Fri 7 Mar 2008
Today is 7 March. On this day 37 years ago, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made the most well known speech in Bangla. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t get the goosebumps listening to …amader keu dabaye rakhte parbe na… There is absolutely no denying the fact that the speech marks a milestone in Bangladesh’s quest for freedom. But 37 years on, we’re still waiting for the next speech that never got made.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Well said. Bairer dike na takiye, ekhon money hochchey tomakei dite hobe speechta.
Speaking of what other speeches caught people’s imagination like that afterwords, there is hardly any. But in terms of showing vision, I recall though Zia’s speeches had some sort of it. Day after day, he went from one village to another and talked about a “Shonirvor Bangladesh”. Whether it had any substance or not is a different debate but it did catch people’s imagination somewhat. Of course, my view is quite skewed and saying it from a memory of a 5 year old.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
“Whether it had any substance or not is a different debate…”
Lets talk about it in a different thread some other day. Answering here may take the focus away from this discussion.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Do we have to wait for another speech?
Mujib said in his speech ’shob shenabahinir shodoshoder barake phiraye nite hobe’
direction for today’s bangladesh is here.
March 8th, 2008 at 2:00 am
We are still waiting for the answer to the question “now that we got ’shadhinota’, HOW are we gonna make Bangladesh the best nation in Asia?”
The ‘next speech’ will move the nation to the next level after independence, which Bangladeshis are totally confused about.
That is - how to achieve greatness and development to make BD the best nation in Asia, but still have no idea, since 1947 or 1971.
March 8th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Bhai Asif, tumi to amar gola shuno nai, shunle bhashon dite bolta na.:)
More seriously though, I believe Zia did have a sense of where he wanted to take Bangladesh. But if he articulated it somewhere then I’m not aware of it. And of course his party has been an abysmal failure in propagating whatever policy details (19 points) etc that did get produced.
I have vague memories along the line of yours. We used to live in Bogra where my old man worked as a government engineer. I recall going to a khal kata ceremony in my father’s jeep. I don’t actually remember seeing Zia, or hearing any speech, but I do remember tens of thousands of people shouting Biplob. Khal kata and biplob became a very cool khela in our yard after that.
Rumi bhai, a dispassionate discussion on Zia’s place in history is long overdue. But perhaps some other time.:)
March 10th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Seeing all the opinions(Joyti, rumi bhai, asif bhai) above let me put the matter in two ways:
1. If we believe the AL has really deviated from the ideology of bangabandhu there is much substance in the contention that AL as not elected to power for such deviation for a long time.
2. If we believe present BNP is deviated from Zia’s principles then why BNP got elected in a huge margin twice after his assanition?
Let us imagine something–because imagination is our last resort–How bangladesh would have been found today if Bangabandhu would have been survived today? I think this is also a matter needs to seriously spelt out.
“Next Speech” is due true. But will we re assemble in racecourse? How will you make the history where no single channel did manage 17 minutes to broadcast bangabandhu’s address in enteriety. The speech speaks itself. But today we are speaking ourselves than the speech.
March 10th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
#6 That is wrong.
BNP did not is get elected in “huge margin”.
In 1991, 1996 and 2001, Awami League was always largest political party. BNP not far behind, but largest number of votes for Awami. It is because of political alliance, coalition, seat arrangement, spread of votes etc. that BNP was won in 1991 and 2001 (justlike Awami did same with Jamaart in 1996). In 2001 BNP won 66% of seats, but only 40% of votes, similar to Awami percentage. But Awami did not have seat arrangement.
Awami has been largest vote party since 1991 (not counting 1st 1996 election where BNP got 97% vote, just like Zia’s referendum in 1970s). But Awami was never smart about alliances needed to capture power. Perhaps becauise they were too rigid to ideology (except in 1996 and 2007 when they made alliance with fundamentalists)
Note I am not Awami supporter. But it is tragic that in our country when one party is the won, he completely ignore the other, even though 50-60% people is voting for them. So no wonder people are on streets as they are not represented. I sometime think, how is it different if army running govt with 99% against them, when so called democray runs with 50-60% against them - how is this different?
