Md. Ali Aslam Jewel
Today, January 10, is the historic Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On this day in 1972, Bangabandhu, the great hero of the Bengali freedom struggle, was released from the captivity of Pakistan and set foot on the soil of the blood-soaked independent-sovereign Bengal.

The victory of the freedom struggle came to an end with the return of this great leader to the independent Bangladesh, the fruit of life’s dream, pursuit and leadership after overcoming the dreadful chapter of life and death. The father of the nation called his return home a ‘journey from darkness to light.’

In his historic speech on March 7, 1971, Bangabandhu declared, “This time the struggle is for liberation, this time the struggle is for freedom.” After Bangabandhu’s announcement, on the night of March 25, the Pakistani army launched a surprise attack on the unarmed Bengalis. At the very beginning of this operation called ‘Operation Searchlight’, the Pak invaders captured the undisputed leader of the Bengalis Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from his house in Dhanmondi. Just before his arrest, Bangabandhu made an official declaration of independence.

Although he was arrested and imprisoned in Pakistan, the war of liberation continued in the name of Bangabandhu in his absence. When the Bengalis waged a war of resistance, Bangabandhu was on death row as a convict in a mock trial in a Pakistani prison. When a grave was dug for him next to Bangabandhu’s cell in the jail, the undisputed leader of the Bengalis and the father of the Bengali nation Bangabandhu said that even if you kill me I have no objection but after my death the body is mine. This is the only request you have to convey to the Bengalis.

The return of the great leader to Bangladesh from the brink of certain death was due to the great victory of the Bengali nation in the guise of sacrifice and love and fighting in the guise of a hero. After his release from prison in Pakistan, he reached Dhaka on 10 January 1972 via London-Delhi.

Bangabandhu returned to an independent Bangladesh after the victory. There was a festive mood in Bangladesh that day. The whole Bengali nation was waiting with bated breath when their beloved leader, the great architect of independent Bengal would come to the land of independent country. The road from the airport to the historic racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) was crowded. Finally, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu got off the plane in the guise of victory.

Bangabandhu became emotional as soon as he set foot on the soil of independent beloved Bangladesh. He broke down in tears after hearing the news of the genocide of the Pak aggressors and their local allies for 9 long months. On that day, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib declared to millions of people in Suhrawardy Udyan, “Even with blood, I will repay this debt of love of the Bengali nation.”

The father of the nation kept his words. He had to give his life at the hands of a class of cowardly traitors called Bengalis in an independent country who could not even dare to scratch his body by the violent Pak aggressors. On 15 August 1975, Bangabandhu left his words by pouring fresh blood on his chest with his family.

The writer is the Chairman of Baliadangi Upazila Parishad and General Secretary, Bangladesh Awami Jubo League Baliadangi, Upazila Branch