THE nation celebrates the 45th Independence and National Day though our real independence came on Victory Day on 16th December 1971. 26th March is observed as the day of declaration of independence.
We remember the martyrs of March 25 ‘black night’ today who were massacred including unarmed people, teachers, students, police, BDR and others on that fateful night. The whole people of East Pakistan were furious at that time in protest to the West Pakistani military junta’s refusal to hand over power to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Awami League’s landslide victory in election in 1970.
President Gen. Yahya Khan was unable to convene the newly elected National Assembly into session for the political crisis being caused by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the majority leader from West Pakistan.
Instead, the military government went into army operation in the midnight of 25th March 1971 against the unarmed people of East Pakistan to suppress their democratic dreams. The people were indiscriminately killed to produce a reign of terror in a leaderless situation.
Our people had no choice but to organize the liberation war with the help of India. By and large the international community also supported our struggle for the ideology of freedom under democracy. Our liberation war became internationally the high symbol of fight for the people’s democratic rights.
True independence came nine months later. During these nine months the people here lived in the horror of massacre inflicted by the Pakistan army leadership treating East Pakistan as a country under military occupation.
Bangabandhu was taken as a prisoner to Lahore on March 25, but his absence was immensely felt through out the liberation war. He remained the unifying force and inspiration for the people in their war of liberation.
On this day we have to show our solemn respect to those who gave their lives under the brutalities of the occupation army as well those who lost their lives in the liberation war fought in the most difficult circumstances. The tragedy of those nine months must not be forgotten so that our people are not subjected to live in terror without rights. This is also the occasion when we must renew our determination not to lose the freedom our people won through extreme sacrifices.
