Chattogram: At 2:15 am on March 26, 1971, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, a major in the Pakistan army, revolted against the Pakistani military junta, mobilizing Bengali troops under his command in the port city of Chattogram. This act marked a significant turning point in the struggle for Bangladesh’s independence, a day now commemorated as Bangladesh’s Independence Day.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Ziaur Rahman later reflected on this historic event in an article titled “Birth of a Nation,” published on March 26, 1972, coinciding with the first anniversary of the country’s independence. At the time, Zia was the deputy army chief with the elevated rank of major general, having played a crucial role in the liberation movement. The article was reprinted by Weekly Bicitra in 1974, further emphasizing its importance in recounting the events that led to Bangladesh’s independence.
In his article, Zia described how he called upon Bengali officers, junior commissioned officers, and ordinary soldiers to join the armed struggle. He directed them to appear in armed struggle, and they unanimously accepted the order. Zia then led the troops to the Kalurghat area on the outskirts of Chattogram, where Bengali radio employees had set up the clandestine Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. From there, he proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh.
Zia recounted the cultural repression and political marginalization faced by Bengalis under Pakistani rule, particularly during the military regimes. He noted that the seeds of Bengali nationalism were sown when Pakistan’s founder, Mr. Jinnah, declared that “Urdu and only Urdu” would be the state language of Pakistan. This declaration, according to Zia, marked the beginning of the end for Pakistan as an “unnatural country.”
The article detailed key political developments, such as the 1952 Language Movement, the 1954 general elections, and the military rule under Ayub Khan. It also highlighted the 1965 Pak-India War, the nationalist movements of the 1960s, and the 1970 general elections as events that profoundly influenced Zia’s perspective on the need for an armed resistance.
Zia specifically mentioned the deliberate attempts by Pakistani rulers to obstruct East Pakistan’s development and suppress the nationalist uprising. These actions, he argued, led Bengalis towards their eventual Liberation War. The mass uprising in 1969 and the Agartala conspiracy case, which accused Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the prime suspect, further solidified the unity of Bengali soldiers, sailors, and airmen with the civilian population.
The Awami League’s landslide victory in the 1970 elections was a major setback for the Pakistani rulers. Their conspiracies to delay the transfer of power escalated tensions, leading to the nationwide Non-Cooperation Movement in March 1971. Zia noted that Sheikh Mujib’s landmark March 7 address served as a “green signal” to finalize their plans for resistance.
On the night of March 25, Pakistani forces launched a brutal crackdown on unarmed Bengalis in Dhaka and other major cities. Zia recounted how his commanding officer ordered him to report to a Pakistani general at Chittagong Port that night. However, he was warned by Bengali Major Khalequzzaman Chowdhury about the crackdown, prompting him to return to his battalion, where he found Bengali soldiers detaining Pakistani officers.
Zia attempted to communicate with Bengali military officers and civilian authorities but faced challenges in reaching them. He eventually relied on a telephone operator to relay his message that the 8 Battalion of the East Bengal Regiment had revolted and would fight for the country’s independence. Addressing the Bengali soldiers, Zia briefly explained the situation, emphasizing their shared resolve to fight for independence.
The reflective article, over 3,650 words long, was encouraged by a journalist who urged Zia to document the historic moment. Despite his initial skepticism about his writing skills, Zia felt compelled to pick up the pen and capture the emotions and events that defined the birth of a nation.