Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day observed in Washington

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DHAKA, Jan 11, 2019 (BSS) – The Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was celebrated at Bangladesh Embassy in
Washington, D.C. on Thursday in a befitting manner.

In observance of the day, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Mohammad
Ziauddin, accompanied by embassy officers and employees, placed a wreath at
the bust of Bangabandhu on the embassy precinct, according to a message
received here today.

Later, a brief discussion on the significance of the Homecoming Day of
Bangabandhu was held at Bangabandhu auditorium.

The messages of President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
were read out respectively by Minister (Economic) Md Shahabuddin Patwari and
Minister (Press) Shamim Ahmad.

Deputy Chief of Mission Mahbub Hassan Saleh recited a self-composed poem
on Bangabandhu titled ‘Tumi Amar’.

A video was presented on Bangabandhu’s return and his speech at
Suhrawardy Udyan delivered on January 10, 1972.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Ziauddin said: “Bangabandhu was our
hero as no other ever was, and importantly, he made us all feel proud of
being Bengalis…he led us as a nation and gave us a country”.

The ambassador recalled how he along with his friends reached the
stairway of the plane at Tejgaon Airport on that day in 1972, pushing through
the surge of millions. As the door of the plane opened, slogans of “Joy
Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu” seemed to reverberate across the Bengali nation, he
said.

Bangabandhu looked tired and yet was smiling and waving,” he said, adding
“touch we did as he passed us. Our mission was complete”.

Quoting famous journalist Cyril Dunn, Ziauddin said: “In the thousand-
year history of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujib is the only leader who has, in terms
of blood, race, language, culture and birth, been a full-blooded
Bengali…the courage and charm that flowed from him made him a unique
superman in these times”.

The ambassador said Newsweek Magazine called him “the Poet of Politics”.
Cuba’s Fidel Castro while embracing Bangabandhu at the Algiers NAM Summit
said: “I have not seen the Himalayas. But I have seen Sheikh Mujib. In
personality and courage, this man is the Himalayas”.

Ambassador Ziauddin said the highest gratitude that the Bengali nation can
give Bangabandhu is preservation of his heritage and legacy and materialising
his dream of “Sonar Bangla”, which is progressing fast under the dynamic
leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.