Historic March 7 today.

The ruling Awami League and other like-minded political and socio-cultural organisations would celebrate today the 44th anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s epoch-making speech at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city on this day in 1971. In the speech, Sheikh Mujib said, ‘Ebarer Sangram Amader Muktir Sangram; Ebarer Sangram Swadhinatar Sangram (the struggle this time is for our freedom; the struggle this time is for independence).’ He also gave a call to turn every house across the then East Pakistan into a fort for resistance against the marauding Pakistani army. The Bengalis burst out in rage after then Pakistani military ruler Yahya Khan postponed the National Assembly on March 1, 1971 prompting Sheikh Mujib to launch a non-cooperation movement unprecedented in history and deliver his electrifying speech at Suhrawardy Udyan, then called the Race Course, on March 7, 1971. In the speech, Mujib inspired the people to begin a decisive struggle for independence from Pakistani rule. The Awami League and several other like-minded political and socio-cultural organisations have taken elaborate programmes to mark the day

. The Awami League’s programmes will begin with the hoisting of the national and party flags at the central party office on Bangabandhu Avenue, Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi 32 and party offices across the country at 6:30am. The Awami League and its associate organisations will place floral wreaths at the mural of Sheikh Mujib at Dhanmondi 32 at 7:00am. The party will hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital at 3:00pm, which would be addressed by the Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina, also the prime minster. In separate meetings the central Awami League leaders asked the grassroots leaders and lawmakers of Dhaka and its bordering districts and associate bodies to mobilise the highest number of party activists and supporters for the rally. Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam in a statement urged the countrymen including leaders and activists of all the units of the party and its associate bodies to observe the day with due respect.

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