Bangabandhu�s Declaration of Independence Bahzad Ahmed

Bangabandhu�s Declaration of Independence

By Bahzad Ahmed

The purpose of this brief write-up is to present a counter picture as historical facts against what is evidently going to be published in different papers by the BNP-led government on the 26^th March. For years together, like many spectators, I have been watching some recycling peculiar supplementaries in different papers, which is putting up a picture of Late Ziaur Rahman (Zia) on the top of the page and cram with several parroted and repeated write-ups and comments. Most of the writers contributing to the supplementaries have nothing to do but to praise Zia as the sole declarer of independence and to claim that it was only because of him we are in the position of celebrating the 26^th March and the 16^th December. Among these reappearing writers there are people who either have doctorate before their names or often act as pet-spokesmen of BNP or have earned some kind of portfolio benefit by serving BNP. I have no comments on these brainless prot�g�s and stooges of BNP, because I am not at all jealous if I find that the supporters of any party are glorifying their leader. However, when this glorification attempts to distort the true history of my country, I, as a conscious and non-partisan citizen, cannot keep myself irresponsibly mum.

Before getting into the main point of this write-up, please permit to say a few words. I have no fascination for any of our self-seeking political parties or their hypocrite political ideologies. I always yearn for becoming a non-partisan free thinker and try to love my soil, its liberation struggle, its history and its brave leaders who contributed for the independence of Bangladesh. And that is why I want to see that our history is being made with facts, not with fantasies � because our history is our invaluable asset and an identity of the Bengali nation.

But unfortunately our glorious history is now in the hands of a few plunders, who are generating peculiar fantasies everyday to distort the magnificent past of the Bengali�s liberation struggle and liberation war � just for their personal benefit. Under this situation, as a conscious citizen, I feel that I should speak out with all the authentic documents, records, references and interviews that I have managed for the purpose of assisting the nation with my limited capacity to uphold the true history of Bangladesh. With all my resources and intent search for the truths I am continuously trying to inform the nation about the facts of our liberation struggle and liberation war.

As the 26^th March is approaching, we are dead sure that the BNP-led government once again is going to publish a recycling supplementary, inevitably portraying Zia as the declarer of independence and the sole leader of our liberation war. Since the 26^th March entails mainly the issue of the declaration of independence along with certain new fantasies of the recent past, I would like to concentrate on the true relevant events of the declaration of independence. Other issues in regard to our history of liberation I would publish time to time as per needs.

It has been claimed by some prot�g�s of BNP that Zia was the first to declare independence and it was his declaration that brought out mass people for a liberation war. To be very straightforward, this claim is an utter fallacy filled with sweet fantasies. In fact, even Zia in his lifetime never claimed that he was the first to declare independence. In front Zia nobody of BNP ever claimed or dared to claim that Zia declared independence. The reason was that Zia had very strong personality as an army officer and was uncompromising in his personal life about speaking the truth. He strongly disliked people flattering him and that is why the stooges of today had no access to Zia in his lifetime. I shall give you one example from many in this short write-up. Mir Shawkat was very close to Zia. During Zia�s lifetime he himself admitted that he heard the powerful voice of MA Hannan announcing for the first time the declaration of independence on behalf of Bangabandhu from Chittagong Radio on the 26^th March 1971. Please find his statement in the 15 volumes of historical accounts, which Zia himself took very sincere initiative to compile and publish. I do not know how people with political interest evaluate Zia about his honesty to the liberation war, but his sincere and uncompromising efforts for the compilation and publication of the 15-volume historical accounts of our liberation war has truly made him an adorer of independence. And that is why in the original version of those 15 volumes the declaration of independence by Bangabandhu was included without any question, by Zia himself. If he wished or had the declaration been a sceptical one, Zia could have easily discarded that declaration from the volumes, but he did not do that because of two reasons. Firstly, he knew about declaration very much, which he himself learnt on the 26^th March 1971 in Chittagong and secondly, he was not at all craving for snatching any undue credits. But it is really very ridiculous that after the death of Zia in 1981 a few crooked stooges of BNP have been unnecessarily engaged in making him equivalent to Bangabandhu � this is practically an absurd approach. We are quite aware why BNP is so eager to pull Zia up to the level of Bangabandhu, which is just impractical, but today I am not going to discuss on that. Rather let us see the events of declaration of independence by Bangabandhu and others. In very brief let me inform you that there are many authentic documents on the declaration of independence by Bangabandhu available with me and I would mention a few points here from those references.

