December arrives bearing pride, tears and victory

December has returned— the month of pride, achievement, sacrifice and victory for the Bengali nation. It is a month glowing with memories, pain, struggle and the glory of freedom.

Today marks the first day of this month of national pride. With a gentle winter breeze sweeping across the country, every sphere of national life; politics, culture, literature, media and the digital world awaits the radiance of the red and green.

On December 16, 1971, after nine months of bloody warfare against the Pakistani army, Bengalis secured victory. The long movement for self-determination reached its culmination that month, giving birth to a new independent nation 'Bangladesh'.

Despite gaining independence from the British in 1947, the people of East Bengal saw no change in their fate. The struggle against exploitation by West Pakistan continued for 23 years. The Language Movement, the Six-Point Movement, the mass uprising and the 1970 election shaped the path to liberation.

In his historic address on March 7, 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called on the nation to build fortresses in every household. On March 25, the Pakistani military launched the brutal genocide known as “Operation Searchlight”, marking the beginning of the Liberation War.

After nine months of fighting, in which three million people were killed and two hundred thousand women were violated, Bangladesh achieved independence. Pakistani forces surrendered on December 16.

In the final days before victory came one of the nation’s darkest tragedies, the massacre of intellectuals on December 14, when the Pakistani army and its collaborators targeted and killed the brightest sons of the soil.

Writer Jatin Sarkar notes in his book Pakistaner Janma-Mrityudarshan how All India Radio reported the deaths of Munier Chowdhury, Mofazzal Haider Chaudhury, Giasuddin Ahmed, Santosh Bhattacharya and Shahidullah Kaiser that night.

Meanwhile, in Muldhara ’71, Muidul Hasan describes how revolutionary spirit and mass participation gave the December phase of the war “unimaginable momentum and strength”.

Programmes

Like every year, the month will be observed through various government and non-government initiatives. Political, social and cultural organisations will hold events throughout December.

December 14 will be observed as Martyred Intellectuals Day, and December 16 as Victory Day.

A month-long jatra festival will be held at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Performances will take place every day at 6:30pm at the Experimental Theatre Hall, continuing until December 31.