পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৩৭৮

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বাংরাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ দ্বাদশ খণ্ড
৩৫২
শিরোনাম সূত্র তারিখ
‘বাংলাদেশ দি ট্রুথ’ কোলকাতা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় বাংলাদেশ সহায়ক সমিতি প্রকাশিত পুস্তক ৯ মে ১৯৭১

 This small brochure has been written to narrate the story of Bangladesh movement. When Pakistan was formed on the demand of Mr. Jinnah and the Muslim League, there was no other bond of union between its two parts except that the people of the two wings had the same religion. Religion has seldom been the generator of the spirit of nationalism. Otherwise, all the Muslims of Christians would have agreed to live under the same state. The people living in the two wings of Pakistan had no other common bond between them. Their languages were different and their cultures were different. Though the population of the Eastern wing was much large than that of the West, the latter got preponderance in everything a fact that cannot be denied by even the most ardent admirer of the West. What the most unfortunate people of the Eastern wing of Pakistan did unknowingly was to substitute British bosses by Punjabi bosses. The only consolation was that the people of both the wings had the same religion. But that so or proved to be a very poor consolation. The Bengali-speaking population was no doubt given some prizes her and there. But the main banquet was reserved for the West Pakistanis, the east getting only a few occasional crumbs. The resulting sense of injustice has given birth to the inevitable demand for greater autonomy for the Eastern wing and for greater share in the total resources of that country.

 This demand, which is absolutely, just should have been handled with great tact and sympathy. But unfortunately the poor people of the Eastern wing who demanded autonomy to secure equality of treatment got only bullets in return, and extremely brutal treatment from the Government of Pakistan. The natural reactions to this Chengis Khan-Nadir Shah-Hitler treatment has been the declaration of independence by the people of Bangladesh.

 This story of Bangladesh is not new in history. A large number of other countries which are now independent were formerly pats of another country. They had risen up in revolt against the rule of that country and had to make large-scale sacrifices before they achieved their freedom. Freedom’s battle once begun may appear to be repressed on occasions. But “Though baffled off, it has ever won.” There is no doubt that Bangladesh will attain its freedom sooner rather than later. Its story will be the same as that of any other freedom-seeking country. The only distinction between this story and all the previous stories of freedom is the unparalleled savagery, murder and destruction that are now being carried on in Bangladesh by the occupation forces. And the second most unfortunate fact is the attitude of the government of mot of the countries of the world and their response to this battle for freedom. There are no doubt honorable exceptions and we in India are proud that we be owe belong to this group. Our people have always supported the cause of freedom in every part of the world, irrespective of religion, color, community, or politics. Our support for the freedom of Bangladesh is on the same basis that of the French people for the American War of Independence. When the majority of