National Revolution and Solidarity Day

National Revolution and Solidarity Day
Soldiers being received by the public in 1975
Official nameজাতীয় বিপ্লব ও সংহতি দিবস
Observed byBangladesh
TypePatriotic
SignificanceCommemorates the united soldier and public uprising against the pro-Mujib military coup d'état
ObservancesPolitical rallies, wreath-laying, prayers, conferences, photography exhibitions
DateNovember 7
Next timeNovember 7, 2024 (2024-11-07)
FrequencyAnnual
First time1976; 48 years ago (1976)
As national holiday:
1991; 33 years ago (1991)
Last timeAs national holiday:
2006; 18 years ago (2006)
Related to7 November 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état
Assassination of Khaled Mosharraf

National Revolution and Solidarity Day (Bengali: জাতীয় বিপ্লব ও সংহতি দিবস) is a commemorative and former public holiday celebrated in Bangladesh on November 7.[1] The day pays homage to the Sipahi-Janata revolution in 1975 by regular army soldiers of Dhaka Cantonment and the common masses that showed solidarity with them in support of the deposed government against a military coup.[1][2][3] The uprising, though organised by Lt. Col. (retd.) Abu Taher and his clandestine revolutionary socialist group of sepoy mutineers, the Biplobi Shainik Sangstha (BSS), to unsuccessfully create a socialist revolution, resulted in a counter coup.[4] In the backdrop of the 15 August coup against Sheikh Mujib, it ended the four-day long coup d'état to remove from power Mujib's replacement President Khondaker Mostaq and the mid-ranking anti-Mujib army officers backing him, Capt. Abdul Majed, Maj. Syed Faruque Rahman, Maj. Khandaker Abdur Rashid and Maj. Shariful Haque Dalim, organised by the pro-Mujib Brig. Gen. Khaled Mosharraf, who was assassinated in the aftermath.[1][5] Meanwhile, the soldiers proceeded to release Maj. Gen. Ziaur Rahman, who was put under house arrest at the inception of the coup by Mosharraf.[5][6]

Aftermath

After being contacted by Ziaur Rahman, Abu Taher organised secret meetings of the BSS every night between 4 and 6 November, in preparation of an uprising

The first Chief Justice of Bangladesh Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem was made the President of Bangladesh by Brigadier Khaled Musharraf after ousting Khandkar Mushtaq Ahmed. On this day following Khaled Musharraf's death, Justice Sayem assumed the role of Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA) and Major General Ziaur Rahman was made Deputy CMLA. Justice Sayem was not elected by Jatiyo Sangshad nor an acting president. A year later, Justice Sayem handed over CMLA duties to General Zia and months after that stepped down on "health reason", and Zia became acting president in the absence of a vice-president. This day is in the series of coups and counter-coups those occurred after the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder President of Bangladesh on 15 August 1975.[5][7]

Status as national holiday

November 7 was a national holiday in Bangladesh during the military government of Lt. Gen. H M Ershad and prime minister Khaleda Zia's ministries.[8] In November 2007, the caretaker government of Fakhruddin Ahmed scrapped this holiday.[9]

The former autocratic Sheikh Hasina government recognized it neither as a revolutionary nor a solidarity day, as they denounced it as "Freedom Fighter-Soldier Killing Day".[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Chowdhury, R. (1 November 2019). "Bangladesh: National Revolution and Solidarity Day, its Significance and its Precursor (With inside stories)". South Asia Journal (30). Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  2. ^ Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Taher, Colonel Abu". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Bangladesh Observes National Revolution and Solidarity Day". VoA (in Bengali). 7 November 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  4. ^ "When Gen Zia betrayed Col Taher". The Daily Observer. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  5. ^ a b c "The shadow of November 7, 1975". The Daily Star. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  6. ^ "Taher's execution was murder in cold blood". The Daily Star. 2010-11-07. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  7. ^ "Strange legacy of Nov 7 | The Opinion Pages". The Opinion Pages. 2013-11-07. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  8. ^ Nwanna, Gladson I. (2004). Americans Living Abroad: What You Should Know While You Are There. Frontline Publishers, Inc. p. 343. ISBN 9781890605117.
  9. ^ "BNP observes 'Nat'l Revolution and Solidarity Day'". The Independent. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  10. ^ "7th November: Freedom Fighter- Soldier Killing Day". Archived from the original on 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2017-09-26.