[2] The speech is believed to have informally addressed the Bengali people to prepare for a war of independence amid widespread reports of armed mobilization by West Pakistan.

The Bangladesh Liberation War began 18 days later when the Pakistan Army initiated Operation Searchlight against Bengali civilians, intelligentsia, students, politicians, and armed personnel.

[9] West Pakistan dominated the country politically, and its leaders exploited the East economically, leading to popular grievances.

In 1966, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujib, launched the Six Point Movement to demand provincial autonomy for East Pakistan.

The Pakistani establishment rejected the league's proposals, and the military government arrested Sheikh Mujib and charged him with treason through the Agartala Conspiracy Case.

After three years in jail, Mujib was released in 1969, and the case against him was dropped in the face of mass protests and widespread violence in East Pakistan.

[12] The 1970 Bhola cyclone saw the death of 300 thousand people and a poor response from the West Pakistan based government.

However, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, refused to allow Sheikh Mujib to become prime minister.

[18] Violence broke out in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rangpur, Comilla, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna, and the security forces killed dozens of unarmed protesters.

But the painful matter is that today, in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur, the streets are dyed red with the blood of our brethren.

[24] The Pakistani government didn't give permission to live broadcast the speech through radio and television on 7 March 1971.

The video was recorded by actor Abul Khair who was the Director of Films under the Ministry of Information of Pakistan at the time.

[29] Swadhin Bangla Kendriyo Chhatro Sangram Parishad called for international support for the independence of Bangladesh.

[39] Mahfuz Anam, the editor of The Daily Star, called the speech Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's finest hour.