PM Hasina warns nation against those distorting history

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the nation to be alert so that the collaborators of the Pakistani forces, war criminals and those who are distorting Bangladesh's history cannot come to power.

Addressing a rally on Saturday to celebrate the UNESCO recognition of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's historic Mar 7 speech as part of world memory, she also wondered where the people, who unofficially banned the speech from the public sphere, would hide now.

"Today, that speech has received international recognition. Today, I wonder what's the position of those who had banned the speech. Where will they hide now? They wanted to eliminate the historic truth," she said.

The government organised the rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan, formerly Race Course Maidan, where Father of the Nation Bangabandhu delivered the speech in 1971. Earlier, a colourful procession paraded the city and reached the Udyan to listen to the Prime Minister's speech.

She said it was 'unfortunate' for the nation to be deprived of hearing the speech for decades after the assassination of her father Bangabandhu and most other members of their family on Aug 15, 1975.

"The Liberation War spirit, for which hundreds of thousands of martyrs sacrificed their lives, was trampled through the killing of Bangabandhu in '75. The anti-liberation forces, Razakar, Al-Badr and the killers were brought to power and they distorted history," Hasina said.

Addressing the young generation, she said, "Bangabandhu depicted the history of our deprivation in this speech. He gave instructions on future Bangladesh."

"Bangladesh will be a Golden Bangla, free from hunger, poverty, as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.

"Never let the Razakar, Al-Badr, war criminals, killers, those who distort history to come to power again. The country is advancing and Insha Allah we will build a Bangladesh with the Liberation War spirit," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also recalled how her mother Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib encouraged Bangabandhu to deliver the speech without any notes.

"My mother told Bangabandhu: 'You spent all your life in the struggle for the people. You know well where the people's independence lies. So you don't need to pay heed to what the others say. You must speak what comes to your mind'," Hasina said. 

She also mentioned that the speech was included in the book 'We Shall Fight on the Beaches: The Speeches That Inspired History', by Jacob F Field.

The official celebration of UNESCO’s decision to include Bangabandhu's speech on its list of the world’s documentary heritage began at noon.

A procession started from Russel Square for the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan after wreaths were laid before the portrait of the independence leader at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhanmondi Road 32.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Principal Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Chief Coordinator of SDG Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office Abul Kalam Azad, Prime Minister’s Office Secretary Suraiya Begum were among the first to pay respects.

Public Administration Ministry Secretary Mozammel Haque Khan, NBR Chairman Nojibur Rahman, IGP AKM Shahidul Haque and secretaries from various ministries went next.

Horse-drawn carriages and elephants led the procession followed by city corporation trucks. Officials from the public administration ministry, BIWTA, Parjatan Corporation, textile and jute ministry, women and children affairs ministry, youth and sports ministry and the CHT affairs ministry took part in the march. They carried banners and signs inscribed with quotes from Bangabandhu’s speech.

The speech was played in its entirety on a screen and through speakers at the Suhrawardy Udyan.

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 speech to the Memory of the World International Register, recognising its importance as part of the world’s ‘documentary heritage’.