Bangladesh: Thoughts on Victory Day

Forty-one years ago on December 16, 1971, this nation collectively created magnificent history by freeing itself from colonial subjugation and bondage at the end of a nine-month War of Liberation that involved huge sacrifices in human lives and assets. Independence came as the culmination of a long struggle spanning four decades. The brutal attempt in 1952 by the Pakistani leaders to impose Urdu on the Bangladeshis as their mother tongue was the starting point in a long trail of confrontation with the Pakistani ruling elite with the people of this country. This peaked when, after the 1970 general elections, the rightful demands and stand of the people of Bangladesh were sought to be suppressed with sheer physical force by the colonial overlords. The genocide and moves at ethnic cleansing that followed against the people of Bangladesh in that period have few parallels in contemporary history. But as we celebrate today another Victory Day in remembrance of that epochal moment in 1971, it is only pertinent to look back and see what worthwhile achievements have been attained in these forty years. For though the sense of freedom has its own exhilaration, independence and freedom for a people can become truly meaningful when they lead to positive transformations in all spheres of national life. The father of the nation, Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, often underlined that independence must facilitate the attaining of rapid improvements in the lives of the people and improvement in their standards of living, cause the country’s various economic sectors to be fully developed, and should spur the country’s overall progress in every respect. It is therefore natural to ask, on this day, whether we are on track to realize that vision of independence. It cannot be said at all that nothing of significance has been established in the last four decades. In fact a great deal has been achieved. For instance, Bangladesh now successfully feeds a population that has more than doubled, and it has reduced the number of people in poverty. It has developed a world class export-oriented garment sector. It produces nearly all basic consumer products and also many types of capital equipment which it previously procured wholly from external sources. Achievements in education and health are outstanding. But Bangladesh still has some way to go to create a more inclusive society with the fruits of economic progress being more justly shared. Also, it has yet to establish stable foundations for longer term political advancement. To these needs the country’s leaders, rising above narrow perceptions, need to devote greater focus and energy.