Freedom fighters are yet to deliver, fully
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Lutfor Rahman
In 1971, people form all walks of life participated in the liberation war. Freedom fighters comprising farmers, labourers, officers, doctors, engineers, scientists, journalists, diplomats and the teachers and students of schools, colleges and universities fought shoulder to shoulder for liberating the country from Pakistani occupation forces. After 26th of March 1971, war started against the Pakistani Army. Freedom movement developed from among the societies for survival of the Bangalees. People came out and joined liberation war spontaneously taking the risks of death. About ten million people crossed the border and became refugees in India. Bangladesh territory was a risky place for the young people particularly for the students from 26th of March because of atrocities by the Pak army and their collaborators. The parents were seriously anxious about their kids. They preferred sending their sons to war than hiding them at home. Thousands of young boys and girls got training inside and abroad for participation in the liberation war. It was a different life for freedom fighters with exceptional experience. The new generation should know how they have become the proud citizens of an independent country. The experience of liberation war cannot be shared just by language. It is a matter of realization that does not come automatically. It is neither a story nor a drama but a reality that the freedom fighters had to win at the cost of lives of many of their dearest and nearest ones. On the 16th of December 1971, through the surrender of Pakistani army, Bangladesh won the honor of an independent country in the world history. The architect of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib came back to the soil of independent Bangladesh on the 10th of January 1972 and congratulated the people of independent Bangladesh particularly the freedom fighters for their excellent contribution and sacrifices in response to his call for freedom on 7th March 1971 from the same place, the Race Course which is now known as the Suhrawardi Uddyan. He urged everybody with the same voice to go back to their respective work meaning students and teachers should go back to the respective institutes, the officials and workers to their respective work places and others to their respective fields. The Father of the nation stressed- the war not yet ended but to set up the real independent Bangladesh. "I will call you (the freedom fighters) whenever we need your services for our national interest" he said in the huge meeting in the same thunderous voice. The great leader must have called the freedom fighters at the present crisis of unlimited corruption had he remained alive. After the liberation war, a large number of greedy freedom fighters were derailed and lost their paths. Another significant number of honest freedom fighters with higher degrees and skills left the country after the tragic incident in August 1975. They feel very much for the country and want to keep on making contributions for the national interests. Still a small number of the honest freedom fighters who live in the country, they face unlimited tortures of various kinds. In a society of corruptions, an honest person becomes an unwanted laughing element. It is so much painful for a person who hates corruption and maintains an honest life within limited income all through his professional career, to give bribe for a genuine work. Good news is that during the last four decades, a significant number of highly qualified, experienced, talented Bangladeshi experts have developed in almost all areas of scientific and technical disciplines who are working at home or abroad. Interestingly some of them are efficient enough to design technology to make Bangladesh self-reliant country, and more interesting was they participated in liberation war at their young age of 15 to 25 years as students. Now it is the responsibility of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangabandhu, to give a clarion call to freedom fighters in the name of the Father of the nation to make a corruption free digital Bangladesh in cooperation with the present government. I believe the patriotic freedom fighters with scientific and technological expertise will surely come up with the resolve and sacrifice to make the mission a success. (The writer, a freedom fighter, is the Chairman of CSE at Stamford University Bangladesh and can be reached at E mail: lutfor@agni.com )
In 1971, people form all walks of life participated in the liberation war. Freedom fighters comprising farmers, labourers, officers, doctors, engineers, scientists, journalists, diplomats and the teachers and students of schools, colleges and universities fought shoulder to shoulder for liberating the country from Pakistani occupation forces. After 26th of March 1971, war started against the Pakistani Army. Freedom movement developed from among the societies for survival of the Bangalees. People came out and joined liberation war spontaneously taking the risks of death. About ten million people crossed the border and became refugees in India. Bangladesh territory was a risky place for the young people particularly for the students from 26th of March because of atrocities by the Pak army and their collaborators. The parents were seriously anxious about their kids. They preferred sending their sons to war than hiding them at home. Thousands of young boys and girls got training inside and abroad for participation in the liberation war. It was a different life for freedom fighters with exceptional experience. The new generation should know how they have become the proud citizens of an independent country. The experience of liberation war cannot be shared just by language. It is a matter of realization that does not come automatically. It is neither a story nor a drama but a reality that the freedom fighters had to win at the cost of lives of many of their dearest and nearest ones. On the 16th of December 1971, through the surrender of Pakistani army, Bangladesh won the honor of an independent country in the world history. The architect of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib came back to the soil of independent Bangladesh on the 10th of January 1972 and congratulated the people of independent Bangladesh particularly the freedom fighters for their excellent contribution and sacrifices in response to his call for freedom on 7th March 1971 from the same place, the Race Course which is now known as the Suhrawardi Uddyan. He urged everybody with the same voice to go back to their respective work meaning students and teachers should go back to the respective institutes, the officials and workers to their respective work places and others to their respective fields. The Father of the nation stressed- the war not yet ended but to set up the real independent Bangladesh. "I will call you (the freedom fighters) whenever we need your services for our national interest" he said in the huge meeting in the same thunderous voice. The great leader must have called the freedom fighters at the present crisis of unlimited corruption had he remained alive. After the liberation war, a large number of greedy freedom fighters were derailed and lost their paths. Another significant number of honest freedom fighters with higher degrees and skills left the country after the tragic incident in August 1975. They feel very much for the country and want to keep on making contributions for the national interests. Still a small number of the honest freedom fighters who live in the country, they face unlimited tortures of various kinds. In a society of corruptions, an honest person becomes an unwanted laughing element. It is so much painful for a person who hates corruption and maintains an honest life within limited income all through his professional career, to give bribe for a genuine work. Good news is that during the last four decades, a significant number of highly qualified, experienced, talented Bangladeshi experts have developed in almost all areas of scientific and technical disciplines who are working at home or abroad. Interestingly some of them are efficient enough to design technology to make Bangladesh self-reliant country, and more interesting was they participated in liberation war at their young age of 15 to 25 years as students. Now it is the responsibility of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangabandhu, to give a clarion call to freedom fighters in the name of the Father of the nation to make a corruption free digital Bangladesh in cooperation with the present government. I believe the patriotic freedom fighters with scientific and technological expertise will surely come up with the resolve and sacrifice to make the mission a success. (The writer, a freedom fighter, is the Chairman of CSE at Stamford University Bangladesh and can be reached at E mail: lutfor@agni.com )