DHAKA, Sept 27, 2020 (BSS) – President M Abdul Hamid today wished long life, good health, happiness and continued wellbeing of Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and her family on the occasion of her 74th birthday to be celebrated across the country tomorrow.
“I extend my best wishes and warm congratulations to Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib . . . May her future path be successful,” he wished in a message on the eve of her birthday.
The President said Sheikh Hasina was born on September 28 in 1947 at Tungipara in Gopalganj in a political family. Since her childhood she saw the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his struggling life and the politics of the country and the people and she grew up as a politically conscientious person, he added.
Sheikh Hasina has been involved in the politics of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of Bangladesh Awami League, and has actively taken part in all the struggles for ensuring the rights of Bengalis in different times, Abdul Hamid said.
“Despite being the daughter of the Father of the Nation, her path was never smooth,”
Abdul Hamid, a close aide of Bangabandhu, said.
Referring to the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu and most of his family members on the fateful night of August 15, 1975, the President mentioned that Bangabandhu’s two daughters — Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana — escaped the assassination as they were staying the then West Germany.
The head of the state said they had to spend life in a very adverse situation in exile in London and Delhi for six years keeping the grief of losing parents, brothers and other relatives in heart.
He said Sheikh Hasina was elected president of Bangladesh Awami League unanimously at the national council of the party on February 14-16 in 1981.
Overcoming different hurdles, she returned home after a long exile on May 17 in 1981, President Hamid said, adding after coming to her motherland, Sheikh Hasina initiated movement to restore democracy in the country and in the process victory of democracy was achieved and autocracy overthrown through mass-movement of 90’s.
The President said Bangladesh Awami League achieved landslide victory in the general election on June 12, 1996 and formed the government under her leadership and subsequent the AL came to power three times in a row on 5 January and 10 December 2017 in the 11th Parliamentary Elections.
Sheikh Hasina made the history by becoming the Prime Minister of the country for the fourth term, said Hamid, also a veteran politician.
Outlining salient features of the government, the President said during this time, the completion of the war criminal trails, establishing legitimate rights of Bangladesh in maritime boundary, settlement of longstanding enclave problems, demarcation of land boundary with India and other contributions of Sheikh Hasina for wellbeing of the people will be ever remembered.
Abdul Hamid highly appreciated the government’s different development initiatives including construction of the Padma Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel, Metro Rail and Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant projects and launching of the country’s first satellite Bangabandhu-I in the space.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the President said, is the voice of the people who believe in world peace and also for the oppressed and she also set a shining example in the history of world humanity by sheltering millions of Rohingya people who fled to Bangladesh territory from their motherland being the worst victims of atrocities.
He said Sheikh Hasina has taken ‘Vision 2021’ and ‘Vision 2041’ programmes and Delta Plan 2100 to turn the country into a happy and prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’ as envisioned by Bangabandhu, the greatest Bangali of all times.
About COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak and its effects worldwide, the President mentioned that the global life including economy, education, health, trade and commerce, employment, international communication has faced a setback.
“The developed world is struggling to cope with this unexpected situation while Bangladesh is successfully tackling the Corona situation under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through her right decision and indomitable courage,” President Hamid observed expressing his sincere thanks to her.
President Hamid expressed his optimism that the country would move towards development and progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.