We Are a Nation of Liberation: The Historic Triumph That Defines Us

Prof. Dr. Zahurul Alam :

We are the nation that fought for our independence with arms in hand against a regular, brutal foreign army.

For nearly a quarter of a century, we endured occupation under the façade of unity. We endured cultural erasure, economic exploitation, denial of rights, and systemic discrimination.

And yet, when the time came, we compelled 93,000 occupation forces to lay down their arms unconditionally and publicly, a feat unparalleled in modern history.

We have this history of glory, sacrifice, resilience, and sovereign triumph etched into our collective memory.

This is not merely a recounting of dates and battles. What Bangladesh achieved in 1971 was a people’s democratic revolution: a struggle of unparalleled moral force, rooted in identity, language, and existential freedom.

It reshaped the South Asian geopolitical landscape and gave birth to a nation committed to justice, dignity, and the aspiration of self? determination.

Today, as Bangladesh navigates new challenges, revisiting the meaning of that victory is both instructive and inspiring.

Bangladesh’s road to liberation did not begin in March 1971. It began with the denial of political will and cultural identity long before the first shot was fired.

The seeds of discontent were sown in the heart of injustice:
# Economic Disparity: Despite producing the bulk of Pakistan’s export earnings, especially through jute, East Pakistan was systematically denied fair resource distribution. Investment flowed overwhelmingly to the western wing, while eastern demands for development and parity were ignored.

# Cultural Suppression: The Language Movement of 1952 was a clarion call. When Bengali, spoken by the majority, was denied official status, students took to the streets, and numerous young martyrs fell.

That moment was not a linguistic assertion alone; it was a declaration of human dignity.

# Political Marginalization: In the 1954 provincial elections, the United Front won a landslide victory.

But central authority repeatedly undermined the democratic will. Leaders and movements emerged and faltered under repression, each adding layers to the people’s political consciousness.

For 24 years, the people of East Pakistan endured this erosion of rights, identity, and justice.

Each wave of protest, whether in 1962, 1966, 1968, or 1969, was a testament to the aspiration for a society that values equality over domination and democratic choice over authoritarian imposition.

The defining moment arrived with the 1970 general election. Awami League, under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won an overwhelming majority in East Pakistan.

They won on the platform of autonomy, equitable governance, and recognition of the Bengali identity.

This was not just a political mandate, it was a mandate for dignity. But the refusal of West Pakistani leaders to honor the electoral outcome was the final betrayal. The stage was set: not for negotiation, but for revolution.

The Liberation War: People’s Revolution in Every Sense On 26 March 1971, the declaration of independence was made, and what followed was

# coordinated struggle that united civilians, students, peasants, professionals, and defected military officers into a cohesive national force.

What unfolded was not merely # guerrilla insurgency; it was a full-fledged war of liberation that sustained moral and organizational coherence across battlefields and refugee camps.

This war was notable for several reasons:
# Mass Popular Involvement: From urban centers to rural villages, ordinary citizens became combatants, informants, and logistical supporters. The war was not confined to kilometers of battlefield, it was woven into the social fabric of everyday life.

# Organizational Strategy: Freedom Fighter units were strategically led, connecting civil resistance with military operations. Sector commanders balanced guerrilla tactics with strategic engagement. Bangladesh’s liberation forces challenged a regular army and maintained morale, unity, and purpose.

# Human Cost: The toll was immense. Millions were displaced, and hundreds of thousands lost their lives. Women and children bore unspeakable hardships. The war’s human dimension was at once tragic and inspiring, testifying to an unwavering commitment to freedom.

# Global Humanitarian Crisis: The refugee exodus into India, estimated at over ten million, created regional humanitarian and political pressure that reshaped South Asian diplomacy.

Victory and Surrender: The World Took Notice
On 16 December 1971, the Pakistani forces stationed in East Pakistan surrendered unconditionally to the joint command of Bangladeshi and Indian forces in Ramna Race Course.

The number, 93,000 troopswas staggering. The surrender was not hidden in bureaucracy or under the cloak of diplomatic formality, it was public and unequivocal.

This surrender remains one of the largest of a trained army in modern history. It is a moment of global significance, not merely national celebration. It marked:
# The end of an occupation
# The triumph of a people over systematic denial
# The moral vindication of a nation’s right to self-determination
Bangladesh’s independence had repercussions far beyond its borders:
It challenged imperial mindsets and cold war alignments by demonstrating that people’s will can overpower military might.

It reasserted language and cultural identity as fundamental to human rights and political legitimacy.It influenced global movements by showing that liberation is not the privilege of the powerful but the right of the oppressed.

Today, Bangladesh’s struggle is part of the global narrative of decolonization, human rights, and democratic aspiration.

As Bangladesh matured as a sovereign state, it achieved remarkable socio?economic milestones:Sustained GDP growth, Poverty reduction, Expansion of education and healthcare, Emergence as a regional economic actor.

Yet, the legacy of the liberation struggle must inform ongoing governance, institutional reform, and democratic practice. We must constantly ask:
# Do our political institutions reflect the will of the people?
# Do we protect the rights, dignity, and voice of all citizens?

# Does our economic progress serve human development, not just financial metrics?
Independence was won not merely to break foreign domination, but to breed a society where justice prevails. Thus, every generation must defend the principles for which the martyrs gave their lives.

Our national narrative cannot be reduced to celebrations, parades, or historical footnotes. It must be living history, an active guide to public life, governance ethos, and civic identity.

We fought not for occupation to be replaced with new forms of dominance. We fought for:
# Self?determination
# Equal citizenship
# Freedom of conscience
# Rule of law, and
# Democratic choice.
Even as Bangladesh confronts political tensions, governance challenges, and socio?economic aspirations, the flame of 1971 must be kept alive, not as a relic, but as a compass for the present and future.

We are a nation with unquestionable roots in revolutionary struggle. From the Language Movement to the liberation war, from the 1970 electoral mandate to the historic surrender of 93,000 troops, our history is testimony to courage, unity, and hope.That history is not an anchor holding us to the past. It is a light for our future.

Translating that legacy into democratic deepening, social justice, and inclusive prosperity is the task of every citizen.

We are not merely heirs to a moment of victory. We are custodians of a legacy of freedom. And that legacy demands nothing less than a democratic, just, and equitable Bangladesh for all.

(The author isDean School of Business
Canadian University of Bangladesh)