Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday expressed her firm determination of building a ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with collective efforts.
“…We will uphold the spirit of independence achieved in exchange for the three million martyrs and two million abused mothers and sisters. Inspired by the motto of the Great Liberation War by resisting all imminent conspiracies, together, we shall play an effective role in building the 'Golden Bangladesh' of the Father of the Nation's dream,” she said in a message on the eve of the Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu.
The premier prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his Homecoming Day.
The greatest Bengalis of all time in the history of Bengali’s liberation struggle, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was released from prison in Pakistan and returned home on January 10 in 1972, she said.
The people of newly independent Bangladesh got back their most beloved leader, she said, adding that with the arrival of the Great Leader, the joy of the final victory of the liberation war was fulfilled.
The Father of the Nation struggled for 24 long years to unfetter the Bengali nation from the shackles of subjugation, she said, adding that he (Bangabandhu) led on all fronts, from the language movement to the Independence War.
She went on to say that Bangabandhu endured prison- torture always made far-sighted decisions, and organized the party well beyond personal interests.
“Bangladesh Awami League won an absolute majority in the 1970 elections under his leadership. But the Pakistani military junta ignored the people's verdict and started a farce. Unarmed people of Bengal were shot and killed indiscriminately. To achieve the ultimate independence, Father of the Nation declared in a crowd of a million at the racecourse maidan on 7 March 1971, '...turn every house into fortress......The struggle this time is the struggle for emancipation. The struggle this time is a struggle for independence.' The Pakistani occupation forces launched a brutal killing mission on the innocent Bengalis on the darkest night on 25 March. Bangabandhu proclaimed the Independence of Bangladesh in the first hour of 26 March,” she continued.
Soon after the declaration of independence, the Pakistani forces arrested the Father of the Nation and sent him to a solitary prison in Pakistan, where he was subjected to inhuman torture, she added.
He was elected as the President of the Mujibnagar Government on April 10, 1971, she said, adding that he rejoiced in the spirit of Bengalis while counting the moments of execution as a convict in the ridiculous trial of Pakistan’s Kangaroo court.
Bangabandhu was the flame of hope to the freedom fighter, she said.
“Under his unwavering leadership, the Bengali nation fought to the death and snatched victory on December 16. The defeated Pakistani rulers were compelled to free Bangabandhu in the early hours of January 8, 1972,” she continued.
“He landed in London in the morning on the same day. There, he immediately agreed to accept Bangladesh's membership to the Commonwealth at the proposal of its Secretary-General. Met the British prime minister, and held a press conference. The Father of the Nation kissed the ground of his beloved motherland at noon on January 10, 1972, with a short stopover in Delhi in the morning. In a speech to an ocean of crowd at the Racecourse that day, he described the brutal torture of the Pakistani military junta and called on the United Nations to bring the Pakistani army to justice for committing heinous crimes and genocide during the Great Liberation War,” Hasina said.
On January 12, 1972, the Father of the Nation assumed as the Prime Minister and deployed wholehearted efforts to rebuild war-torn Bangladesh, she said.
Due to his strong move, the Indian allied forces left Bangladesh by 15 March, she said, adding that on 14 December, he signed the first constitution of Bangladesh.
Due to the successful bilateral and multilateral diplomatic efforts of the Father of the Nation, Bangladesh gained recognition from 123 countries of the world and 26 international organizations, she added.
From a war-torn country, it emerged as a least developed country in just three and a half years, and Bangladesh stood with a high head in the globe, she continued.
On August 15 1975, the anti-independence and war criminal faction brutally killed the Father of the Nation along with his family members, and introduced the politics of killing, coup, and conspiracy in this country, the premier said.
Sheikh Hasina further said that they obstructed the way for the trial of Bangabandhu’s assassination by issuing an indemnity ordinance on September 26, 1975.
“The Mostaq-Zia gang rewarded the killers with diplomatic status in Bangladesh embassies and also established them politically. Ruined the democracy by declaring Martial Law and distorted the glorious history of our independence. Defaced the constitution and choked press freedom. The BNP-Jamaat government continued the trend,” she said.
