#thenewscompany – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the people to build a non-communal, hunger-poverty-free and happy-prosperous ‘Sonar Bangladesh’ as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.
In a message issued on the occasion of the 98th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children’s Day, she said, ” All, irrespective of party affiliation or opinion, have to work together to build the children developing their self-confidence, flourishing their patriotism and creativity and building their personality.”
They would have to be inspired to learn the history of Bangladesh and the struggling life of the Father of the Nation, the Prime Minister added.
She said “1 pay my deep homage to the greatest Bangalee of all time, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his 98th birth anniversary and National Children’s Day. I convey my best wishes to the countrymen, especially the children, on this auspicious day.”
“Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born in the illustrious Sheikh family at Tungipara in Gopalganj district on March 17, 1920. His father’s name is Sheikh Lutfar Rahman and mother’s name is Begum Saira Khatun. He was the third among six children of his parents” the Prime Minister said.
She said “From his boyhood, he was fearless, kind and generous. The leadership quality had flourished during his school days. Gradually, he became the last resort to realise the righteous demands of the people of Bangladesh.”
Having keen memory and vision, she said, the aim of Bangabandhu’s long career was to free the Bangalee nation from the shackle of subjugation.
“The Father of the Nation led the movement to establish the state language. In 1948, State Language Movement Council was constituted comprising Tamuddun Majlish, Student League and other student bodies as per a proposal of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she added.
Bangabandhu was arrested as a general strike was enforced on 11 March 1948 to realise the demand for recognising Bangla as the state language, the Prime Minister said.
“He was arrested time and again from 1948 to 1952. Bangabandhu led the Language Movement from both inside and outside the jail,” she added.
“During the tragic incident of February 21 1952, Bangabandhu gave directives from his internment. In continuation of the movement, the election of United Front in 1954, the anti-martial law movement against the military junta Ayub Khan in 1958, the movement against Education Commission in 1962, the historic 6-point movement of 1966, Agartala conspiracy case of 1968, mass upsurge in 1969, general elections in 1970 and the independence war of 1971 were carried under the undisputed leadership of Bangabandhu,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The charismatic leadership and personality of the Father of the Nation brought the whole nation under one umbrella, she said adding, “As a result, we got the independence and sovereign Bangladesh.”
The Bangalee nationalism got flourished, she said adding Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was not only the leader of the Bangalee but also a forerunner in realising the rights of the oppressed and deprived masses of the world.
When he devoted himself to rebuild the country, she said, the anti-liberation and reactionary forces brutally assassinated him along with most of his family members on 15 August 1975.
“The spirit of the war of liberation, Bangladesh’s democratic march and development spree were halted by the heinous killings. The illegal military rulers then defaced the country’s constitution, which was one of the finest constitutions of the world,” the Prime Minister said.
“They rehabilitated the anti-liberation war criminals and reactionary forces. The countrymen were deprived of their rights to life and vote. The history of independence and freedom struggle was distorted” she added.
The Prime Minister said, “The Bangalee nation was freed from the stigma through the execution of the capital punishment pronounced by the highest court of the country in the Bangabandhu killing case. The trials of war criminals are now going on and verdicts against the war criminals are being executed. We are committed to materlising the unfinished tasks of Bangabandhu defeating the conspiracies of anti-liberation and undemocratic forces”
“Bangabandhu had a limitless love for the children. That is why, the day of his birth has been declared as the National Children’s Day. On this day, I pray to the Almighty Allah for the peace of the departed soul of Bangabandhu and for the prosperous future of our children and juveniles,” she added.
The Awami League government is pledge-bound to make our beloved motherland as a safe habitat for the children, she said adding, “We have already formulated a time-befitting Children policy for the welfare of the children.”
“The students are being provided with free textbooks on the first day of every year. Around 100 percent children are now enrolling at the schools. The government has published many books based on the glorifying life and activities of Bangabandhu and also included the true history of our liberation war in the textbooks,” she added.
The Prime Minister said, “Let us sacrifice our present for the welfare our children’s future. On the day, this is our commitment.”
