Sheikh Mujib’s quotations
“As a man, what concerns mankind concerns me. As a Bengalee, I am deeply involved in all that concerns Bengalees. This abiding involvement is born of and nourished by love, enduring love, which gives meaning to my politics and my very being”
(Unfinished Memoirs, 3 May 1973)
“We do not believe in Islam of labelling/show off. We believe in Islam of Insaaf-justice. Our Islam is the Islam of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh)-Islam that taught the world the mystical formula of reasoning and justice”.
(Addressing the nation before the general election in Pakistan via Radio and Television, November 1970)
Hindus, Muslims, Bangalees and non-Bangalees, all those who live in this Bangla are our brothers. The responsibility of protecting them is upon you. Ensure that our reputation is not smeared in any way”.
(Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971)
If one more shot is fired and if my people are killed again then my request to you is; build a fortress in each and every home. Face the enemy with whatever you have”.
(Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971)
“You can’t keep seventy five million of people subjugated. Since we have learnt to die, no one can dominate us”.
(Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971)
“Bear in mind that since we have given blood, we will give more. By the grace of Allah, we will surely liberate the people of this country.
(Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971)
The struggle this time is the struggle for our emancipation.
The struggle this time is the struggle for independence”.
(Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Uddan), 7th March 1971)
“I would like to say categorically and unequivocally that, our country will be a democratic, secular and socialist country. In this country the labourers, peasants, Hindus and Muslim all will be living in peace and harmony”.
(The first public address at Suhrawardy Uddan upon returning to the independent Bangladesh after 9 months in prison in Miyanwala, Pakistan, 10 January 1972)
“Those of you who can speak Bengali should integrate in this country. Brothers, do not touch them. They are our brothers too. We would like to show the world that the Bengalis are not only able to make sacrifices for the independent but they can also live in peace”
(The first public address at Suhrawardy Uddan upon returning to the independent Bangladesh after 9 months in in prison in Miyanwala, Pakistan, 10 January 1972)
“Bangladesh will a secular state. Secularism is not anti-religion. Muslims will be practicing their religion. Hindus will be observing their faith. The Christians will be exercising their religion. Buddhists will be practicing their religion. In this land there is no anti-religion but there is secularism. This has a meaning. Here religions cannot be used as commodity for political purposes. Here people cannot be looted in the name of religion. Politics in the name of religion to create Razakars and Al-Badars in the soil of Bengal will not be tolerated any longer. The politics of communalism will not to be allowed.
(Public meeting at Surahwardy Uddyan, 9 June 9172)
“Muslims, Christians, Buddhist-all have fought as one in their struggle to realise the rights of the people as well as our liberation war. Besides, the people of Bangladesh have unique cultural and historical tradition of their own, which differentiate them from others. One-Sixth of the population of the country are non-Muslims. Over and above these, Allah is not the Allah of the Muslims alone (Rabbul Muslimeen); He is great and the creator of all- Rabbul Al-Ameen. Your suggestions (Islamic Republic of Bangladesh) therefore are not acceptable under any circumstances”
(At a meeting with Col Gaddafi, at the conference of Non- Alliant Movement, Algiers, September 1973)
“I do not think that Bangladesh, like a pauper (miskeen), has sought any assistance from you. The devout Muslims of our country ask for the right to perform their prayers at the holy Kaabah. Every Muslim throughout the whole world has a right to offer their prayers there. Why pre-conditions about this? We expect an equal and brotherly treatment from you in this respect”.
(The above remarks was made by Bangabandhu in response to King Faisal’s opening remarks that, “I know you need some assistance and you can have any assistance you want. But we have some preconditions”. One of King Faisal’s main precondition was that Bangladesh should change its name from the People’s Republic to Islamic Republic. None-Alliant Movement, Algiers, September 1973)
“The official name of your country is not even the Islamic Republic of Saudi Arabia. Your country has been named, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after the late King Ibn Saud. We did not object to this. So why pre-condition about Bangladesh?”
(At a meeting with King Faisal, at the conference of Non- Alliant Movement, Algiers, September 1973. NB: Saudi Arabia did not recognise Bangladesh before Bangabandhu was assassinated in 1975. However the right to perform Haj and Umrah by Bangladesh national was granted during his life time)
“The world is divided into two halves, the oppressed and the oppressors. I am with the oppressed”.
