Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day today

Today is the historic Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of the country's independence and the undisputed leader of Bangladesh’s independence movement.

On this day, Bangabandhu returned to a newly independent and sovereign Bangladesh in 1972 after months in Pakistani captivity.

He had been arrested by Pakistani forces from his Dhanmondi residence on the night of March 25, 1971, and taken to Pakistan, where he remained imprisoned throughout the Liberation War and faced a sham trial and the threat of execution.

Following Pakistan’s surrender on December 16, 1971, global pressure mounted for his release. Bowing to international demands, the Pakistani authorities freed him with due honour.

Bangabandhu was released from prison on January 8, 1972, and first travelled to London, followed by a visit to India. He returned to Bangladesh on January 10, receiving a historic welcome from millions.