47th Independence and national day
Country boasts LDC graduation
ABU JAKIR
The nation is going to celebrate its 48th Independence and National Day at a time when Bangladesh has become eligible to graduate to the status of a developing country from the group of Least Development Countries (LDCs).
After 48 years of Independence, Bangladesh has achieved the formal recognition of being a developing country. Experts believe this achievement will guide the country to go forward. Earlier, on March 15, the UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) officially declared the eligibility of Bangladesh to graduate from among the LDCs and handed over a formal letter in this respect to Bangladeshs Permanent Representative to the UN, Masud Bin Momen, on the following day.
The Awami League-led government has been striving to take the country forward in this manner since it assumed power through the 2008 general elections, wherein the party secured a landslide victory. After assuming office, the Sheikh Hasina government declared the aim to turn the country into a developing country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041.
Talking to The Independent, Prof. AK Azad Chowdhury, former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, said: After 47 years of independence of the country, the dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has started to be implemented under the astute leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, used to dream of building a happy and prosperous nation where the people will live in peace. I think the people of the country have started to get the benefits of the Independence and it has been possible due to the astute leadership of Sheikh Hasina, he said.
He also called upon PM Sheikh Hasina to minimise social disparities and establish the rule of law in an attempt to turn the country into Bangabandhus Sonar Bangla. Prof. Dr Abdul Khaleque, former vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University (RU), said, After 47 years of Independence of the country, we can say that Bangladesh is heading towards becoming a developed nation. If the pace of development continues, the country will turn into a developed state by 2041, as dreamt by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Our main target is to develop the country. We have already graduated to the list of developing countries from the least developed country (LDC) status. And this has been possible because of the astute leadership of Sheikh Hasina, said AL presidium member Mohammad Nasim.
Meanwhile, the nation is set to celebrate the 48th Independence and National Day today to pay tributes to the martyrs and valiant sons of the land who laid down their lives for the countrys independence.
On this day in 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladeshs Independence through EPR wireless at 00:30 hours on March 26 (the night following March 25) from his Dhanmondi-32 house. The great leader also called upon the people to build a united resistance against the occupation forces.
The military junta, in a bid to stop the legitimate movement of the Bangalees, arrested him that night following his declaration of Independence. They then took him to the then West Pakistan and kept him in a prison for the entire nine-month period of the Liberation War.
The long-cherished victory was finally achieved on December 16, after a nine-month struggle, at the cost of the lives of some three million people and untold sufferings of millions more.
A 31-gunshot salute at dawn will mark the beginning of the days celebrations today. The national flag will be hoisted atop government buildings. Major buildings will be illuminated.
The day is a public holiday.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will place wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar early in the morning as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs.
Leaders of different political parties, socio-political organisations, freedom fighters and people from all walks of life will also place wreaths at the memorial.
The state-owned Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private television and radio stations will air special programmes. National dailies will bring out special supplements highlighting the significance of the day. Special meals will be served at hospitals, prisons, orphanages and other public institutions.
Different political parties as well as socio-cultural and professional organisations have drawn up elaborate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.
The programmes include hoisting the national flag, placing wreaths at the National Memorial, offering special prayers and holding seminars, discussions and cultural functions.
On the eve of Independence Day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages yesterday.
In his message, the President urged all to make united efforts to accelerate the overall development and democratic advancement of the country. Nevertheless, we have to go a long way for achieving the desired goals of independence. I believe that sincere and concerted efforts from all strata irrespective of party affiliation are imperative to reach the goals, he added.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, I hope that all the citizens of our country would engage themselves with utmost sincerity, honesty and dedication to build Bangladesh as a peaceful, non-communal, developed and prosperous country and help place it at a prestigious position in the community of nations.
