Bangladesh Independence Day is celebrated on 26 March every year to commemorate the declaration of independence from Pakistan on this day in 1971. The day is a national holiday in Bangladesh and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and patriotism.

March is very significant in the country's history as Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the country's independence in the early hours of 26 March in 1971.

The 1971 war in Bangladesh began on December 3, 1971, when the Pakistani military launched a crackdown against Bengali civilians, students, intellectuals, and armed personnel in East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) who were calling for greater autonomy and protesting against the ruling government

The violent crackdown by the Pakistan Army led to Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declaring East Pakistan's independence as the state of Bangladesh on 26 March 1971. Most Bengalis supported this move although Islamists and Biharis opposed this and sided with the Pakistan Army instead.

The date 25 March commemorates Operation Searchlight, a planned military pacification carried out by the Pakistan Army, started on 25 March to curb the Bengali independence movement by taking control of the major cities on 26 March, and then eliminating all opposition, political or military, within one month.

On 26 March 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence on radio after, Pakistan launched a crackdown on East Pakistan called Operation Searchlight and declared martial law, which was heard by only a limited number of people due to the broadcasting system used.

At the onset of the Bangladesh Liberation War by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; the following day the declaration was broadcast by Major Ziaur Rahman in a radio broadcast.

Ismat Farzana

Senior Lecturer,

Department of Biology.

Cambrian School & College, Dhaka.

[email protected]