Lesson 2/34 min
The 7 March speech
7 March 1971. Hundreds of thousands have gathered at the Racecourse ground in Dhaka, many carrying lathis. On 6 March Yahya had called the Assembly for 25 March, but the Awami League was firm on continuing non-cooperation. From this stage Bangabandhu gave the nation its direction.
At a glance
- Place: Racecourse ground, Ramna (now Suhrawardy Udyan), Dhaka
- The speech had no written script; Bangabandhu spoke extempore (UNESCO's description)
- Length: about 18 minutes
- Opening: “My dear brothers, I have come before you today with a heavy heart.”
- He rejected the Round Table Conference (RTC) that Yahya spoke of
The four demands
- 1. Withdraw martial law
- 2. Send the soldiers back to their barracks
- 3. Investigate the killings
- 4. Hand power to the elected representatives
He made it clear that without these demands there was no question of joining the Assembly. He also ordered offices, courts and educational institutions closed indefinitely, no payment of taxes, and every home turned into a fortress.
Two famous lines
- “The struggle this time is a struggle for our emancipation, the struggle this time is a struggle for our independence. Joy Bangla.”
- “Since we have given blood, we will give more; we will free the people of this land, Insha’Allah.”
Recognition
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| UNESCO | 30 October 2017: added to the ‘Memory of the World International Register’ as world documentary heritage |
| Constitution | The text of the speech is in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution; the telegram of the 26 March declaration in the Sixth; the 10 April Proclamation in the Seventh |
Did you know?: Nirmalendu Goon's poem “Swadhinata, Ei Shobdoti Kibhabe Amader Holo” is set against 7 March. The ‘7 March Bhaban’ stands at Rokeya Hall, Dhaka University.
Check yourself
How many demands did the 7 March speech make?
At a glance
- 1
On 7 March 1971 Bangabandhu gave his historic speech at the Racecourse ground (now Suhrawardy Udyan).
- 2
Four demands: withdraw martial law, soldiers to barracks, inquiry into the killings, power to the elected.
- 3
“The struggle this time is a struggle for our emancipation, the struggle this time is a struggle for our independence.”
- 4
UNESCO added the speech to the Memory of the World Register on 30 October 2017.
- 5
The text of the speech is in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.