Lesson 1/64 min

Background

1. 1

   In the 1970 general election, the Awami League won 167 of the 169 East Pakistan seats in the National Assembly.

2. 2

   Despite its majority, the Pakistani ruling establishment began delaying the transfer of power.

3. 3

   On 7 March 1971, at the Racecourse ground (today's Suhrawardy Udyan), Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave his historic speech.

4. 4

   Its famous line: “This time the struggle is for our freedom, this time the struggle is for independence.”

5. 5

   UNESCO added the 7 March speech to its ‘Memory of the World’ Register on 30 October 2017.