Bangabandhu’s Speech That Shook a Nation—Now a Threat to Bangladesh’s Usurpers

Bangabandhu’s Speech That Shook a Nation—Now a Threat to Bangladesh’s
Usurpers Writer Sayed Abedin is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and a Barrister
Why celebrate the speech that birthed a nation when you can erase it from history?
Ah, the sweet irony of history. March 7, 2025, is upon us—a day that should be echoed with the powerful words of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Bangladesh. But, alas!
The new overlord of the country, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the self-proclaimed champion of democracy, decided last year (2024) that this historic day should simply cease to exist. Why
celebrate the speech that birthed a nation when you can erase it from history?
"The Struggle This Time Is for… Power?"
Bangabandhu stood before a sea of people at Racecourse Field, Dhaka (now Suhrawardy Udyan), in 1971 and declared, “The struggle this time is the struggle for our emancipation! The struggle this time is the struggle for our independence!”. His words weren’t just a speech; they were a battle cry that led to the birth of Bangladesh. Even the United Nations recognized its global significance, placing it alongside Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (UNESCO).
Fast forward to 2024, and the Student Shomonnoyok movement—an army of so-called democracy warriors—was using this same speech to ignite protests against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. They vowed to restore justice, they vowed to bring freedom, and they vowed to end tyranny. And what did they do once they took power? They canceled the very day that symbolized
that fight for freedom!
From “Freedom Fighters” to History’s Arsonists As soon as Dr. Yunus and his Student Shomonnoyok gang took power in 2024, their first order of business was not to restore democracy, not to uphold freedom, but to erase the legacy of
Bangabandhu. Their ultimate tribute to their newfound power? Burning down 32 Dhanmondi, the house where history was written, the house that stood as a reminder of Bangladesh’s Liberation
War. It’s like watching someone recite the American Declaration of Independence while setting fire to
the National Archives. Bravo, champions of democracy! Democracy or Hypocrisy? The Press Vanishes Overnight While Student Shomonnoyok screamed about press freedom, human rights, and democracy in 2024, their rule after taking power on August 5, 2024, has been anything but. As soon as they took
control, journalists disappeared, newspapers shut down, and TV channels stopped airing critical
voices. Where are those fiery young revolutionaries now? Busy torturing journalists in dark cells, no
doubt, because nothing says “freedom” like silencing every opposing voice.
The War Criminals Are Back—And They’re in Power Those who fought against Bangladesh’s independence in 1971—the war criminals of Jamaat-e-
Islami, the extremists of Hizb ut-Tahrir, the shadowy figures of global Islamist networks—are no longer hiding in fear of justice. Under Dr. Yunus, they now run the country. The very people who massacred millions in 1971 are now dictating how Bangladesh should be
governed. And their first target? Anything and everything that represents the spirit of 1971. Cancel March 7? Cancel the Spirit of Independence? Nice Try! Last year, when Dr. Yunus canceled the official observance of March 7, only a handful of brave writers and activists dared to protest outside Dhaka Press Club. And what happened to them?
They were brutally attacked by mobs, their voices drowned in violence.
But here’s a lesson from history: The fire of freedom doesn’t die with a canceled holiday. The spirit of Bangabandhu’s speech still burns in the hearts of millions. Just as the people of
Bangladesh rose in 1971 against tyranny, they will rise again.
March 7, 2025, Has Arrived—But The Revolution Is Just Beginning
Dr. Yunus and his extremist allies may think they have erased the spirit of March 7, but history has other plans. The people of Bangladesh have always fought against oppression—and they will
fight again. Because here’s the thing about revolutions: You can silence voices, you can burn down
museums, you can cancel historic days—but you can’t erase the truth.
So, as Bangladesh wakes up on March 7, 2025, let’s remember: The struggle this time is still the struggle for our emancipation. The struggle this time is still the struggle for our independence.
And the fight is far from over.
Writer Sayed Abedin is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and a Barrister.