Bangladesh Trial Report:

Today is January 10, marking the 54th anniversary of the homecoming of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh and the Father of the Nation.

After Bangladesh achieved independence through the Liberation War and emerged as a sovereign nation, Bangabandhu returned to the blood-soaked soil of Bangladesh on this day in 1972 after being released from imprisonment in Pakistan. The return of the architect of independent Bangladesh marked the completion of the victory of the country’s struggle for independence.

Bangabandhu himself described his homecoming as a “journey from darkness to light”.

On the night of March 25, 1971, Pakistani forces arrested Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader of the Bengali people, from his residence on Dhanmondi Road No. 32 in Dhaka and took him away. He was imprisoned in Pakistan.

While Bengalis were fighting for independence, Bangabandhu remained imprisoned in a Pakistani jail, awaiting execution after being subjected to a mock trial.

Following the final victory of the Bengali people on December 16, 1971, world leaders raised their voices demanding Bangabandhu’s release. Under mounting international pressure, the defeated Pakistani rulers were eventually forced to release Bangabandhu with honour.

After spending 290 days in Pakistani prisons, constantly facing the prospect of death, he travelled via London and New Delhi before arriving in Dhaka on January 10, 1972.

Bangabandhu returned to an independent Bangladesh freed from the occupation forces, wearing the garland of victory.

The country was filled with a festive atmosphere that day. The entire Bengali nation had been eagerly waiting for their beloved leader to set foot on the soil of the newly independent country.

A huge crowd gathered around Dhaka airport. The road from the airport to the historic Racecourse Maidan, now Suhrawardy Udyan, was packed with people.

Bangabandhu became overwhelmed with emotion as soon as he set foot on the soil of independent Bangladesh. After hearing accounts of the massacres carried out by the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators during the nine-month Liberation War, he broke down in tears.

Addressing a gathering of millions at Suhrawardy Udyan that day, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib declared, “Even if I have to shed blood, I will repay the debt of love owed to me by the Bengali nation.”

Since then, the grateful Bengali nation has observed Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day every year through various programmes.

The day is once again set to be observed in a festive atmosphere this year.

/SM/10/01/2026/