A tragically imperiled Bangladesh now! Since 5 August 2024, extremist right-wing forces, vehemently opposed to the nation’s ideals, have brazenly seized control, empowered by the American deep state and the clandestine maneuvers of the CIA, in unholy alliance with their infamous local collaborators. Our homeland still bleeds—its people silenced, its dignity under assault.
In this perilous hour, speaking the truth is fraught with danger; yet history teaches us that no tyranny can suppress the enduring light of justice. The truth, though temporarily concealed, will emerge victorious, as it always must. The courage, resilience, and conscience of the Bangladeshi people remain the ultimate guarantors that righteousness will prevail, and that our nation will reclaim its rightful place among the free and honorable states of the world.
In the heart of Savar, at the sanctified grounds of the National Mausoleum—where the martyred souls of 1971 rest eternally—a young woman named Mosha Tahmina Akhter stepped forward with two little children on March 26, 2026—Bangladesh’s Independence Day. In her hands fluttered the national flag, and from her lips rose the immortal slogans: Joy Bangla! and Joy Bangabandhu! This act, humble yet profoundly powerful, was a living testament to the undying spirit of our nation.
Yet, in a shocking display of ignominy, police personnel—representing forces opposed to the ideals of Bangladesh’s Liberation War—forcibly arrested this brave mother and her children. The audacity of such an act—against the innocent, against love for the nation, and against the sanctity of our Independence Day—is nothing short of reprehensible. One cannot help but echo the fiery words of Liton Banerjee:
“তোরা কফিন বানাও, আমরা সিলগালা করবো উত্তপ্ত লোহা দিয়ে.”
(You may build the coffins, but we shall seal them with molten iron.)
—a declaration that courage and conviction are forged in the heat of oppression, not crushed by it. It also carries an intense, fiery tone of defiance and unyielding courage for the good of humanity in Bangladesh.
This young woman’s gesture is not a mere ceremonial act. It is a declaration of allegiance to Bangladesh, a tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and a steadfast affirmation of the values for which our freedom fighters bled in 1971. To face coercion, to confront threats, and yet to stand unflinching in devotion to the Father of the Nation is the very essence of patriotic heroism. Her love for Bangladesh, her reverence for our martyrs, and her devotion to the ideals of Joy Bangla! are immortal. They will live within our collective consciousness, echoing in the hearts of every citizen who dares to dream of a Bangladesh that is free, sovereign, and guided by justice.
As a frontline freedom fighter of the 1971 war, I have witnessed countless acts of courage and sacrifice; yet this scene resonates with a purity and strength that transcend time. Here is a mother, carrying the nation’s future in her children’s eyes, reminding us all that the power of ideals is more precious than life itself. In her calm defiance, she embodies the spirit of every freedom fighter who stood unbowed against the forces of tyranny decades ago.
The arrest of such a figure is a stark reminder of the continuing struggle to preserve the essence of our Liberation War—the very soul of Bangladesh. It is an act that betrays not only the values of our forefathers but also the moral compass of the nation itself. It is imperative that this young mother and her children be released immediately, restored to their dignity, and honored for their devotion. Justice demands no less; conscience demands no less.
Her courage, simple yet profound, is a mirror to the nation. It reflects the eternal truth that the love of one’s country cannot be caged, cannot be silenced, and cannot be diminished by threats or brute force. On this Independence Day, let us not only celebrate freedom as a historical event but also recognize the living embodiment of that freedom in citizens who, through their acts of loyalty and devotion, continue to keep the flame of Bangladesh alive.
This mother, her children, and their unwavering devotion to our Father of the Nation serve as a clarion call: ideals are eternal, courage is indomitable, and the love of Bangladesh is beyond measure. To her, I pay my highest respect and salute her as a true custodian of the legacy we fought to protect. The world may attempt to suppress such expressions of patriotism, but the spirit of our people, as she has shown, is indestructible, immortal, and forever etched in the annals of Bangladesh.