March 10th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
No channel in Bangladesh will broadcast the entire speech. I have checked different links , you won’t find the full speech in audio or in text form because last words of the Sheikh Mujib’s speech were ‘JOY BANGLA, JIYE PAKISTAN’.
play with history as long as you are the beneficiary.
This is the first time I visited the AL website,
3 pictures in the homepage speak a lot about this party…
March 10th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Sheik Mujib’s 7th March speech is, no doubt, a historic speech and it’s the best speech in his 20 plus years political career. It is of course, inspirational and a milestone in our long polittical struggle against the Punjabi military-led rule. Yet, I have some reservation to rate it as the ever best 100% perfect speech. The grandeur of the speech was not due to it’s content only but also the timing, the number of attendees and the dream, emotion and expectation linked with it. Moreover Sheik Mujib’s voice as an orator had always been the best. But the speech had no clear guidelines. It had a vague message as he instructed people to start fighting with whatever they have on one hand and also called Yahya Khan to come and visit East Pakistan and investigate what was happening then and also gave pre-conditions to be met for making peace with. And also advising people to be absent from work and get paid on 28th of the month, is a kind of ill and negative part of the speech and reflects mind-set of the leader. He could stop saying “come and get paid on 28th day of the month” and inspire and prepare people for the extreme sacrifice if needed.
I was not in the meeting as I was out of Dhaka then and so didn’t hear him physically. But there is a hear-say that he ended the speech uttering Joy-Bangla and Joy-Pakistan.
Whatever, he failed to have required control and commands on his youngster comrades who outpaced him creating the momentum of movement. If he really intended to be totally uncompromising with his 6-points demand or secession or full independence his speech and post-speech 18 days’ [before 25th March] strategies were wrong. And that’s why people were shocked and stunned by the sudden onslaught of Barbaric Pakistani army on unarmed and unprepared people while whole nation was in complacent mood by the apparent positive dialogue. Unplanned advance and strategic follies compelled us to pay the undue, a too high price for the independence. The death and destruction could have been far far less if the leadershiip had prudence, vison and farsightedness. And that’s why people have the profound love and respect for Zia when the shocked and directionless nation heard the declaration of independence from the one unknown major. His declaration worked to reliven the almost dead nation as if an on-site defibrillator start beating of an arrested heart.
Thanks.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Here we go again… in a blog about Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 speech, we are subjected to the same old balderdash on Zia’s “declaration”! The fact of the matter is, in the hours leading to the black night of the 25th, the “unknown major” was eagerly off-loading crates of Pak Army’s armament at the Chittagong port (shut down due to non-cooperation by regular workers)! Only after his junior officers and Sipahis forced him, did he decide to disobey his non-Bengalee superiors. Read “A Tale of Millions,” by the Sector 1 Commander Major Rafiqul Islam BU, to learn about the background of our accidental “shwadhinatarr ghoshak” and “muktijoddha”. Hundreds of lives were lost, including civilian members of families, in Chittagong Cantonment because of Zia’s reluctance to act in time, in spite of repeated appeals and clear warnings before March 25.
And that was not the last time Zia benefitted personally by sitting on the fence for as long as possible… feigning ignorance of what was going on around him.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Intelectuals NRB vai and bonera
Could you please come up with some innovative business idea rather than talking about only political issue and criticizing army vs civilians’ government? Why not we do a plan how to eradicate the traffic problems in the mega cities of BD? In 5/10 years time Dhaka city will be collapsed if we don’t take any step now. Why not talking about how to improve our education system? If you guys really like to talk political issue why not talking about main stream politics? Sitting thousands of miles away from BD isn’t it better to do the main stream politics rather than doing BNP and AL? What are the outputs of supporting AL/BNP/Army from abroad? People in BD really don’t bother what NRB thinks from abroad. Just come and see what they think. They all are busy with pocketing money irrespective of the illegal or legal way. Things are getting worst day by day and you guys are still indulging yourself just discussing in the blog. Could you wake up and come up with some nice ideas and plans (not just forming a HR organization to make yourself famous in the BD community which actually does not help the people in BD).
