declaration of Independence or the Maternal Cell of the Constitution of Bangladesh. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence on 26 March as the elected leader of the people of Bangladesh after the beginning of the genocide and the imposition of war on Bangladesh. He ordered everyone to fight against the aggressors. That is what all the people’s representatives accepted as a valid declaration on behalf of the people of Bangladesh through the Declaration of Independence. And Bangabandhu formed the government for the declared independent country. Bangabandhu was appointed as the head of that government i.e. the President and Syed Nazrul Islam as the Vice President. The legitimate government then got all the rights regarding the country to make all the laws and all the revenue related to that declaration. In other words, the independent state which was declared on March 26, started its journey from April 10 with its constitution and legitimate government. There are only two obstacles for the state to move on. One is Several areas inside the state were then occupied by the Pakistani army. The second one is the state needs the formal recognition of another state.
Two things were urgent for this formal recognition. One is who has formed this state must prove that they are not separatists and two is the state being run by elected representatives. When it comes to recognizing another democratic new state for a democratic state, the first thing to look at is whether those who claim to have formed a new state are separatists. If they do not prove to be separatists, then they meet around 60 percent of the conditions for recognition.
If Bangabandhu had fled in this war to drive out the Pakistani aggressors in Bangladesh or had gone underground and tried to run the war like the communist revolutionaries, the military ruler of Pakistan would have had ample opportunity to prove him as a separatist. But after his country was occupied, Bangabandhu declared independence from his residence. He called on his people to resist the aggressors and called on the world to recognize the new state.
The task of seeking this declaration and recognition was public and as an elected leader. So, when the Pakistani army arrested Bangabandhu, they arrested the elected head of government of an independent country. Bangabandhu proved that he or his party was not a separatist. In other words, with Bangabandhu being publicly arrested in this way, he alone did 60 percent of the rest of the victory that this country had to achieve after the declaration of independence. In other words, he proved to the world that he and his party are not separatists, they are fighting for the liberation of the aggressors from their land.
Just as he won 60 percent of the war by going to jail in Pakistan in 9 months of 1971, so he transformed himself like the Agartala case while in jail; his shape is even bigger. The democratic world says the Pakistani military has no right to arrest an elected leader. Although the American president sided with Pakistan, he repeatedly obstructed his Senate in favor of Pakistan.
Everyone also said that only Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has the right to decide about his country. Not the Pakistani military authorities. Therefore, just as Bangabandhu was everywhere in the liberation war with the rifles, mines, and grenades of the freedom fighters through thunder, so the arrested leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought almost alone in the international world.
Just as any liberation war and war for independence are through the sacrifices of the people of the country, so the freedom-loving people of the whole world stand as comrades in arms. The captive independent head of state Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave the freedom-loving people of the whole world the right to stand for Bangladesh that day. Prisoner Bangabandhu defeated Yahya Khan in the diplomacy of the people that day. In other words, by forming the government through constitutional politics, the Pakistani authorities lost to Bangabandhu’s diplomacy in the battle to resist the aggressors by armed means. Bangabandhu became the winner, transformed from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Father of the Nation. Many mistakenly said that Bangabandhu was absent in the war of liberation.
However, without the support of India, Russia, and the support of the world, it would not have been possible to attain independence in 9 months. Moreover, no one can declare the independence of a country if he wants to. You have the authority to declare independence. Whoever declares, he must have the support of his country and the international world. People will not support the call for independence. As the leader of the winning party in the 1970 elections, only Bangabandhu had the right to declare independence.
Bangladesh and Bangabandhu complement each other, one cannot be imagined without the other. History has repeatedly proved that ‘Mujib belongs to Bengal and Bengal belongs to Mujib’ or in other words ‘Bangabandhu is Bangladesh and Bangladesh is Bangabandhu.’
Bangabandhu’s Dream ‘Golden Bengal’ is more Visible
March 26, 2021, was celebrated as the golden jubilee of the independence of our beloved motherland Bangladesh, the 50th anniversary of independence. The war of liberation of 1971 is a glorious chapter in the thousand-year history of the Bengali nation. Our freedom was attained through the 9 months of the war in 1971 in sacrifice for the fresh blood of 3 million martyrs, a disgrace to two lakh mothers and sisters, and boundless sacrifice. The victory was snatched on 16 December after 23 years of struggle and 9 months of armed struggle, defeating the Pakistani aggressors. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest son of the soil and greatest Bengali for thousands of years the great hero of history and the father of the nation, has made the dream of Bengal a reality.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has achieved many unprecedented successes. The pole of success is comparatively heavier in terms of success and failure. Bangladesh has achieved enviable success in all sectors. Our beloved motherland is moving forward by overcoming various obstacles. On the eve of the golden jubilee of independence, one of our achievements is the much-desired Padma Bridge. It was a dream come true for us to make the dream Padma Bridge a reality. The task was not easy for us at all. This has been possible due to the courageous and visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Padma Bridge has been completed with its funding in three years, two months, and 10 days by thwarting all domestic and foreign conspiracies. This bridge will play an important role in our socio-economic and industrial development in the future.
