We have a number of days to remember in our national life. 7 March is one of such significant days that make our life glorious. On this day in 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered a historic speech that paved the way for the independence of Bangladesh. On 7 March 1971 at the Ramna Race Course in Dhaka to a gathering of over two million people, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered this historic speech addressing the people of this country. It was delivered during a period of escalating tensions between East Pakistan and the powerful political and military establishment of West Pakistan. In the speech, Bangabandhu proclaimed: "This time the struggle is for our freedom. This time the struggle is for our independence." He announced a civil disobedience movement in the province, calling for "every house to turn into a fortress". The speech inspired the Bengali people to be prepared for a war of independence. The speech effectively declared the independence of Bangladesh. The speech constitutes a faithful documentation of how the failure of post-colonial nation states to develop inclusive, democratic society alienates their population belonging to different ethnic, cultural, linguistic or religious groups. The speech was extempore and there was no written script. On 30 October 2017, UNESCO added the speech in its Memory of the World Register as a "documentary heritage".
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