The historic March 7 is here again to remind the countrymen of the day when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the decisive battle against the repressive Pakistani occupation forces.
On this day in 1971, Sheikh Mujib, in a fiery and inspiring speech delivered at one of the biggest rallies in the country's history at Dhaka's Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan), had given the final call for the liberation movement.
At the historic gathering, Bangabandhu's words — "Ebarer sangram amader muktir sangram, ebarer sangram swadhinatar sangram (this time, the struggle is for our freedom, for our independence)" — touched the very hearts of 70 million Bengalees.
Declaring a war against the Pakistani forces, he said: "Since we have sacrificed blood, we will sacrifice more. We will definitely liberate the country, Insha-Allah… Turn every house into a fort and counter (the enemy) with whatever you have."
His March 7 speech inspired people from all walks of life to prepare for the 'final assault'.
Eighteen days after his remarkable speech to the nation, the Pakistani army launched 'Operation Searchlight' over the unarmed Bengalees.
Responding to his call, people of the then East Pakistan took up arms to fight the Pakistani army through a nine-month bloody war that finally heralded the birth of Bangladesh as an independent nation.
AWAMI LEAGUE SET TO OBSERVE THE DAY
The ruling Awami League is all set to observe the historical day in a different manner, as the party's another main agenda, alongside observing the day, would be to showcase its organising strength only days ahead of the opposition BNP's much-hyped Mar 12 grand rally.
The party is set to stage a 'mass rally', led by Awami League president and Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina, in the capital on the day. This is first time that Hasina will be joining any procession since she took the office of the prime minister this time round.
The rally is scheduled to begin from Suhrawardy Udyan at 3pm Wednesday. Hasina will address a pre-procession gathering there before inaugurating the rally.
Awami League has already completed all its preparations to make the rally a success.
Party joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif told bdnews24.com that all pro-liberation forces have already been asked to join the rally.
He said, "Besides Awami League's central leaders, party MPs, Dhaka metropolitan unit, district units of Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Gazipur, Narsinghdi and other affiliated organisations are working hand-in-hand to ensure a great success for the rally."
On this day in 1971, Sheikh Mujib, in a fiery and inspiring speech delivered at one of the biggest rallies in the country's history at Dhaka's Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan), had given the final call for the liberation movement.
At the historic gathering, Bangabandhu's words — "Ebarer sangram amader muktir sangram, ebarer sangram swadhinatar sangram (this time, the struggle is for our freedom, for our independence)" — touched the very hearts of 70 million Bengalees.
Declaring a war against the Pakistani forces, he said: "Since we have sacrificed blood, we will sacrifice more. We will definitely liberate the country, Insha-Allah… Turn every house into a fort and counter (the enemy) with whatever you have."
His March 7 speech inspired people from all walks of life to prepare for the 'final assault'.
Eighteen days after his remarkable speech to the nation, the Pakistani army launched 'Operation Searchlight' over the unarmed Bengalees.
Responding to his call, people of the then East Pakistan took up arms to fight the Pakistani army through a nine-month bloody war that finally heralded the birth of Bangladesh as an independent nation.
AWAMI LEAGUE SET TO OBSERVE THE DAY
The ruling Awami League is all set to observe the historical day in a different manner, as the party's another main agenda, alongside observing the day, would be to showcase its organising strength only days ahead of the opposition BNP's much-hyped Mar 12 grand rally.
The party is set to stage a 'mass rally', led by Awami League president and Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina, in the capital on the day. This is first time that Hasina will be joining any procession since she took the office of the prime minister this time round.
The rally is scheduled to begin from Suhrawardy Udyan at 3pm Wednesday. Hasina will address a pre-procession gathering there before inaugurating the rally.
Awami League has already completed all its preparations to make the rally a success.
Party joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif told bdnews24.com that all pro-liberation forces have already been asked to join the rally.
He said, "Besides Awami League's central leaders, party MPs, Dhaka metropolitan unit, district units of Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Gazipur, Narsinghdi and other affiliated organisations are working hand-in-hand to ensure a great success for the rally."
'HOPE OF MILLIONS TO JOIN THE RALLY'
A joint meeting, presided over by party chief Sheikh Hasina, took place on Saturday to take stock of the preparations ahead of the rally.
