The government is planning to build a ‘statue’ of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and a stage at the location of the March 7 Speech in Suhrawardy Udyan. Bangabandhu stood and delivered his great speech in 1971 at the venue which also stands witness to the surrender of Pakistani forces to the allied joint force on December 16, 1971 and the reception accorded to former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Bangabandhu.

The government also plans to declare March 7 as the National Day to commemorate the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s historic speech.

The information was disclosed yesterday through a report submitted by the cabinet division before the High Court in line with the court’s previous directive.

Earlier on February 5, the HC bench comprising Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader asked the government to inform it on February 11 (yesterday) about its plans regarding Suhrawardy Udyan, where Bangabandhu had delivered his historic speech on March 7, 1971.

After Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar submitted the report before the court yesterday, the HC bench commented that report was not complete as it did not mention about the government plan regarding the relocation of Shishu Park and a complex of Kali Mandir in Suhrawardy Udyan, where Bangabandhu stood and delivered his historic speech on March 7, 1971, which were built with an ill motive so that future generations cannot remember Bangabandhu and his historic speech.

The HC bench asked the government to inform it about its detail plans over the issue

and submit a complete report by February 18 as it would pass necessary order on that day over the matter.

Earlier on February 5, the same bench of the HC had expressed dissatisfaction as Shishu Park was not being relocated from Suhrawardy Udyan and asked the government to inform it about the future plan over the historical ground.

The HC bench also observed that Bangabandhu’s historical March 7 speech embodying the independence of Bangladesh should be included in textbooks of all students so that the new generation can learn its importance and significance.

It also observed that steps should also be taken so that the current generation gets to know more about the March 7 speech of Bangabandhu as they do not know about it very well.

On March 7 in 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had delivered the historic speech at the then Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) and uttered the magical words “Ebarer Sangram Swadhinatar Sangram, Ebaber Sangram Muktir Sangram” (this time, the movement is for independence, this time the movement is for freedom), inspiring the people of Bangladesh to wage the War of Liberation for the independence of the country.

In the speech, Bangabandhu called on the freedom-loving Bangalees to wage a decisive struggle against the Pakistani rulers.

In 2017, former Secretary of the Supreme Court Lawyers’ Association Dr Bashir Ahmed had filed the writ petition seeking necessary directives in this regard.

Later, the HC on November 20, 2017 issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in three weeks as to why March 7 should not be declared as Historic National Day.

Advocate Bashir Ahmed appeared on behalf of his petition while Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the state during the hearing on the petition.