Bangladesh
Independence & National Day Great Independence and National Day today
Dhaka, March 26: Today is the Great Independence and National Day. On the night of March 25, 1971, the Pakistani military launched a sudden genocidal campaign against Bengalis called 'Operation Searchlight' and arrested Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader of the Bengali nation.
Before his arrest, Bangabandhu announced the independence of Bangladesh in the early hours of March 26 in Dhaka. Bangabandhu's announcement was broadcasted in various media including Bangladesh.
Despite the Awami League winning a majority in the 1970 general elections, the Pakistani military did not hand over power to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the Pakistani military began massacring Bengali civilians. The main aim of their campaign was to indiscriminately kill all the progressive political leaders and activists and all the conscious citizens of East Pakistan including Awami League.
Before Bangabandhu was arrested from his residence in Dhanmondi, he called for the declaration of independence of Bangladesh as well as resistance against the enemy at any cost. Bangabandhu's announcement was spread across the country and abroad through wireless. At that time, it was not possible to preserve this declaration of independence document of Bangabandhu due to reality and security reasons. Later Bangabandhu's Declaration was included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The announcement was broadcast across the country by the transmitters of the then EPR. Later on March 26 and 27 several people read out the declaration of independence on behalf of Sheikh Mujib from the Swadhin Bangla Betar center in Chittagong.
The precious document of Bangabandhu's declaration is recorded there as "This may be our last message, Bangladesh is independent from today. I call upon the people of Bangladesh to stand up with whatever they have, wherever they are, to resist the invading forces with all their might. Keep fighting until the last soldier of the Pakistani occupation forces is driven from the soil of Bengal and the final victory is achieved. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. March 26, 1971."
