51 years ago, Bangabandhu gave the finest speech of his life at the erstwhile historic Race Course Maydan. Disregarding the intimidation and threats of the Pakistani Army's tanks, guns and machineguns, and in the presence of a million audience, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared in a booming voice: "This time, the struggle is for our liberation, this time the struggle is for our independence".
In what circumstances did Bangabandhu give that speech?
Under the leadership of Sheikh Muibur Rahman, the Awami League won an absolute majority in the National Assembly elections of Pakistan held on 7 December 1970. In that election, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Awami League won 167 out 169 seats in East Pakistan, with the other two seats going to PDP. After the 7 December elections, the then military ruler of Pakistan General Yahya Khan called for a session of the National Assembly on 3rd March 1970.