First of all it is important to note that Bangabandhu believed in the Gandhian philosophy of �non-violence� and wanted a bloodless, peaceful and democratic solution for attaining absolute autonomy built on 6-points. He was dead sure that the autonomy would have led to an independent Bangladesh with popular support from international community. General Yahya also assured Bangabandhu that an LFO would be formulated to give full autonomy to East Pakistan and its people, and that is why Bangabandhu patiently waited even until 25^th March evening in 1971. However, with apprehension he was also ready for any treacherous suppressive move by the Pakistani junta, if Yahya had planned not to accept the framework of autonomy proposed by Awami League. The preparation was like declaration of independence and start of an all-out freedom-fight to counter any possible attack by Pakistani armed forces. As part of this plan Bangabandhu got a pre-recorded message ready for transmission as a counteraction against this type of possible crackdown.

Unfortunately Yahya Khan opted for a crackdown instead of providing an agreeable LFO. The apprehensive crackdown began at 11.00pm of the 25^th March 1971. Therefore, this time Bangabandhu had no other option but to okay the transmission of the pre-recorded message of declaration. At around 11.30pm of 25^th March 1971 this pre-recorded message went in the air from a handy transmitter purposefully set up at Boldha Garden. Many in Dhaka heard this message because it was cleverly transmitted on the frequency very close to Radio Pakistan Dacca. The purpose of this transmission was to inform the foreign journalists and diplomats listening naturally to Radio Pakistan Dacca about the compelling action of declaring independence against the crackdown by Pakistani army. This move was successful because many heard the message very clearly, among whom was David Loshak of The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph of London, who was then in Dhaka on duty. Back to London a few weeks after the 25^th March he published an authentic book called �Pakistan Crisis�. When this book was published Bangladesh was still a couple of months away from independence. So there should not be any dearth of doubt that Bangabandhu made a declaration of independence � at least this is the book, which is above any doubt � (even Zia certified this declaration during his reign). Tikka Khan also mentioned about this declaration while giving an interview to Musa Sadik and Rezaur Rahman (of Ain Adalat) during the SAARC summit in Pakistan in the 1980s. Moreover, Bangladesh documents published by Foreign Ministry of Indian Government also contains this declaration. To speak the truth, although heard by small number of people, this was the very first declaration of independence in the real sense by Bangabandhu. The message read like this: �This may be my last message. From today Bangla Desh is independent. I call upon the people of Bangla Desh, wherever you are and with whatever you have, to resist the army of occupation to the last. Your fight must go on until the last soldier of the Pakistan occupation army is expelled from the soil of Bangla Desh and final victory is achieved.� Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The text of this message was also transmitted through EPR wirelesses throughout the country all-over Bangladesh. However, it may be mentioned here that in his historic 7^th March speech he gave a clarion call for independence and liberation war in a diplomatic language for technical reasons.

Moreover, apart from signalling his men to transmit the pre-recorded message Bangabandhu also dictated another message of declaration of war after 11.00pm of the 25^th March. The dictation was given, among others, to Dr Mazharul Islam, Col (retired) Osmani and Tajuddin Ahmed. After the pre-recorded message was transmitted the second message was also given to EPR for transmission all-over the country as well. The message read like this: �Pak Army suddenly attacked EPR base at Pilkhana, Rajarbagh Police Line and killing citizens. Street battles are going on in every street of Dacca and Chittagong. I appeal to the Nations of the World for help. Our freedom fighters are gallantly fighting with the enemies to free the motherland. I appeal and order you all in the name of Almighty Allah to fight to the last drop of blood to liberate the country. Ask police, EPR, Bengal regiment and Ansar to stand by you and to fight. No compromise. Victory is ours. Drive out the last enemy from the holy soil of motherland. Convey the message to all Awami League leaders, workers and other patriots and lovers of freedom. May Allah bless you. Joy Bangla.� SK. Mujibur Rahman. During that time the telecommunication system was not very efficient and that is why some parts of the country received the first message while other parts received only the second one. However, in some parts of the country both the messages were picked up.

Anyway, whichever the message was, the contents were very clear to the receivers � that Bangabandhu declared independence. After the receipt of the message(s) instant measure was taken up by political leaders to announce the declaration of independence by using loudspeakers. It is important to note that when Bangabandhu gave his messages and instructions it was late night of the 25^th March 1971, but the mass people all-over the country received this declaration on the next day, i.e. the 26^th March. That is why our Independence Day is observed on the 26^th March.

