Official name | বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতার সুবর্ণজয়ন্তী |
---|---|
Observed by | Bangladesh |
Type | National |
Significance | 50 years of Bangladesh's independence and victory |
Begins | 26 March 2021 |
Ends | 31 March 2022 [1] |
Related to | Liberation of Bangladesh |
The Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence is an annual plan announced by the Government of Bangladesh to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan through a nine-month armed liberation war from 26 March to 16 December 1971. The government announced to celebrate the golden jubilee of independence from 26 March 2021 to 16 December 2021. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] It was later extended to 31 March 2022.
In the lexical language, the term "golden jubilee" basically refers to the 50th anniversary of an event.
On the night of 25 March 1971, the Pakistan army carried out genocide throughout Bangladesh including Dhaka. In this genocide, 6 to 7 thousand ordinary people lost their lives in Dhaka alone. In Bangladesh, this day is known as Genocide Remembrance Day. [7] After 12 noon on that day (in the first hour of March 26), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh and the War of Liberation began. [8] Since 1972, Bangladesh has been celebrating March 26 as "Independence Day" as Bangabandhu declared the independence of Bangladesh in the early hours of March 26. Finally, on 16 December 1971, the Pakistani army surrendered, and Bangladesh achieved victory. Bangladesh has been celebrating this day as Victory Day since 1972. The year 2021 marks 50 years since the declaration of independence and victory in the war. Therefore, the year 2021 is celebrated as "Golden Jubilee" to commemorate the 50th anniversary of independence. [2] [9] [10]
In the 2008 general elections, the Awami League in its election manifesto announced "Vision 2021" ahead of the golden jubilee of independence in 2021, where it pledged to turn Bangladesh into a developing, digital and modern country by 2021. [11]
The celebration of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence officially began on 26 March 2021. Along with the golden jubilee, Mujib Year is also celebrated on the occasion of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Heads of state of different countries joined the celebrations. Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih arrived in Bangladesh on March 17 to attend the combined celebration of Mujib Year and Golden Jubilee of Independence held from March 17 to March 26, 2021, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived on March 19; Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari arrived on March 22; Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering arrived on March 24 and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived on March 26, the Independence Day. [5] [9] [12] Besides, global leaders like Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Boris Johnson, Vladimir Putin, Justin Trudeau, Yoshihide Suga, Imran Khan, Pope Francis, António Guterres also sent congratulatory messages and praised the progress of Bangladesh. [2] [10] [13]
The Independence Day program was started with 50 gunshots in the early morning of 26 March. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar at dawn. On this day, the national flag is hoisted with the sunrise in government, semi-government, autonomous and private buildings of Bangladesh. [2] [10] [12]
The main roads and roadways of different cities of the country, including the capital Dhaka, were decorated to celebrate the golden jubilee. Important buildings and establishments are illuminated a few days before Independence Day. The main roads and roadways of different cities of the country, including the capital Dhaka, were decorated to celebrate the golden jubilee. Important buildings and establishments are illuminated a few days before Independence Day. [2] [10] [12]
Special prayers and dua were offered at all religious places of worship across the country on the occasion of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence. [2] [10]
Due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, limited attendance was allowed to attend the Golden Jubilee event. Again, various restrictions are imposed on non-spectator events. [10]
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince of Wales Charles and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued separate messages greeting the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence. Referring to the contribution of British Bangladeshis to Britain's socio-economic sector, Johnson said, "Six lakh British-Bangladeshis have kept the bond between the two countries alive". [14]
Outside Bangladesh, the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence was celebrated on 26 March 2021 at the Consulate General of Bangladesh in New York. The Consulate celebrated the golden jubilee virtually with the participation of prominent US politicians, ambassadors/consuls general of different countries in New York, valiant freedom fighters and the Bangladeshi-American community. [15]
On March 26, 2021, an hour-long portrait display and illumination of Bangabandhu's portrait was organized at Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on the occasion of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. [9]
On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, the year-long activities ended with the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Victory on December 16, 2021. On 16 December 1971, the Pakistan Army surrendered to the joint forces of India and Bangladesh. This day is celebrated as Victory Day in Bangladesh, which completes 50 years on 16 December 2021. Massive initiatives were taken in front of this day.
As part of this program, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind arrived in Dhaka on December 15 on a three-day state visit. [16] And, on December 15, he paid homage to the martyrs and valiant freedom fighters of the Liberation War of Bangladesh at the National Memorial.
On December 16 and 17, a program titled 'Mahavijayar Mahanayak' was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. On December 16, at 4:30 pm, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, along with the people of the country, read an 'oath'. [17] [18]
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, popularly known by the honorific prefix Bangabandhu, was a Bangladeshi politician, revolutionary, statesman, activist and diarist. As a politician, Mujib had held continuous positions either as Bangladesh's president or as its prime minister from April 1971 until his assassination in August 1975. Mujib successfully led the Bangladeshi independence movement and restored Bengali sovereignty after over two centuries following the Battle of Plassey in 1757, for which he is honoured as the "Father of the Nation" in Bangladesh who declared independence. His Bengali nationalist ideology, socio-political theories, and political doctrines are sometimes called Mujibism.
Independence of Bangladesh was declared on 26 March 1971, celebrated as Independence Day, from Pakistan. The Independence Day of Bangladesh is celebrated on 26 March when Ziaur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Liberation War started on 26 March and lasted till 16 December 1971 which is celebrated as Victory Day in Bangladesh. There is a dispute along partisan line on who declared the Independence of Bangladesh. The Awami League claim Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party claim it was Ziaur Rahman.
