Hasina curious about ‘Mar 7 pressure’ on Bangabandhu for the proclamation of independence

Some 45 years after the independence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed her curiosity to know the motive behind some people with the Awami League who pressed Bangabandhu to proclaim independence in his Mar 7 address at the then Race Course Ground in 1971.

Indicating that the risk of being ‘branded’ as 'separatists' in the international arena would have created if Bangabandhu proclaimed independence on that day, Hasina said, "Then who were they (pressuring Bangabandhu)? They were speaking on whose behalf? What were their motives?" she questioned.

The prime minister was speaking at a seminar on the historic address by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"Those who attack are the criminals under international law. And we cannot become separatists in any way. No goal can be achieved (through separatism)," she said.   

Sheikh Hasina spoke, in her words, 'harshly' at the seminar as she recalled the events after the Mar 7 speech.

Hasina, the eldest child of Bangabandhu, went to the Race Course Ground that day in the motorcade of his father. Her sister Sheikh Rehana was also with her.

In her speech, she delineated what she saw after returning home.

“When I entered the house with my father, I saw a group of student leaders, visibly agitated, telling my father, 'what have you done', you did not proclaim the independence. People are disappointed',” she said.

“I just entered to the room when they were telling my father those words. I told them why you all are lying,” Hasina said adding “you know, I can say what I believe in on someone’s face. It’s my habit.”

“I said, 'why you are lying? Where did you find that people are disappointed? In that case, you did not see people',” she added.

“I also told them that on my way back I saw people are excited (about the speech). No one is disappointed. Then why you are giving this misinformation to my father?”

“I told my father not to pay heed to the people who are pressing you for independence proclamation,” the PM recalled.

“I told him straightway, father, don’t believe them because they all are lying. People are rejuvenated with the speech. They are returning with chanting slogans.”

“Valiant Bangalis take up arms, liberate Bangladesh, and Padma-Meghna-Jamuna is our address,” these are the slogans they were chanting.

Sheikh Hasina said that those whom she saw arguing with independence proclamation on that day, many of them left AL and some of them came back.

“There were people who left with the goal to revolutionise the country with scientific socialism,” she said without mentioning any name.

Sirajul Alam Khan, former DUCSU VP ASM Abdur Rab and BCL general secretary Shajahan Siraj founded JaSoD to establish scientific socialism in the country. BCL leader Abdur Razzak had also left the Awami League and then came back to the fold.

 “I often wonder why they told my father and the proclamation. I need to think and analyse it because I am a witness of many incidents in that house,” she also said.

She claimed, “It was only Bangabandhu who knew about the strategy of how we can achieve independence.”

“The proclamation statement was ready before Mar 25 night. My father received the message when the Pakistani army entered Dhaka University campus and Rajarbagh Police Lines.”

On that day, Hasina recalled, the proclamation message was sent to EPR from a telephone set placed at the veranda of the library room of No. 32.

 “He sent the message to EPR camp from that phone. Shawkat Shaheb (martyr Subedar Shawkat Ali) and three others were present there at that time,” she reminisced.

“They were supposed to spread the messages all across Bangladesh through wireless, telegraph and teleprinter,” Hasina continued.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu, in Bangali's long struggle for independence, got the mandate of proclaiming the independence through the 1970 elections.

"He checked the people's opinion first. His only reaction to those opposing the election was - 'Let the people decide who is the leader of Bangladesh'. The people's mandate, opinion, permission was necessary," Hasina said.

"The people's mandate went to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Only he can proclaim independence. He had the authority."

"And we won the War of Independence because his every step was very well-thought out," she said.   

The prime minister said Bangabandhu sensing that he might be detained or killed took the preparation for the Liberation War beforehand. "He prepared everything so that everything run properly in his absence."

"Now Bangabandhu is not among us. But Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib is immortal in Bangali's hearts," she added.

Dhaka University sociology Professor Dr Md Mashiur Rahman presented the keynote paper at the seminar organised by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust.

Chief Executive Officer the trust Mashura Hossain also delivered a speech at the programme.