Party's central executive council members, MPs of the Dhaka constituencies, leaders of affiliated organisations and leaders of Dhaka metropolitan unit and district units of Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Gazipur and Narsinghdi had also attended the meeting.
Hasina told the meeting that colourful processions from every ward of the metropolis should join the rally.
Another similar meeting had taken last Wednesday at the party headquarters.
Metropolitan unit organising secretary Shah Alam Murad told bdnews24.com that their goal is to gather people from all the wards as well as unions of the capital.
A hopeful Murad said, "Not only of the city unit, leaders and activists of our affiliated organisations and district units will also join the rally."
Meanwhile, leaders and activists of Juba League, student front of the ruling party, have also been told to be present at the party headquarters at Bangabandhu Avenue within 12pm. They are supposed to be positioned at Suhrawardy Udyan and the surrounding area within 2pm.
They would be in red, green and yellow T-shirts in the mass rally.
However, Shwechchasebak League general secretary Pankaj Debnath told bdnews24.com they would be taking out processions from all thana areas to converge at Suhrawardy Udyan before noon.
MESSAGES
President Mohammad Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages underlining the historic significance of the day.
The president in his message on Tuesday said the 'Golden Bengal', the long-cherished dream of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu, is yet to come true, as "the nation is continuously fighting against hunger, poverty, superstitions and the adverse effects of global climate change..."
The prime minister's message read, "That historic speech of March 7 is one of the best political speeches. The magical speech of March 7 had united the entire nation. We should promise now that we will also reach our desired goal by uniting ourselves in the same way."
Apart from the party's mass rally, the ruling party has also made elaborate arrangements to observe the historic day.
The party would begin the day with hoisting national and party flags at 6.30am at the Bangabandhu Avenue-located party's central office and Bangabandhu Museum. Paying of respect at Sheikh Mujib's mural at Bangabandhu Museum at Dhanmondi-32 will start at 7am.
Bangladesh Betar (government radio), Bangladesh Television and several other private television channels have also announced special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
A joint meeting, presided over by party chief Sheikh Hasina, took place on Saturday to take stock of the preparations ahead of the rally.
Party's central executive council members, MPs of the Dhaka constituencies, leaders of affiliated organisations and leaders of Dhaka metropolitan unit and district units of Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Gazipur and Narsinghdi had also attended the meeting.
Hasina told the meeting that colourful processions from every ward of the metropolis should join the rally.
Another similar meeting had taken last Wednesday at the party headquarters.
Metropolitan unit organising secretary Shah Alam Murad told bdnews24.com that their goal is to gather people from all the wards as well as unions of the capital.
A hopeful Murad said, "Not only of the city unit, leaders and activists of our affiliated organisations and district units will also join the rally."
Meanwhile, leaders and activists of Juba League, student front of the ruling party, have also been told to be present at the party headquarters at Bangabandhu Avenue within 12pm. They are supposed to be positioned at Suhrawardy Udyan and the surrounding area within 2pm.
They would be in red, green and yellow T-shirts in the mass rally.
However, Shwechchasebak League general secretary Pankaj Debnath told bdnews24.com they would be taking out processions from all thana areas to converge at Suhrawardy Udyan before noon.
MESSAGES
President Mohammad Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages underlining the historic significance of the day.
The president in his message on Tuesday said the 'Golden Bengal', the long-cherished dream of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu, is yet to come true, as "the nation is continuously fighting against hunger, poverty, superstitions and the adverse effects of global climate change..."
The prime minister's message read, "That historic speech of March 7 is one of the best political speeches. The magical speech of March 7 had united the entire nation. We should promise now that we will also reach our desired goal by uniting ourselves in the same way."
Apart from the party's mass rally, the ruling party has also made elaborate arrangements to observe the historic day.
The party would begin the day with hoisting national and party flags at 6.30am at the Bangabandhu Avenue-located party's central office and Bangabandhu Museum. Paying of respect at Sheikh Mujib's mural at Bangabandhu Museum at Dhanmondi-32 will start at 7am.
Bangladesh Betar (government radio), Bangladesh Television and several other private television channels have also announced special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
