Blessed it was to be alive on the glorious morning of December 16, 1971 because on that day 52 years ago, the Bangalees gave the finishing touch to its long, painful, tragic and yet sweet and wonderful journey to emancipation from foreign rule. The people crafted their heroic struggle and achievement against overwhelming odds since it was right from the start a political injustice of colonial legacy dating back to India's partition and then an imposition of neo-colonial subjugation. So the Bangalees had to rise up to the unprecedented challenge of heroism against one of the most brutal forces in history. Their unarmed citizens also suffered one of the worst genocides perpetrated by occupation forces anywhere in the world in modern history. The shocking scenes of death and devastation in Gaza remind one of the time when all hell broke loose in this part of the world. To their credit, the Bangalees responded to the call of duty and prevailed on the Pakistani marauders to liberate their country. Thankfully, they had in the Indian political leaders and military their staunchest allies and comrades-in-arms.
The victory achieved 52 years ago has been made sweeter by the fact that Bangladesh has outpaced Pakistan on all fronts of development. Had its economy not suffered due to the dual impacts of Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine war, poverty would not be as piercing as it is now. It was not for nothing that politicians and journalists in Pakistan lamented well before the pandemic that their country should learn a lesson from Bangladesh in matters of socio-economic development. So the end justifies the means in case of Bangladesh's attainment of its freedom. Most countries have had a rough ride in the post-Covid time but Pakistan's political and economic woes have continued all through since Bangladesh had parted way with it.
However, prevailing upon a known and sworn enemy is one thing and triumphing over the weakness and inadequacy within is a completely different proposition. Although a mortal combat it was in which the Bangalees prevailed on the Pakistani forces, it cannot be said the nation has achieved the final victory in terms of building it as a unified and equalitarian society where every citizen enjoys a reasonable share of national fortunes and prosperity. In fact, the principles of the very fundamental pillars that symbolised the national aspiration, the spirit and ideals of the liberation war have been consigned to the back burner in pursuing political expediency.
It is time, the lost spirit and principles that were the driving force behind the triumph against the brutal Pakistani army considered an evil incarnation need to be revived for regeneration of the nation's corroded psyche. The evil now revisits the Bangladesh society in different forms of corrupt employees and officials, smugglers, drug barons, swindlers, money launderers and other negative forces. All the country's achievements have been undermined by such notorious players. No social and political deterrence to their rise could be put in place. This is incompatible with the valiant people that snatched its victory against all odds. The need, therefore, is to devise the nation's course of triumph against the evil forces responsible for detracting the nation's journey away from its cherished goal of building a society based on socio-economic justice, dignity and equality.
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