Days of thunder
THE two months of the English calendar -- February and March -- come to our lives to remind us of our glorious history. These two months are blood-soaked all right, but some of our greatest achievements came in these two months. We had shed blood in February 1952, and had turned around to defeat the enemy to uphold the honour of our mother tongue. We are proud of that legacy. We have shed blood again in February 2009, and we have taken the resolve to defeat the enemy once again. Be informed, we never let our sacrifice go in vain.
This is March and this month reminds us of our collective voice that resonated throughout Bangladesh in the single voice of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: "Ebarer shongram shwadhinotar shongram (this battle is the battle for independence)." So, March is another important month in our history.
This is the month when we had taken our final decision in 1971, to hoist our own green and red flag permanently. Thus, March fills our hearts with the spirit of freedom. So, in this March of 2009, we shall have to take the correct decision, like we did 38 years ago. March is the month that provides us with the direction.
Today, hungry predators watch us from the dark bushes, waiting for the right moment to pounce with their full might. They are extremely ferocious animals, having no regard for human life. They have been waiting since December 16, 1971. They had launched attacks intermittently in the last 38 years, but every time they have been chased back to the bushes by the people of Bangladesh.
Like 1971, we are again faced with a national crisis, but fortunately we have our own history to learn lessons from and take actions accordingly. We do not have to borrow from the history of any other country. Only the other day, on March 7, we heard once again the historic clarion call of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on TV and radio. He told us to be united and be prepared with everything we had. We have to take cues from that speech.
Therefore, we shall get united again (divided we fall). We shall collect all our resources and shall be ready to strike back. If it was the battle for freedom (shwadhinota) in 1971, now it is the battle to protect our freedom. We can see hundreds of vultures circling overhead to swoop down on us. We can see the glowing eyes of the predators in the bushes. So, united we must be.
We have a lot to learn from March. We have the unequalled history of how a handful of leaders, men and women of unwavering integrity, matchless courage and profound wisdom, had given leadership in the absence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after the brutal crackdown on March 25, 1971. They did not lose the sense of direction, no matter how close to death they were. Against all odds, they had carried the war through until achieving victory.
At such difficult times, when numerous conspiracies and schemes are being brewed against the nation state, we remember the iron-nerves of Bangabandhu's able deputies like Tajuddin Ahmed, Syed Nazrul Islam and AHM Quamruzzaman and how judiciously they had handled the War of Liberation. They had kept their cool against all sorts of provocations and faced the conspirators both within and outside. They knew they had to push on towards the ultimate goal -- victory.
So, with all the splendid deeds of these sagacious leaders in our history, the younger leaders of the day need go nowhere for drawing inspiration. It is said that no one takes lessons from history. Let us prove this age-old saying wrong. Let us take lessons from our own history of the War of Liberation. Therefore, let us keep our cool, take iron-solid decisions and implement them without fear or favour.
The battle for protection and preservation of our freedom might prove to be as bloody as the War of Liberation, as the enemies have consolidated power over last 38 years. They are bigger in number today and are well-armed. So, young leaders of today, prepare your battle plans cleverly so that you may take the enemy by surprise. And fight for all-out victory.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments