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Historic 7 March Speech: Magna Carta for Bengal, Heritage for the World
Summary:
- Delivered on March 7, 1971, by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
- Regarded as the 'Magna Carta' for freedom-seeking Bengalis.
- Included in UNESCO's Memory of the World International Register on October 30, 2017.
- UNESCO noted it effectively declared the independence of Bangladesh.
- Speech galvanized Bengalis to prepare for an independence war.
- Speech remains a testament to the resilience and determination of the Bengali people.
The historic speech delivered by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 7, 1971, is regarded as the 'Magna Carta' for freedom-seeking Bengalis and a powerful inspiration for the nation's struggle to break free from the oppressive grip of Pakistan.
On October 30, 2017, UNESCO recognized the significance of this speech by including it in the Memory of the World International Register, a prestigious list that preserves and promotes access to the world's most important documentary heritage. UNESCO stated that the speech "effectively declared the independence of Bangladesh" and serves as a profound documentation of how post-colonial nation-states' failure to build inclusive, democratic societies alienates populations from diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious backgrounds.
The speech, delivered extemporaneously without a written script, has been preserved in both audio and audiovisual formats. It remains a testament to the resilience and determination of the Bengali people. Addressing over a million people at the Ramna Race Course in Dhaka, Bangabandhu expressed his anguish, saying, "Today, I appear before you with a heavy heart. You know everything and understand as well. We tried with our lives. But the painful truth is that today, in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Rangpur, the streets are stained with the blood of our brethren. Today, the people of Bengal want freedom, the people of Bengal want to survive, the people of Bengal want their rights. What wrong did we do?"
The speech was delivered during a period of escalating tensions between East Pakistan and the dominant political and military establishment of West Pakistan. Despite the Pakistani military rulers' refusal to allow live broadcast of the speech on radio and television, AHM Salahuddin, then chairman of Pakistan International Film Corporation, and M Abul Khayer, a member of the National Assembly from East Pakistan, arranged to record the audio and video. The audio was later archived by Dhaka Record, owned by Abul Khayer. Copies of the recordings were handed over to Sheikh Mujib and sent to India, with 3,000 audio copies distributed globally by Indian record label HMV Records.
The speech galvanized the Bengali people to prepare for an independence war amid reports of armed mobilization by West Pakistan. Just 18 days later, the Bangladesh Liberation War began when the Pakistan Army launched 'Operation Searchlight,' targeting Bengali civilians, intellectuals, students, politicians, and armed personnel. This operation is considered one of the worst genocides in human history.
In his speech, Bangabandhu outlined a civil disobedience movement, instructing people not to pay taxes and directing government servants to take orders only from him. He called for strikes in government offices and courts, with necessary exemptions, and urged the non-cooperation of railway and port workers if these services were used to suppress the people of East Pakistan. The 19-minute address concluded with the powerful words, "Our struggle, this time, is a struggle for our freedom. Our struggle, this time, is a struggle for our independence. Joy Bangla!"
International media had gathered in East Pakistan, speculating that Rahman might declare unilateral independence. However, mindful of the failures of Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence and the Biafra struggle in Nigeria, he avoided a direct declaration. Instead, the speech provided Bengalis with a clear vision of independence, altering the course of the nation's history and inspiring the Liberation War.
Following the Pakistani military's attack on Bengalis, Bangabandhu formally proclaimed Bangladesh's independence shortly after midnight on March 25, 1971, stating, "This may be my last message. From today, Bangladesh is independent. I call upon the people of Bangladesh, wherever you might be and with whatever you have, to resist the army of occupation to the last. Your fight must go on until the last soldier of the Pakistan occupation army is expelled from the soil of Bangladesh and final victory is achieved."
This historic speech not only marked a turning point in Bangladesh's struggle for independence but also stands as a timeless reminder of the power of unity, resilience, and the pursuit of freedom.
