Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has categorically said the defeated forces of 1971 Liberation War were conducting the ongoing nationwide arsons which claimed the lives of more than 80 people.
She said: “Those, who were defeated in the 1971 Liberation War, are killing people by conducting arsons and subversive activities. They [who are behind arsons] are the followers of the then head of the Pakistani military junta General Yahya Khan.”
Referring to the deaths in recent arsons, she said: “BNP chief Khaleda Zia deliberately killed 55 divers by launching petrol bomb attacks on vehicles across the country in order to make the situation unstable. She is trying to snatch the power by any means.”
The premier came up with the observation while addressing a public rally marking the anniversary of historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday afternoon.
On this day in 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered a historic speech at the Race Course Maidan, now known as Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka.
Recalling the role of historic March 7 speech in uniting people against the Pakistani military, the PM said: “In his 19-minute speech, Bangabandhu announced--Ebarer Shongram amader muktir shongram, Ebarer shongram, shadhinotar Shongram-- [This war is a war for independence, this war is a war for Freedom], which later became an inspiration for the entire freedom-seeking nation.”
“The whole nation responded spontaneously to his call and took part in the struggle for freedom that eventually liberated Bangladesh from the colonial rule of West Pakistan.”
The PM further said: “The March 7 speech of Bangabandhu has been selected as one of the most rousing and inspirational wartime speeches in the last 2,500 years. It had been included in a book, We Shall Fight on the Beaches: The Speeches That Inspired History, which collected the extracts from the most rousing and inspirational wartime speeches of the last 2,500 years.”
“But, it is very unfortunate that airing of such historic speech was banned for 21 years in Bangladesh.”
On the eve of the day, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, recalled with gratitude the bold, courageous and far-sighted leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in successful implementation of the nation’s journey to freedom through his speech of March 7.
Different political parties including the ruling Awami League, social, cultural and professional bodies have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day.
The programmes of the ruling Awami League on the day include hoisting of the national and party flags at 6:30am and placing of wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi at 7am.