DHAKA, Dec 15, 2020 (BSS) – President M Abdul Hamid has extended sincere felicitations and warm greetings to countrymen living at home and abroad on the occasion of the Great Victory Day and National Day.
“December 16th is our great Victory Day. On this day in 1971, we achieved our long-cherished victory after a long struggle and bloodshed war. On the eve of the joyous victory day, I extend my sincere felicitations and warm greetings to my fellow countrymen living at home and abroad,” he said in a message issued today.
The President said the seeds of independence that was sown in the Language Movement in 1952 subsequently came into being on 26th March in 1971 through the proclamation of Independence by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, overcoming various ups and downs and staging long movement and agitation.
The ultimate victory was achieved through a nine-month long war of liberation against Pakistani invading forces under Bangabandhu’s leadership and guidance on 16th December in 1971.
“Today, I recall with profound respect Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bangali of all time. I pay my deep homage to the valiant freedom fighters, who made supreme sacrifice in the war of liberation for the cause of country’s independence,” he said.
Remembering with gratitude the four national leaders who led the government during the war of liberation on behalf of Bangabandhu, the President paid respect to the people of all walks of life, including the heroic freedom fighters, the organisers and supporters of the liberation war, foreign friends, war-wounded individuals and members of the martyrs’ families, who directly and indirectly contributed to our victory.
He said the aims of the independence were to attain political sovereignty as well as people’s economic emancipation. Returning to the newly independent country after being freed from Pakistan’s prison, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu started his journey for achieving economic self-sufficiency by rebuilding economy and infrastructure of the war-ravaged country, keeping the aims of independence in mind, he added.
Bangabandhu called for an agricultural revolution and launched a movement against corruption, black markets, profiteers and looters, he said, adding that but the progress of country’s democracy and development came to a halt after the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with his near and dear ones being committed by a group of anti-liberation forces on August 15, 1975 and subsequently, the autocratic and undemocratic government was emerged.
With the spirit and values of liberation war and independence, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken ‘Vision 2021’, ‘Vision 2041’ and hundred-year long ‘Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100’ to materialise the unfinished tasks of Bangabandhu, said the President.
He said the country is advancing in every socio-economic index, including health, education, women’s empowerment and the per capita income and average life expectancy of our people has also increased. Bangladesh, in the meantime, has been recognised as a developing country from a least developed country.
The President said the construction work of the Padma Bridge, which is being constructed by own resources, is about to completion. Some mega projects like Metro Rail, Payra Sea Port, Karnaphulli Multipurpose Tunnel, Elevated Expressway, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant are being implemented,” he added.
“Bangladesh is now a proud member of the elite satellite club through launching the Bangabandhu-1 Satellite into space. All-out cooperation as well as a positive change of outlook of our people is imperative to take this ongoing development trend forward,” he said.
He said Bangladesh has set a unique example of humanity in international arena by providing shelter to millions of forcibly displaced and tortured Rohingyas fled from Myanmar. He urged the UN and the international community including Myanmar to take immediate effective measures to settle the problem permanently.
Mentioning the impact of COVID-19 on global socio-economic situation, the President said Bangladesh is successfully coping with the Corona situation, due to the 31-point directives and the timely decision given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and tireless efforts of all concerned to deal with this unexpected situation.
“To win the Corona War, I call upon the people to follow health guidelines properly,” he added.
President Abdul Hamid said the whole nation is celebrating ‘Mujib Year 2020’, the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in a befitting manner this year. The Golden Jubilee celebration of our independence will be observed in 2021, he added.
“Observing the two magnificent and landmark events with the participation of all, irrespective of party affiliation, I believe, will add a new dimension to the history of Bangali,” he said.
“Let us contribute more from our respective position in implementing the spirit and values of war of liberation and take the nation towards the path of development and prosperity. Let our country turn into ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal) as dreamt of by our Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It is my expectation on the great Victory Day,” said the President.