DHAKA, June 23, 2019 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reiterated
her determination to build a hunger-and-poverty-free “Sonar Bangla” as dreamt
by Bangabandhu as she opened the 70th founding anniversary programmes of
Bangladesh Awami League.
“On this historic day, it’s our pledge to build a hunger-and-poverty-free
developed and prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she said after inaugurating the
programmes in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi in the capital this
morning.
Sheikh Hasina, also the AL president, said Bangladesh is marching forward
towards socioeconomic development and the Bangalee nation achieved dignity in
the entire world after Awami League came to power.
“The nation lost this dignity after the assassination of Bangabandhu on
August 15 in 1975,” she said.
The prime minister said the Awami League was founded to bring back the
lost independence of Bangla.
“Today is the founding anniversary of that Awami League,” she said,
adding, “Whenever Awami League comes to power, it gives (something) to the
country and people,” she said.
At the outset of her speech, the Awami League president narrated the
history of establishment of the country’s oldest and biggest political party.
She also paid tributes to Bangabandhu and four national leaders as well as
numerous party leaders and workers who sacrificed their lives ungrudgingly
for establishing rights of the people.
Earlier, the prime minister formally inaugurated the 70th founding
anniversary programmes of Bangladesh Awami League by hoisting national flag
as well as releasing pigeons and balloons, while AL General Secretary Obaidul
Quader raised the party flag. The national anthem was sung on the occasion.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina placed a wreath at the portrait of the Father of
the Nation in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban marking the 70th founding
anniversary of Bangladesh Awami League.
After laying the wreath, the prime minister stood in solemn silence for
sometime as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the
architect of independence.
Flanked by senior leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the president
of Bangladesh Awami League, placed another wreath at the portrait of
Bangabandhu on behalf of her party.
Awami League Advisory Council members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and
Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury,
Advocate Sahara Khatun, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Advocate Abdul Matin Khashru,
Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan and Pijush Kanti Bhattacharya, General Secretary
Obaidul Quader, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Foreign Minister Dr AK
Abdul Momen, Industries Minister Nurul Mazid Mahmud Humayun, Science and
Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman, Housing and Public Works
Minister SM Rezaul Karim, Railways Minister Advocate Nurul Islam Sujon were
present.
Besides, Joint Secretaries Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moni, Jahangir
Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Organizing Secretaries BM Mozammel Haque, AFM
Bahauddin Nasim, Enamul Haque Shamim, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Ahmed Hossain
and Advocate Misbahuddin Siraj and other central leaders of the party and its
front organisations were present on the occasion.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam and South City Corporation
Mayor Sayeed Khokan as well as leaders of Dhaka North and South City AL were
also present.
Bangladesh Awami League was founded on this day in 1949, which was later
transformed into the biggest political party of the country by leading all
the democratic-political-social-cultural movements including the long arduous
struggle for freedom and the War of Liberation.