The historic 7th March, a red-letter day in the history of the Bangalees’ long arduous freedom struggle, was observed across the country on Thursday.
Sources said Awami League men led-by its party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid floral tribute to the father of the nation around 7am.
Amongst the others, AL Advisory Council member Suranjit Sengupta, advisory committee member Amir Hossain Amu, Tofael Ahmed, presidium member Motia Chowdhury and general secretary Sahara Khatun were present during the time.
Meanwhile, different associate organizations of Awami League including Dhaka City AL, Juba League, Swechchha Sebak League, Sramik League, Chhatra League, Mahila League placed floral wreath to Bangabandhu’s portrait.
Besides, different social and political organizations including Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), Bangladesh Muktijoddha Central Command, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote and Bangabandhu Foundation also paid tribute to the leader marking the historic day.
On this day in 1971, great leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his epoch-making speech of independence at the Race Course Maidan, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka.
In his 19-minute speech from 4.23pm before a million freedom-loving people of East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, Bangabandhu in unequivocal term said, “We had shed blood…we are ready to shed more bloods, the people of the country shall be freed Insha Allah!”
The great leader of the Bangalees went on to add: “The struggle this time is for our emancipation, the struggle this time is for our independence.”
The speech of Bangabandhu literally had a sparkling effect on the entire population in the eastern part of Pakistan and they became united under his capable and farsighted leadership to bravely fight for liberating the motherland from the clutches of the Pakistani forces.
Awami League-led 14-party alliance has taken extensive preparations to observe the historic March 7 in a befitting manner.
On the eve of the day, President M Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, recalled with gratitude the bold, courageous and farsighted leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in materializing the nation’s journey to freedom through his speech of March 7.
Different political parties, social, cultural and professional bodies have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day.
In the national hook-ups-Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television-as well as private television channels and radio stations of the country are airing special programmes while national dailies published special supplements to mark the day.
In a statement Wednesday, Awami League general secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam MP urged all to make the programmes of the day a success through wholehearted participation. banglanews24.com
