The sun for the first time shines today over an Independent Bangladesh – the new nation-state born after 9-month long War of Independence. The invading Pakistani military was vanquished in a guerrilla warfare partaken by brave Bengali boys and girls since 26 March. Like wounded hyenas, the defeated marauders retreated to the dark corners of the earth licking their wound.
The birth of Bangladesh was painful as 3 million people had to sacrifice their lives and scores of women had to sacrifice their honor. The frenzy of indiscriminate killing of people continued till the last day which later came to be labeled as Genocide. The Pakistani military will have to live forever with the stigma of committing this genocide on a people who simply wanted self-rule.
Despite winning in the 1970 general election, Pakistani military junta refused to hand over power to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. They opted for a violent course of action but at the end got the taste of their own folly.
On 16 December, 1971, sunshine cascaded down on the nascent state where the earth was still wet with the blood of the martyrs, where tears in the eyes of the widows, grieving mothers and sisters were flowing like streams, and sighs of fathers made the December cool air heavy.
The Pakistanis had occupied Bengal (former East Pakistan) for 24 years. They had businesses and industries here but never wanted to give the workers their due, rather exploited them in every way possible. The disparity between West and East Pakistan stretched to the limit and it logically invited sharp reaction from the East Pakistani politicians, academics and students. The more East Pakistan demanded equity and equality, the more oppressive the central government became.
The Pakistanis closed all roads to negotiation and peaceful co-existence. As a result, for the Bengalis, only one road was left to take – creation of Bangladesh.
