DHAKA, March 6, 2020 (BSS) – Eminent historian Professor Dr Syed Anwar Husain today said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his most significant speech on March 7 in 1971, sending a message to commoners about their course of action towards the country’s independence.
“The March 7 speech of Bangabandhu at Ramna Race Course Maidan was the smallest but the best address in his life. Considering the perspective of that time, his 1,138-word speech with a length of 18 minutes and 31 seconds was the best one,” he told a discussion.
Jatiya Press Club arranged the discussion at its auditorium here, commemorating the landmark speech of Bangabandhu, which was considered as indirect declaration of the country’s independence in 1971.
In his keynote speech, Prof Anwar Husain, also the Bangabandhu Chair of Dhaka University, said Unesco on October 30 in 2017 recognised the historic 7th March Speech of Bangabandhu as part of the world’s documentary heritage, terming it “the most effective declaration of independence”.
Noting that the historic March 7 speech was comprehensible to all, he said when Bangabandhu delivered his March 7 address, he had been suffering from 103-degree fever. “But, seeing his face, the audience did not understand that their great leader was suffering from acute fever,” he added.
Describing various aspects of the historic speech, the historian said Bangabandhu in his speech had given four conditions to the then Pakistani government including handing over the state power to the elected public representatives
“And the Pakistani government knew if they accept his (Bangabandhu’s) conditions, there would be no Pakistan,” he added.
Prof Anwar Husain said the High Court (HC) recently directed the government to declare the March 7 as ‘Historic National Day’.
“I think the demand for observing the March 7 as the national day is a rational one,” he added.
Chaired by Jatiya Press Club president Saiful Alam, the discussion was addressed, among others, by its senior vice-president Md Omar Faruque, vice president Azizul Islam Bhuyian and general secretary Farida Yasmin, columnist Syed Abul Maksud and senior journalists Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Sohrab Hasan, Abu Sayeed Khan, Harun Habib and Ajoy Dasgupta.
Daily Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamal Dutta moderated the discussion.
The landmark fiery speech of Bangabandhu inspired the Bangalees to prepare for the War of Liberation. The war began 18 days later, when the Pakistan Army launched “Operation Searchlight” against unarmed Bangalee civilians, intellectuals, students and politicians.
On October 30 in 2017, the Unesco recognised the historic speech as part of the world’s documentary heritage considering the significance of the speech.