Sheikh Hasina's homecoming reinstates Liberation War spirit, restores democracy: Razzak

 
Agriculture Minister Dr M Abdur Razzak on Sunday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's homecoming on May 17, 1981 paved the way to reinstating the spirit of Liberation War, restoring democracy as well as bringing the country back to its track of development.

"The country appeared in the global arena as a role model of development which would have been impossible if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not return to the country in 1981. Following Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina has given social, cultural and economic freedom to the people of the country," he said, BSS reports.

The minister was addressing a discussion titled 'Your homecoming has given us back Bangabandhu's vision of development and philosophy of peace', organized by Bangabandhu Parishad at Jatiya press club on Sunday marking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Homecoming Day.

Presided over by Dhaka University former Vice-Chancellor (VC) and Bangabandhu Parishad acting President Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, the programme was also addressed, among others, by Prime Minister's former Information Affairs Advisor Senior journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, noted writer and historian Muntasir Mamun and Bangabandhu Parishad General Secretary Professor ABM Faruk.

Abdur Razzak said Bangabandhu's homecoming is very significant for his contribution to all areas including the country's economy, roads, per capita income and constitution. And Sheikh Hasina's homecoming is similarly significant as she has taken the country to the position which has been a dream for the people for year, he added.

If the development spree of the country continue in the same speed, the country would be a developed country even by at least 4-5 years before the targeted deadline '2041', he said, adding: "Sheikh Hasina's magical development prove a number of diplomats and economist's wrong who predicted the country will not be able to run after independence."

Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said as soon as Sheikh Hasina returned to the country, the spirit of the Liberation War came back which was in dark for years. On May 17, 1981, the day Sheikh Hasina returned, the 'Jay Bangla' slogans were heard for the first time in the capital city Dhaka, which had not been heard since 1975, said Professor Arefin.

On her first speech, Sheikh Hasina said, "I have come to free you from autocratic military rule, not to become Awami League president." Since then, wherever she was, she has always been working relentlessly for the prosperity and development of the people of this country holding the spirit of the great Liberation War," said Prof Arefin.

Recalling some historical events, he said Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to the present state and brought the country to such a prestigious position through overcoming various ups and downs, and number of obstacles.

Prof Arefin, also chairman of the board of directors of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), called upon everyone to be united and keep supporting the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina holding the spirit of Liberation War. In the discussion, noted writer and historian Muntasir Mamun said, "When Sheikh Hasina returned to the country, I was pretty sure that the wheel of the liberation war will continue to run again even though she was not involved in politics."

Sheikh Hasina reinstated the spirit of Liberation War and brought the country back to its track which was destroyed after the assassination of Father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975 by anti Liberation war forces, he added. Teachers, researchers, journalists and different socio-cultural personnel took part in the discussion.