The Historic March 7, a memorable day in the history of Bangalees’ long arduous freedom struggle, was observed on Wednesday in a befitting manner.
This year, the day bears a great significance as Unesco recogonised the historic March 7 Speech as a world documentary heritage.
On this day in 1971, Bangalees’ undisputed leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his epoch-making speech of independence before a mammoth rally at the historic Racecourse Maidan, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in the city. In his 19-minute extempore speech before a million freedom-loving people, Bangabandhu had made a clarion call for a non-cooperation movement asking the nation to prepare for the war of independence to liberate the country from the exploitative Pakistan regime.
“The struggle this time is for freedom, the struggle this time is for independence, Joy Bangla,” Bangabandhu declared from the massive rally. In his speech, compared with US President Abraham Lincoln’s historic Gettysburg speech, Sheikh Mujib said, “Since we’ve learnt to give blood, we’ll give more blood. Inshallah, the people of this country must be liberated…Turn every house into a fort. Face (the enemy) with whatever you have.” Bangabandhu’s speech worked like a magic spell inspiring the entire Bangalee nation to join in the struggle for independence from the autocratic and repressive rule of the then Pakistani military junta. On October 30 last, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) recognised the Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 Speech as a world documentary heritage.
Awami League and different socio-political and cultural organisations arranged different programmes on the occasion. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi.
Awami League organised a mammoth public rally at historic Suhrawardy Udyan where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke. Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private television channels and radio stations aired special programmes marking the day.
