Shudir Baran Mazi

The fiery March is a glorious and painfully important chapter in the liberation struggle of the Bengalis' ancient history. The month of March is our month of pride. The month of declaring independence. The month of the beginning of the formal armed liberation war. It was in this month of March 1971 that the independence of Bangladesh was sown. Every day of this month was one of struggle, resistance, and sacrifice. This month is not just the passage of time, it is the month of sowing the seeds of our independence, the month of the bright promise of struggle. The month of March 1971 was turbulent, burning with the fire of protest. At that time, ordinary people throughout Bangladesh were roaring with the demand for liberation. This month is a reflection of the final preparation for the independence of Bangladesh. It is a symbol of the unique glory of the Bengali liberation struggle. In this month of 1971, the aspiration of the Bengali nation for self-determination took its final form, and the path to independence became clear.

The fiery March is a witness to the history of Bengali independence. In this month of 1971, the great war of independence began as a result of the Arrow Movement. In this month of March 1971, which is full of eventful and painful memories of the movement and struggle of Bengal, the Non-Cooperation Movement began under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The armed liberation war began in the final phase of the long 23-year movement and struggle against the Pakistani forces. After a long nine-month bloody war, the independent sovereign state called Bangladesh emerged on the world map. Although independent Bangladesh was established on March 26, 1971, the final movement began on March 1, 1971.

On March 1, 1971, the entire country was in flames. The then President of Pakistan, Yahya Khan, announced the postponement of the March 3 session of the Constituent Assembly in a radio address that day. He said that this decision was taken because a major party in Pakistan, the People's Party, and several other parties had expressed their desire to join the National Assembly session to be held on March 3. As soon as this announcement was broadcast on the radio, the capital Dhaka erupted in massive protests. At that time, a Pakistan vs. World XI cricket match was going on at the then Dhaka Stadium (present-day Bangabandhu Stadium). As soon as Yahya Khan's announcement was made, the spectators left the game. By then, thousands of people had started protesting in Paltan-Gulistan. That movement eventually turned into an independence movement. That day, a pre-scheduled meeting of the Awami League parliamentary party was to be held at the Purbani Hotel in the Motijheel-Dilkusha area. The angry students went there and for the first time raised slogans, "Bir Bengalis, armed, make Bangladesh independent." The students demanded that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announce a program. The entire country, including Dhaka, erupted in protests and slogans.

Then 25 stormy days passed one after another. On the night of March 25, the Pakistani occupying forces attacked the unarmed Bengalis, and the armed liberation war began. Along this path, the brave Bengali boys snatched away an independent country, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, in exchange for a sea of blood. In the lives of Bengalis, the month of March is a source of inner strength for various reasons. On March 7, 1971, the Race Course Maidan was a sea of people roaring with excitement. The same sound of millions of voices was being uttered from one end of the country to the other. The red sun flag was flying over the green land in the whole country including Dhaka. The struggle for independence of indomitable courage and self-confidence began. In this month, the freedom-loving people developed an intense movement across the country. In this month, ordinary Bengalis became extraordinary warriors.

The Pakistani ruling class realized that it was no longer possible to suppress the Bengali desire for independence. On the dark night of March 25, the Pakistanis launched Operation Searchlight to silence the Bengali voice forever. The soldiers indiscriminately killed thousands of people on the streets of Dhaka. They attacked various educational institutions including Dhaka University and killed students and teachers. The subsequent events are the history of resistance. Young, old and women joined the great liberation war. After a long 9-month bloody armed war, the nation gained independence through victory on December 16. On the dark night of March 25, the Pakistani army started a barbaric genocide, against which the brave Bengalis took up arms. On December 16, after a nine-month bloody liberation war, we achieved the final victory, hoisted the red-green flag and established independent Bangladesh. But the exploitation, rule, plunder and extremism of the bourgeois ruling class and the ruling political parties have tarnished the achievements of the Agnijhara March. The spirit of the March was to move forward on the path of building a non-discriminatory, non-communal, secular society and state. But looking at the current situation, the question arises, did we want the spirit of this March? The March of that day and the March of today seem to be opposite positions. We do not want to see this picture.

The independence of Bangladesh was officially declared in March. After that, the nine-month-long bloody struggle of the Liberation War began, the fruit of which is our independent Bangladesh. In the political context, this month is a source of strength in the lives of Bengalis for various reasons. It is a shining witness to numerous events. The situation for declaring independence was created mainly through the 6 points. The military ruler Ayub Khan fell in the huge mass movement of 1969. On March 7, Bangabandhu, standing in front of millions of Bengalis at the historic Race Course Maidan, warned the Pakistani rulers, saying, 'We will not be able to keep seventy million people under control. When we have learned to die, no one can keep us under control. When I have given blood, I will give more blood. I will free the people of this country, Insha Allah. This time's struggle is our struggle for liberation, this time's struggle is our struggle for independence. On the verge of becoming a happy, prosperous, developed country free from hunger and poverty, with a modern standard of living. Let Bangladesh move forward - this is the wish of all of us

Many important events took place in March 1971, including Bangabandhu's historic speech on March 7, the massacre on March 25, and the declaration of independence. This month began the bright journey of our liberation spirit, which culminated in a long nine-month liberation war. This month is not just a passage of time, that is why March is called the "Fiery March" - a month of awakening, a month of resistance, and a month of firmly raising the demand for independence. The "Fiery March" is not only history for us, it is a source of inspiration for generations. Today's Bangladesh should not forget the glory of that sacrifice. Independence is not just a political achievement: it is a history written in blood, the glory of sacrifice. Therefore, we should take inspiration from the lessons of this month and build a developed, democratic, and prosperous Bangladesh.

This "Fiery March" is our source of inspiration, the foundation of our liberation struggle. This month is a reflection of the final preparations of the brave Bengalis for the independence of Bangladesh. The "Fiery March" is the source of the spirit of our national history. This month has taught us the power of struggle, the courage of resistance and the promise of victory. The month of national unity, in this month, the Bengali nation united and moved forward on the path of freedom. Just as the people of all walks of life resisted the Pakistani rulers in March 1971, the spirit of March 1971 will inspire people to build mass resistance against the rulers and exploiters of the country. The fiery March teaches us this lesson: no compromise with injustice and accepting the truth. The month of oath - it is during this time that the dream of Bengali independence becomes clear and independence is achieved. In the spirit of the March, there will be a constant struggle in thought and action to make that freedom universal. Freedom and the rights of the people should not be tied to the chains of subjugation in any way.

The writer is a, Teacher, Haimchar Government College, Haimchar, Chandpur.