Sheikh Hasina and Implementation of the Spirit of the Liberation War in Bangladesh

The spirit of the liberation war was destroyed by killing Bangabandhu. Sheikh Hasina has made relentless efforts to restore that consciousness. The spirit of the liberation war is manifested in the patriotic ruler and cherishing the promise of establishing the just rights of the people. However, even after 53 years of independence, the issue of the spirit of the liberation war remains unresolved. Even after the liberation war, the forces opposed to the liberation war were politically in a strong position. After the killing of Bangabandhu, the democracy of the countryand the development of the spirit of the liberation war have been repeatedly hindered. Would the passage happen? There is only one answer to such many questions - because of Sheikh Hasina's return to the country, democracy has been liberated today, and Bangladesh has stood up in the world on the path of development and progress. Sheikh Hasina led the Awami League as a symbol of party unity in the most challenging times. She always fought in the struggle for democracy. She has repeatedly come back from death's door. She brought the Awami League to power as a popular party in 1996 after 21 years and has been working tirelessly to institutionalize democracy in Bangladesh.

In the post-war period, the events of August 15, 1975, were terrifying in the reality of the newly independent country. Then,the Pakistani trend started, and it wasn't easy to get out of it. The free spirit of the liberation war was forgotten, and democracy and cultural progress were disrupted. Bangabandhu returned in 1996 under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina after 21 years. Joy Bangla resounded, and the history of the liberation war was re-established in self-glory. Having won the elections in 2008, 2014, 2018, and 2024, the news generation is energized today with the spirit of the liberation war as it has been in power for 15 and a half years. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always says that the continuity of development and democracy can be protected by being inspired by the spirit of the liberation war. The father of the nation dreamed of changing the fate of the people of Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina is working selflessly towards that goal.

These words also express the spirit of the liberation war. Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana could not return to the country for sixyears after the brutal murder of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu and his family members on August 15, 1975, due to the conspiracy of assassins and lack of security. Awami League leaders and workers spread across the country amid various adversities and became strong at one time. They became intensewith the determination to build a new country. Then, in the absence of Sheikh Hasina, the leaders and activists elected her as the president of the Bangladesh Awami League through the council. She returned to the country on May 17, 1981. After returning to the country in 1981, she focused on returning the country from the Pakistani ideology to the spirit of the liberation war and realizing her father's dream.

After the assassination of Bangabandhu at the hands of anti-independence domestic and foreign gangs, black darkness engulfed him. She lit the torch of light to drive away that darkness after she came to the country on May 17, 1981. After the initial crisis, restrictions continue to shine, and that torch begins to turn for liberation. Just as the Bengali is alone in the morning to remove all the rubbish, rich in promise, a wind of auspicious promise is blowing from the day of her return to the country.

Bangabandhu and the freedom struggle leader has always held the seat of dignity in the country. The glorious event or chapter in the history of the thousand years of the Bengali nation is the liberation war of 1971. Our freedom was achieved through 9 months of the war in 1971 in return for the fresh blood of 3 million martyrs, the loss of dignity of millions of mothers and sisters, and unlimited sacrifice. After 23 years of agitation and nine months of armed war, the victory was won by defeating the Pakistani invaders on 16 December. Bangabandhu made the dream of Bengal a reality. The liberation war is the most glorious event for the Bengali nation. As long as the Bengali nation exists, this liberation war will remain the chapter of the greatest glory, an unforgettable story of glory.

Because the Bengali nation has been exploited by one ruler or the other for a long time, many things must be sacrificed. Bengali history means the history of lack and pain. To inspire today's new generation in the spirit of the liberation war, it is necessary to present the correct history of the liberation war to them. Books written on the history of the Liberation War and various films and dramas made on the Liberation War need to be promoted more and more. Today's generation must be told that the Bengali nation had to struggle for liberation.

It should be known to the new generation that the freedom fighters despised their lives, sacrificed their lives to liberate the motherland and motherland, and raised the victory flag of independent Bangladesh. The achievements of our liberation war should be presented to them. During the war of liberation, the Pakistani occupation forces took all the necessary measures to wipe out a nation forever. As a result, they killed the sun children of this country, including workers, teachers, intellectuals, and journalists. It is everyone's responsibility and duty to present the proper history of how the Bengali nation defeated them to the new generation, especially the young generation.

