Zahurul Alam :
Unconditional surrender of 93,000 Pakistanis on 16th December 1971 to the Allied Forces manifested victory of patriotism over treachery, right over wrong and kindness over cruelty. On 22 December the cabinet of the Exile Government of Bangladesh returned to Dhaka. However, the nation was yet to celebrate its final victory, Bangabandhu was yet to come back. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, by that time President of Pakistan, despite immense internal and external pressure to release Bangabandhu, was still killing time with the hope of negotiations with Bangladesh Government or with Bangabandhu in prison to create a loose federation with Pakistan. At home Bhutto was pressurized to bring back the surrendered 93,000 Pakistanis. International community, including media bitterly criticized Pakistan for delaying Bangabandhu’s release. Under the circumstances Bhutto had no alternatives but to release with honour the Leader of the newborn state. Bangabandhu was released from Pakistan jail on 8th January, 23 days after the surrender of the Pakistanis. Thus the return of Bangabandhu to independent Bangladesh was not a matter of generosity, rather the Pakistani military and political goons were compelled to release him under enormous national and international pressure and to keep alive last hope for preventing separation. Mujib alive according to their perceptions may keep the option for negotiation with the victorious nation.
Bangabandhu is the greatest hero of our soil because the enormous courage that he showed during the whole of his life to protect the interest of the people, the level of sacrifice that he made to make people happy and the colossal success that he brought to our nation and national pride can never be compared with the deeds of any other personality. The power of his will defied fear, his devotion to the people threw the gauntlet down to fate, his honor contempted to compromise with death, that’s why Bangabandhu is the hero of all times.
Bangabandhu fought whole of his life selflessly for the purpose of the people and was ready to accept all consequences to make people happy. At every stage of struggle for rights, self emancipation and independence, the nation found Mujib at the forefront. Emergence of Awami League, the Language Movement, victory of Jukto Front, anti-Ayub movement, 1962 students movement, Six-point movement, mass uprising of 1969, Lahore conference, elections of 1970, historic non-cooperation movement, declaration of independence and victory, Mujib was everywhere. Bangabandhu declared on 7th March at Race Course: “I don’t want to be the Prime Minister, I want to establish rights of the people of this soil”.
If heroism is a matter of profound sacrifice, then Bangabandhu sacrificed more than anybody else, if it is a matter of courage, then Bangabandhu showed that more than anybody else, if it is a matter of success, then who else than Bangabandhu brought that more to the nation? And lastly, if heroism is a matter of love for the nation, then Bangabandhu is at the level where no one can climb ever! During whole of his charismatic career Bangabandhu was at the centre of all actions related to wellbeing and prosperity of the nation. His valor in danger and strength in suffering have made him the greatest personality of Bangla.
Bangabandhu served people at whatever cost. He transformed compassion into heroic action. He preferred risk to comfort when that concerned the interest of the people. That is why Mujib could spend 13 years of his career in jail, he could resign as a Minister for the cause of party and he was unmoved when the killers came to him on 26 March 1971 and on 15 August 1975 to kill him. Each act of Bangabandhu was full of courage, integrity and non-compromise when that concerned interest of the people.
On 8th January Bangabandhu was sent to London on a special flight from Rawalpindi. Bhutto personally saw him off at the airport. On arrival in London the Leader immediately talked to international media at Hotel Claridge’s on the same day and appealed to the international community to support the newborn state. In London the British Prime Minister Edward Heath warmly greeted Bangabandhu. On 9 January Bangabandhu left London on a Royal Air Force jet for Bangladesh. On way home the Leader was given a warm reception by the Indian President V.V. Giri and the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Delhi, where he had a stopover. The entire Indian cabinet and chiefs of armed forces were present at the reception in Delhi that turned into a huge meeting where the leaders of both the countries addressed. Bangabandhu thanked the people of India on behalf of 75 million people of Bangladesh and termed the Indians as the best friends of Bangladesh. At noon Bangabandhu left Delhi for Dhaka.
