ZCZC
BSS-43
PM-CHILDREN-DAY
PM greets countrymen on National Children’s Day
DHAKA, March 16, 2021 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted
the countrymen, Bangladeshi expatriates and people of the world on the
occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day.
In a message, she said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was born in Tungipara
village of Gopalganj subdivision [now district] of the then Faridpur district
on March 17, 1920. That was why the National Children Day was announced
dedicating his birthday to children, she added.
The premier paid her deepest homage to the Father of the Nation and all
the martyrs of the August 15, 1975.
Bangabandhu was very affectionate to children and from his childhood, he
was fearless, indomitable brave and kind, she said, adding that Bangabandhu
was conscious about politics and people’s rights.
Sheikh Hasina said the key aim of the long political life of this world
leader, who had keen memory and farsighted vision, was to liberate the
Bengalee nation from the shackles of subjugation, and ensure a developed life
by making people free from the curse of hunger, poverty and illiteracy.
She said the leadership values of Bangabandhu started flourishing from his
school life and he gradually became the last resort of the repressed people
of Bengal in realising their rights.
The prime minister said the 1948-52 Language Movement, the United Front
elections in 1954, anti-Ayub Movement in 1958, the 1962 Education Movement,
the Six-Point movement in 1966, the Agartala Conspiracy Case in 1968, the
Mass Upsurge in 1969, the 1970 General Elections and the 71 Liberation War
were carried out under the undisputed leadership of the Father of the Nation
and “we got an independent-sovereign Bangladesh”.
She said when, overcoming all obstacles, Bangabandhu was going ahead to
build Sonar Bangla, he along with most of his family members were
assassinated, and the country’s progress was halted.
After long 21 years, Sheikh Hasina said, the Awami League formed the
government in 1996 with the people’s mandate and started the trial process of
Bangabandhu killing. The nation was made free from stigma by implementing the
verdict of Bangabandhu murder case, she added.
Since 2009, the Awami League government has been working restlessly to
enhance the fate of people and Bangladesh has already achieved tremendous
progress in socioeconomic indexes, she said.
The prime minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman formulated the Children Act in 1974 and made the primary education
mandatory.
The Awami League government formulated the National Children Policy-2011
and Children Act-2013 and Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017, she said.
Besides, she said, the government is observing the national and
international children days, and implementing various programmes for the
welfare of street children and the children with special needs.
Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League government is committed to turning the
country into a safe land for children and it has been distributing textbooks
among students on the first of every new year.
“About cent percent children are now going to schools,” she said, adding
“We are publishing books for children on the life and works of Father of the
Nation and the real history of the Liberation War was incorporated in
textbooks”.
“By ensuring the equal rights of children, our main aim is to build a
beautiful future for them. To this end, the role of parents, families and
society is very important,” Sheikh Hasina said.
“Let us sacrifice our present for the welfare of the country’s future
leaders – children and build Sonar Bangladesh, as dreamt by the father of the
nation, together,” she said, calling upon all to stop violence against
children and repression on them.
BSS/PR/MRI/RY/1925hrs