Ohidul Islam:  Anti-fascist-Hasina-regime war 2024 was more difficult than Liberation war 1971 because every Bangladeshi was in support of liberation in 1971. We had an identified enemy; the Pakistani army. All the prominent leaders and writers were pro-independence of Bangladesh.

Whereas, in 2024, a number of people were on the side of Hasina. Awami League leaders called the July-August Movement a protest for a job. In 1971, we fought the Pakistani military. They were foreigners. In 2024, we fought the Bangladesh military and the Bangladesh Police. They speak Bangla the same as we do, they are our neighbours and relatives.

A significant number of cultural establishments and icons (Bamboo-scholars) were on the fascist’s side in 2024. This was not the case in 1971. All revolutions that happened on earth were favoured or instigated by the cultural front of the revolutionaries except anti-fascist-Hasina-regime movement 2024. It is a pity of Bangladesh, its cultural sector is downright engulfed by India led Hinduist activism (Hinduttabad).

In 1971, the people of Bangladesh (at the time East Pakistan) went to fight Pakistanis in the name of Allah to establish equal rights & respect and to stop Pakistan from absorbing our earned foreign currency. In 2024, students came out to fight murderer Hasina to establish equal rights in securing jobs in the public sector (Quota reform) and to stop money laundering.

The Pakistani military setted concentration camps for us and the Awami League setted clandestine detention centers (Aynaghar).

In March 1971, Yahya Khan flew after ordering a genocide on Bangladeshies. In July-August 2024, murderer Hasina flew to India after completing a genocide on Bangladeshies.

Post 1971 war, Z. A. Bhutto called us ‘Pigs’. Post July-August 2024 war, Sajeeb Wazed Joy called us ‘Ungrateful’.

300,000 Bangladeshis were mardered and raped by Pakistanis during the Liberation war 1971. The war lasted for 9 months.

1700 Bangladeshis lost lives, 2000 lost vision and 20000 lost limbs in anti-fascist-Hasina-regime war 2024. The war lasted for five weeks (until 36th July).

In 1971, freedom fighters crawled under combat tanks wearing Landmines.

In 2024, the protester’s dead body was thrown out of combat tanks. Freedom fighters of 2024 opened their arms to block bullets.

In 1971, Bangladeshi civilians faced airstrikes of Indian armies; treating us disposable.

In 2024, Bangladeshi children were shot dead during their play on the roof and balcony.

Post 1971, many unmarked mass graves were discovered. During July-August 2024, many dead bodies were burnt and buried unrecorded.

Pakistanis wanted us to speak in Urdu. Mujib prohibited newspapers from publishing news that violated India’s interests. Murderer Hasina regime imposed suppression of speech and censorship in public communication.

On March 25th 1971, Pakistani Army ran Operation Searchlight on the police at Rajarbagh Police Lines, Dhaka. Many Bangladeshi police were killed. Mazor Zia was planned to be killed in Chattagram. February 25th to 26th 2009, fifty-nine army officers and some BDR personnels of Bangladesh were killed in a massacre planned by India and arranged by murderer Hasina.

Post liberation war 1971, Bangladesh dealt with a financial crisis because the Pakistan government took off reserved foreign currency deposits and the Indian army looted whatever they could get their hands on. Bangladesh is facing a severe financial crisis because hundreds of billions of dollars were looted by the Hasina family and their favoured ones.

It is difficult to bring murderer Hasina and Awami League leaders into justice because India and Indian agents living in Bangladesh back them. India agents still utter ‘Joy-Bangla’ to this day openly. The murderers of Biswajit Das (2012), Abrar Fahad (2019) & Saiful Islam Alif (2024) validate their murder by saying ‘Joy-Bangla’.

Contrary, Pakistani agents (Razakar) were brought into justice easily post liberation war 1971.

Martyrs knew success is in finding a place in people’s heart. Following that, Martyrs fought for Bangladesh to have a sovereign foreign diplomacy and to establish human rights in Bangladesh. Martyrs gave their lives in 1971 and in 2024 to secure financial and cultural freedom of Bangladesh. For that reason, Bangladesh will always be thankful to our martyrs of 1971 and 2024 and Bangladesh must recognise Liberation war 1971 and anti-fascist-Hasina-regime war 2024 are from the same spirit.