Journey of Awami League: A chronicle of s truggle for freedom

On the 75th founding anniversary of Awami League, the leading party guiding the Liberation War, we respectfully remember the founding members of the party, including Mojlum Jananeta Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, icon of democracy Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Shamsul Huq and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Awami League was founded on June 23, 1949, with specific goals and objectives. The founders of Awami League chose the date (June 23) for debut because on this day in 1757, Siraj Ud Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bangla, Bihar, and Orissa lost his battle against the British East India Company.

After the establishment of Pakistan, Bangabandhu realized with his heart, "This Pakistan is not for Bengalis. Bengalis must determine their fate by themselves." At the end of 1947, Bangabandhu organized a 'Workers' Camp' in Mughaltuli with 150 comrades and established the 'Chhatra League' on January 4, 1948.

On March 11 of the same year, the great language movement was initiated by the initiative of the Chhatra League under the leadership of Bangabandhu to demand Bengali as one of the national languages. On March 26, 1949, the DU executive council expelled Bangabandhu and four other students on charges of “instigating” a movement launched by grade IV employees demanding a raise in salaries and allowances. Then a second-year student, he extended his support to the demonstrating staff of the university to realize their demands and he later did not submit himself to injustice. Bangabandhu was imprisoned during the birth of the Awami League in Dhaka's Rose Garden.

Bangabandhu wrote about this in his book 'The Unfinished Memoirs', "Everyone agreed and formed a new political institution; It was named 'Awami Muslim League.' Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani and Shamsul Huq were elected the first president and general secretary of the party respectively while I was made the joint secretary. I saw in the newspaper, next to my name was written 'Security Detainee'." (Pages-120-121)

The seeds of the great language movement and the great liberation war were planted through the establishment of the 'Chhatra League' and 'Awami League'. The names 'Awami League', 'Bangabandhu', 'Liberation War', and 'Bangladesh' have become synonymous with each other in the history of the establishment of independent Bangladesh as Awami League struggled systematically since its establishment and led the great Liberation War.

During the Language Movement in 1952, the 'Sarbadaliya Chhatra Sangram Parishad (All Party Student Action Committee)' was formed under the leadership of the Awami League. Bangabandhu was imprisoned then as well. He went on a hunger strike in solidarity with the program of violation of Article 144 by the student community on the demand of Bengali as the national language. In the special council of Awami League held in Mymensingh on November 14, 1953, it was decided to form the United Front based on 21 points. In the 1954 election led by the Awami League, the United Front won a landslide victory and as the youngest member of the United Front Cabinet, Bangabandhu took charge of the Ministry of Agricultural Credit, Cooperative and Rural Development on 15 May; But the vested quarter wrongfully issued Article 92-A, dismissing the United Front Government and imprisoning Bangabandhu. In the council held on October 21, 22, and 23, 1955, Awami League made its debut as a non-communal democratic party of people of all religions by withdrawing the word 'Muslim' from the name of the party. When the Awami League government was formed in 1956, Bangabandhu served as the Minister of Commerce, Labor, and Industry. On August 8, 1957, Bangabandhu created history by leaving the ministry and assuming the responsibility of the general secretary of the party. Party responsibility was more important to him than the ministership.

On October 7, 1958, at midnight, General Ayub Khan seized power, banned politics, imprisoned politicians, and banned political parties. Bangabandhu was arrested on October 12 of the same year over several false cases. Bangabandhu was arrested again on February 6, 1962. Bangabandhu harshly criticized Ayub's regime in a public meeting in Paltan organized by Awami League on July 5 against jail-oppression-torture to silence the voices of politicians. Our slogan in 1962 was 'Jago Jago Bangalee Jago (Bangalees, rise), Tomar Amar Thikana Padma Meghna Jamuna (Padma, Meghna, Jamuna are our address)'. Awami League was revived in a meeting held at Bangabandhu's residence on January 25, 1964. In this meeting, the proposal of a 'Parliamentary Government by a vote of adult citizens' and realising 'Political Rights' was accepted. In the meeting, Bangabandhu was again elected as the general secretary of the party. On March 11 of the same year, Sarbadliya Sangram Parishad was formed under the leadership of Bangabandhu. At that time, the 'Riot Prevention Committee' was formed under the leadership of Bangabandhu against the planned communal riots across the country. Warning against the rioters, Bangabandhu said, "East Pakistan, stand against riots."

After placing a six-point declaration in 1966, Bangabandhu used to say to us 'I have given you a platform, with this platform we will reach independence one day.' Bangabandhu was arrested when he returned home at 1 am after addressing a large gathering in Narayanganj on May 8. Protesting the arrest, the Awami League observed 'Protest Day' on May 13. In the working committee meeting of the Awami League on May 20, a general strike was called on June 7 against the arrest and the torture of Bangabandhu. The entire East Bengal unconditionally and unitedly extended support for the strike. After the successful hartal, Bangabandhu wrote in the 'Karagarer Rojnamcha (The Jail Diaries)', 'After noon the news came out that the hartal had taken place, the people spontaneously observed the hartal. They support six points and want freedom, want to live, to eat, and want personal freedom. This hartal is proof that they want the workers' just demands and the farmers' demands to live to be met.' (page-69).