Suhrawardy Udyan is a national memorial and public space located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Originally known as Ramna Race Course, it holds significant historical importance due to its association with key events in the country's history.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father and first president of Bangladesh, was assassinated along with most of his family members during the early hours of 15 August 1975 by a group of Bangladesh Army personnel who invaded his Dhanmondi 32 residence as part of a coup d'état. The Minister of Commerce, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, immediately took control of the government and proclaimed himself head of the interim government from 15 August to 6 November 1975. The assassination marked the first direct military intervention in Bangladesh's civilian administration-centric politics. Lawrence Lifschultz characterized this incident as an outcome of the Cold War between the United States-influenced Pakistan and the Soviet Union-influenced India. 15 August is annually observed as National Mourning Day, a commemorative day in Bangladesh.
The Independence Day of Bangladesh is celebrated on 26 March as a national holiday in Bangladesh. It commemorates the country's declaration of independence from Pakistan in the early hours of March 26, 1971.
The independence of Bangladesh was declared on 26 March 1971, at the onset of the Bangladesh Liberation War by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; the following day the declaration was broadcast by Major Ziaur Rahman from Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra radio station in Kalurghat, Chattogram. On 10 April, the Provisional Government of Bangladesh issued a proclamation on the basis of the previous declaration and established an interim constitution for the independence movement.
The 7th March Speech of Bangabandhu, or the 7/3 Speech, was a public speech given by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Founding Father of Bangladesh on 7 March 1971 at the Ramna Race Course in Dhaka to a gathering of over one million (1,000,000) people. It was delivered during a period of escalating tensions between East Pakistan and the powerful political and military establishment of West Pakistan. In the speech, Bangabandhu informally declared the independence of Bangladesh, proclaiming: "The struggle this time, is a struggle for our liberty. The struggle this time, is a struggle for our independence." He announced a civil disobedience movement in the province, calling for "every house to turn into a fortress".
Begum Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, commonly known as Begum Mujib; and also known by her nickname Renu, was the wife of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder and the first President of Bangladesh. She is the mother of Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the Awami League from 2009-2024. She was killed along with her husband, brother-in-law, 3 sons and 2 daughters-in-law.
Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, also known as Bangabandhu Bhaban or Dhanmondi 32, located in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh, was the personal residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was also called Bangabandhu, the founder and president of Bangladesh. Mujib was assassinated with most members of his family in this residence. In 2009, RAJUK declared the museum a national heritage site.
The non-cooperation movement of 1971 was a historical movement in then East Pakistan by the Awami League and the general public against the military government of Pakistan in March of that year. After the announcement of the suspension of the session of the National Assembly of Pakistan on 1 March, the spontaneous movement of the people started, but officially on the call of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the non-cooperation movement started on 2 March and continued until 25 March. The movement lasted for a total of 25 days.
The Dainik Bangla is a Bengali-language daily newspaper in Bangladesh. The newspaper was closed in 1997 and was later revived on 4 September 2022 by an editorial panel led by Nazrul Islam Mazumder and Chowdhury Nafeez Sharafat.
The Mujib coat is a tailored coat for men, designed as an arms cut-off (sleeveless), high-necked coat with two pockets in lower part and five or six buttons. This used to be the signature garment worn by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Mujibism refers to the political view held and propagated by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of the liberation movement of Bangladesh. Mujibism consists of four fundamental policies: nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism. On 7 June 1972, he said that before the country's liberation, the slogans were the six points, now the slogans were the four pillars. When the Constitution of Bangladesh was adopted in 1972, the four pillars became the four fundamental state policies of Bangladesh.
Mujib Year was the year declared to celebrate on the occasion of the centennial birth anniversary of the founding leader of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Government of Bangladesh had declared the year 2020–21 as the Mujib Year. This year was celebrated from March 17, 2020, to March 31, 2022. Bangabandhu Mujib was born on March 17, 1920, in Bengal Presidency.
Mujib: The Making of a Nation is a 2023 epic biographical film based on the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father and first president of Bangladesh who is popularly known as Bangabandhu. A co-production between Bangladesh and India, the film was directed by Shyam Benegal and stars Arifin Shuvoo in the titular role.
The Mitali Express (13131/13132) train is an international express rail service which connects the Indian city of Siliguri with the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka every week. Together with the Maitree Express train and the Bandhan Express train, the Mitali Express train is the third modern-day fully air conditioned passenger train link between the Indian state of West Bengal and Bangladesh. Both the prime ministers of the two neighbouring countries officially inaugurated the non-stop passenger train with ten compartments on the new 513 km route from Dhaka on 26 March 2021, the day Bangladesh celebrated the golden jubilee of its independence. The prime minister of India was in Dhaka to mark the auspicious occasion of fifty years of independence of Bangladesh. After 56 years of stoppage, this train route recreates the previous Siliguri route between India and Bangladesh. A valid visa and passport is required beforehand to purchase a ticket for the Mitali Express train. Tickets are available at Dhaka Kamalapur railway station in Dhaka, Bangladesh and at New Jalpaiguri railway station in Siliguri, India.
The Mausoleum of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder and the first president of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. It is located in Tungipara of Gopalganj district, the birthplace of Mujib, and was designed by architects Ehsan Khan, Ishtiaque Jahir and Iqbal Habib.
"The Assassin Next Door" is the fourth episode of 49th season of Canadian documentary series The Fifth Estate. The documentary was published by the Canada-state affiliated media CBC News. The investigative documentary episode is about on Noor Chowdhury, the assassin of the first President of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and it focuses on questions that raises about Canada's silence in the case of Noor Chowdhury's staying in Canada.
The birthday of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, commonly known as Bangabandhu's birthday, is a public holiday in Bangladesh observed annually on 17 March to celebrate the birthday of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh and former president of Awami League.