People will always uphold Bangabandhu’s ideals: Hasina

Killers of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had tried to erase his name from the history of Bangladesh but they failed, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday. 

"Beloved father, assassins took your life. Your body was riddled with their bullets. They wanted to erase your name from the history of Bangladesh. But they could not succeed," Sheikh Hasina said in a choked voice during an address to the nation, marking the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.

"The murderers failed to realise that your blood spilling from Dhanmondi 32 spread all over the country, giving birth to crores of Mujib," the prime minister said.

In her speech, Hasina vowed to build the Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu, saying Bangladesh has been marching forward at an indomitable pace on its path to fulfilling the dream.

The prime minister said, "We will always hold your ideals in our heart and uphold the flag given by you forever."

She called upon juveniles and youths to love the country and its people and build themselves as good citizens imbued with the ideology of the Father of the Nation.

"On this day, March 17, 1920, a great man was born in this Bangla. He is my father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."

She urged countrymen to love the country the way Bangabandhu did, and build themselves as worthy citizens following Bangabandhu's ideology.

Hasina said Bangabandhu gifted this state a country named Bangladesh. He gave Bangalees self-identity with the dignity of a nation.  

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman struggled throughout his life and did not hesitate to make sacrifices to establish the people's rights.

The prime minister said Bangabandhu's sacrifice for ensuring a dignified life for the people of Bangladesh did not go in vain. Bangladesh has now established itself in a dignified position in the world. 

She said, "We will have to march forward and build a hunger- and poverty-free developed Bangladesh as envisioned by the Father of the Nation."

Hasina said the Mujib Year celebration will continue till March 26 next year. The golden jubilee of the Bangladesh's independence will be observed in 2021. 

She said different friendly nations and international organisations including Unesco, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have also joined the Mujib year celebrations.  She thanked all of them.

Some changes have been brought in yearlong programmes of Mujib Borsho celebrations owing the spread of coronavirus worldwide. The visit of the foreign guests have been postponed for the same reason, she added.

Among different world leaders, King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, President of Nepal Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UN Secretary General António Guterres and OIC Secretary General Dr Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen extended greetings through video messages on the occasion of Mujib Year.

Sheikh Hasina thanked them and conveyed her gratitude on behalf of herself and the people of Bangladesh.