ZCZC
BSS-37
PM-BIRTH-CENTENARY-CELEBRATION-TWO LAST-DHAKA
Mentioning Bangabandhu’s contribution to the Language Movement, the Prime Minister said the movement had started in 1948 to make mother tongue as the state language when he was a student of law department in Dhaka University.
Bangabandhu initiated this struggle and he along with many other student leaders were arrested, she said, noting that the movement had started on 11 March, 1948.
He [Bangabandhu] was arrested on three occasions one after another at that time, she added.
Sheikh Hasina went on saying: “Whenever he tried to raise voice for Bangalis or for establishing the rights of the people of Bangladesh, extreme blows came down on him. But, Bangabandhu didn’t retreat rather he spearheaded the struggle to change the fate of the people of this country.”
The people, she said, who grabbed the state’s power illegally after the 1975 assassination tried to erase the name of Father of the Nation from the history of the great freedom struggle of Bangladesh and the history of independence forever. “But, none can erase the truth,” she added.
The premier said Bangabandhu dedicated his entire life for changing the fate of exploited and deprived people. He had no personal longing in his life, she added.
Describing Bangabandhu as a son of this Bangladesh, she said he made this Bangla, which was ruled by others for thousands of years, independent and became its first president and then Prime Minister.
Sheikh Hasina said none of those who ruled this land – no matter whether it was called Bengal, East Bengal or East Pakistan– during the Pakistani period and even who came in power after the assassination of the Father of the Nation on August 15, 1975 was born in the soil of this Bangladesh.
“Only Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was the son of this land and that is why he had a deep love for the people of this country,” she said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hosted a dinner in honour of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Grand Ball Room of the Hotel Intercontinental in the capital this evening.
On his arrival at the hotel, Bangladesh Prime Minister received him.
Both the Prime Ministers also enjoyed a colorful cultural programme.
Several cabinet members, advisers to the prime minister, high civil and military officials of the government were present on the occasion.
BSS/MAK/MRU/2145hrs