Independence Day
The Bengalis on
this day opted for anything but total freedom and snatched away an independent Bangladesh after a nine-month long bloody struggle
Today Bangladesh celebrates the 47th Independence and National Day. Yesterday the nation celebrated the Genocide Day for the first time in its history in remembrance of the barbarity perpetrated on unarmed Bengalis and history is witness on that day the Pakistani military junta left no alternative for Bengalis to choose for but to take up arms the following day.
Bangladesh as part of Pakistan used to undergo brutal suppression and subjugation in the hands of West Pakistani rulers since its creation in 1947 until March 26 in 1971. In fact, this war of liberation is the culmination of a long struggle for establishing the nations identity as a sovereign entity in the community of nations. The Bengalis on this day opted for anything but total freedom and snatched away an independent Bangladesh after a nine-month long bloody struggle.
On this day, the people of this deltaic region got ready for supreme sacrifice at the call of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in whom the majority people of Pakistan saw their hopes and aspirations embodied and they unhesitatingly put their trust on him. But the military junta of West Pakistan broke the dreams of the people of East Pakistan as they denied premiership of Pakistan to Bangabandhu, the elected ruler.
Not only that, the military rulers, in a most foul attempt, cracked down on the unarmed civilians on the night of 25th March and created one of the worst genocides in the history of mankind. Bangladesh government has now prepared to submit an application before the United Nations (UN) seeking recognition of Genocide Day and it is expected that the UN will not ignore our appeal on the scale and magnitude of brutality perpetrated by Pakistani military.
The bloody war that followed led to the martyrdom of three million people. Besides that, 10 million people became refugees were evicted from their homes, 200,000 women dishonoured as well as large-scale destruction of houses and property.
On this day today we pay our deepest homage to Bangabandhu without whose leadership, sagacity and statesmanship and his comrades-in-arms our dream of freedom stood little chance of materialising. We also pay homage to those heroes who embraced martyrdom. Their sacrifices are too great to be sanctified further by any tribute.
On this day it would also be pertinent to state that the country that has a proud legacy of struggle and sacrifice should have done better in terms of social justice, economic progress and cultural reawakening. After 47 years, however, it can be said that the country is now at peace with itself as the major collaborators of Pakistani military were tried and punished.
Let our flag of independence be carried for eternity.
