We have to win this fight

March is a red-letter month of Bengali’s freedom fighting against Pakistani persecution, oppression and torture. The March is like a fire spark producing month to the nation.

The whole nation sharpens its spirit freshly on this month and takes new oath. The month of March all the time shows us way newly against persecution, oppression and torture. The ultimate fighting to get independence was started in March. People from all walks of life fought against injustice on this month.   

The whole March in 1971 was eventful. The Bengali nation developed resistance against Pakistani occupation forces. Awami League won the election in 1970 but, the Pakistani rulers started time killing avoiding power handover process. On March 3, 1971, military ruler General Yahya Khan postponed the schedule meeting of Gana Parishad of March 3. As a result, the people of East Pakistan raised their voice strongly protesting the incident.

Bengali nation started to see the dream of independence in the begging days of March. The nation was ready to get the taste of freedom against Pakistani exploitation, torture and discrimination. The father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called all-out-strike on March 2 and March 3 following the demand of agitated students. Bangabandhu urged the Bengalese nation to join the independence was through his speech at Race Course Maidan (Suhrawardy Udyan) on March 7. In his thunderbolt voice, he announced, “Ebarer Songram Amader Muktir Songra Ebarer Songram Sawdhinotar Songram (This time the struggle is for our freedom and emancipation).” 

Pakistani military junta started mass killing in Dhaka on the fateful night of March 25 in 1971. In the attack dubbed “Operation Searchlight,” the Pakistani forces mercilessly killed students, teachers and innocent common people. They attacked Razarbagh police line, Pilkhan, Dhaka University and various spots. Bangabandhu was arrested on that night. However, Bangabandhu announced independence before his detention. The information of Pakistani attacks spread across the country through the wireless of EPR. The armed struggle had started everywhere.

After a bloody nine-month war, Bangladesh achieved independence losing 30 lakh of lives and the honor of two lakh women. 

Basically, the people of East Pakistan, the Bengalese faced discrimination from the very beginning in 1947. In this context, the language movement in 1952, six-point movement in 1966 and mass uprising in 1969 were milestones of the nation’s formation. In the month March, it was clear that the nation was moving forward to get its own rights after mass uprising of 1969. As a symbolic month against torture, oppression and persecution, the March shows us new way to move forward every time.

The nation will complete 48 years of independence this year. We are remembering the martyrs of this soil who sacrificed their lives and enlightened the nation to fight against injustice. Becoming inspired from the lesson of March, now we are involved in a different kind of fight. The fight against poverty, illiteracy, bad politic and backwardness is underway. Beating this odds, we are fighting to build a liberal, humanitarian and developed country. We have to win this fight. Our new general should be prepared properly for this.


risingbd/Dhaka/March 1, 2019/Ali Nowsher/Nasim