March 7 speech inspired Zia

Though main opposition BNP remains indifferent to March 7, its founder and former president Ziaur Rahman recognised the historical importance of the day.

On that day in 1971, Bangladesh founder father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called upon the Bengalee nation to be ready for the final push for independence against Pakistan.

In a writing published in the weekly magazine 'Bichittra' in 1974, Zia wrote that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's March 7 address was the inspiration behind his taking part in the 1971 liberation war.

Though BNP does not accept Bangabandhu as the 'Father of the Nation', Zia himself mentioned the great leader as such in his writing.

His writing also shed light on how badly the Pakistan army treated the leader of the liberation movement – Mujib.

Zia also expressed his confidence in the political leadership during the liberation war. He Zia wrote about the political movement during the 1954 and 1970 polls. A major with then Pakistan army, Zia, wrote that he tried to establish contact with the Awami League leaders after Mar 25 midnight.

The weekly Bichittra published reminiscences of Zia, Khaled Mosharraf and K M Shafiullah, commanders of three forces during the liberation war, in its 1974 Independence Day special issue.

এক্সক্লুসিভ৭ মার্চের ভাষণ জিয়ার কাছে ছিল ‘গ্রিন সিগন্যাল’

Bichittra wrote that the writings under the heading, 'The Famous Trio and Their Reminiscences', were published earlier in 1972 in the Bengali language dailies, Dainik Bangla and Dainik Ganbangla. At present, both newspapers and the magazine stand closed.

Zia wrote in his article 'The Birth of a Nation' (Ekti Jatir Jonmo) that the Bangalee officers in Pakistan army started feeling the heat by the end of February 1971 when the political situation started erupting. Discussions kept taking place among them.

"Bangabandhu's historical address at the Race Course ground on Mar 7 seemed like a green signal to us. We gave final shape to our plan," Zia wrote.

Bangabandhu's speech at the Race Course ground -- "Ebarer sangram amader muktir sangram, ebarer sangram swadhinatar sangram (this time, the struggle is for our freedom, for our independence)" -- reflected the latent desire of 70 million Bangalees.

Though it was not a formal proclamation of independence, every Bangalee and political leader of the time believed that Bangabandhu signalled the announcement of independence. And so believed Zia, which is clear from his writing.

In the presence of hundreds of thousands of people, Bangabandhu announced: "Turn every house into a fort". The student organisations responded to his call and started holding armed showdowns. Large number of female students also turned up at the showdowns inspiring everyone.

Commander of the 'Z' force, named after his initial during the liberation war, Ziaur Rahman thought the meeting of Bangabandhu and Yahya was the start of a developing situation. "But the situation never developed rather deteriorated."

Eighteen days after Bangabandhu's remarkable speech to the nation, the Pakistani army launched 'Operation Searchlight' over the unarmed Bangalees initiating the liberation war.

Zia wrote in the night of Mar 25, the eighth battalion of the East Bengal Regiment revolted under his command and then he tried to contact the Awami League leaders to let them know the successful rebellion.

"[We] captured all the Pakistani officers… called the non-military telephone operator and requested him to let the deputy commissioner, police super, DIG and the Awami League leaders know that the eighth battalion of the East Bengal Regiment had revolted. They will fight for the country's liberation," wrote Zia. But the operator could not establish contact with anyone during the turbulent time.

Bangabandhu's formal proclamation of independence followed soon. Several gallant supporters, including Belal Mohammad, managed to broadcast the announcement from the Kalurghat Radio Station in Chittagong. Zia got involved with the announcement later.

BNP has been claiming Zia as the 'declarer' of independence. But Belal Mohammad clarified the announcement issue in a 2010 interview with bdnews24.com.

He said the Awami League leader M A Hannan first read out the independence declaration on behalf of Bangabandhu and then Zia did.

Describing Zia's involvement with the declaration, he said: "I don't know what went through my head when I told him (Zia), 'Major, all of us here are minors [and] you are the only 'major'. Would you say something in your own voice'?"

"Then, when the paper was handed over to him, he read out the declaration of independence on behalf of Bangabandhu."

The 'K' force commander Khaled Mosharraf's writing was also published in the same issue of the magazine. Khaled wrote that Zia declared independence on behalf of Sheikh Mujib.

The High Court took a hand in the matter when there was a political debate over the declarer of independence. It ordered not to call Zia 'declarer' of independence.

During his lifetime, Zia never claimed himself as the declarer of independence. But his wife and BNP chief Khaleda Zia on Tuesday reiterated at a programme that Zia was the declarer.

Though BNP leaders have been ignoring the issue of political leadership during the liberation war, Zia clearly had faith in them, as was reflected in his writing.

"Soon after the formation of Pakistan, the day when Mr. Zinaah announced at historic Dhaka city, 'Urdu will be the state language of Pakistan', the seed of Bangalee nationalism was implanted in me," his writing began with these words.

He mentioned that the inequality in the two parts of Pakistan -- west and east -- hurt him from a young age and later the feelings sharpened when he joined the army.

"They used to suppress us, neglect us, disrespect us and called us 'Awami League's agents'. In the academic classes it was taught that our father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the greatest enemy of their state," he wrote.

The former military chief wrote that he possessed a high notion of the Indian forces even before fighting side by side with them during the liberation war.

He also wrote about his experience of the 1965 India-Pakistan war. "I met several Indian officers and soldiers during the truce, shook hands with them, embraced them. At that time, I came to know, they are very lofty as soldiers."

"An affable relationship grew among us… we became friends. This cordiality encouraged us to fight side by side in the war against the Pakistani army in Bangladesh."