Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of the nation and supreme commander of the country’s Liberation War, returned to the sacred soil of independent Bangladesh via London and New Delhi on January 10 in 1972, after 290 days of confinement in Pakistan jail, reports BSS.
To commemorate this historic day, the Department of Posts has issued commemorative stamps, opening envelopes and data cards, said a press release issued on Sunday.
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mostafa Jabbar in his office today, released a commemorative stamp worth Taka 10, an opening envelope worth Taka 10 and inaugurated a data card worth Taka 5.
The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications made a statement highlighting the historical significance of the day saying that, “The victory of the great liberation war was completed with the return of Bangabandhu to independent sovereign Bangladesh on 10 January 1972.”
Highlighting the context of the war of liberation, he said that, “Bengalis fought for independence under the declared direction of Bangabandhu, but he was passing his days in Pakistani Jail thinking that he would be killed any moment.”
In the statement, Jabbar also said that, “The defeated Pakistani regime was finally forced to release Bangabandhu on 8, January 1972 under international pressure after the final victory of the Bengalis…As the world leaders became vocal in demanding the release of Bangabandhu.”
Highlighting the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh and the image of Dhaka at that time centering on Bangabandhu’s repatriation, the statement said it took two and a half hours to reach the racecourse ground after the plane carrying Bangabandhu landed at Tejgaon Airport.
Describing the feelings of the people of that day, Jabbar said in his statement that the racecourse ground was filled with people shouting ‘Joybangla, Joy Bangabandhu Bandhu’.
Bangabandhu also cried with emotion, as he set foot on the independent soil of Bangladesh that day, he said.
Commemorative stamps, opening envelopes and data cards can be collected from the Philatelic Bureau of Dhaka GPO today and later from other GPOs and major post offices in the country.
