DHAKA, Aug 14, 2022 (BSS) - President M Abdul Hamid today termed August 15 as 
a scandalous chapter in the history of the Bengali nation.

"August 15 is a scandalous chapter in the history of the Bengali nation. On 
this fateful night of 1975, the undisputed leader and the greatest Bangalee 
of all time, Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally 
assassinated at his Dhanmondi residence by a group of killers with the direct 
and indirect connivance of anti-liberation forces. His wife Bangamata Sheikh 
Fazilatunnessa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel, and 
many of his near and dear ones were also killed along with Bangabandhu," the 
President said in a message on the eve of the National Mourning Day.

On the 47th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh 
Mujibur Rahman and National Mourning Day, the head of the state also paid his 
deep homage to them and prayed to the Almighty Allah for the eternal peace of 
the departed souls.

He said that Bangabandhu was a visionary leader of the Bengali Nation and the 
architect of our Independence. 

He (Bangabandhu) led the nation at every democratic and freedom movements 
including the 'All-party State language Action Committee' formed to ensure 
the right to mother-tongue in 1948, the historic Language Movement in 1952, 
Juktafront Election in 1954, the movement against Martial Law in 1958, the 
movement against anti-people Education Commission in 1962, Six-Point Movement 
in 1966, Mass Upsurge in 1969 and the General Elections in 1970, all of which 
were directed towards realizing Bangalees` emancipation and their rights, 
Hamid added. 

For this, he had to embrace jail several times, he continued. 

He said Bangabandhu was uncompromising in establishing fundamental human 
rights and independence. 

He, even on the gallows, upheld the interest of Bangla and Bangalees, 
president said. 

Ignoring the blood-curdling eyes of the then Pakistani rulers, Bangabandhu 
delivered a historic speech on March 7 in 1971 before a mammoth gathering at 
the then Race Course Maidan, he said. 

"With unique eloquence and political wisdom, Bangabandhu, combining the 
emotions, dreams and aspirations of Bangalees in a single thread, 
thunderously uttered, "The struggle this time is the struggle for 
emancipation, the struggle this time is the struggle for Independence' which 
was, in fact, the call for Independence," he mentioned.

In line with this historic speech, he finally declared the country's 
Independence on March 26, 1971, he said, adding: "And subsequently we 
achieved victory through a nine-month-long armed war of liberation under his 
leadership." 

Bangabandhu and Bangladesh thus emerged as a unique entity to the people of 
Bangladesh, Hamid added. 

Bangabandhu has made an outstanding contribution to establishing world peace 
along with equality, friendship and democracy throughout his life, he 
continued. 

He was a symbol of independence and ambassador of freedom for oppressed and 
exploited people in the world, he mentioned. 

"Addressing the Non-Aligned Conference in Algiers on September 9, 1973, he 
said, 'The world today is divided into two--the exploiters and the exploited: 
I am on the side of the exploited'," he added. 

"Bangabandhu is no longer with us, but his principles and ideals will always 
inspire the freedom-seeking people to attain their rights and the mass 
awakening against exploitation and oppression around the world," he said. 

The assassins killed the Father of the Nation but could not erase his 
principles and ideals, he said, adding that Bangabandhu will remain as an 
eternal source of inspiration not only for millions of Bangalees in this 
country, but also for freedom-seeking people of the world.

Bangabandhu had struggled throughout his life with the aim of achieving 
political freedom as well as economic emancipation of the people, he said. 

His dream was to establish a 'Golden Bangla' free from hunger and poverty, he 
added.

For this purpose, a people-oriented constitution was formulated within one 
year of Independence, he continued. 

"Bangabandhu did not just give us a country; He also formulated a 
contemporary outline of what the economic, social, political and cultural 
structure of a newly independent state would look like," he mentioned.

Bangabandhu always had trust and faith in his people, he said, adding that he 
used to give most importance to the united and joint efforts of the people to 
achieve development and self-reliance. 

The president further said that Bangladesh is moving forward with the aim of 
building a self-reliant country on the path shown by Bangabandhu, under the 
able leadership of his worthy daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

She (the premier) announced 'Vision 2041' to turn Bangladesh into a developed 
and prosperous country, he said.

Padma Bridge, a unique milestone in the development of Bangladesh, has 
already been opened for traffic, he added.

Metro rail, Karnaphuli Tunnel and other mega projects will be completed very 
soon and a new chapter in the development history of Bangladesh will be 
introduced, he said. 

"Our responsibility will be to make Bangladesh a happy and prosperous country 
by completing Bangabandhu's incomplete task by being enriched with knowledge 
and dignity," he added.

"Only then will proper respect be shown to this great leader," Hamid 
continued.