March 26, 1971 stands as a particularly significant day in the history of Bangladesh’s independence, rooted in a long experience of political deprivation, cultural repression, and state discrimination in East Bengal. In the post‑partition Pakistani state system, East Bengal quickly suffered from a lack of political representation, linguistic discrimination, and economic deprivation. The continuity of the Language Movement, the Six‑Point Movement, and the mass uprising strengthened the political self‑identity of the Bengalis. It gradually became clear that political, economic, and cultural liberation was not a matter of regional reform but only possible through the establishment of a sovereign state.
In this context, the Awami League’s absolute victory in the 1970 general elections transformed the demand for autonomy into democratic legitimacy. The crisis reached its peak when the military junta refused to transfer power, initiating state conflict. Amid this turmoil, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s March 7 speech played a decisive role in shaping a new structure of political organisation and state control. Through the non‑cooperation movement, he rendered the Pakistani state machinery ineffective and effectively placed administrative control in East Bengal in the hands of the people.
From my reading of history, I am certain that even before March 25, a “de facto autonomy” had been established in East Bengal—reflecting Bangabandhu’s popularity, organisational ability, and the full support of the people. Only the undisputed leader entrusted with shaping the political future of the nation could declare independence. The people’s trust in Bangabandhu was so firm that the aspiration for liberation was organised around him. Their full response to his call during the non‑cooperation movement proved that they considered his leadership the only legitimate path to statehood. The platform of independence was not a stage drama where anyone could step up and declare a state; it was a responsibility grounded in moral and political authority entrusted by the people—and at that time, only Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman held that authority.
On the night of March 25, the Pakistani forces launched “Operation Searchlight,” a military campaign of genocide, intellectual killings, destruction of infrastructure, and an attempt to annihilate a nation. Professors and students were massacred at Dhaka University, Rajarbagh Police Lines were attacked, and indiscriminate killings took place at the Pilkhana EPR headquarters—all proving the military’s intent to crush Bengali nationalism through a campaign of horrific repression. That night, around 1:30am, Bangabandhu was arrested from his home at Road 32, Dhanmondi, taken to the cantonment, and three days later sent to Pakistan. On March 26, General Yahya Khan declared the Awami League banned and attempted to brand Bangabandhu a “traitor”—a charge meant only to remove the undisputed leader of the people.
Immediately after this brutal attack, in the early hours of March 26, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sent his historic declaration of independence: “This may be my last message—from today Bangladesh is independent.” He called upon the people to resist the occupying forces wherever they were and with whatever they had. Even before his arrest, this declaration reached Chattogram through the EPR’s wireless system and was later broadcast in various places. It was not merely a political reaction but the only legitimate proclamation that gave state form to the collective aspiration for liberation.
The Kalurghat radio station became a crucial focal point for disseminating the declaration and organising freedom fighters. Following Bangabandhu’s March 7 speech and wireless message, the declaration, news, and resistance programmes were broadcast by M. A. Hannan, Sultanul Alam, Belal Mohammad, Abdullah Al‑Faruk, Abul Kashem Sandwip, poet Abdus Salam, Mahmud Hasan, and Major Zia. These broadcasts strengthened morale and organised armed resistance. On the same day, Akashvani Kolkata announced at 9am that war had begun in East Bengal, and Australia’s ABC Radio reported the Dhaka genocide to the world for the first time.
Major Siddiq Salik, public relations officer of the Pakistani Eastern Command, wrote in Witness to Surrender that at the moment the first shots were fired, Sheikh Mujib’s voice was heard declaring East Pakistan as the “People’s Republic of Bangladesh.” He quoted Bangabandhu’s words: “From today Bangladesh is independent… continue resistance until the last soldier of the Pakistani army is expelled.” This account, coming from a member of the Pakistani administration, is documentary evidence of the declaration’s authenticity.
David Loshak, South Asia correspondent of The Daily Telegraph, also confirmed the authenticity, noting that although the announcer’s voice was faint, it was undoubtedly a declaration of independence, possibly recorded earlier given the circumstances.
On March 26 and 27, international media carried the declaration as headline news. The Times wrote: “Sheikh Mujib’s declaration of independence in East Pakistan sparks intense war.” Financial Times reported: “Civil war begins in East Pakistan after declaration of independence.” The New York Times stated: “Sheikh Mujib arrested hours after declaring independence.” Los Angeles Times was more explicit: “Sheikh has declared 75 million people of East Pakistan as citizens of independent Bangladesh.” The Age of Australia reported: “Today East Pakistan has declared itself independent and Sheikh Mujib has made this declaration.” These reports prove that the global community recognised March 26 as the beginning of Bangladesh’s independence and Bangabandhu as its principal proclaimer.
The declaration gained legal form in the Proclamation of Independence on April 10, 1971, which clearly stated that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence in Dhaka on March 26. This document provided legitimacy to Bangladesh’s statehood within international law and consolidated the organisational strength of the Liberation War.
Following this legitimacy, the Liberation War became a full‑scale people’s war. Under General MAG Osmani’s military leadership, freedom fighters were organised, while political leadership advanced Bangladesh’s sovereignty internationally. The participation of the people, cultural resistance, radio broadcasts, and armed struggle together made the Liberation War the greatest people’s war in Bengali history.
Thus, March 26 is not merely a date; it is the unique, ever‑burning moment of the Bengali nation’s self‑emergence—the day a nation broke its chains and chose its own future. It gave birth to a new state, founded on democratic mandate, people’s trust, relentless struggle, determined leadership, and the sacrifices of freedom fighters. Silent documents of history, international research, and neutral global reports all affirm that the principal proclaimer of independence, the guide of the nation, and the first voice of liberation was Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. His faint yet powerful message was the oath of the Liberation War, and March 26, 1971 was the moment when the Bengali nation knocked on the door of world history as an independent state.