It was BBC that first broadcast the news about Bangabandhu’s release and arrival in London on 8 January. Upon hearing the news of Bangabandhu’s release and return the people of Bangladesh started celebrating on the streets. Hundreds of thousands of people from all corners of Bangladesh rushed to Dhaka airport and gathered at the Race Course. By 10 O’clock in the morning of 10 January, the roads from Tejgaon Airport to Race Course were full of jubilant people from all walks of life, young and old, male and female. The offices and shops were closed. Everybody waited patiently to have a glance at their beloved hero, the leader, the defender and the deliverer. On Bangabandhu’s return the Time magazine wrote:
‘..all weekend long the people of Bangladesh thronged into Dhaka, preparing to welcome their beloved “Bangabandhu”. By Monday noon 10 January 1972, hundreds of thousands of jubilant Bengalis lined the streets of the capital, waving flags and shouting over and over, “Sheikh Mujib! Sheikh Mujib!”. Promptly at 1.30 pm, a blue and silver British Royal Air Force Comet dropped out of a brilliant sunny sky and ground to an abrupt halt on the shortened war-damaged runway of Tejgaon Airport. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was home at last. As the Comet’s door opened, the first gun of a 21-gun salute cracked through the air. Then Sheikh Mujibur Rahman stepped out to a tumultuous welcome. A sea of crowd roared with “Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu.”
From the airport Bangabandhu directly went to meet the countrymen. The Race Course transformed into a human sea with almost a million people waiting to see their beloved leader. Similar size of crowd was standing and chanting slogans under the bright sunlight of January along the Airport Road to greet the hero.
The rooftops and the balconies of the roadside houses were full of emotional people with flags and flowers in their hands. It took almost two hours for the convoy carrying the Supreme Commander of the Liberation War from Tejgaon Airport to the Race Course. The national and internation media was busy transmitting the return of the hero.
As soon as Bangabandhu reached Race Course the crowd burst into joy. Many cried in tears chanting slogans and thanking God. Bangabandhu started his speech with emotion-chocked voice saying that his life’s dream has come true with the liberation of Bangaldesh. He thanked the people of Bangladesh, India, the international community, and called the people to refrain from revenge. He said: “Forgive them!..there should not be any more killing.” Referring to Bhutto’s request to “Try to keep Pakistan together, if there is any way”, Bangabandhu snapped Bhutto’s suggestion (of lose federation) and declared: “It has been snapped for all time to come; you live in peace and let us live in peace.” He further reiterated: “Bengal is independent, and let the people of Bangladesh live happily. The unity of Pakistan is ended.”
(Professor Zahurul Alam is President, Governance and Rights Centre (GRC), Dhaka. Email: [email protected])
Unconditional surrender of 93,000 Pakistanis on 16th December 1971 to the Allied Forces manifested victory of patriotism over treachery, right over wrong and kindness over cruelty. On 22 December the cabinet of the Exile Government of Bangladesh returned to Dhaka. However, the nation was yet to celebrate its final victory, Bangabandhu was yet to come back. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, by that time President of Pakistan, despite immense internal and external pressure to release Bangabandhu, was still killing time with the hope of negotiations with Bangladesh Government or with Bangabandhu in prison to create a loose federation with Pakistan. At home Bhutto was pressurized to bring back the surrendered 93,000 Pakistanis. International community, including media bitterly criticized Pakistan for delaying Bangabandhu’s release. Under the circumstances Bhutto had no alternatives but to release with honour the Leader of the newborn state. Bangabandhu was released from Pakistan jail on 8th January, 23 days after the surrender of the Pakistanis. Thus the return of Bangabandhu to independent Bangladesh was not a matter of generosity, rather the Pakistani military and political goons were compelled to release him under enormous national and international pressure and to keep alive last hope for preventing separation. Mujib alive according to their perceptions may keep the option for negotiation with the victorious nation.
Bangabandhu is the greatest hero of our soil because the enormous courage that he showed during the whole of his life to protect the interest of the people, the level of sacrifice that he made to make people happy and the colossal success that he brought to our nation and national pride can never be compared with the deeds of any other personality. The power of his will defied fear, his devotion to the people threw the gauntlet down to fate, his honor contempted to compromise with death, that’s why Bangabandhu is the hero of all times.
Bangabandhu fought whole of his life selflessly for the purpose of the people and was ready to accept all consequences to make people happy. At every stage of struggle for rights, self emancipation and independence, the nation found Mujib at the forefront. Emergence of Awami League, the Language Movement, victory of Jukto Front, anti-Ayub movement, 1962 students movement, Six-point movement, mass uprising of 1969, Lahore conference, elections of 1970, historic non-cooperation movement, declaration of independence and victory, Mujib was everywhere. Bangabandhu declared on 7th March at Race Course: “I don’t want to be the Prime Minister, I want to establish rights of the people of this soil”.
