The nation observes the historic March 7 today (Sunday). On this day in 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his epoch making speech with a call for independence of the country at the then Race Course Maidan, now Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.
The March 7 speech, in fact, had drawn the end of united Pakistan and eventually gave birth to a new country named Bangladesh.
In his 19-minute extempore speech from 4.23 pm before a million freedom-loving people of then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, Bangabandhu in an emotion-choked voice said, "We had spilled blood...we are ready to shed more blood, but the people of the country shall be freed."
In a determined tone Bangabandhu announced, "The struggle this time is for our freedom, the struggle this time is for our independence." The human sea reciprocated Bangabndhu's declaration through chanting sky-rending slogan "Joy Bangla" and giving cheers and thunderous applauses.
The March 7 speech that is regarded as one of the greatest speeches of the world is only comparable to that of the Gettysburg Address of the slain President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.
The whole nation responded spontaneously to his call with thunderous slogan "Bir Bangalee Astra Dharo, Bangladesh Swadhin Karo" (Brave Bangalees take up arms and free Bangladesh from occupation).
Although the people from all walks of life irrespective of political and religious beliefs were united for the cause and began to take all-out preparations for a bloody war, they waited till the crackdown of the Pakistani occupation forces on the sleeping Bangalees on the night of March 25, defamed as the 'Operation Searchlight'.
As soon as the Pakistani occupation forces started genocide Bangabandhu declared independence of the motherland instructing the people to put up strong resistance and fight against them till the freedom was achieved.
At the instruction of Bangabandhu, the brave nation fought successfully the nine-month-long war of liberation and ultimately liberated Bangladesh from the clutches of the Pakistani occupation forces on December 16 in 1971.
On the eve of the day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, recalled with gratitude the bold, courageous and farsighted leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in materializing the nation's journey to freedom through his speech of March 7.
Political parties, social, cultural and professional bodies have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day. The ruling Awami League-led government has also taken extensive preparations to observe the historic March 7 in a befitting manner.
The programmes of the ruling Awami League on the day includes hoisting of the national and party flags at 6-30am and placing of wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi at 7 am.
The ruling party will also organize a public meeting at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan at 3 pm.  Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the rally.
Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and private television channels and radio stations will broadcast special programmes while national dailies will publish special supplements marking the day.
Young Bangla, under the auspices of the Centre for Research and Information (CRI), will organise the 'Joy Bangla Concert' in the city on the day, marking the historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.