Historic Mar 7 today

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The nation will observe the historic March 7 today (Monday) in a befitting manner, commemorating the address of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on this day in 1971 when he called upon the people to fight against the Pakistani occupation forces to achieve the long-cherished independence, reports BSS. Before a mammoth rally at the then Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) on the day, Bangabandhu in a virtual announcement of independence declared, "--- ebarer sangram, amader muktir sangram; ebarer sangram, swadhinatar sangram (our struggle this time is the struggle for liberation, our struggle this time is the struggle for independence)". Bangabandhu, who became the undisputed leader of the then Pakistan following the massive victory of his party Awami League (AL) in 1970's general elections, had to call upon his people to prepare for a fight when the Pakistan government was dilly-dallying to hand over power to AL. In the meantime, the Islamabad authorities were amassing modern arms and weapons in the then East Pakistan in a bid to resist the Bangali who were fighting for their rightful causes since the creation of Pakistan in 1947. Bangabandhu's historic address on March 7 in fact mobilised the whole nation to wage an allout non-cooperation movement in this wing of Pakistan, preparing for a bloody war against the Pakistani army to achieve independence. The whole nation, except a few pro-Pakistani elements, fought the Pak army for long nine months from March 25 in 1971 until achieving the ultimate victory on December 16 the same year. President M Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages on the occasion stressed the need for upholding the true spirit of the country's hard-earned independence and sovereignty being imbued with the spirit of the Father of the Nation's historic March 7 address.