Specially for Chittagong Bangabandhu�s strategy was different. As an initial strike of the freedom-fight he wanted his people and armed forces to liberate Chittagong and proceed to Comilla. Besides the above-mentioned formal messages he also sent a couple of secret instructions in this regard to Chittagong through telephone lines by Nayeem Gohor and Mosharraf Hossain (presently energy and mineral resource minister). Bangabandhu wanted to make sure that his instructions had been reached without any fail to the intended receivers of Chittagong and that is why he opted for two persons at a time to convey the same instructions through two different telephone lines.

In Chittagong many people received both the formal messages. They copied them with carbon papers and in cyclostyles and distributed among the people. Loudspeakers were also used to disseminate the contents of the messages. One of the leading Awami League leaders of Chittagong MA Hannan took a remarkably courageous step. For a brief period he managed to switch on Chittagong Radio and broadcast the contents of the messages as the first person to do so on behalf of Bangabandhu at 2.30pm on the 26^th March 1971. This was followed by similar repeated broadcasts quoting Bangabandhu�s declaration in Dacca by the initiators of Swadhin Bangla Biplobi Betar Kendra from Kalurghat. Almost all the leading global press and broadcast media including those of India quoted these declarations on the 26^th and 27^th March � Anil Bhattacharjiya of PTI was the man who picked up the announcement of these messages and reported to Gouhati news media. From there Akashbani, BBC and other news and press media came to know about the declaration and broadcast its contents in their news items or printed in their newspapers. Moreover, one Japanese ship anchored midstream of Chittagong harbour also caught the message possibly from Shitakund wireless station and informed the foreign countries about the declaration. Radio Australia was the one to pick up and broadcast over the radio. Australian newspapers also covered the news of Bangabandhu�s declaration of independence. On the following day in the 27^th March issue the Statesman of India published the news that after the crackdown by the Pakistani forces Sheikh Mujib declared Bangla Desh as Democratic Republic. Moreover, the American Spot Report also mentioned that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared East Pakistan a sovereign and independent People�s Republic of Bangla Desh. Subsequently, many leading press media of the word covered the news of declaration by Bangabandhu with his picture. Rest assured, I possess all the references in regard to this declaration.

Ziaur Rahman as a Major of the 8^th EBR of Chittagong also gave a declaration on behalf of Bangabandhu on the 27^th March 1971. He was very spontaneous when Belal Mohammad Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra requested him to give a declaration as a representative of military forces. His first declaration was quite a long one which began with �I Major Ziaur Rahman do hereby declare the independence of Bangladesh on behalf of our great national leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman�. It was at 7.30pm on the 27^th March � at least 40 hours after the declaration by Bangabandhu and the start of mass resistance by common people and Bengali armed forces. Therefore, against the facts mentioned herein nobody has any scope of claiming that Zia was the first to declare the independence of Bangladesh and it was his sole leadership that operated the liberation war. Anybody claiming this would become a maker of ridiculous fantasies. However, Zia�s declaration acted as immense encouragement for those military personnel who heard it. We must also remember that it was only in the name Bangabandhu our liberation war was carried out.

There is one more thing that is also brought forth linking the declaration of independence issue. It is also claimed nowadays by BNP that it was Zia�s declaration alone that gave a direction to an unprepared nation for a war. This claim is also an utter fantasy. Very briefly, please be informed that Bangabandhu was hundred percent prepared for a war, had the Pakistanis compelled him to do so. Secretly before his 7^th March Speech India�s consent for all-out help was sought and ensured, MAG Osmani was made the de-facto commander-in-chief of the liberation force, different sectors were planned and divided, declaration of independence was recorded, meeting between Indira Gandhi and Tajuddin was held on the 3^rd April 1971, Bengali army officers met under Osmani�s command on the 4^th April for sector-wise encounters, and much more. Please read extremely useful books like Witness to Surrender, Muldhara Ekattur, Pakistan Crisis, Emergence of a Nation, Bloodbath in Bangladesh, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, Bangladesh Wins Freedom, The Evolution of Politics in Bangladesh, The Last Days of United Pakistan, American Spot Report, Legacy of Blood, Bangladesh Documents, and so forth. I can give you a book-full of details on this issue, but for now please be satisfied with this.

