The majestic words of Bangabandhu walked 30,000 people down memory lane 45 years back, with the coloured version of the historic speech delivered by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 7, screened at the Joy Bangla concert on Monday, March 7, 2016.
The colour version of the speech, that is listed among world’s best public addresses till date, was presented before the audience for the first time in the country.
Thousands of people, particularly the youth, enjoyed the speech alongside patriotic songs at the concert organised by the Centre for Research and Information (CRI) and its associate Young Bangla at the capital’s Army Stadium.
“The practice of upholding historically significant documents is done worldwide. We wanted to present this important document in a new form to the current generation so they can genuinely feel its significance,” said Nahim Razzaq, convenor of Young Bangla.
ICT division of the Bangladesh government has produced the coloured version of the footage. Bangabandhu’s grandsons, Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy and Radwan Siddiq Bobby, were present in the audience.
Prior to the screening, artistes of theatre group Prachyanat recreated various historic events from 1947 to 1971 highlighting post-partition exploitation, oppression and persecution by the Pakistani rulers. As their dramatic narration continued, Bangabandhu’s electrifying voice appeared alive on screen: My brothers, today I appear before you with a heavy heart...
The 19-minute speech was given by the father of the nation on March 7, 1971 at the Ramna Race Course Maidan in Dhaka to a gathering of over two million people during the political tension between East Pakistan and West Pakistan. The Bengali people, then, were inspired and strengthened by the speech to prepare for a potential war of independence.
During the speech, Sheikh Mujib proclaimed: “Our struggle is for our freedom. Our struggle is for our independence.” (Bengali: Ebarere shongram amader muktir shongram, ebarer shongram shwadhinotar shongram)
He also announced the civil disobedience movement in the province, calling for “every house to be turned into a fortress.”
As the speech concluded with the immortal slogan, the army stadium resonated with the cry “Joy Bangla.”