He is everywhere in Bangladesh
Today is Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s 99th birthday. By dint of his merit, labour and wisdom, he grew from a mere political activist to the architect of an independent state. It was a long struggle. There were obstacles and hardship along the way, but nothing daunted him. Much of his life was spent behind bars. Twice his life was in threat. But he surpassed all this darkness to emerge as a guiding light.
At just 21 years of age, as a prisoner he was elected to be the joint secretary of a new political party, East Pakistan Awami Muslim League. He remained in that same party for 26 years. It transformed in his hands. He became its general secretary and then president. Then he became the prime minister and then the president of the country. But his one commitment was to serve the people.
In 1966 when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman raised the six-point demand in Lahore, there were not many people behind him. The president of the country warned of an armed response. Mujib just got three months to explain his demands to the people. And he did so to an enormous response. He was arrested and while in jail, charges were filed against him and others. This was the infamous Agartala conspiracy case. He was charged with treason, of conspiring to separate the eastern wing of Pakistan. But this only served to increase the empathy of the people of East Bengal towards Sheikh Mujib and ultimately led to a mass uprising. The Agartala case was withdrawn and Mujib was freed. President Ayub stepped down and Mujib became Bangabandhu.
The first general election of Pakistan took place in December 1970. Mujib termed this as a referendum in favour of the six points. His party won an absolute majority. However, conspirators were unwilling to relinquish power to him or to draw up the constitution on the basis of the six points. Bangabandhu called for the non-cooperation movement. The success of this movement amazed the world.
On 7 March Mujib addressed thousands of people at a public rally in the racecourse. This was his moment of glory. He called for each house to be made into a fort and for the people to face the enemy with whatever they possessed. He said, “We have shed blood and will shed some more. We will free the people of this country, Insha Allah.” He said that this time the struggle was for freedom, for independence. This speech is now a world heritage. It still stands as an inspiration.
The Pakistan army launched a brutal genocide at midnight on 25 March. Bangabandhu was arrested. Prior to that, two English versions of Bangabandhu’s declaration of independence were aired from three broadcast units. Bangabandhu was absent during the war of liberation, but the war was fought in his name.
The Bengalis first built up resistance against the Pakistani armed forces and then took up a counter attack. Within a very short period of time, with the help of India, victory was attained. Pakistan could no longer ignore international pressure to release Mujib and he returned home to his people.
He took up the task of rebuilding the war torn country and rehabilitating the displaced and hapless people. Within a year the nation had their democratic constitution and the general elections were held. But times had changed. People’s expectations had grown beyond ground reality. Armed and ammunition had spread across the country and anarchy emerged. The extreme left wing and the anti-Bangladesh right wing elements took up armed attacks and increased the anarchy. Adverse weather conditions and US conspiracy led to a famine.
Bangabandhu amended the constitution to create a one-party rule. This step was not in keeping with this lifelong struggle for democracy. Bangabandhu explained that this was just a temporary arrangement and perhaps that was so. But we did not get a chance to see the outcome of the new situation. Bangabandhu was killed along with his family by traitors of the state. His blood-spattered body lay inert on the stairs of his house on road 32 in Dhanmondi. The next day his dead body was flown by helicopter to his birthplace in Tungipara. An attempt was made to bury without any janaza, but that failed. His body was then bathed with crude washing soap. No proper cloth was even arranged to wrap his body in. He was buried in a hurry. And there he lies today.
No, that is not only where he is today. He is everywhere in Bangladesh. He exists in his booming speech. He is in the hearts of the people. He cannot be removed from there. Mujib has died. Mujib lives on forever.