Apart from the dream of Padma Bridge, various mega-projects of the country including Metro Rail, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Payra Seaport, Bangabandhu Satellite-1, Karnafuli Tunnel, Elevated Expressway, Moheshkhali-Materbari Integrated Development Project, 100 special economic zones, more than two dozen high-tech parks, and IT villages are being built. The eighth Five Year Plan has been adopted. The villages are being equipped with all civic amenities and the country is moving forward. Today we have become a country with self-respect in the world holding our heads high.
With the golden jubilee of independence, Bangladesh has risen from a least developed country to a developing country. Which is a much bigger achievement for us. February 26, 2021, United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP).
Bangladesh is the third-largest producer of rice in the world and also self-sufficient in fish, meat, eggs, and vegetables. Bangladesh ranks second in terms of the growth rate of fish production in inland open water and Bangladesh ranks first among 11 Hilsa producing countries. Today, the benefits of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ have spread from urban to villages.
Bangladesh moves to developing countries. Per capita income, human resources, and economic fragility— the criteria for these three indicators determine the eligibility of developing countries to be listed. Bangladesh has achieved the desired qualifications in these three indices. Even in the COVID-19, Bangladesh’s per capita income has stunned the whole world by maintaining economic continuity. Which has multiplied the acceptance. There have been positive changes in women’s education, women’s empowerment, healthcare, maternal and child mortality. Women are now contributing at all levels including social, political, and economic. Women in rural areas are not lagging in the touch of technology. They are also moving forward in parallel. Which has brightened the image of Bangladesh in the world. Bangladesh is moving forward on the path of building a golden Bengal of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu. The young generation is not backward. Today’s youth is the leader of the future state. To turn the young generation into human resources, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education is being introduced for career-oriented education. The state must give due value to the knowledge, skills, experience, desires, and opinions of the youth. Young people need to be prepared to face the challenges of creative and innovative work. Above all, the younger generation will take the responsibility to move forward to their beloved homeland.
Bangladesh has reached a newer height in the international arena and transform the country into a safe and peaceful abode for the next generation. In the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, it is the commitment of everyone. The present government is working tirelessly to build a hunger-and poverty-free developed and prosperous Bangladesh as envisioned by the Father of the Nation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given 4 milestones, the first is the vision of Digital Bangladesh in 2021, the second is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030, the third is to build a developed Bangladesh in 2041 and the fourth is the Delta Plan for 2100. Architect of Digital Bangladesh Sajeeb Wazed Joy has been making an outstanding contribution to the implementation of these plans at a young age.
All citizens have to work for a developed Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty (achieving SDG-1 end poverty and SDG-2, Zero Hunger), and rich in the secular spirit which Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt of. Bangladesh has limited resources, more population compared with its geographical borders. Bangladesh today is a role model of development to the world.
We have attained our independence. We have to consolidate this independence and deliver its benefits to all the people in all corners of the country. We will become financially self-reliant. We will walk on our feet. And being a developing country, much bigger challenges lie ahead of us and we’ve to deal with those as well. We will increase production, expand, markets, meet the needs of the people and also send them abroad. The long-awaited Land Boundary Agreement with India has been implemented resolved maritime disputes with India and Myanmar and secured our rights in the Bay of Bengal.
Education, communication infrastructure, gas, electricity, women’s education, 100% increase in salaries and allowances of employees, health care, distribution of free books, self-sufficiency in food production, safety net support for socially disadvantaged people, helpless, elderly, widows, persons with disabilities, divorced, autistic, the benefits of assisting the freedom fighters, shelter project, one house one farm project, women empowerment and overall development of different sectors are the outstanding contribution of the present government. Only under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has it been possible to achieve that prosperity.
One of the dreams of the Father of the Nation about the Bengalis was to liberate this land and build a hunger-free, poverty-free golden Bengal. The first dream was materialized by Bangabandhu. The greatest achievement of the Bengalis is the independence of Bangladesh, which he has brought. At present, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s wise and visionary leadership, Bangladesh is fast moving towards realizing the second dream of the father of the nation. With dedication, honesty, and efficiency Bangladesh is surpassing many countries in the world today. Bangabandhu’s dream ‘Sonar Bangla’ is no longer elusive, it is visible.