Bangladesh Zindabad (Bengali:বাংলাদেশ জিন্দাবাদ —Bānglādēsh Zindābād,transl. Long Live, Country of Bengal) is a slogan used byBangladeshis as an expression of patriotism and often used in political speeches and cricket matches.[1] Its use started even before the creation of Bangladesh, during theperiod of United Pakistan.[2]
The slogan is a use of the standardBengali suffix ofPersian origin;Zindabad (Long Live), that is placed after a person or a country name. It is used to express victory or patriotism.[3][2][1]
It is said to have originated during a speech byAbdul Hamid Khan Bhashani on 23 November 1970 inPaltan Maidan,Dhaka. The speech happened only a few days after the1970 Bhola cyclone, the deadliestnatural disaster to ever be recorded in history.[4] TheGovernment of Pakistan was heavily criticised for its slow reactions to relief operations following the stormBhashani and he recommended thatEast Pakistan should separate and become its own independent country. He ended the speech by replacing thePakistani slogan ofPakistan Zindabad with "Purbo Pakistan Zindabad" (Long LiveEast Pakistan).[2]
Throughout theBangladesh Liberation War, Bangladesh Zindabad andSheikh Mujib Zindabad were a common phrase used by supporters of theBengali separatist movement in Pakistan.[3][5][6] FollowingBangladeshi independence, many were of the opinion, thatJoy Bangla (Victory to Bengal) had completed its motive and that Bangladesh Zindabad, hoping for longevity, would be more of an appropriate slogan.[7]
During thepresidency ofKhondaker Mostaq Ahmad in 1975,Bangladesh Zindabad was made the national slogan of Bangladesh, replacing Joy Bangla.[8][9][10]
The slogan was also used during thepresidency ofZiaur Rahman as part of his attempt to create a territorial identity forBangladesh in contrast to the ethnolinguisticBengali identity. It was used in particular, as a closing remark for his speeches.[11] Rahman promoted ideas ofBangladeshi nationalism rather thanBengali nationalism, which gained support from not only a vast percentage of theBengali population but also theethnic minorities in the country, who were not of Bengali origin such as theBiharis andindigenous peoples in Bangladesh.[12]
After the7 November 1975 coup d'état, Bangladeshi citizens from "all strata of society" were known to have shouted "Bangladesh Zindabad".[11]