DHAKA, May 16, 2023 (BSS) - Bangabandhu Parishad in a statement today said the nation got a developing Bangladesh as Awami League President and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had returned home on May 17 in 1981 after long exile, defying different obstacles.

The statement, signed by Bangabandhu Parishad acting President and Dhaka University former Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique and Parishad's General Secretary Professor ABM Faroque, was issued on the occasion of the 43rd Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally killed along with most of his family members on August 15 in 1975 and his two daughters -- Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana --- luckily escaped the carnage as they stayed abroad, it said.

In a national council session of the Awami League on February 14, 15 and 16 in 1981, Sheikh Hasina was elected as party president in her absence. 

The Bangabandhu Parishad leaders said on May 17 in 1981, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina returned home after six years of exile defying different obstacles of the then government. 

That is why the historic homecoming day is very significant in the country's political history, they said, adding that the day will remain written in golden letters in the country's history.

The academicians said still conspiracies are being hatched and propaganda is being spread against Sheikh Hasina. 

On May 17, Sheikh Hasina's homecoming was not merely a return of herself rather the people's democratic rights and Liberation War spirit were restored against the unconstitutional military rule, they said.

With the return of Sheikh Hasina, non-communal spirit, philosophy of peace and humanity returned against communal spirit, they said, adding that the country returned on the right track of development and progress to build a Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu.

They said Sheikh Hasina has been proving it continuously by turning the country from a least developed country (LDC) into a developing one, achieving self-sufficiency in food, making development in communication system and overall socio-economic indexes.

She turned a technologically backward country into a Digital Bangladesh and now she has set the next target of building a Smart Bangladesh, they said.

On behalf of Bangabandhu Parishad, the academicians extended congratulations to Sheikh Hasina on the eve of her 43rd Homecoming Day and wished her healthy and long life.