For placing the six-point declaration, the military ruling group tried to hang Bangabandhu by accusing him of treason. A case was filed against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others for allegedly conspiring with India against the stability of Pakistan. The case is officially called State vs. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others but is popularly known as Agartala Shoŗojontro Mamla (Agartala conspiracy case). Jagrata Chhatra Samaj formed All-Party Student Action Committee and the Parishad created an 11-point demand that was based on the six-point declaration by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Awami League. In exchange for the blood of countless unknown martyrs, who waged a massive uprising in 1969, the father of the nation was freed from jail on February 22, and on February 23, the grateful Bengali nation On February 23, 1969, the people of Bangladesh bestowed the title of "Bangabandhu" on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a reception organized for Bangabandhu at the Race Course (Sohrawardy Udyan) Maidan on the initiative of the Central Chhatra Sangam Parishad. A few days later the dictator Ayub Khan was forced to resign. Our slogan then was 'Pindi na Dhaka? Dhaka Dhaka (Dhaka or Pindi? Dhaka, Dhaka), Punjab Na Bangla, Bangla Bangla (Bangla or Punjab? Bangla, Bangla).'

On June 2, 1970, I officially joined the Awami League in the presence of national leaders including Bangabandhu. In the historic election of 1970, Bangabandhu nominated me from the Bhola-Daulatkhan-Tazumuddin-Manpura seat in the Pakistan National Assembly and I was elected as a member of the National Assembly at the age of 27 years 1 month 15 days.

Bangabandhu told me, 'You will go to Bhola and will visit all areas. I will nominate you as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan.' As directed by Bangabandhu, I went on a tour of Bhola and carried out political activities on a large scale in the remote areas of Bhola- then there were no roads, bridges, or culverts in Bhola. Bangabandhu bought me a motorbike for Tk1,700. This motorbike was my vehicle. I went to the village house and told my father, 'Father, Bangabandhu has nominated me for the post of MNA in the Pakistan National Assembly. I came back to Dhaka with my father's prayers.'

I remember November 12, 1970, when there was a tidal surge, how many people died in that catastrophic cyclonic storm? Bangabandhu went to visit the devastated Bhola that day. Seeing the heaps of dead bodies on the streets of Bhola, he could not bear it and came to Dhaka ordering us to stand by the helpless and crying people. Awami League under the leadership of Bangabandhu participated in the 1970 elections and won a single majority in the National Assembly of Pakistan. Before the election, Bangabandhu used to say, "This election is a referendum in favor of six points." On January 3, 1971, Bangabandhu took the oath of the newly elected public representatives to uphold the six-point declaration at the Race Course Maidan. General Yahya Khan was engaged in various conspiracies on the question of transfer of power to the majority party. On March 1, the previously announced March 3 session of the National Assembly was unilaterally adjourned, igniting fire among the mass people. Millions of people took to the streets. The 1st phase of freedom struggle started.

On March 7, 1971, Bangabandhu informally declared the independence of Bangladesh, proclaiming: "The struggle this time, is a struggle for our liberty. The struggle this time, is a struggle for our independence."

The brave sons of Bangladesh liberated the country on December 16, 1971, as 30 lakh martyrs and 2 lakh mothers and sisters endured their supreme sacrifice for the cause of this freedom. Even though the country was free of enemies that day, we did not know where Bangabandhu was and how he was doing. On January 8, 1972, when I got the news of Bangabandhu's release, there was a flood of joy all over the country. On January 10, he returned home with the pain of losing his relatives. On that day it seemed that today we are truly independent. Then on January 12, he assumed the responsibility of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and introduced the parliamentary system of government in the country.

After the independence of the country, he started his journey with empty hands. There was no rice in the granary, no money in the bank, and no foreign currency. There were no roads-bridges-culverts, railways, planes, steamers. The whole communication system was destroyed, But he soon re-established the communication system. Bhairav Bridge and Hardinge Bridge were destroyed and he rebuilt those. The Indian Army left Bangladesh on March 12, 1972, with the single-minded efforts of Bangabandhu. On April 7-8, 1972, Bangabandhu was re-elected as president and Zillur Rahman as general secretary in the colorful council of Awami League held at Suhrawardy Udyan. On November 4, 1972, in just 10 months, he formulated one of the best constitutions in the world and formed a government with huge public support by successfully electing the national parliament on March 7. During Bangabandhu's rule, Bangladesh gained recognition from most of the world and became a member of many international organizations including the Commonwealth, the OIC, and the United Nations.

