Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the countrymen to take a fresh vow to advance the country's development and democracy being imbued with the spirit of the great liberation war. "Let's join our hands to build a non-communal, hunger-poverty free and happy, prosperous 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On the historic day, this is our commitment," she said in her message on the eve of the 47th Independence and National Day.
The premier also urged the countrymen to foil the evil design of the anti-liberation and communal forces to impede democracy and development. "On this auspicious day, I urge the countrymen to foil any plot of the anti-liberation, communal forces and anti-development and anti-democracy forces together," she said.
Sheikh Hasina extended her heartiest greetings and congratulations to the countrymen as well as all expatriate Bangalees on the occasion of the great Independence and National Day of Bangladesh. She said the 26th March is the day of earning self-identity of the nation and it's the day of breaking the shackles of subjugation, reports BSS.
The prime minister also recalled with deep gratitude the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose undisputed leadership Bangladesh earned independence.
"I also pay my deep homage to three million martyrs and 200 thousand women who lost their innocence in the War of Liberation and four national leaders who led the War of Liberation," she said.
Sheikh Hasina also paid homage to the valiant freedom fighters, including the wounded ones and extended her sympathies to those who had lost their near and dear ones and were subjected to brutal torture during the war. "I recall with gratitude our foreign friends who had extended their whole-hearted support and cooperation for the cause of our liberation," she said.
The premier said the Bangalee nation had fought against Pakistani rulers' oppression and deprivation for long 23 years under the leadership of Bangabandhu. "They were compelled to hold general elections in 1970 and Bangladesh Awami League led by Bangabandhu won overwhelming majority in the elections," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the Pakistani rulers instead of handing over power to the majority party in a democratic way launched repressive measures against them. She said Bangabandhu in his 7th March historic address at the then Racecourse Maidan declared, "The struggle this time is for our freedom, the struggle this time is for independence" and instructed the Bangalee nation to resist the enemies.
The occupation forces, she said, unleashed a sudden attack and started killing innocent and unarmed Bangalees on the black night of 25th March 1971 and they killed thousands of people in cities and towns including Dhaka. The prime minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman officially proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of 26th March 1971. Bangabandhu's proclamation was spread all over the country through telegrams, teleprinters and EPR wireless, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the international media also had disseminated Bangabandhu's proclamation of independence and "under the brave and dauntless leadership of Bangabandhu, we earned the ultimate victory on 16th December, 1971 after a nine-month bloody war."
The prime minister said the independence earned through supreme sacrifices of millions of people is the greatest achievement of Bangalee nation. "To ensure that this achievement remains meaningful, all have to know the history of our great liberation war and retain the spirit of independence ...the history has to be passed on to generation to generation," she said.
Being imbued with the spirit of the freedom struggle, she said, the Awami League government has been working relentlessly to develop the country. "During the last 8 years, we have implemented expected development programmes in all sectors," she said.
As a result, Sheikh Hasina said, Bangladesh has emerged as a 'Role Model' of socioeconomic development. "We will turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041, Insha Allah," she said.
The premier said the government is maintaining 'zero tolerance' policy to tackle militancy and terrorism. "We have stopped takeover of power in an undemocratic way through the 15th amendment of constitution," she said.
She added: "We have executed the verdict of the killing case of Bangabandhu and most of his family members and the verdicts of cases against those who committed crimes against humanity are also being executed."
-AA News Desk
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