The Historical Events of Bangladesh

The Historical Events of Bangladesh

By Kh. Atiar Rahman

There is no denying the fact that in the history of Bangladesh, the two chronological events are well thought-out to raise our heads worldwide as the citizens of a free nation in all sectors of development. After a long and magnificent movement for nine months; our nation’s glory and honour has symbolized our growth of economy, social and cultural ambiance in her background to be emerged as an independent state. In my opinion, besides Liberation War the language movement historic day, the  21st February has also endorsed the prestige and high honour of our country through out the world. Such unparalleled historical event has unquestionably amplified the earth-shattering of Bangladesh in respect of our history, geography, financial system, tradition, heritage and ethnicity and as such we are in the way to build up our resources. The two historical events are: the 21st February symbolizing the value and honour of our mother tongue and the Liberation War envisaging our emergence as a citizen of a free country.

Language Day: 21st February: Suffice it to say that the movement of 21st February was a call for restoration of democracy for which the non-co-operation movements with the then rulers have been promulgated day by day to achieve independence as an ultimate target. Due to the fact, it was not only their sole desire to make Urdu as a state language but also there were many reasons behind it which may be reflected as Political and educational aggression, to pollute Socio-economic condition, to pollute cultural and traditional affairs, to occupy monopolies over trade and commerce, to handicap people under obligation towards submission, to surpass the people under tyrannous depletion etc and hence in regard to economical aspects in common life, the goods which were produced by our painstaking people from our land and factories were taken to the West Pakistan and priced cheaply in that land but it was costly to us to consume. From such agitation, our movement for independence had been picked up the pace day by day. From such point, it is clear that after the emergence of Bangladesh such profile of economy either Micro or Macro has been achieved due to active intervention of our people in different sectors of development. This identity whatever we posses were not possible if 21st February was not created to retaliate the tyrannical boom of the then rulers of Pakistan. And as such, in this day some young persons of our country have declared indomitable movement to create confrontation against the conspiracy of our mother tongue. They have intensified the movement by degrees and being polemical, the then rulers have invaded them and ultimately they had shot them dead. This is such a movement where our heroes have laid down their lives for the cause of dignity of our mother tongue. In the whole world, such unparalleled movement has never been taken place. Like each year, this year has carried out this day with due somber mood and prominence and as such we celebrate this day with honour according to the heritage of the country. This day is mixed with our Independence Day as if it is mixed with our blood and bone. The heroes who have laid down their lives for the cause of our equality, liberty and national prestige of our country shall remain ever memorable to us.

Our Liberation Day: Bangladesh came into being as an independent state in 1971 from the emergent of the movement of 21st February. The movement spread as nation wide agitation and there is no doubt that our economic profile has been flourishing day by day and we can say that the 21st February is a milestone of our economic prosperity and political affiliation in the dimension of Bangladesh in the world map. There was a great ambiguity in between the measuring of values made between the two countries and not only that in case of import and export of our commodities, such ambiguity was largely revitalized. It is a significant fact that they led their efforts to suppress us every time in the field of economics, trade and commerce ingrained in common life. Bangladesh became independent and sovereign state after a vigorous call for liberation struggle which was made following the brutal crackdown of the Pakistani Armed forces at midnight of 25th March, 1971 on the innocent people of what was then East Pakistan. The struggle for liberation continued for about 9 months till the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered on 16th December, 1971. Since then, 26th March is celebrated as the National and Independence Day and the 16th December has been recognized as the Victory Day.

That is to say, our Bangladesh has been emergent on 9 months struggle and on 16 December it became enemy free state in the history of the world. We became free and we achieved independence. The Pakistani rulers did not agree to our sovereign but they fought against the innocent people to snatch away the right of our people and they were defeated and we won victoriously. The armies of Pakistani rulers have taken away the lives of our valuable resources which are our honourable learned and wise men of this sacred soil. It was a heinous deed and the world had never supported this. The territory comprising Bangladesh was inhabited by the proto-Australoids and the proto-Mongoloid, later mingled by the Dravidians, Aryans and Mongolians. Muslim conquest of the regions and continuous rule for about 500 years helped spreading Islam in the region first Arab traders in the region, started first by Arab traders and missionaries in the 11th century. By the end of 16th century Europeans started arriving. By promoting treason and by way of agitations and fighting, Robert Clive of East India Company won the battle of palassy which introduced the history of British rule in 1757 and continued till 1947 when the subcontinent was partitioned into and Pakistan and the territory comprising Bangladesh formed the eastern wing of Pakistan. The people of the then East Pakistan declared independence on 26th March, 1971 and won a 9-nine month long war of independence and became independent on 16th December, 1971.

It is evident from the past history that they used to exploit us in different ways for which they formulated the policies to disgrace us in tyrannical attitudes with which our people declared movement on 21st February and being agitated, they protested them against their attitudes and feelings for aggression and misruling. The movement of 21st February was only an agitation against the exploitation of resources in this country which was their object to occupy some how. They wanted to make Urdu as their state language in the sense that they liked to extend their hands for exploitation in respect of economics, commerce, language, education and traditional aspects involved in social and cultural life. Like British Empire, they wanted to torture in respect of mental, physical, political and social aspects ingrained in our common people irrespective of caste and creed. We remember this day with honour and for the sake of their blood shed, they have been immortalized as they were brave to speak about the country and the people of this soil.

In view of the above, it is evident that as a nation we are prosperous and flourishing and through such significant and historical events, our survival by raising our heads is reasonable if we lead our efforts to develop our basic needs and aspects of relevant branches, we must reach our goal. The two historical  events are glorious in the sense that by dint of our merit, perseverance and hardihood, our emergence as Bengali nation would be fruitful and up to the mark. Hence Somerset says,

‘It is difficult to pass over the razor’s edge
But the wise say, the path to salvation is hard’