ZCZC
BSS-31
PRESIDENT-BANGABANDHU-HOMECOMING
President urges all to come forward to fulfill Bangabandhu’s dream
DHAKA, Jan 9, 2020 (BSS) – President Md Abdul Hamid called upon the countrymen to stand by the government to continue the advancement of the country by implementing the unfinished tasks of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman being imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War.
In a message on the eve of the Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the President said Bangladesh is now being considered worldwide as a ‘role model’ for its development in various sectors under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He said January 10 is a historic day as on this day in 1972, Father of the Nation returned independent and sovereign Bangladesh after nine months and 14 days of imprisonment in Mianwali Jail in Pakistan. Though Bengalees achieved ultimate victory on December 16 in 1971 through armed struggle but the true essence of victory came into being upon returning home of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu on January 10, 2017, he added.
The President said this year, birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will be observed in a festive mood which will make the celebration of Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu more momentous, he said.
“I urge upon the countrymen to come forward to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation and the Golden Jubilee celebrations of our great independence in 2021 in a befitting manner,” the presided added.
He said the present government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the illustrious daughter of Bangabandhu, has been making untiring efforts for the progress and development of the country.
Paying profound homage to Father of the Nation, the President said this visionary leader led the nation in every movement including the All Party State Language Movement Council in 1948, Language Movement in 1952, Jukta-Front Election in 1954, movement against Martial Law being proclaimed by Gen. Ayub Khan in 1958, Movement against Education Commission in 1962, Six-Point Movement in 1966, Mass Upsurge in 1969 and the General Election in 1970 where Awami League won landslide victory.
Though the Awami League had won absolute majority in the General Election of 1970, the President said the Pakistani rulers were reluctant to hand over power and therefore, the freedom loving people of the country started Non-cooperation movement under the leadership of Bangabandhu.
“On March 7, 1971 Bangabandhu delivered a historic speech at Race Course Maidan which was indirectly indicated the declaration of our independence. At the mammoth gathering he uttered in his thunderous voice, ‘The struggle this time is a struggle for emancipation. The struggle this time is a struggle for independence’,” he said.
On March 25, 1971, the invading army of Pakistan, as part of their blueprint, committed genocide by launching ‘Operation searchlight’ with a view to destroying Bangalees, he said, adding that against this backdrop, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence at the early hours on March 26 and called upon the Countrymen to take part in the War of Liberation and fight until the last soldier of the occupation army is expelled from the soil of Bangladesh.
Abdul Hamid said immediately after the declaration of independence, he said the Pakistani Junta arrested Bangabandhu from his Dhanmondi residence of road no. 32 and confined him in Mianwali Jail in Pakistan. In absence of Bangabandhu, the liberation war was being conducted under his leadership and on December 16, 1971 the Bangalee nation achieved ultimate victory, he added.
He said stepping into the soil of newborn independent Bangladesh on January 10 in 1972, Bangabandhu was overwhelmed by feelings of emotion.
In front of hundreds of thousands people gathered at the Race Course Maidan, Bangabandhu said, “The dream of my life has been fulfilled today. My Sonar Bangla is now free and a sovereign state has been emerged”.
He said the anti-liberation forces wanted to wipe out the ideal and principle of Bangabandhu and tried to tarnish the image of sovereign Bangladesh through the assassination of Bangabandhu and his family members on August 15, 1975 but the Bangalee is a nation of intrepidity.
“As long as Bangladesh and the Bangalees exist, Bangabandhu will remain as the eternal source of our inspiration . . . I am confident that with this pace of development, Bangladesh will become a developed country by 20-41,” said the President.
BSS/PR/TAN/MMA/1840hrs