The Father of the Nation had been imprisoned in Pakistan throughout the Liberation War
Shilpakala Academy
Tribune Report
Publish : 09 Jan 2022, 12:36 PMUpdate : 09 Jan 2022, 11:52 PM
Monday is the historic Homecoming Day of the father of nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On this day in 1972, after spending nine and a half months in a Pakistani jail, Bangabandhu returned to the newly liberated and sovereign Bangladesh.
Bangabandhu was abducted by the Pakistani Army in the early hours of March 26, 1971, at the onset of Operation Searchlight in an attempt to hinder Bangladesh’s struggle for independence.
However, Bangabandhu’s foresight in delegating responsibilities to his trusted deputies and putting faith in the people ensured they would not only wage one of the fiercest wars for independence, but also claim victory.
After Bangabandhu was released on January 8, he wished to fly back to Dhaka immediately. As Pakistani aircraft were banned in Indian airspace, Pakistan’s new President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had taken over from the disgraced General Yahya Khan, recommended that Bangabandhu fly to Tehran or another neutral location.
Bangabandhu decided to fly to London, where he addressed the world media in a sensational meet-and-greet at Claridge’s Hotel.
“Gentlemen, as you can see, I am alive and well,” said Bangabandhu in his first words to the media.
When aired on the BBC and BBC Bangla Service, his words reached the millions yearning to hear of his well-being and led to outbursts of joy across the nation.
After a brief stopover in New Delhi to thank Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her country for their assistance to the Bangladesh cause throughout the Liberation War, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned home to a free Dhaka.
On a winter morning, a Royal Air Force aircraft landed at Tejgaon Airport carrying Bangabandhu and his entourage, among whom were Dr Kamal Hossain, who had been under arrest in Pakistan since April 1971, and his family. Over 500,000 people lined up on the road from the airport to Shahbagh to welcome their leader home.
On a truck that was more laden with flowers than people, an emotional Bangabandhu experienced the jubilation that rolled through the crowds as they caught a glimpse of him.
Upon his return, Bangabandhu delivered his speech on January 10 at the Race Course Maidan [now Suhrawardy Udyan], outlining the principles upon which Bangladesh would function as a sovereign state.
“My Bangladesh is independent to Monday, my life’s desire has been fulfilled to Monday, people of my Bengal have been liberated to Monday. My Bengal will remain free,” Bangabandhu declared.
“In my state, in this Bangladesh, there will be a socialist system. There will be democracy in this Bangladesh. Bangladesh will be a secular state,” he said.
“Together we will build a new and prosperous Bengal. The people of Bengal will be happy again, live life merrily and breathe freely in an open atmosphere,” said the Father of the Nation.
He recalled with respect the contributions of all during the war and urged the people to rebuild the war-ravaged country.
Two days later, Bangabandhu, who had been declared Bangladesh’s President by the Mujibnagar government in April 1971, took oath of office as the country’s prime minister on January 12, 1972. Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury took over as president.
President and PM’s message
On the occasion, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages paying glowing tributes to the Father of the Nation on Sunday evening, report BSS.
President Md Abdul Hamid called upon the countrymen to make relentless efforts to build a ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Paying profound homage to Bangabandhu, the president said: “Though we achieved ultimate victory on December 16 in 1971 through an armed struggle, the true essence of victory came with the return of the Father of the Nation.”
He said Bangabandhu, a visionary leader, led the nation in every movement including the All Party State Language Movement Council in 1948, Language Movement in 1952, Jukta-Front Election in 1954, movement against Martial Law proclaimed by General Ayub Khan in 1958, Movement against Education Commission in 1962, Six-Point Movement in 1966, Mass Upsurge in 1969 and the General Election in 1970, where Awami League won landslide victory.
In a separate message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her firm determination to build a Golden Bengal through collective effort, as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.
“…We will uphold the spirit of independence achieved in exchange for the three million martyrs and two million abused mothers and sisters. Inspired by the motto of the Great Liberation War by resisting all imminent conspiracies, together, we shall play an effective role in building the 'Golden Bangladesh' of the Father of the Nation's dream,” she said in a message on the eve of Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day.
Programs to celebrate the day
The nation has taken several programs to mark the historic day.
Due to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, most of the programs will be held virtually, without mass gatherings.
A program titled “Father of the Nation in an Independent Country (Mukto Swadeshe Jatir Pita)” will be broadcast live on all television channels, online and social media at 3pm from the Shaheed Manirul Alam Auditorium of the Bangladesh Television.
Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will chair the program virtually from her official residence, Ganabhaban.
Poems by Sheikh Rehana, Bangabandhu's younger daughter, on her parents will be recited in the function, while a discussion on the significance of Bangabandhu's homecoming will also be held.
The ruling Awami League’s programs will begin with the hoisting of the national and party flags at the AL central office, Bangabandhu Bhaban, and its party offices across the country at 6:30 am to Monday, an AL press release said.
AL leaders and workers will pay homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban in the city’s Dhanmondi area at 8.30 am.
At 11 am, an AL delegation will pay respect to the undisputed leader of the nation by placing wreaths at his grave in Tongipara.
On the occasion, a discussion will be held on a limited scale at the party’s central office in the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue at 3.30 pm, maintaining the health safety guidelines.
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will address the discussion through videoconferencing from her official Ganabhaban residence.
Besides, all district, city, upazila, thana, union and ward level units of the AL, its associate and likeminded bodies will organize similar programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.
In a statement on Sunday, AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader urged all party leaders and workers and its associate and likeminded bodies to observe all the programmes, marking the Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day in a befitting manner, maintaining the health safety guidelines.
Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day to Monday
The Father of the Nation had been imprisoned in Pakistan throughout the Liberation War
Monday is the historic Homecoming Day of the father of nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On this day in 1972, after spending nine and a half months in a Pakistani jail, Bangabandhu returned to the newly liberated and sovereign Bangladesh.
Bangabandhu was abducted by the Pakistani Army in the early hours of March 26, 1971, at the onset of Operation Searchlight in an attempt to hinder Bangladesh’s struggle for independence.
However, Bangabandhu’s foresight in delegating responsibilities to his trusted deputies and putting faith in the people ensured they would not only wage one of the fiercest wars for independence, but also claim victory.
After Bangabandhu was released on January 8, he wished to fly back to Dhaka immediately. As Pakistani aircraft were banned in Indian airspace, Pakistan’s new President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had taken over from the disgraced General Yahya Khan, recommended that Bangabandhu fly to Tehran or another neutral location.
Bangabandhu decided to fly to London, where he addressed the world media in a sensational meet-and-greet at Claridge’s Hotel.
“Gentlemen, as you can see, I am alive and well,” said Bangabandhu in his first words to the media.
When aired on the BBC and BBC Bangla Service, his words reached the millions yearning to hear of his well-being and led to outbursts of joy across the nation.
After a brief stopover in New Delhi to thank Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her country for their assistance to the Bangladesh cause throughout the Liberation War, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned home to a free Dhaka.
On a winter morning, a Royal Air Force aircraft landed at Tejgaon Airport carrying Bangabandhu and his entourage, among whom were Dr Kamal Hossain, who had been under arrest in Pakistan since April 1971, and his family. Over 500,000 people lined up on the road from the airport to Shahbagh to welcome their leader home.
On a truck that was more laden with flowers than people, an emotional Bangabandhu experienced the jubilation that rolled through the crowds as they caught a glimpse of him.
Upon his return, Bangabandhu delivered his speech on January 10 at the Race Course Maidan [now Suhrawardy Udyan], outlining the principles upon which Bangladesh would function as a sovereign state.
“My Bangladesh is independent to Monday, my life’s desire has been fulfilled to Monday, people of my Bengal have been liberated to Monday. My Bengal will remain free,” Bangabandhu declared.
“In my state, in this Bangladesh, there will be a socialist system. There will be democracy in this Bangladesh. Bangladesh will be a secular state,” he said.
“Together we will build a new and prosperous Bengal. The people of Bengal will be happy again, live life merrily and breathe freely in an open atmosphere,” said the Father of the Nation.
He recalled with respect the contributions of all during the war and urged the people to rebuild the war-ravaged country.
Two days later, Bangabandhu, who had been declared Bangladesh’s President by the Mujibnagar government in April 1971, took oath of office as the country’s prime minister on January 12, 1972. Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury took over as president.
President and PM’s message
On the occasion, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages paying glowing tributes to the Father of the Nation on Sunday evening, report BSS.
President Md Abdul Hamid called upon the countrymen to make relentless efforts to build a ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Paying profound homage to Bangabandhu, the president said: “Though we achieved ultimate victory on December 16 in 1971 through an armed struggle, the true essence of victory came with the return of the Father of the Nation.”
He said Bangabandhu, a visionary leader, led the nation in every movement including the All Party State Language Movement Council in 1948, Language Movement in 1952, Jukta-Front Election in 1954, movement against Martial Law proclaimed by General Ayub Khan in 1958, Movement against Education Commission in 1962, Six-Point Movement in 1966, Mass Upsurge in 1969 and the General Election in 1970, where Awami League won landslide victory.
In a separate message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her firm determination to build a Golden Bengal through collective effort, as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.
“…We will uphold the spirit of independence achieved in exchange for the three million martyrs and two million abused mothers and sisters. Inspired by the motto of the Great Liberation War by resisting all imminent conspiracies, together, we shall play an effective role in building the 'Golden Bangladesh' of the Father of the Nation's dream,” she said in a message on the eve of Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day.
Programs to celebrate the day
The nation has taken several programs to mark the historic day.
Due to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, most of the programs will be held virtually, without mass gatherings.
A program titled “Father of the Nation in an Independent Country (Mukto Swadeshe Jatir Pita)” will be broadcast live on all television channels, online and social media at 3pm from the Shaheed Manirul Alam Auditorium of the Bangladesh Television.
Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will chair the program virtually from her official residence, Ganabhaban.
Poems by Sheikh Rehana, Bangabandhu's younger daughter, on her parents will be recited in the function, while a discussion on the significance of Bangabandhu's homecoming will also be held.
The ruling Awami League’s programs will begin with the hoisting of the national and party flags at the AL central office, Bangabandhu Bhaban, and its party offices across the country at 6:30 am to Monday, an AL press release said.
AL leaders and workers will pay homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban in the city’s Dhanmondi area at 8.30 am.
At 11 am, an AL delegation will pay respect to the undisputed leader of the nation by placing wreaths at his grave in Tongipara.
On the occasion, a discussion will be held on a limited scale at the party’s central office in the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue at 3.30 pm, maintaining the health safety guidelines.
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will address the discussion through videoconferencing from her official Ganabhaban residence.
Besides, all district, city, upazila, thana, union and ward level units of the AL, its associate and likeminded bodies will organize similar programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.
In a statement on Sunday, AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader urged all party leaders and workers and its associate and likeminded bodies to observe all the programmes, marking the Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day in a befitting manner, maintaining the health safety guidelines.
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