March 11th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Bhai Reza,
We would love to talk about those things you mention. There used to be forums like alochona (maybe they still are running) where “alochoks” were bursting their brains with wonderful creative ideas about how to improve our infrastructure, education system, health care, entrepreneurship… you name it! I don’t mean to belittle any of it; in fact, there were some great ideas pouring in, too many to choose from!
But if there’s no one who wants to listen, why bother? That’s why we feel we must first get a govt that is sensitive to people’s needs and willing to listen to those that have fresh ideas. And that’s why we HR types (how can we be famous while we have to hide behind our cyber-ids?) are now bursting our brains about how to get at least a semblance of a democratic govt that… well a govt that will steal and rob a little and still deliver for the nation (like, say, a govt slightly more democratic and less vengeful than Mahathir’s).
We don’t think the military that is now virtually running the minute details of this CG is really interested in any of the things you want us to discuss (unless it directly helps the Sena Kalyan Sangstha or the Kurmitola Golf Course). We don’t have any indication that their roadmap may lead to a democratic govt any time in the near future, free of direct military influence.
And yes, we ARE shamelessly making the best use of our hard lives thousands of miles away from our dear country and family: nobody wants to be taken to “remand” for just speaking one’s mind!
March 11th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
reza #11, Your frustration is quite understandable.
If nature can accidentally produce a superhuman NRB, who has solution for business (economy), education, and traffic infrastructure of Bangladesh, surely, that will not be kept secret. In the meanwhile, do not demean the contribution in political arena and HR discussion. There is no shortcut; no one ever had one. As you mentioned, forming a HR group makes someone famous in BD community; is not it sufficient proof that such an organization is needed?
When ‘peter vaat’ is the utmost important subject for vast majority of Bangladeshis, many passionate, talented people are just expending their whole life in surrealist arts, even on gay rights or fighting for the migratory birds. Life is not uni-modal and no one can dictate others to do their voluntary works on a preferred subject.
March 13th, 2008 at 3:30 am
Reza,
One NRB ferot who improved the lives of Bangladeshis is Dr Yunus. Through the thick of corruption and despair he managed to come up with an “innovative business idea”.
That that idea alone will not help 150M people, we need a national revolution in growth.
Traffic, education, police, law&order, health, housing, transport, nothing will NOT get any better until BD politics and govt improves.
If we ask Bill Gates to donate $5 Billion now, nothing will improve - all the money will drain to personal foreign accounts.
So, to improve these public amenities, the politics of corruption must change to politics of DEDICATION. The system of BD governance needs a MAJOR OVERHAUL (radical change), before we begin to see improvement, like China, India or Dubai.
This is why, for Bangladesh, we must focus FIRST on political development, so that we can SET-UP a FUNCTIONAL government, which can make long-awaited improvements in nation-building - without abuse and corruption. Then we will begin to have improvements in all those areas.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
To All
It will be unwise, unethical and an injustice with the nation to create any confusion on the most prominent and heroic contributor of our independence. It is the Mujib, who is undoubtedly the father of the nation. Recognizing to the fullest, I have some different ideas to share or clarify from my learned and educated blogers. My views on following issues request the influx of inputs:
Declaration of Independence: A political rivalry was created and generated confusion through diving the new generations’ understanding on the issue. Mujib was responsible and forced the environment to lit the light. But, might it happen even superseding his desires or initial goal. If it would be his final goal, then possibly he would not join number of meeting with the Pak politicians/ juntas even after mid march. 7 March could be recognized to mark the end of his diplomatic relations with Pakistan. But we know that was not. No denying fact that Mujib ordered his led to protect the motherland. But what was his strategy in provisioning of war munitions? If noting of that sort was at hand, than he displayed severe irresponsibility by forcing the unarmed people into a war. But if he had drafted/ finalized his campaign plan and disseminated than again why Zia risked himself including family for a useless declaration? Either it was a requirement or he was a fool in spending time behind declaration thus making him more vulnerable rather to fight back and organize. But than the fool, fooled all of us after liberation for quite some period. May be he was never a fool but patriot and intelligent, and felt the requirement of declaration as Mujib’s was not enough. So credit may be shared.
