BSS
March, the month of English calendar year, has much significance to the ‘Bangalee’ nation, as the formal struggle for independence began this month after Bangabandhu’s 7th-March historic speech and the massacre of Bangalees by Pakistani forces at the dark night of 25 March 1971.
In this month, the Banglalee nation received a clear guideline and
framework for independence from Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who delivered the historic speech at Race Course ground (now Suhrawardy Uddyan), urging the Bangalees to get prepared to fight for achieving emancipation, if need be, through armed struggle.
The Bengali people were inspired to prepare for a potential war of
independence amid widespread reports of armed mobilization by Pakistani junta.
During his speech, Bangabandhu told the sea of people at Race Course, “This struggle is for our freedom. This struggle is for our independence”. He also announced the civil disobedience with the call for “turning every house into a fortress”.
The war eventually began 18 days later, when Pakistani Army launched
“Operation Searchlight” against Bangalee civilians, intelligentsia, students, politicians and armed personnel at the dark night of March 25, 1971. The Pakistani occupation force arrested Bangabandhu at early hours of that night and he was sent to Pakistan jail in the next couple of days. However, Bangabandhu was freed from Pakistan prison and returned home on 10 January 1972 after the birth of independent Bangladesh on December 16, 1971.
Three million people lost their lives either at the frontlines or in the hands of Pakistani forces and their local collaborators during the nine-month liberation war. Thousands of women were also violated by Pakistani forces and their local allies- Razakars, Al-Badars and Al-Shamas. Some of their living masterminds had been brought to justice by the present government and guilty found amongst them (war criminals) were hanged.
Demands have also been raised to try the war criminals in Pakistani forces who were supposed to be put under trial by the Pakistani government as per an agreement between the two countries. The Pakistani government is yet to start the process for trying the members of their forces who committed offences like killing, loot, rape and arson during the period of Liberation War in 1971.