Bangabandhu: Some quotations

As a man, what concerns mankind concerns me. As a Bengalee, I am deeply involved in all that concerns Bengalees. This abiding involvement is born of and nourished by love, enduring love, which gives meaning to my politics and my very being”
(Unfinished Memoirs, 3 May 1973)

We do not believe in Islam of labelling/show off. We believe in Islam of Insaaf-justice. Our Islam is the Islam of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh)-Islam that taught the world the mystical formula of reasoning and justice”.
(Addressing the nation before the general election in Pakistan via Radio and Television, November 1970)

Hindus, Muslims, Bangalees and non-Bangalees, all those who live in this Bangla are our brothers. The responsibility of protecting them is upon you. Ensure that our reputation is not smeared in any way”.
(Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971)

If one more shot is fired and if my people are killed again then my request to you is; build a fortress in each and every home. Face the enemy with whatever you have”.
(Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan),
7th March 1971)

You can’t keep seventy five million of people subjugated. Since we have learnt to die, no one can dominate us”.
(Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971)

 Bear in mind that since we have given blood, we will give more. By the grace of Allah, we will surely liberate the people of this country.
(Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971)

The struggle this time is the struggle for our emancipation.
The struggle this time is the struggle for independence”.
(Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971)

 I would like to say categorically and unequivocally that, our country will be a democratic, secular and socialist country. In this country the labourers, peasants, Hindus and Muslim all will be living in peace and harmony”.
(The first public address at Suhrawardy Uddan upon returning to the independent Bangladesh after 9 months in prison in Miyanwala, Pakistan, 10 January 1972)

Those of you who can speak Bengali should integrate in this country. Brothers, do not touch them. They are our brothers too. We would like to show the world that the Bengalis are not only able to make sacrifices for the independent but they can also live in peace”
(The first public address at Suhrawardy Uddan upon returning to the independent Bangladesh after 9 months in in prison in Miyanwala, Pakistan, 10 January 1972)

Bangladesh will a secular state. Secularism is not anti-religion. Muslims will be practicing their religion. Hindus will be observing their faith. The Christians will be exercising their religion. Buddhists will be practicing their religion. In this land there is no anti-religion but there is secularism. This has a meaning. Here religions cannot be used as commodity for political purposes. Here people cannot be looted in the name of religion. Politics in the name of religion to create Razakars and Al-Badars in the soil of Bengal will not be tolerated any longer. The politics of communalism will not to be allowed.
(Public meeting at Surahwardy Uddyan, 9 June 1972)

I do not think that Bangladesh, like a pauper (miskeen), has sought any assistance from you. The devout Muslims of our country ask for the right to perform their prayers at the holy Kaabah. Every Muslim throughout the whole world has a right to offer their prayers there. Why pre-conditions about this? We expect an equal and brotherly treatment from you in this respect”.
(The above remarks was made by Bangabandhu in response to King Faisal’s that, “I know you need some assistance and you can have any assistance you want. But we have some preconditions”. One of King Faisal’s main precondition was that Bangladesh should change its name from the People’s Republic to Islamic Republic.

The official name of your country is not even the Islamic Republic of Saudi Arabia. Your country has been named, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after the late King Ibn Saud. We did not object to this. So why pre-condition about Bangladesh?”
(At a meeting with King Faisal, at the conference of Non-Aligned Movement, Algiers, September 1973.)

The world is divided into two halves, the oppressed and the oppressors. I am with the oppressed”.
(At the conference of Non-Aligned Movement, Algiers, 6 September 1973)
 
It is a historical moment for the Bangalee nation which has completed a full circle of the struggle to achieve the right to self-determination. Bangalees have fought for centuries for earning the right to live freely as citizens of an independent country. They have always desired to live in peace and friendship with all nations in the world. That is also the ideal embedded in the United Nations Charter. Millions had to give highest sacrifices for making that possible”
(Addressing the United Nations, 23 September 1974)
  My peasants are not corrupt. My labourers are not corrupt. Who takes bribe then? Who carryout black marketing? Who serves as foreign agent? Who does money laundering? Who does hoarding/stockpiling? It is us, the 5% educated people. The bribe takers and corrupts are amongst us 9 the 5% educated people). We must change our characters and purify our souls”.
(The last public address at Suhrawardy Uddan, 26 March 1975)
 
If I die before that, then you do one thing, Bury me in a village of Bengal, near a paddy field or bamboo grove. So that I can have the taste of the soil of Bengal, I can listen to the songs of the birds of Bengal and inhale the aroma of the golden paddies of Bengal”.
(During conversations with the district level party workers at his home in Dhanmondi, 1975)

