Module : 01 A Bangabandhu Studies

Topic: “Bangabandhu and the Liberation Struggle of Bangladesh are

inseparable”

Introduction
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dedicated himself to establish a democratic, peaceful and
exploitation-free society called “Sonar Bangla”, literally Golden Bengal. Morevoer, he sacrificed
his life to liberate the is the Bangalee nation. He is the Father of the Nation (Constituion of the
People’s Republic of Bangladesh). Meanwhile, he is the generator of Bangalee nationalism.
Without him we could not have our Naational flag. From early age he had that leadership quality
among mass. Despite all hurdles, he could always been calculative to reach the goal. Finally the
target was to liberate the people of erstwhile Pakistan, for struggle and freedom (7 th March
Speech, recognised masterspeech by UNESCO). Leadership is the istinct qualities of a human
being which is expressed explicitly. That explicity was turned into the Golden sun of ecstasy, a
brand new nation State, namely Bangladesh. Being tantalized by Tagore, Bangabandhu even
chose the National Anthem of our “Beautiful Bangladesh” (Brand Name of Bangladesh) that
matches our excellent flag which speaks also for the nature of Bangladesh. Superman from a
remote area of Bangladesh, later internatioal political icon snatched the long awaited victory
through the nine month long Liberation struggle. Undoubtedly the name Bangabandhu (Friend of
Banga/ Bangla) and The Liberation Struggle of Bangladesh are uncut.

Bangabandhu: Birth of a sun

One hundred years ago, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born in Tungipara,
Gopalganj district in the province of Bengal in British India. He was born into a mulim and
native Bengali family. He was the third child of Sheikh Lutfur Rahman who was a serestadar
(court clerk) of Gopalganj civil court and his mother Sayera Khatun, a homemaker. At his
childhood he was called ‘Khoka’. In 1929, his education started into class three at Gopalganj
Public School. Two years later, he was shifted to claass four at Madaripur Islamia High School.
From early stage of his life Mujib showed a picturesque of leadreship. Sheikh Mujib underwent
an eye surgery at Kolkata and then only after four years he returned to school. Later he passed
his matriculation from Gopalganj Missionary School in 1942 followed by Intermediate of Arts
from Islamia College, now Moulana azad College in 1944. He also got BA degree from the same
college in 1947. After the partition of India he got admitted into the University of Dhaka in
Department of Law though he could not complete it due to an expulsion from the University in
1949. The charge was to instigate the fourth class emopyee of the University against him. In his
married life he was married to Fazilatu Nesa and they were blessed with two daughters (Sheikh
Hasina, Sheikh Rehana) along with three sons (sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel).
The Poet of Politics: Exceptional Political Career
Bangabandhu started his political career as an worker of All India Muslim League, but leaving
that party soon he joined Suhrawardy and Maulana Bhasani in Awami Muslim League. He
became Joint Secretary of the East Pakistan in 1949. He was the first language prisoner in 1952.
Later, in 1953, Mujibur Rahman was elected General Secretary of that party followed by
President in 1966. He was also involved in Parliamentary Politics in 1954 as a legislative
assembly. After Suhrawardy’s death, Mujib became head of the Awami League. In 1966, he
uttered his famous ‘Six Point Drogram’ 9Our Charter of Survival). A case by the then Ayub
regime named Agartala Conspiracy Case was filed against him in 1968. Mujib was in jail in the
whole period of Ayub Khan, a military dectator. Bangabandhu was in irons for 4682 days of his
life span. For Mujib’s release, mass uprising occurred in 1969 and he was released from the
charge unconditionally. On the day of his release, on 22 February, 1969, he was named
‘Bangabandhu’ by Chatra Sangram Parishad on a grand reception at Ramna Racecourse.

1970’s Election: Pathway to Liberation Struggle

The general election of 1970 paved the way for Bangabandhu to go way forward against the
junta government. He became the only spokesman of the Bengalis as an elected leader getting
mandate as per the Six Point Doctrine. On 7 March, 1971 he addressed the famous speech in
front of around tens of millions of people as the President of the Government, denied by the junta
rulers though. He uttered , “This time the struggle is for emancipation, this time the struggle is
for freedom” ( also compared with the Gattysburg Adrees of Abraham Lincoln). At midnight on
25 March Mujib was arrested by the military regime who had launched a crackdown in Dhaka
called ‘Operation Searchlight’ and they killed the listed brains of the soil. Before that,
Bangabandhu declared the independence of Bangladesh via wireless and later the declaration
was on air in Bangladesh Betar (erstwhile Radio Pakistan). After that, an exile government was
formed at Voverpara, Baidyanathtala in Meherpur on April 10, 1971. That government presided
by Bangabandhu and lead by Tajuddin Ahmad took oath on April 17, 1971. Then the leaders of
the first government of Bangladsh sliced the map of the then East Pakistan into eleven sectors
each having two or more sector commanders. Under their direction people from all cast and
creed jumped into the liberation war and they were ready to sacrifice their life. The leaders of the
Mujibnagar government urged for help to India, Russia, United Kingdom and so on. Erstwhile
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi played a key role to negotiate with the world leaders in our favour.
Though Pakistan denied the requests all dominant countrie’s request, the people of Bangladesh
were determined to achieve the victory.
1971: The victory is Ours
After a nine month war, where three million people laid their lives for the liberation of
Bangladesh with the sacrifice of two hundred thousands women, Bangladesh became
independent. On December 16, 1971, we had our victory followed by the surrender of Pakistan
army at Dhaka. The day came as a blessing for the peiple of Bangladesh when General Anir
Abdullah Khan Niazi signed on the surrender paper at 4.20 pm in Suhrawardy Uddyan with
some 93 thousnad Pak army. From then Bangladesh is finally indepent having our own National
red-green unique national flag. The flag represents the nature of Bengal with greenery and the
sun with circle shaped red. Bangabandhu was released from pakistan jail on January 8, 1972 and
afetr two days he landed on his own soil on January 10, 1972. People of Bangladesh received
him warmly while he was in tears with exceptional emotion for the people of his country.

Conclusion
The boy named ‘Khoka’ became the emancipator and in general the true leader of Bangladesh
eventually with his srtong personality who was blessed from boyhood with leadership. He once
regreted that his weakness is to love the people of his country and his greatest weakness was to
love them unconditionally. Literally, this name is in every corner of Bangladesh and lays in all
the hearts of the people of Bangladesh. Without his charismatic leadership, the independence
could not be achieved in such liberation war of struggle. The people of Bangladesh will
remember the name in their hearts.