But to what extent are we doing that? The question has come before us. The war of liberation is the war to free the Bengali nation from the chains of exploitation. The spirit of the liberation war is the dream of our Bengali nation, the dream of the soul of a nation. This dream has stirred our hearts and inspired our dream to establish a sovereign state. They helped to realize the dream and accelerated this dream and accelerated a new hope. The spirit that united the Bengali nation to develop a democratic and non-exploitative society.

We need to do more to spread this consciousness among the new generation. The consciousness of the new generation should be sharpened. Those who have not seen the liberation war have heard it through stories from an older person in their family, a teacher, a leader, a freedom fighter, or a book. We do not know how accurate that hearing or reading is or how widespread it is. Educational institutions can take the initiative. How successful are we to highlight the history of the liberation war? A distortion of history can give a nation nothing but destruction and confusion.

She is bringing the fact that the country became independent under the leadership of Bangabandhu to the new generation, especially the young generation, which will inspire the new generation to practice patriotism. The accurate history of the liberation war will inspire the latest generation, and we should start working now to sharpen this consciousness. Bangabandhu's daughter, Sheikh Hasina, began working as a pioneer for the overall welfare, development, and liberation of the people of Bangladesh. She has proved that she has no alternative to developing democracy in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina's integrity, devotion, rational mindset, strong morale, wisdom, and extraordinary leadership have established Bangladesh at a different height in the world arena, and she is known as a world-renowned leader. Awami League has always played and continues to play a politically vocal, defensive role against all forms of exploitation, deprivation, injustice, and oppression. Since its inception, it has worked for the people's economic, social, political, and cultural emancipation. When this party is in power, the fortunes of the people improve.

The history of 75 years since the foundation of this party bears witness to that fact. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working towards establishing Bengali nationalism in the spirit of the liberation war, nurturing democratic culture, building a society free from exploitation, and building a developed, prosperous, modern, and progressive state system. Sheikh Hasina has been leading the country for more than 16 years as the Prime Minister, and one of the reasons why Bangladesh has not fallen into any significant economic crisis like other countries in the current global financial crisis is that she has been able to take the economic base of the country in a strong position during this time.

Otherwise, it would have been tough to save the country of 17 crore people from disaster, even during this crisis. Stating that the Awami League will never forget the contribution of freedom fighters, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the government is building the country in the spirit and ideology of the liberation war. We never forget the contribution of freedom fighters to this country. Therefore, we have initiated to build Bangladesh with consciousness and ideals even in the liberation war. The government is looking out for neglected freedom fighters and has taken all measures to ensure their benefits, like freedom fighters' allowance.

The freedom fighters were neglected entirely, and the government took various measures to find them. The government is making arrangements for their allowance, state honors in case of death and even burial. We must honor and give dignity to those who took up arms and liberated this country at my father's call. The government is working to protect the memory of the liberation war. If the young generation learns the history of victory by seeing the memories of the liberation war, they will be inspired and know how to work for the country. The government is establishing a freedom fighter complex in every upazila.

It has also taken measures to preserve the historic Suhrawardy Udyan, where the Father of the Nation delivered his historic 7th March speech, giving instructions on how to run the country after independence and Pakistani occupation, surrendered by Pakistani forces. No one will ever disrespect freedom fighters. In the future, no one will look down on the freedom fighters and their families. He also mentioned that his government has increased the allowance for freedom fighters, which will continue from generation to generation.

The Constitution included the 'Declaration of Bangladesh as a Sovereign People's Republic to establish equality, human dignity, and social justice for the people of Bangladesh' in the spirit of the liberation war. Sheikh Hasina's dream is to take the country forward in the spirit of the liberation war and give the country's people a taste of development.

The main goal was to write the history of the liberation war, to place Bangabandhu's existence in the history of the liberation war, and to place him in a proper place of dignity. The great freedom struggle of Bangladesh promised to fulfill the fundamental rights of fellow citizens, such as food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and education. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is walking on the path of development, progress, and prosperity, facing various domestic and foreign challenges. She is relentlessly trying to build a progressive, democratic, and non-communal Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty. The government is working to implement four foundations to create a smart Bangladesh successfully. These are Smart Citizens, Smart Economy, Smart Government, and Smart Society. Apart from this, the plan of how the delta will be in the year 2100 has been undertaken. All work in Smart Bangladesh will be done through technology, and every citizen will be proficient. Smart Bangladesh of 2041 will be a cost-effective, sustainable, intellectual, knowledge-based, and innovative Bangladesh.

Written By: Hiren Pandit

Hiren Pandit is an essayist, researcher, and columnist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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