I especially remember the days of traveling abroad as Bangabandhu's travel companion. He was the center of attraction in every conference and session. Bangabandhu's first foreign visit was on February 6, 1972. The great ally of the Liberation War gave an extraordinary speech to a crowd of 20 lakh people at the Brigade Maidan in the city of Kolkata. Then on March 1, we traveled to the Soviet Union. During the days of the War of Liberation, the Soviet Union extended its full support to us. On August 3, 1973, Bangabandhu was the center of attraction at the Commonwealth Conference in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, attended by heads of state and governments of 32 countries. On September 9, 1973, a tower was built in the name of six leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement at a summit held in Algiers, the capital of Algeria. The leaders were--Bangabandhu, Marshal. Josip Broz Tito, Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein, Sukarno, Francis Kwame Nkrumah, and Jawaharlal Nehru of India. Bangabandhu declared on the stage of Algeria, 'The world is divided into two parts today. The exploiter and the exploited. I am for the exploited.'

On October 9, 1973, Bangabandhu visited Japan. The friendly relationship that started with the visit to Japan is still intact today. Japan is making a special contribution to the development sector of Bangladesh. According to the provisions of the party constitution, Bangabandhu stepped down from the post of president in the council session of Awami League on 18, 19, and 20 January in 1974, and national leader AHM Kamaruzzaman was elected in his place. On February 22, 1974, he went to the Islamic Summit in Pakistan. I saw people standing on both sides of the road at the Lahore Airport chanting, 'Ziye Mujib Ziye Mujib', i.e. Mujib Zindabad.' Bangabandhu was the focal point of this conference. The event did not begin until he reached Lahore. The summit was adjourned for one day for Bangabandhu.

I especially remember about September 25, 1974. He set a unique example by speaking in his mother tongue Bengali at the United Nations. Bangabandhu was requested, 'You will speak in English.' Bangabandhu said, 'I want to speak in my mother tongue Bengali.' Then he had a meeting with Kurt Waldheim, the Secretary General of the United Nations. On October 1, he met the President of the United States, Gerald Ford, at the White House in Washington. He arrived in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq on October 3, 1974, on a 6-day visit on his way back from the United States. There everyone including the head of state was impressed by the great personality of Bangabandhu. From April 29 to May 6, 1975, his presence at the Commonwealth Summit in Kingston, Jamaica impressed everyone.

The Bangabandhu-1 satellite was launched into space, the foundation stone of which was laid in 1975 with the setting up of the Betbunya Geo-satellite Centre. I was Bangabandhu's traveling companion that day. Bangabandhu got only three and a half years to rebuild the war-torn Bangladesh. The government led by Bangabandhu conducted economic activities in both directions--rehabilitation and reconstruction in the first part and socio-economic development in the second part.

In 1974-75, 2,249,000 tonnes of rice was produced in Boro season, which is 29,000 tonnes more than in 1973-74. Bangabandhu decided to declare the country self-sufficient in food in December. The moment Bangabandhu normalized the war-torn country, and planned the second revolution with the aim of economic liberation, just then the defeated power of 1971, assassinated Bangabandhu along with his family members.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the visionary of digital Bangladesh, has raised Bangladesh to a unique height by following the path that the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman laid the foundation of building a science and technology-dependent Bangladesh with the conviction of building Sonar Bangla. Many mega projects have been implemented and more are nearing completion. Rooppur's nuclear power project was the dream of the father of the nation. Today Rooppur nuclear power project with 2400MW capacity is on the way to completion under the initiative of Bangabandhu's daughter. The journey of the past 14 years has proven that 'Digital Bangladesh' is the timely development philosophy of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Now the government aims to transform Bangladesh into a 'Smart Bangladesh'.

By killing Bangabandhu, the murderous gang thought it would destroy Bangabandhu's ideology and Awami League; But Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina touched the soil of her homeland on May 17, 1981, after a long exile due to the pain of losing her relatives, took the Awami League flag soaked in the blood of martyrs and took the responsibility of Bangabandhu's unfinished work i.e. economic liberation and raised Bangladesh to a unique height. After the assassination of Bangabandhu, the conspiracy to wipe out the Awami League from the politics of this country began. Awami League had to fight against the dictatorship. Awami League under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is engaged in the responsibility of state administration for the fourth consecutive time and for the fifth time through a long struggle.

Following the footsteps of the father of the nation, Bangabandhu's daughter has made Bangladesh a place of honour in the world. Economically, Bangladesh is a role model for development today. The father of the nation did politics with two goals--the independence of Bangladesh and economic liberation. He gave us freedom but could not give us economic freedom. Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is doing that work with dedication, efficiency, and honesty. The day is not far away when independent Bangladesh will conquer all kinds of adversities and become a dignified, hunger-free, poverty-free, golden Bengal of Bangabandhu's dream, i.e. Smart Bangladesh.

Author: Member of the advisory council of Bangladesh Awami League and Member of the National Parliament.