DHAKA, March 25, 2019 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called
upon all for making collective efforts to realise international recognition
of the massacre during the Liberation War in 1971 as genocide.
“Today is the March 25, the day when Pakistani occupation forces launched
genocide on unarmed Bangalees and killed millions of people in 1971. We would
have to make stride to achieve international recognition of the genocide
during the Liberation War of 1971,” she said while addressing at an
independence award-giving ceremony in Bangabandhu International Conference
Center here.
The government has already taken some initiatives to this respect, she
mentioned.
The premier asked all to work in unison to reach the benefits of the hard-
earned independence to every home being imbued with the spirit of the
Liberation War and ideals of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman.
“Whenever, we come to power, we try to develop the socio-economic sector of
the country at the quickest possible time to make Bangladesh a developed one
free from hunger and poverty as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she also said.
Today’s development in Bangladesh with graduation to a middle income
country from least development one becomes possible for Awami League
government’s relentless efforts of the last decade, she said, adding “We are
going to achieve 8 percent GDP (gross domestic product) this year and now the
per capita income is $ 1909 which was $ 1751 earlier,”.
Highlighting different initiatives taken by Bangabandhu during his tenure
at various sectors including education, economic and social development, she
said seven percent growth was achieved in 1975 before assassination of Father
of the Nation along with most of his family members.
Bangabandhu got only three and half a years after achieving the
independence in 1971, but rebuilt the war-ravaged country and gave it a shape
in such a short period, she said, adding that if Bangabandhu was alive, the
country could have been developed between five to 10 years after the
independence.
But, the anti-liberation forces and their international cliques had
assassinated Father of the Nation as a part of their conspiracy as they had
realised that Bangladesh would soon achieve economic emancipation under his
visionary leadership, she mentioned.
The economic development was stopped with Bangabandhu’s assassination on
August 15 in 1975, she said.
“We assumed power after 21 years and started building Bangladesh as a
developed country following Bangabandhu’s footsteps and ideals,” she said.
The premier handed over ‘Swadhinata Purashkar-2019’to 13 eminent persons
and an organisation in recognition of their glorious and outstanding
contribution to their respective fields at the function organized by the
Cabinet Division.
The recipients are – martyred intellectual Mufazzal Haider Chowdhury
(posthumous), martyred ATM Zafar Alam (posthumous), AKM Mozammel Haque,
Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Dr Kazi Misbahun Nahar, Abdul Khalek
(posthumous), Professor Mohammad Khaled (posthumous) and Barrister Shawkat
Ali Khan (posthumous) in independence and Liberation War, Brigadier General
Dr Nurun Nahar Fatema Begum in medical science, Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad
in social service, Murtaza Bashir in culture, Hasan Azizul Haque in
literature, Professor Dr Hasina Khan in research and training and Bangladesh
Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) in science and technology.
Among the receipants, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain sopke on the occassion.
Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam conducted the function and read
out the citations at the program.
Chief Justice, cabinet members, PM’s advisors, lawmakers, chiefs of the
three services, foreign diplomats, freedom fighters, and high civil and
military officials were present on the occasion.
Each award recipient was given a medal weighing 50 grams of gold of 18
karat, Tk 3 lakh and a citation.
Greeting the recipients of independence award, the premier said the
people, who are working for the welfare of the country with their limited
resources even staying in villages, should be found out to recognize their
contributions.
She said “We had to face a lot of impediments to graduate Bangladesh into
middle income country by carrying out huge development works in every
sector.”
Referring to corruption allegation regarding construction of Padma Bridge,
she said the World Bank had failed to prove graft charges in this regard,
“Honesty is the main sources of the power. We could face it as we have
honesty,” she continued.
Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, added, “Insha Allah, we would be able to build
Bangladesh as a hunger and poverty free country. And none could suppress
Bangladesh as it is progressing ahead.”
She mentioned that Bangladesh would successfully celebrate the birth
centenary of Father of the Nation in 2020 and golden jubilee of the
independence in 2021.
The government had already declared 2020-2021 as ‘Mujib Barsha’, she said.
Speaking on formation of BAKSAL (Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League),
she said Bangabandhu had brought all the political parties under a platform
to make a national consensus to rebuild a war-ravaged country and work for
ensuring the overall development of the country.