Sheikh Mujib did not want to break Pakistan, did not declare independence: Speaker

He said these things in the speech as the chief guest at the discussion meeting titled 'The History, Tradition and Emergence of Bangladesh of the East Bengal Regiment' organized by the 'Retired Armed Forces Officers Welfare Association (RAOWA)' on Saturday (July 11).

The Speaker said, Tajuddin Ahmed warned Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that the Pakistani forces were preparing to attack and the people of the country wanted independence. But Sheikh Mujib then said that he did not want to be a separatist and did not want his name to be associated with breaking Pakistan. That is why he did not declare independence.

He said, when the nation became desperate in the face of the brutal attack by the Pakistani forces on the night of March 25, the East Bengal Regiment bravely built resistance. At the same time, Major Ziaur Rahman declared independence, which inspired the nation to participate in the liberation war.

Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin further claimed that the liberation war of 1971 was not a war of any single political party; it was the liberation struggle of the entire people.

He alleged that after independence, a particular political group distorted history and tried to take the credit for independence solely based on the March 7 speech, which according to him was not correct.

Criticizing politicians, the Speaker said that many times they try to hide the contributions of others and highlight the achievements of their own party leadership.

Highlighting the contribution of the East Bengal Regiment, he said that at that time the regiment had only five battalions in East Pakistan. Members stationed in various cantonments revolted against the genocide by the Pakistani forces without any pre-planning or mutual coordination and called upon the common people to join the liberation war. According to him, this resistance created the important foundation for the subsequent nine-month liberation war.

Recalling his own military life, Hafiz Uddin said that he decided to join the army out of interest in football. Later, he joined the East Bengal Regiment at the encouragement of then Major Ziaur Rahman.

Paying tribute to General Ziaur Rahman, he said that his inspiration helped him take important decisions in his military life. He also remembered the contribution of Major Abdul Gani, the organizer of the East Bengal Regiment, and Brigadier Mahmudur Rahman Majumder, the commander of the regiment in Chattogram in 1971.

At the end of the event, he emphasized on further strengthening mutual trust, cooperation and traditional relationship between officers and soldiers in the army.