March 7 microphone is up for auction internationally

People started gathering at the Racecourse Ground from early morning on March 7, 1971. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ascended the stage at noon and effectively called for the independence of Bangladesh.

In his 18-minute speech, every sentence echoed with fervor, igniting the spirit of the nation. The speech also energised the entire nation and prepared the people for the forthcoming Liberation struggle. That fire spread to every corner, reaching villages and towns, cities, and ports, touching the hearts of seven crore people. The subsequent history is well known to all.

The nation attained its independence by heeding the call of Bangabandhu. His historic speech on that day has been recognized in the annals of world history. Not only then, but even today, whenever people speak out against injustice and oppression, Bangabandhu's words from that speech resonate, stirring people's emotions in the same way. Call-Ready – a microphone and sound service company played a crucial role in delivering Bangabandhu's speech to the people that day. Even today, when Bangabandhu's speech is played somewhere, the unconscious association of the term "Call-Ready" with the vibrant face of Bangabandhu before the microphone comes to mind.

Call-Ready office in Laxmibazar, Dhaka । Photo: Collected

However, despite the passage of 52 years of independence, the Call-Ready service did not receive national recognition. It's not just that the microphone through which Bangabandhu delivered his historic speech hasn't found its place in the National Museum, Liberation War Museum, or Bangabandhu Museum. Rather, it is now up for auction internationally.

In the pursuit of the history of the nation's pride, Views Bangladesh started its search for the whereabouts of the March 7 microphone. This correspondent visited Laxmibazar area of old Dhaka, where the Call-Ready store is located. Upon entering, he saw several employees engrossed in their tasks. However, since the current owner, Sagar Ghosh, was not present, he couldn't gather much information.

Many of the employees had been working in the store for a long time. Yet, when asked about the matter, none seemed willing to speak up. They did not want to establish any form of communication with Sagar Ghosh either. However, after various attempts, some of them started to open up a bit.

At one point, an individual representing the owner of Call-Ready entered the store. Wishing anonymity, he also seemed reluctant to engage in conversation initially. However, it became evident through the conversation that the microphone and other equipments of historical significance are still carefully preserved with the company.

However, as long as the Call-Ready store is located, there seems to be a certain level of instability perceived among everyone, as if everyone is busy concealing information.
Contacted over phone, Sagar Ghosh's son Bishwanath Ghosh (known as Bishu Babu) at one point said "The microphone is not in the country. It's in Germany. A German's institution is preparing to auction it."

7th of March, the microphone is kept Call-Ready । Photo: Collected

Referring to the German's technology and business solution company named NTT, he further added that, "The microphone has been handed over to the institution for auction."

Bishwanath Ghosh also said that despite attempts to communicate with the highest levels of government, the microphone has not been taken under national custody.
He added that, "We have contacted the highest levels of the government. However, we have not received any response. That's why we sent it three months ago."

While many significant artifacts from the era of Liberation War are preserved nationally, the microphone used in Bangabandhu's historic speech, which was associated with Call-Ready, is now up for auction.

Asked about how do you see this matter, Shahriar Kabir, the chairman of Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, said "It should have been taken under the custody of the National Museum, Liberation War Museum, or Bangabandhu Museum. Perhaps Call-Ready is considering auctioning it off for commercial reasons. However, it should not be let go outside in any way."

The call-ready microphone could have been handed over to the National Museum with proper evidence, he added that “There are doubts regarding their patriotism as well. They could have informed the National Museum, Liberation War Museum, or Bangabandhu Museum. If the National Museum had provided suitable evidence, they could have collected it with payment. If the National Museum had shown reluctance, they could have auctioned it off."

Bishwanath Ghosh confirmed that the matter of the microphone has been officially communicated to the National Museum several times. He added that they also spoke to the Liberation War Museum and they did not get any solution.

According to locals, Pakistani force destroyed the home and office of Call-Ready owners during the crackdown on March 25-26, 1971. They then hid the microphones and amplifiers to a relative's house.

They managed to save them anyhow. However, there is no initiative to preserve the equipment either.

No government has not taken any step to preserve this equipment. The Call-Ready people think that this message has not been conveyed properly to the Prime Minister and also the daughter of Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina.