ZCZC
BSS-62
PM-BIRTH-CENTENARY-CELEBRATION-2-LAST-DHAKA LEAD
The Prime Minister said the nation’s freedom is the fruit of the continuous struggles for the dignity of mother language, started by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib on 11th March 1948 with the ultimate target of political-economic and cultural emancipation of Bangali.
About the post-liberation Bangladesh, she said it was a war-ravaged country, which was under the hundreds of years of subjugation.
In just three and a half years, she said, Bangabandhu carried out the mammoth task of building a full-fledged sovereign state where the people were suffering from exploitation, deprivation, hunger, and poverty. “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had done everything,” she added.
Stating that Bangabandhu had so many dreams, she said Father of the Nation envisioned building Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous “Golden Bangladesh”, but the cruel bullets of the killers snatched away him from the people on August 15, 1975.
However, the wait for economic emancipation of the country’s people is coming to an end today, she added.
The premier said, “Today, we are going to celebrate the Birth-Centenary of Father of the Nation and the Golden Jubilee of Independence at a particular time when Bangladesh has received the final recommendation to join from the list of Least Developed Countries to the respectful group of Developing Nations.”
Highlighting the economic successes briefly, she said Bangladesh has made tremendous strides in the socio-economic index as the country’s per capita income has exceeded the respectable limit of US$ 2,000 with declining poverty rate below 20.5 percent, self-sufficiency in food production and rise of average life expectancy to 73 years.
She went on saying: “Today’s achievement is the result of the relentless efforts of the last 12-year of the Bangladesh Awami League in government and the tireless labor of the people. It cannot be so easy to lower the position that Bangladesh has reached today.”
She also referred to the excellent example of successful calm down of the destructive waves of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Prime Minister also expressed her sincere gratitude to all the friendly countries and leaders who extended necessary help during the great Liberation War, the struggles for freedom, and the post-war reconstruction of the country.
Quoting the words of world-poet Rabindranath Tagore, Sheikh Hasina said “Let’s go, come on, let’s go, move on step by step with the rhythm of truth and, rejoicing with the undefeatable spirits. Let’s go onward the path of freedom, with the fearless mind-triumph over all hurdles and threats.”
Extending her heartiest best wishes to all, the premier said on this day in 1920, a child was born in a secluded village Tungipara who came to this earth illuminating the lap of mother Sheikh Saira Khatun and father Sheikh Lutfur Rahman and illuminated the life of the Bangali community and brought freedom.
“We celebrate 17th March every year as National Children’s Day. My love and best wishes for every child on Children’s Day,” she said.
The Prime Minister expressed her sincere gratitude to President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Salih, for attending today’s inauguration program and her best wishes to the friendly people of the Maldives and also extended gratefulness to Chinese President China Xi Jinping, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga for sending greetings to the people of Bangladesh.
BSS/AHJ/MAK/GA/MRU/2225HRs