HC asks why March 7 isn’t marked as a national holiday

The High Court has issued a rule asking why Mar 7, the day Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his famous address at the Ramna Race Course, is not marked as a ‘national holiday’.

Court CorrespondentSupreme bdnews24.com
Published : 20 Nov 2017, 09:05 AM
Updated : 20 Nov 2017, 09:09 AM

Justice Md Rezaul Haque and Justice Mohammad Ullah of the High Court issued the rule on Monday after hearing a petition.

The rule also asked why preservation measures should not be put in place for the Suhrawardy Udyan, the venue for the speech, and the location where the Pakistani military surrendered.

The court also asked why a Bangabandhu statue should not be built at the location of the 7th March stage and the place where Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was welcomed.

The cabinet secretary and the finance secretary must respond to the order within the next four weeks.

They have also been told to submit a report outlining how they plan to realise the proposals in the rule.

The petition to the High Court was made by Supreme Court lawyer Bashir Ahmed.

On Mar 7, 1971, as Bangladesh was about to enter the final stages of its independence movement, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his speech urged Bangalees to get ready for a war against Pakistan.

Eighteen days after the speech, as the Pakistani military began its operation in Bangladesh, the people took up arms. After nine months of struggle, Bangladesh achieved its independence.

The defeated Pakistani military signed the order of surrender at that same Suhrawardy Udyan on Dec 16, 1971.

UNESCO has added Bangabandhu’s 7th March address to the Memory of the World International Register, recognising its importance as part of the world’s ‘documentary heritage’.