Why Mujib Accepted Arrest? I yet don’t have the conclusive answer. But shadow can be made out on the argument while I try figuring out what alternatives he had. Being an escapee, he would have to be directly involved in dealing with the India, which his foresightness possibly did not permit. Did he delineate any perception of Indian assistance? May be………I don’t know! If not then why his disciples rushed across the border? If he had assertive directives for Indian Assistance than why did not he visit Mujib Nagar at least once during his lifetime? Did he not recognize Mujib Nagar? I am confused…….. But if he wanted his people to fight alone then possibly he did not have alternatives except accepting an arrest. Then his patriotism, devotion and courage are to be placed at the highest.
Mujib’s Initial Perception About Own Contribution: With very shallow knowledge on the subject, I would like to bring some argument on the table. To my understanding, Mujib could not perceive about the voluminous emotions of the Bengalis/ Bangladeshis reserved in their heart for him. He was rather in confusion on his acceptance as the top leader. He was possibly encountering with complex yielding from his absence in the liberation war. This can be argued from the fact that he altered his passage to the country after being liberated from Pakistan; he was scheduled to reach Dhaka via India only. But he first landed at London, claimed and established himself as the head of the newly born Bangladesh through the international media and then attended the reception at various tires. Some quarter of analyst claims that he was not assertive about the military leaders and perceived conflict with those led the liberation war. The perception was further validated when Mujib displayed mistrust on military by prioritizing in structuring personal force, i.e. Rakhhi Bahini (JRB). This was possibly the biggest mistake of Mijib which finally ended him.
March 15th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Abeer,
I am sure you made a good analysis, but on principal, I gave up reading about Mujib Zia history, as it has become negative and destructive for the prople of BD.
Although this topic is on Mujib’s speech, and every nation honors their founders with a national holiday,
I am sure you will agree that we must drop the detailed Comparative Analytical discussion of Mujib and Zia, and attack the bigger challenges of BD today.
AL and BNP spent 15 years on the streets, and in parliament, on such hair-pulling HYPOTHETICAL Mujib-Zia debates - and the net result was MINUS.
Mujib and Zia are history - and I honestly believe, future govt should BAN such discussions in parliament, to give our hungry masses their due rights for progress, development, and to MOVE ON.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Sometimes I wonder why most of the self called intellectuals people of BD are so obsessed with the history especially with Mujib and Zia issue. Could you guys please tell us how this two issues help to achieve a sustainable economic growth in BD. Where people are suffering (electricity goes off at least 5/6 times a day, shortage of water, mosquitoes, dirt’s in every places of the cities, word pollution, indiscipline system in every government and non-government sectors, sick mentalities fo the people etc etc) in every aspect of their lives just not had any proper future plan by your favorites political leaders and beaurocrates and some of you still playing your past broken records. Please come up with some contemporary issues instead of just doing buli kopchani of history. People can not live only with their past cos’ they have their present and future life as well and these two things are more important than the past. How you guys (not all of you) live in abroad with some old bosta pocha thinking.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Reza, you need to hang out in the Bangla blog more. I’m mighty proud to say that in almost a month of existence we’ve had nothing but the most cursory mention of Mujib and Zia. We hope to continue in that vein.