Why Bangladesh is celebrated Independence Day on March 26th?
Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan on March 26, 1971, which is now commemorated as Independence Day. Bangladesh Independence Day is commemorated on March 26, the day Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announced Bangladesh’s independence. The Bangladesh Liberation War began on March 26 and continued until December 16, 1971, which is marked as Victory Day in Bangladesh. There is a political debate over who announced Bangladesh’s independence. The Awami League claims Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party claims it was Ziaur Rahman.
Bengal was divided into East Bengal and West Bengal by the British Raj in 1905. East Bengal was mostly Muslim until the British imposed the Morley-Minto Reforms in 1909, which established the electoral system on religion. To represent Bengali Muslims, the Bengal Provincial Muslim League was established. The British plan to reunite the two Bengals in 1912 was met with opposition by Muslims who felt it would undermine their community’s interests. Bengal was divided in 1947 and again after the Cabinet Mission to India in 1946 made the decision to do so. East Bengal moved to Pakistan to become East Pakistan, whereas West Bengal went to India. India was divided based on religion, with Pakistan receiving the majority-Muslim regions.
East Pakistan, where Bengali was the dominant language, challenged the founder of Pakistan, Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s decision to make Urdu the national language. During the Bengali Language Movement, the people of East Pakistan advocated that Bengali be declared a national language. The Krishak Sramik Party requested autonomy for East Bengal in 1953 and won the provincial election against the Pakistan Muslim League in 1954. A. K. Fazlul Huq is the head of the Krishak Sramik Party is appointed East Pakistan’s chief minister. On May 31, 1954, the Krishak Sramik Party was ousted from office. Chief Minister A. K. Fazlul Huq and party general secretary Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have been placed under house arrest on grounds of separatism.
288 of the 300 seats in the province legislature were won by the Awami League, which is led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It was elected to 167 of the 300 seats in Pakistan’s National Assembly. Despite the resounding win, General Yahya Khan’s military regime in Pakistan prevented the Awami League from establishing a government. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made a momentous address on March 7, 1971, urging people to defy the West Pakistani government by not paying taxes and obeying their instructions. At the occasion, the audience sang Jai Bangla, which means “victory to Bengal.” On 19 March, soldiers of Pakistan Army from East Pakistan and West Pakistan had a small skirmish at the Gazipur Ordnance Factory after the East Bengal Regiment refused to fire at crowds of protesting Bengalis. On 24 March, soldiers of East Pakistan Rifles raised the flag of independent Bangladesh in Jessore District.
On March 26, the day Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announced Bangladesh’s independence, people celebrate the country’s independence. To commemorate the occasion, several events are planned around the nation. Every government facility in Bangladesh is flying the national flag. The Bangladeshi government first instituted the Independence Day Award in 1977. The prize is presented on March 26, Bangladesh’s Independence Day. On March 26, 1972, the nation observed its first Independence Day. The country was addressed by President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Today is the 54th Anniversary of Independence and National Day which the country will honor appropriately.
All government, semi-government, autonomous and private organizations will fly the national flag and major city junctions and streets will be festooned with multicolored, tiny national flags and festoons.
It’s a public holiday today. The focal point of the day’s festivities will be the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar. To honor the martyrs, the prime minister and president has lay wreaths early in the morning. Wreaths will be laid at the national monument by people from all walks of life, including the relatives of Bir Shreshthas, war-wounded liberation fighters, diplomats, political party leaders and members of social, cultural and professional organizations.
