Of the red-letter days that this nation feels proud to celebrate, the Victory Day is certainly at the top. On this day, the Bangalee nation breathed freely with the formal surrender of the brutal and invading Pakistani army. The dawn of December 16, 1971 heralded the rise of a nation like the phoenix from ashes. A peace-loving people, the Bangalees were averse to a war but the military rulers of Pakistan compelled the people here to take up arms against their marauders. By all accounts, it was an unequal war at the beginning but gradually the guerrilla warriors started retaliating against the morally bankrupt military forces. With the war front expanding from the eastern to the western wing of Pakistan and India, the spectre of the Third World War loomed large. Mercifully, this did not happen and Pakistan accepted its defeat.
Evidently, for the people of Bangladesh it was the sweetest of victories. Almost every family had made the ultimate sacrifice. The genocide the invading Pakistani army carried out is one of the greatest in modern history. In the face of the most brutal atrocities, sexual violence, pillage and arson, the Bangalee freedom fighters demonstrated their courage, fortitude and character. Even the innocent common people at times sacrificed their lives but did not compromise with values, moral principles and dignity. Indeed, against the rapacious army the solidarity of people across the communal divides cemented more firmly. So pure were their souls that they could believe in building a nation on the principles of equality and fraternity with justice prevailing conspicuously.
On this day it was a victory against an enemy. But at the same time it should have been a triumph of the human spirit over that of the demon. In human heart there is a battle between the good and the evil. The lesson of the War of Liberation should have left a sobering effect on all. But unfortunately, it has not. The privileged and the influential have forgotten the spirit of the war that bound the nation together. Social and economic justice has eluded the majority of the population. Unless people enjoy their rights in full and get the share of the dividends of national prosperity, celebration of the Victory Day remains incomplete.
Now the nation has no enemy to wage its war against. It has definitely made enough gains in its fight against poverty and hunger. But still there is a long way to go before all the people reap the benefit of an advanced and prosperous Bangladesh. New challenges are emerging with climate change wreaking havoc with the global environment. There is a need to direct greater focus on how the nation will take up the challenge from global warming. The legacy of the Victory Day is this: its inspirational message and spirit will prompt it to do everything necessary in order to leave its triumphant mark on all adverse situations it encounters. Let the pledge of the day inspire the nation to imbibe the spirit of 1971.