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Lesson 2: The Tale of Homecoming-1
A.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested (গ্রেফতার) by the Pakistani army immediately after his
declaration of independence at the first hour of the 26 March 1971. He was
taken to Pakistan as a captive and imprisoned there in a small cell for capital
punishment until 7th January, 1972. Even a grave was dug in front of his cell
but Mujib was fearless. He knew nothing would stop the Bangalees to gain
independence. In fact, his name and independence became synonymous. So the
whole world was awaiting breathlessly to witness his homecoming. And he had a
grand homecoming indeed narrated by eminent columnist and writer, Syed Badrul
Ahsan. An abridged version of that narration is presented below.
In the evening of 7 January, 1972; Bangabandhu left Chaklala
Airport in Rawalpindi, from where he would fly to London. Nine months earlier
he was brought to Pakistan as a prisoner with little hope to return. And now he
was free to go home. Pakistan, as soon as the PIA aircraft took off, was
finally behind him....
Early in the morning on 8 January 1972, Bangabandhu arrived at
Heathrow Airport. News of Bangabandhu's arrival in London spread quickly.
Journalists, the general public, British officials and politicians and Bangalee
residents in the city made their way to Hotel Claridges. News bulletins on the
BBC and other media organizations made note of Bangabandhu's arrival in their
headlines. By early afternoon, the Father of the Nation had met the British
Prime Minister Edward Heath and the Leader of the opposition Harold Wilson.
Then he called Dhaka and for the first time since his arrest by the Pakistan
Army in March, spoke to his family. A long conversation then followed with
Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad. The conversations with his family and with
Tajuddin were emotional affairs, but he now had a clear picture of all that had
happened in his absence in Bangladesh. It gave him immense pleasure knowing
that he had truly liberated his people.
Bangabandhu's opening words at a crowded news conference that
evening at Claridges were a touch poetic. He expressed the unbounded joy of
freedom achieved by his people in an epic liberation struggle. Bangladesh, he
told the crowd, was a reality and would fulfill its obligations as part of the
international community. He made it clear that those who were involved in
different types of crimes including genocide would be trialled by his
government.
(1) What do you see in the picture?
Answer:
I can see the homecoming of Bangabandhu after the independence of Bangladesh.
(2) Who do you identify in the picture?
Answer:
I can identify Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the open truck in the
middle of the picture.
(3) Do you find any connection between the picture and the title
of the lesson? How?
Answer:
Yes. There is a clear connection between the picture and the title of the
lesson ‘ The Tale of Homecoming’. The picture shows how Bangabandhu is being
received by thousands of his countrymen with happiness all around.
D. Answer the following questions:
(1) What made Bangabandhu so bold while in the prison?
Answer:
Bangabandhu was so bold while in the prison because he knew nothing would stop
the Bangalees to gain independence from the Pakistani soldiers.
(2) How did
time change in Bangabandhu’s life within the nine months in a Pakistani prison?
Answer:
Bangabandhu was brought in Pakistan as a prisoner nine months earlier with
little or no hope to return to his country. However, when Bangladesh finally
got independence, Bangabandhu was released and he was free to come back home.
(3) How did London welcome Bangabandhu?
Answer:
Bangabandhu was welcomed in London with proper honour by the British prime
minister and the leader of the opposition along with journalists, the general
public, British officials and politicians and Bangalee residents. His arrival
was made headlines in the British News and media.
(4) Do you agree with the statement that Bangabandhu was excited
as well as relieved from long anxiety in London? Why/Why not?
Answer:
Yes, I agree with the statement that Bangabandhu was excited as well as
relieved from long anxiety in London. Because he called Dhaka and spoke to his
family and Tajuddin Ahmed for the first time after his arrest by the Pakistan
Army in March 1971.
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