Bangabandhu: Some quotations

As a man, what concerns mankind concerns me. As a Bengalee, I am deeply involved in all that concerns Bengalees. This abiding involvement is born of and nourished by love, enduring love, which gives meaning to my politics and my very being (Unfinished Memoirs, 3 May 1973) We do not believe in Islam of labelling/show off. We believe in Islam of Insaaf-justice. Our Islam is the Islam of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh)-Islam that taught the world the mystical formula of reasoning and justice. (Addressing the nation before the general election in Pakistan via Radio and Television, November 1970) Hindus, Muslims, Bangalees and non-Bangalees, all those who live in this Bangla are our brothers. The responsibility of protecting them is upon you. Ensure that our reputation is not smeared in any way. (Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971) If one more shot is fired and if my people are killed again then my request to you is; build a fortress in each and every home. Face the enemy with whatever you have. (Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971) You cant keep seventy five million of people subjugated. Since we have learnt to die, no one can dominate us. (Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971) Bear in mind that since we have given blood, we will give more. By the grace of Allah, we will surely liberate the people of this country. (Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971) The struggle this time is the struggle for our emancipation. The struggle this time is the struggle for independence. (Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971) I would like to say categorically and unequivocally that, our country will be a democratic, secular and socialist country. In this country the labourers, peasants, Hindus and Muslim all will be living in peace and harmony. (The first public address at Suhrawardy Uddan upon returning to the independent Bangladesh after 9 months in prison in Miyanwala, Pakistan, 10 January 1972) Those of you who can speak Bengali should integrate in this country. Brothers, do not touch them. They are our brothers too. We would like to show the world that the Bengalis are not only able to make sacrifices for the independent but they can also live in peace (The first public address at Suhrawardy Uddan upon returning to the independent Bangladesh after 9 months in in prison in Miyanwala, Pakistan, 10 January 1972) Bangladesh will a secular state. Secularism is not anti-religion. Muslims will be practicing their religion. Hindus will be observing their faith. The Christians will be exercising their religion. Buddhists will be practicing their religion. In this land there is no anti-religion but there is secularism. This has a meaning. Here religions cannot be used as commodity for political purposes. Here people cannot be looted in the name of religion. Politics in the name of religion to create Razakars and Al-Badars in the soil of Bengal will not be tolerated any longer. The politics of communalism will not to be allowed. (Public meeting at Surahwardy Uddyan, 9 June 1972) I do not think that Bangladesh, like a pauper (miskeen), has sought any assistance from you. The devout Muslims of our country ask for the right to perform their prayers at the holy Kaabah. Every Muslim throughout the whole world has a right to offer their prayers there. Why pre-conditions about this? We expect an equal and brotherly treatment from you in this respect. (The above remarks was made by Bangabandhu in response to King Faisals that, I know you need some assistance and you can have any assistance you want. But we have some preconditions. One of King Faisals main precondition was that Bangladesh should change its name from the Peoples Republic to Islamic Republic. The official name of your country is not even the Islamic Republic of Saudi Arabia. Your country has been named, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after the late King Ibn Saud. We did not object to this. So why pre-condition about Bangladesh? (At a meeting with King Faisal, at the conference of Non-Aligned Movement, Algiers, September 1973.) The world is divided into two halves, the oppressed and the oppressors. I am with the oppressed. (At the conference of Non-Aligned Movement, Algiers, 6 September 1973) It is a historical moment for the Bangalee nation which has completed a full circle of the struggle to achieve the right to self-determination. Bangalees have fought for centuries for earning the right to live freely as citizens of an independent country. They have always desired to live in peace and friendship with all nations in the world. That is also the ideal embedded in the United Nations Charter. Millions had to give highest sacrifices for making that possible (Addressing the United Nations, 23 September 1974) My peasants are not corrupt. My labourers are not corrupt. Who takes bribe then? Who carryout black marketing? Who serves as foreign agent? Who does money laundering? Who does hoarding/stockpiling? It is us, the 5% educated people. The bribe takers and corrupts are amongst us 9 the 5% educated people). We must change our characters and purify our souls. (The last public address at Suhrawardy Uddan, 26 March 1975) If I die before that, then you do one thing, Bury me in a village of Bengal, near a paddy field or bamboo grove. So that I can have the taste of the soil of Bengal, I can listen to the songs of the birds of Bengal and inhale the aroma of the golden paddies of Bengal. (During conversations with the district level party workers at his home in Dhanmondi, 1975)