DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: Myth vs. Facts

Late Dr. Nurul Ula, Professor, Electrical Department, BUET became famous for his documentary on genocide at Jagannath Hall that took place on early morning of March 26, 1971. He shot this film from the window of his BUET residence at Palashi on that fateful morning and immediately this documentary was smuggled out of the country which gave UN and the world first glimpse of genocide committed by Pakistani invading forces. I have had the rare opportunity to spend a good length of time and hear many untold issues and events of our political history from this legendary personality when we both were in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He was professor of King Abdul Aziz University while I was working in Ministry of Electricity and that was the time from 1981 till 1986. Dr. Nurul Ula, who had a place in the household of Bangabandhu as a family member, claimed to have received unlimited affection and blessing of Bangabandhu. In early March, 1971 one morning Bangabandhu asked Dr. Nurul Ula to install a Radio wireless system in the house of Bangabandhu at Road 32, Dhanmondi. Bangabandhu expressed his intention to communicate with and give directives to his party leaders in Chittagong through this radio if situation would demand. Accordingly with the help of equipment of BUET communication lab Dr Nurul Ula could establish radio communication between Bangabandhu house and the leadership of Chittagong Awami League. I do not clearly remember which radio station was used in Chittagong. And according to Dr Nurul Ula, Bangabandhu could establish radio contact with Mr Hannan, leader of Chittagong Awami League immediate before he was arrested by invading forces in early morning of March 26, 1971 and asked Mr. Hannan to promulgate independence of Bangladesh in favour of Bangabandhu.