Key words : extempore, legendary, struggle, heritage

A. Discuss in pairs or groups. Ask and answer the following questions.

1. What do you see in the picture?
2. What special day do you remember when you look at the picture?
3. Do you remember listening to any of Bangabandhu's speeches? Which one?
4. Why do you think people love to listen to his speeches so much?

B. Read the text.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his most iconic speech at the Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) on 7 March 1971. He called on his fellow countrymen to get ready for independence. On that day, a million people gathered there to listen to their great leader. It was this speech that encouraged the freedom-seeking Bangalees to prepare for the liberation war. The 19-minute speech has been recognized by UNESCO as one of the world's most important documentary heritages. UNESCO added the speech to the Memory of the World Register as a documentary heritage on 30 October 2017, giving it an legendary status. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO announced the decision at its headquarters in Paris. UNESCO official website says that "...The speech effectively declared the independence of Bangladesh. ...The speech was extempore and there was no written script...". He started his speech with these words, "Today, I appear before you with a heavy heart. You know everything and understand as well. We tried with our lives. ... Today the people of Bengal want freedom, the people of Bengal want to survive, and the people of Bengal want to have their rights...."

C. Answer the following questions based on your reading of the text above.

1. What type of speech did Bangabandhu deliver on 7 March, 1971?
2. Why do you think the speech is significant in the history of Bangladesh?
3. What is the meaning of the word "iconic" in the passage?
4. In which category did UNESCO recognize Bangabandhu's 7 March speech?
5. What is special in this speech?

Ꭰ. See below an excerpt from Bangabandhu's historic 7 March speech. To understand what he had said, you have to fill in the gaps using the clues given in the box. When the gap filling is done, read the text aloud.

"Turn every house into a _, resist the enemy with everything you have... Since we have learned to _ our lives, we shall give more blood. We shall _ the people of this land. The struggle this time is for _, the struggle this time is for _. Joy Bangla" - Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, March 7, 1971

E. Write a letter to your friend telling her/him how you feel when you listen to Bangabandhu's historic 7 March Speech.