Bangabandhu's March 7 Speech: The epic of human liberation

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's speech to the nation on March 7, 1971 at the then Race Course (now Suhrawardy Udyan) is not just a historic speech but a profoundly significant one. It was a directional speech, which ignited the aspirations of millions of people in Bangladesh, filling them with the joy of liberation. Bangabandhu's speech was universally acknowledged as an inspirational address dedicated to the goal of human freedom.

Bangabandhu's March 7 speech, called the 'poet of politics' by the international magazine Newsweek, is truly an epic of politics. Inspired by the mesmerizing speech of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Bengali nation embarked on the preparation for armed struggle for liberation. The fundamental mantra of our liberation war was enshrined in this unparalleled ordinary speech of March 7. In this historic speech of Bangabandhu, the eternal truth of human liberation exploded with immense force, dispelling darkness and creating a flow of progress towards the path of light. The relevance of Bangabandhu's historic speech will endure for eternity because the liberation of the Bengalis, and thus human liberation, is an eternal truth upon which human civilization is advancing. Historian and author Jacob F. Field's edited book 'We Shall Fight on the Beaches' has identified 41 speeches that have stirred the entire world, among which Bangabandhu's speech of March 7 stands out. UNESCO's Director-General Irina Bokova announced on October 30, 2017, that Bangabandhu's March 7 speech has been included in UNESCO's World Heritage list as a global cultural heritage.

It is easy to understand the historic significance of Bangabandhu's March 7 speech. This speech was dedicated to the liberation of the Bengali nation. However, its relevance transcends both contemporary and eternal contexts. Although Bangabandhu delivered this speech with the aim of liberating the Bengali nation in 1971, the true impact of the speech was felt globally. Through this speech, the aspirations of oppressed and marginalized people worldwide were echoed. This speech stands as a testament to how powerful a speech can be and how it can organize a nation towards the goal of liberation. In 1971, Bangabandhu delivered this speech with the intention of liberating the Bengali nation, but in 2024, when we evaluate the value of that speech, we understand that the thoughts of every oppressed and marginalized person in the world were reflected through it. Anyone aspiring for freedom anywhere in the world can find inspiration from Bangabandhu's March 7 speech.

Bangabandhu was a visionary political leader, and we cannot imagine his level of foresight. Every word uttered in his speeches demands explanation. On March 1, 1971, General Yahya Khan announced the postponement of the National Assembly session scheduled for March 3, 1971, in Dhaka. This unexpected announcement sparked protests across Bangladesh. The term "Agitation March" began from March 1, 1971. Bengalis understood that the military-dominated political parties in Pakistan would not willingly transfer national power to them. On the evening of March 1, a meeting of the Parliamentary Board of the Awami League was scheduled to be held at the Purbani Hotel. However, after the announcement of the suspension of the parliamentary session in the afternoon, there was no need for the meeting of the Parliamentary Board. Many domestic and foreign journalists gathered at the Purbani Hotel. In the evening, Bangabandhu arrived at the Purbani Hotel. He announced that a nationwide general strike would be observed in Dhaka city on March 2, and a general strike would be observed throughout East Pakistan on March 3. He also declared that he would address the nation at Ramna Racecourse Maidan on March 7. After announcing the programme of agitation, Bangabandhu left for the ground floor of the hotel. At that time, some close journalists accompanied him. The late Pakistani journalist Jawadur Rahman asked Bangabandhu, "What is going to happen, leader?" At that moment, Bangabandhu simply replied, "He will not declare independence alone. Mujib will not go to UDI." With these words, he got into the car and left. Later, on March 7, when Bangabandhu gave a speech at the Racecourse Maidan, helicopters circled overhead. All preparations of the Pakistani forces were in place. If Bangabandhu had declared independence, the entire city of Dhaka would have been destroyed. Bangabandhu directed the nation in such a way that they courageously adhered to the correct revolutionary path.

In his speech, Bangabandhu used every word with utmost skill. The main theme of the March 7 gathering was to prepare Bengalis for independence. He explained how sacrifices must be made for freedom. Although Bangabandhu did not directly declare independence, he effectively conveyed the message of liberation. He stated, "This time, our struggle is for liberation. When I have shed blood, I will shed more. Inshallah, we will free the people of this country." At one point in his speech, Bangabandhu said, "If I cannot give the order, you must be prepared with whatever you have." From this, it is clear that Bangabandhu urged for the liberation war through his speech. He understood that the Pakistani forces might not allow him to declare independence directly. Indeed, on the night of March 25, Bangabandhu was arrested from his residence. On March 16, Yahia Khan came to Dhaka. His actual purpose was to create chaos and increase military strength through this operation. Meanwhile, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of the People's Party visited Bangladesh, which was merely a tactical move by the Pakistanis to implement their sinister plan. Operation Searchlight, the military campaign, began on March 25, starting from the second week of March. The speech Bangabandhu delivered on March 7 at the Racecourse Maidan was a de facto declaration of independence. And the formal declaration of independence, de jure, was made in the first hours of March 26. Since the historic speech on March 7, the Bengali nation received clear guidance on their future actions.

The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was an unparalleled leader of the Bengali nation. He knew when and what needed to be done. Despite immense pressure from student leaders to declare independence, Bangabandhu did not directly announce independence on March 7. Even on March 8, student leaders urged for a declaration of independence, but Bangabandhu did not comply. The primary goal of Bangabandhu's politics was independence, but he knew when to declare it. He did not want to take any action that would worsen the situation for us. At that time, the entire nation stood united under Bangabandhu's leadership for independence. Even the employees assigned to prepare food at the President's House were unwilling to work in support of the movement. Contact was made with Bangabandhu from the president's House, where he said, "Bengalis are hospitable people, so I instruct those who are assigned to the president's cooking duties to fulfill their responsibilities." At that time, Dhaka city was completely disconnected from the Pakistani administration. Bangabandhu had stated clearly on January 4 at the Chhatra League conference, "I will not take any revolutionary decisions. I know very well when to make decisions." Bangabandhu listened to everyone's words but made decisions based on his own judgment. Later, it was proven that all of Bangabandhu's decisions regarding independence were correct and timely.

In his historic speech on March 7, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman concluded his address in 19 minutes, averaging 58 to 60 words per minute. In the realm of communication theory, delivering 60 words per minute is considered ideal. Despite being only 1,107 words long, this speech does not have any tiresome repetition. Regardless of how many times one hears this speech, it never becomes boring. During the Liberation War, Bangabandhu was not physically present among us, but his inspirational speech on March 7 was with us. This speech inspired freedom fighters. It instilled courage. However, the perpetrators of Bangabandhu's assassination and the massacre were afraid. For twenty-one years after the assassination, this captivating speech was not broadcast even for a single day. It was not until the evening of June 23, 1996, that Bangladesh Television aired this speech for the first time, reminiscent of its inaugural broadcast. Just as the Pakistanis were intimidated by Bangabandhu's speech, so were his assassins. Bangabandhu's March 7 speech will forever fly the flag of truth.

Author: Educationist and former Vice-Chancellor, University of Dhaka

Transcribe: M A Khaleque