Historic March 7 being observed

The 53rd anniversary of the historic speech delivered by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on March 7, 1971, is being observed on Thursday.

The day is observed nationally as the government on July 13, 2020 declared March 7 National Historic Day.

Awami League and different socio-political organisations will hold various programmes to mark the day.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and prime minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages marking the day.

Bengalis reacted with unprecedented rage after the then Pakistani military ruler Yahya Khan postponed the National Assembly session scheduled for March 1, 1971.

Sheikh Mujib immediately launched an unprecedented non-cooperation movement, dealing a blow to the military rulers.

On March 7, 1971, he delivered a historic speech at Suhrawardy Udyan, the then Race Course ground, that inspired the nation to fight for independence.
The address reduced the governmental authorities in the then East Pakistan to useless showpieces as everything ran according to Mujib’s day-to-day edicts.

This continued until the military junta retaliated with the crackdown against the unarmed Bengalis on the fateful midnight of March 25, 1971, leading to a nine-month-long war that ended with Bangladesh emerging as an independent nation.

The historic March 7 speech of Mujib was included in the World International Register, a list of the world’s important documentary heritage maintained by UNESCO.

To mark the day fittingly, the ruling Awami League has arranged elaborate programmes.

The AL will hoist national and party flags atop Bangabandhu Bhaban and party offices, place wreaths at Sheikh Mujib’s portrait on the premises of Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi, according to a press release.

A discussion will be arranged at the Dhaka Zila Awami League Bhaban at Tejgaon at 4:00pm.

AL president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina will preside over the programme.

In his message, president Mohammed Shahabuddin said that the 7th March is an unforgettable day in the history of Bengali’s Liberation Movement and Independence.

‘On this day in 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered an ageless speech in a thunderous voice in the then Race Course Maidan which was the charter of Independence of the Bengali nation,’ he said.

The prime minister, in her message, hoped that the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan and the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s speech on March 7 in 1971 will inspire the Bengalis to proceed with their heads high on the world stage.

‘As a result of the initiatives taken by our government, Bangladesh has been recognised as a role model for development in the world today. We have established Digital Bangladesh.

‘In 2041, we will transform the country into a ‘Smart Bangladesh.’ I believe the ‘Joi Bangla’ slogan and Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s speech on 7 March will inspire the Bengalis to proceed with their heads high on the world stage,’ she said.

National dailies will bring out special supplements marking the day, while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television, as well as private television channels and radio stations will air special programmes.