Declaration
Declaration of Bangladeshi independence, 1971
On the night of 25-26 March 1971, hours after the Pakistani military launched a crackdown in Dhaka, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's declaration of independence for Bangladesh was broadcast, opening the Bangladesh Liberation War.
What happened
On the night of 25-26 March 1971, after the Pakistani military launched an assault on police and paramilitary positions in Dhaka, a declaration of independence made on behalf of Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was transmitted by telegram and then broadcast from Kalurghat by the clandestine Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra (Free Bengal Radio Station), announcing: "Today Bangladesh is a sovereign and independent country...The Bangalees are fighting the enemy with great courage for an independent Bangladesh."[1] The declaration opened the Bangladesh Liberation War, which continued for nine months until Pakistani forces surrendered on 16 December 1971.[1]
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
-
1.
Claim: On the night of 25-26 March 1971, hours after the Pakistani military launched an assault on police and paramilitary positions in Dhaka, a declaration of independence made on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was transmitted and broadcast from Kalurghat by the clandestine Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, stating "Today Bangladesh is a sovereign and independent country...The Bangalees are fighting the enemy with great courage for an independent Bangladesh," opening the Bangladesh Liberation War, which ended with the surrender of Pakistani forces on 16 December 1971.
- The Daily Star, March 26, 1971: Bangabandhu declares independence (The Daily Star) link, article text. Source record