Awami League leader Tajuddin Ahmed reached Delhi on 3 April with the help of India's Border Security Force (BSF). After consulting Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, he formed a government in exile. Colonel NS Bains, Chief Law Office of the BSF, prepared a 'Short Constitution' for Bangladesh. It was finalized by Tajuddin Ahmed and his colleagues. This was the Proclamation of Independence that was read during the swearing-in of the Bangladesh government at Baidyanathtala village in Meherpur on 17 April. The manifesto stated that the independence of Bangladesh was declared on 26 March.
On the afternoon of 27 March, Major Ziaur Rahman, who led the mutiny from the 8th East Bengal Regiment, drafted the Declaration of Independence and read it from the Kalurghat radio station in Chattogram. Later he was considered by many as the herald of independence. There has been a very heated debate on this issue. On 18 January 1974, during his inaugural address at the Awami League Council in Dhaka, Bangabandhu ended the debate by saying, “History should never resort to lies…What did March 7 have to say about the struggle for freedom? Is there anything left for? In fact, independence was declared on March 7 itself. Then it was clearly said, 'This time the struggle is for freedom, this time the struggle is for freedom.'
Independence Day is a symbolic affair. If March 1, March 7, March 25, December 16 had been chosen, it would not have been a big mistake. But celebrating Independence Day on March 26 also has an emotional significance. The legal basis of the Bangladesh government in exile, established in 1971, was the Declaration of Independence which mentioned 26 March. This is undisputed and there is no point in making noise over it.
Independence Day reminds us of our colonial heritage that we were once subjugated. If we had not been dependent, we would not have needed Independence Day. We needed one. Earlier Independence Day was 14th August, the day Pakistan was established and we were part of that Pakistan voluntarily.
Date is not an important factor here. The important fact is that we had to seek freedom. We were definitely not happy with our previous situation. Freedom was meant to ensure that we could live better than before, that we could make our own decisions in our own interests.
