Bengalis, who had long been subjected to suppression and oppression, were persecuted by the Pakistani military junta and deprived of their fundamental rights, achieved their independence because of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu has been the source of inspiration for the people of this nation and he is the symbol of our independence.
The sudden killing of Bangabandhu came to us as a bolt from the blue. With the brutal killing of Bangabandhu by the people who were defeated in the War of Liberation in 1971, the nation was perplexed by the eventuality. The army captured the state power and parliament was suspended. All the rights and privilege of the people were snatched away by the military rulers.
The nation lost its glorious image before the international community. Bangladesh Awami League, which led the liberation war in 1971 under the directives of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib, became leaderless overnight. At that critical juncture Sheikh Hasina’s coming back to us was like a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel and for obvious reason it was a demand of time.
Three months before the return of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh Awami League, organised by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib, made her its president at a national council. Sheikh Hasina's homecoming was scheduled on 17 May 1981. It was a cloudy afternoon; I was leading a procession of thousands of Dhaka University students.
Before crossing Mohakhali turning, we lost ourselves in a sea of people. Some transports were there in Dhaka city in the morning, but no car could move on the street in the afternoon.
The nation is fortunate enough that Sheikh Hasina
returned to Bangladesh and her homecoming has
been proved fruitful for the greater good of the nation
A sea of people occupied the streets of Dhaka to see Sheikh Hasina for once. From airport to Jatrabari, Sadar Ghat to Mirpur, there was no space left to stand. The wave of the sea of people was breaking down all barriers. President Ziaur Rahman was visiting Chittagong on that day and it was difficult for his motorcade to enter the city through Kanchpur Bridge.
Finally the aircraft carrying Sheikh Hasina landed around 2:30 pm. When she emerged from the aircraft, all in the ocean of people at the airport busted into tears in joy and happiness seeing their most beloved and nearest one, Sheikh Hasina. The profound joy and the utmost happiness of the people knew no bounds as they met with the blood of Bangabandhu.
The crowd present was heralding their love and affection to their leader with repeated slogans. Sheikh Hasina’s motorcade came straight from the airport to a rally on the Manik Mia Avenue.
Around 5:30 pm Sheikh Hasina arrived there but it was very difficult for her to give a speech and talk about the tragedy of August 15. Eventually she became senseless. She just could convey a message: “I am back; I will fight till the last drop of my blood.”
Sheikh Hasina kept her words. After a long struggle, she established democracy, rule of law and the human rights in the country by removing the military dictator. General Zia, the main beneficiary of the killing of Bangabandhu, prevented the trial of the killers of Bangabandhu and other members of his family by promulgating Indemnity Ordinance.
It was Sheikh Hasina who removed that ordinance and brought the killers to book by conducting the trials in a conventional way providing all facility according to law and convention. Thus she established the rule of law in the country.
Sheikh Hasina is making Bangladesh a golden Bengal as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Because of Sheikh Hasina, the disheartened and disappointed nation got a new hope for a prosperous future. The present government headed by Sheikh Hasina has set a target and is doing everything possible to turn Bangladesh into a developed nation within the stipulated time.
She has chalked out some massive development projects under short-, medium- and long-term planning. Also she has undertaken Delta Plan 2100. The nation is fortunate enough that Sheikh Hasina returned to Bangladesh and her homecoming has been proved fruitful for the greater good of the nation.
Sharif Shahab Uddin is Editor-in-Chief, Bangladesh Post.