(At the conference of None Alliant Movement, Algiers, 6 September 1973)
“We do not have a regular army yet. But we have trained freedom fighters. If necessary we will send our freedom fighters to join our Palestinian brothers to free Palestine”.
(These remarks were made during the Arab-Israel war in 1973. And as a goodwill gestures Bangabandhu send a small medical core of newly formed Bangladesh Army with medicine and tea to Palestine)
“It is a historical moment for the Bangalee nation which has completed a full circle of the struggle to achieve the right to self-determination. Bangalees have fought for centuries for earning the right to live freely as citizens of an independent country. They have always desired to live in peace and friendship with all nations in the world. That is also the ideal embedded in the United Nations Charter. Millions had to give highest sacrifices for making that possible”
(Addressing the United Nations, 23 September 1974)
“Other countries like us who are trying to establish themselves through struggle and sacrifices, have strong belief too. We can suffer but we don’t die. People’s strength is the biggest force for the challenge of survival. Our aim is to achieve self-dependence”
(Addressing the United Nations, 23 September 1974)
“The people of Bangladesh support the rights and just demands of Arab Palestinian brothers. They will stay behind Arab brothers to free Palestine. Wherever there are oppressed people we will be there”.
(The last public address at Suhrawardy Uddan, 26 March 1975)
“My peasants are not corrupt. My labourers are not corrupt. Who takes bribe then? Who carryout black marketing? Who serves as foreign agent? Who does money laundering? Who does hoarding/stockpiling? It is us, the 5% educated people. The bribe takers and corrupts are amongst us 9 the 5% educated people). We must change our characters and purify our souls”.
(The last public address at Suhrawardy Uddan, 26 March 1975)
“I will tell one more thing to the educated society. Your characters have not changed. When a peasant comes in bear body and wearing lungi, we say ohi beta-man where did you came from. Sit down outside. If a labourer comes we say wait there. We say Ohi rickshaw puller don’t behave like this. We treat them disrespectfully. We belittle them”.
(The last public address at Suhrawardy Uddan, 26 March 1975)
“This has to come to an end. Your work, your salary is paid by these poor peasants. Your salary is paid by these poor labourers. Your livelihood is maintained by their money. We ride on cars paid by them. Talk to them respectfully. Treat them with honours. They are the owners. Your sangshar-livelihood is maintained by them”.
(The last public address at Suhrawardy Uddan, 26 March 1975)
“I do not say anything to intellectuals. I respect them. I would only this to them that, please us your intellects for the welfare of the people. I do not say anything more than this”.
(The last public address at Suhrawardy Uddan, 26 March 1975)
“I do not know from where all these thieves have come from. Pakistan has taken everything but they left all these thieves here. We would have been better off if they have taken these thieves with them. Some collaborators have left the country, if the thieves had gone with them we would have been better off”.
(The last public address at Suhrawardy Uddan, 26 March 1975)
“It is not possible to build golden Bengal without golden people”
“Let me say one thing to you that, it is not possible to defeat corruptions through legislations without the supports of people. Today I have one request to you and that is this, once I asked you to build fortresses, start jihad against the enemies. Today I will say that the number one task of the people of Bangladesh will be to eliminate the corrupt people from the soil of Bengal and I need your help”.
(The last public address at Suhrawardy Uddan, 26 March 1975)
“If I die before that, then you do one thing, Bury me in a village of Bengal, near a paddy field or bamboo grove. So that I can have the taste of the soil of Bengal, I can listen to the songs of the birds of Bengal and inhale the aroma of the golden paddies of Bengal”.
(During conversations with the district level party workers at his home in Dhanmondi, 1975)
“And build no monument on my grave. Instead make a Chunga– cone and leave it on my grave. So that the people of Bengal can see for centuries to come that, someone by the name of Sheikh Mujib one day came into the politics of Bengal with a Chunga made of tin in his hand. Throughout his life he screamed Bangalee-Bangalee. One day he left this world holding on that Chunga yelling Bangalee-bangalee”.
(During conversations with the district level party workers at his home in Dhanmondi, 1975)