If heroism is a matter of profound sacrifice, then Bangabandhu sacrificed more than anybody else, if it is a matter of courage, then Bangabandhu showed that more than anybody else, if it is a matter of success, then who else than Bangabandhu brought that more to the nation? And lastly, if heroism is a matter of love for the nation, then Bangabandhu is at the level where no one can climb ever! During whole of his charismatic career Bangabandhu was at the centre of all actions related to wellbeing and prosperity of the nation. His valor in danger and strength in suffering have made him the greatest personality of Bangla.
Bangabandhu served people at whatever cost. He transformed compassion into heroic action. He preferred risk to comfort when that concerned the interest of the people. That is why Mujib could spend 13 years of his career in jail, he could resign as a Minister for the cause of party and he was unmoved when the killers came to him on 26 March 1971 and on 15 August 1975 to kill him. Each act of Bangabandhu was full of courage, integrity and non-compromise when that concerned interest of the people.
On 8th January Bangabandhu was sent to London on a special flight from Rawalpindi. Bhutto personally saw him off at the airport. On arrival in London the Leader immediately talked to international media at Hotel Claridge’s on the same day and appealed to the international community to support the newborn state. In London the British Prime Minister Edward Heath warmly greeted Bangabandhu. On 9 January Bangabandhu left London on a Royal Air Force jet for Bangladesh. On way home the Leader was given a warm reception by the Indian President V.V. Giri and the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Delhi, where he had a stopover. The entire Indian cabinet and chiefs of armed forces were present at the reception in Delhi that turned into a huge meeting where the leaders of both the countries addressed. Bangabandhu thanked the people of India on behalf of 75 million people of Bangladesh and termed the Indians as the best friends of Bangladesh. At noon Bangabandhu left Delhi for Dhaka.
It was BBC that first broadcast the news about Bangabandhu’s release and arrival in London on 8 January. Upon hearing the news of Bangabandhu’s release and return the people of Bangladesh started celebrating on the streets. Hundreds of thousands of people from all corners of Bangladesh rushed to Dhaka airport and gathered at the Race Course. By 10 O’clock in the morning of 10 January, the roads from Tejgaon Airport to Race Course were full of jubilant people from all walks of life, young and old, male and female. The offices and shops were closed. Everybody waited patiently to have a glance at their beloved hero, the leader, the defender and the deliverer. On Bangabandhu’s return the Time magazine wrote:
‘..all weekend long the people of Bangladesh thronged into Dhaka, preparing to welcome their beloved “Bangabandhu”. By Monday noon 10 January 1972, hundreds of thousands of jubilant Bengalis lined the streets of the capital, waving flags and shouting over and over, “Sheikh Mujib! Sheikh Mujib!”. Promptly at 1.30 pm, a blue and silver British Royal Air Force Comet dropped out of a brilliant sunny sky and ground to an abrupt halt on the shortened war-damaged runway of Tejgaon Airport. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was home at last. As the Comet’s door opened, the first gun of a 21-gun salute cracked through the air. Then Sheikh Mujibur Rahman stepped out to a tumultuous welcome. A sea of crowd roared with “Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu.”
From the airport Bangabandhu directly went to meet the countrymen. The Race Course transformed into a human sea with almost a million people waiting to see their beloved leader. Similar size of crowd was standing and chanting slogans under the bright sunlight of January along the Airport Road to greet the hero.
The rooftops and the balconies of the roadside houses were full of emotional people with flags and flowers in their hands. It took almost two hours for the convoy carrying the Supreme Commander of the Liberation War from Tejgaon Airport to the Race Course. The national and internation media was busy transmitting the return of the hero.
As soon as Bangabandhu reached Race Course the crowd burst into joy. Many cried in tears chanting slogans and thanking God. Bangabandhu started his speech with emotion-chocked voice saying that his life’s dream has come true with the liberation of Bangaldesh. He thanked the people of Bangladesh, India, the international community, and called the people to refrain from revenge. He said: “Forgive them!..there should not be any more killing.” Referring to Bhutto’s request to “Try to keep Pakistan together, if there is any way”, Bangabandhu snapped Bhutto’s suggestion (of lose federation) and declared: “It has been snapped for all time to come; you live in peace and let us live in peace.” He further reiterated: “Bengal is independent, and let the people of Bangladesh live happily. The unity of Pakistan is ended.”
(Professor Zahurul Alam is President, Governance and Rights Centre (GRC), Dhaka. Email: [email protected])
