National Revolution and Solidarity Day
National day and former holiday in Bangladesh
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National Revolution and Solidarity Day (Bengali: জাতীয় বিপ্লব ও সংহতি দিবস) is a commemorative public holiday celebrated in Bangladesh on 7 November to commemorate the 7 November 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état (Sipahi–Janata Revolution) by regular army soldiers and the common masses that showed solidarity with them.[1][2][3]
| National Revolution and Solidarity Day | |
|---|---|
Soldiers being received by the public in 7 November 1975 | |
| Official name | জাতীয় বিপ্লব ও সংহতি দিবস |
| Observed by | Bangladesh |
| Type | Patriotic |
| Significance | Commemorates the united soldier and public uprising against the 3 November 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état |
| Observances | Political rallies, wreath-laying, prayers, conferences, photography exhibitions |
| Date | 7 November |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time |
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| Last time | As national holiday:
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| Related to | |
In the backdrop of the 15 August coup that resulted in the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a series of coups and counter-coups ended with the 3 November coup to remove from power Mujib's replacement President Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, organised by the pro-Mujib Brig. Gen. Khaled Mosharraf, who was assassinated in the aftermath.[1][4] Meanwhile, the soldiers proceeded to release Maj. Gen. Ziaur Rahman, who was put under house arrest at the inception of the coup by Mosharraf.[4][5] The uprising, though organised by Lt. Col. (retd.) Abu Taher and his clandestine revolutionary socialist group of soldier mutineers, the Biplobi Shainik Sangstha (BSS), to unsuccessfully create a socialist revolution, resulted in Zia's ascension to power.[6]
The day marks the end of the political turmoil and series of coups and counter-coups that occurred after the assassination of Mujibur Rahman, the founding President of Bangladesh, on 15 August 1975.[7][4]
Observance
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),[8] Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami,[9] Liberal Democratic Party[10] and several other parties commemorate the day and regard the coup as a "civil–military uprising".[11] Taher's party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, views the day similarly but observes it as the "Sepoy-People's Uprising Day".[12] On the contrary, the Awami League views it negatively and considers it neither a revolutionary nor a solidarity day, calling it the "Freedom Fighters Killing Day".[13][14]
7 November was a national holiday in Bangladesh during the military government of Lt. Gen. Hussain Muhammad Ershad and prime minister Khaleda Zia's ministries.[15] In November 2007, the military-backed caretaker government of Fakhruddin Ahmed dismissed the holiday.[16]
See also
- Revolution Day in other countries
- Biplobi Shainik Sangstha (BSS)
- Military coups in Bangladesh
- Anti-imperialism solidarity day
- National Mourning Day (Bangladesh), another former public holiday in Bangladesh