In support to what I have written here I can furnish a host of quotes from different sources that can simply authenticate the declaration of Bangabandhu, but that would increase the volume of this write-up. However, here are a few quotes on the declaration of Bangabandhu given by the direct witnesses. I hope this will give the light to those who are lacking this and ignorantly engaged in discarding Bangabandhu�s declaration.

�Tajuddin came to my residence for shelter in that terrible night. It was, most probably, 12:45am (26^th March). With great concern Tajuddin told me about two serious events: 1. Bangabandhu has officially declared the independence of Bangladesh and sent it to Chittagong and other districts via wireless; 2. I implored him (Bangabandhu), holding his knees, to leave his residence and hide out, but he did not agree� � Mr Abdul Gafur, Engineer Bangladesh Railway

��Before he was arrested, Sheikh Mujib made a formal declaration of independence of Bangladesh sometime between 12:00am and 1:30am on March 26, 1971. It was broadcast over the clandestine Swadhin Bangladesh Betar (Radio) controlled by the Mukti Fauj (freedom fighters) at noon of March 26, 1971� � SK Chakrabarti, The Evolution of Politics in Bangladesh

�...The 25^th of March was spent by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his party leaders in awaiting a call from General Pirzada for a final meeting with Yahya Khan and also for the final drafting session for working out the details of interim transfer of power. No such call came. At zero hours on the 26^th March, the army swung into action against the unarmed people of East Pakistan, launching operation on a war scale. Meanwhile Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaimed the birth of sovereign Independent State of Bangladesh� � Prabodh Chandra, Bloodbath in Bangladesh

��In the night of March 25, 1971, he (Mujib) formally declared the independence of Bangladesh. This declaration was later broadcast all over the country via wireless. In the morning of March 26, 1971, I got this message at Mymensingh Agricultural University (BAU). The then Vice Chancellor of BAU, Kazi Fazlur Rahman called all the teachers, showed them Mujib�s declaration message and said: �This message came via the Mymensingh Police Line and Mr Rafiq Bhuiyan, the leader of Mymensingh Awami League, personally brought this message to me�. Immediately after the VC�s announcement, a meeting was held where Mr Bhuiyan read out the declaration of independence and recounted the dreadful military crack down in Dhaka city the previous night�� Shamsuz Zaman Khan

��Soon after darkness fell on March 25, the voice of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman came faintly through a wavelength close to that of the official Pakistan Radio. In what must have been, and sounded like, a pre-recorded message, the Sheikh proclaimed East Pakistan to be the People�s Republic of Bangla Desh. He called on Bengalis to go underground, to reorganise and to attack the �invaders�� David Loshak, Pakistan Crisis

...�The full text of the proclamation is published in Bangla Desh Documents released by the Indian Foreign Ministry. It said, �This may be my last message. From today Bangla Desh is independent. I call upon the people of Bangla Desh, wherever you are and with whatever you have, to resist the army of occupation to the last. Your fight must go on until the last soldier of the Pakistan occupation army is expelled from the soil of Bangla Desh and final victory is achieved�� Siddiq Salik, Witness to Surrender

Finally let me tell you that the declaration of independence by Bangabandhu is an absolute truth like the daylight. There is no scope of denying that, because the events of the declaration are historical facts. Therefore, if any quarter wants to discard these historical facts relating to Bangabandhu and replace those with something imaginary or fantasies relating to Zia, then the members have to make those particular days and time reappear and fill those in with their imaginary events with action as they desire. Practically this is just impossible, because without a time-machine the historical facts of the past cannot be changed in any manner other than telling some lies � and it is crime to replace truths with lies. So the people who are engaged in discarding the declaration of Bangabandhu from the annals of our liberation war are not only doing crimes but also dishonouring a man, for whom we take pride on a glorious liberation war and are honourably independent today on the globe. Moreover, we must remember it is human quality to pay respect and gratitude to someone when one does a favour for us. Even from that perspective these history distorters are lacking a human quality to claim themselves as real human beings. On the auspicious day of the 26^th March I appeal to the nation, please crush the evil attempts of distortion of our glorious history and disseminate the real facts among common people, especially the new generation and children. We must remember that our history is our pride and we must uphold this for our respectful existence.

[Written on 23 March 2005. The writer is a political analyst. Email: [email protected]]