The independence of Bangladesh was declared on 26 March 1971 at the onset of the Bangladesh Liberation War, when the Pakistan Army launched a genocide against the people of East Pakistan. The declaration was made by Bengali nationalist leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose message was broadcast by M A Hannan and Major Ziaur Rahman; and widely circulated in the international press in late March 1971. On 17 April, the Provisional Government of Bangladesh issued a proclamation on the basis of the previous declaration and established an interim constitution for the independence movement.
On 27 March, Major Ziaur Rahman, the commander of the East Bengal Regiment in Chittagong, broadcast two declarations on behalf of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In the first one, he declared himself as temporary Head of the Republic. A K Khan intervened and drafted a second declaration for Major Ziaur Rahman, which was read again over Independent Bangladesh Radio. It read the following:-
The Government of the Sovereign State of Bangladesh, on behalf of our great national leader, the supreme commander of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, do hereby proclaim the independence of Bangladesh. It is further proclaimed that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the sole leader of the elected representatives of the 75 million people of Bangladesh. I therefore appeal on behalf of our great leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the governments of the all the democratic countries of the world, especially the big world powers, and the neighboring countries, to take effective steps to stop immediately the awful genocide that has been carried out by the army of occupation from Pakistan. To dub us, the legally elected representatives of the majority of the people as repressionist is a cruel joke and contradiction in terms which should be fool none. The guiding principle of the new state will be first, neutrality, second, peace, and third, friendship to all and enmity to none. May Allah help us. Joy Bangla.
On 27 March, Major Ziaur Rahman, the commander of the East Bengal Regiment in Chittagong, broadcast two declarations on behalf of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In the first one, he declared himself as temporary Head of the Republic. A K Khan intervened and drafted a second declaration for Major Ziaur Rahman, which was read again over Independent Bangladesh Radio. It read the following:-
The Government of the Sovereign State of Bangladesh, on behalf of our great national leader, the supreme commander of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, do hereby proclaim the independence of Bangladesh. It is further proclaimed that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the sole leader of the elected representatives of the 75 million people of Bangladesh. I therefore appeal on behalf of our great leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the governments of the all the democratic countries of the world, especially the big world powers, and the neighboring countries, to take effective steps to stop immediately the awful genocide that has been carried out by the army of occupation from Pakistan. To dub us, the legally elected representatives of the majority of the people as repressionist is a cruel joke and contradiction in terms which should be fool none. The guiding principle of the new state will be first, neutrality, second, peace, and third, friendship to all and enmity to none. May Allah help us. Joy Bangla.
Major Zia's broadcasts were picked by a Japanese ship anchored in Chittagong Port and transmitted to Radio Australia.