PM calls for upholding development, democratic spree

Desk Report: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged all to come forward and uphold the development and democratic spree being imbued with the spirit of the independence struggle.

“Let us engage ourselves for the welfare of the country. Let this be our vow on the Victory Day of 2018,” she on Sunday said this in his message on the occasion of the Victory Day.

“Today (the 16th December) is the Great Victory Day. This is a unique day of pride for the Bangalee nation. Responding to the clarion call of the greatest Bangalee of all time, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation earned the ultimate victory on this day in 1971 after 23 years of intense political struggle and a 9-month bloody war against, the Pakistani occupation forces,” the Prime Minister added.

She extended her sincere greetings and warm felicitations to the countrymen at home and abroad on the occasion of the 48th Victory Day. On this glorious day, she paid her deep homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Prime Minister recalled with gratitude the four national leaders and three million martyrs, who sacrificed their lives and two lakhs women who lost their innocence for the cause of our independence.

The Bangalee nation got prepared for independence waging the Language Movement of 1952, the Education Movement of 1962, the 6-point Demand of 1966, 11-point Movement and the Mass Upsurge of 1969 under the undaunted and firm leadership of the Father of the Nation, she added.

“Awami League earned an overwhelming majority in the general elections of 1970 through which Bangalee nation’s aspiration for independence got legal basis. Bangabandhu realised that the oppression, persecution and deprivation meted out to the Bangalee nation would not be ended without achieving the independence,” Sheikh Hasina said.

Ultimately, on the historic 7th March of 1971, she said, Bangabandhu in front of a million of people at the then Race Course Maidan declared that, “This time the struggle is for our freedom, this time the struggle is for-the independence”.

Sheikh Hasina said, “Virtually, from that day, the final chapter had been started for achieving an independent Bangladesh, the country-wide non-cooperation movement had begun at the directives of Bangabandhu as part of the final preparations of the liberation War.

On the fateful night of 25 March of 1971, she said, the Pakistani occupation forces launched a brutal onslaught and committed genocide on the innocent and unarmed Bangalees. The Father of the Nation declared independence of Bangladesh in the early hours of the 26 March of 1971 resulting in the formal War of Independence, she added.

“On the 10 April of 1971, the proclamation of independence was announced by the elected people’s representatives and the first Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was formed with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as the President, Syed Nazrul Islam as Vice-President and Tajuddin Ahmed as Prime Minister,” she added.

“This government was sworn-in on the 17 April of 1971 at the historic Mujibnagar in Meherpur and led the war of independence. Under the leadership of this government, the liberation war had gained momentum,” she said adding the heroic freedom fighters with the help of the allied forces earned the victory on the 16 December of 1971 by defeating Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators Rajakars, Al-Badrs and Al-Shams.

“The nation ultimately earned an independent country, own national flag and national anthem. The heroism and patriotism of the Bangalee nation created a new history in the world,” she added. _BSS
 

risingbd/Dhaka/December 15, 2018/AKA