Celebrating Mujib Barsha
PM pledges to spread Bangabandhu ideals
BSS, Dhaka
Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina yesterday promised to spread life, work and ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman among the people of Bangladesh and the world as well by celebrating Mujib Barsha marking the birth centenary of the great leader. And the decision of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to celebrate of Bangabandhus birth centenary has gotten an international shape and taken the celebration to a unique dimension, she said.
The premier said this while replying to a starred question raised by Awami League lawmaker AKM Rahmatullah (Dhaka-11) during her question-answer session in the House. Sheikh Hasina said under the supervision of UNESCO, the entire world will celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation from March 17, 2020 to March 26, 2021 through various programmes. Through the celebration by the United Nations, the history of Bangabandhus long struggle and his great sacrifice for the Bangalee nation and the people of Bangladesh will be projected before the world people in the greater area.
As a nation its a rare honour for us, she said, adding that the world people will be able to know afresh Bangabandhus sacrifice and chequered working life through the UNESCOs celebration. In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said the UNESCO in its plenary session on November 25 last approved a proposal for celebration of Bangabandhus birth centenary.
In the meeting, she said, the UNESCO recognised the Father of the Nation as a patron of education, science and technology, arts and literature and took the decision to celebrate his birth centenary in 2020 jointly with Bangladesh. The UN body took the initiatives considering Bangabandhu as a symbol of realising the rights of the common people, not as a political leader, she said. The premier said the Father of the Nation dedicated his entire life to changing the lot of the people and presenting a better and beautiful life to them.
Our aim is to give a better and beautiful life to the people and weve earned confidence and trust of the people and formed the government while going to achieve the target, she said. Were also fortunate that weve given the scope of celebrating Bangabandhus birth centenary as we are in the government, she added.
Sheikh Hasina said the name of Bangabandhu which was erased after his assassination is now in the mouths of the people again and across the world. She said the honour the Bangalee nation had gotten after the victory in 1971 and the honour that was destroyed after the assassination of Bangabandhu were restored after the UNESCOs decision to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu across the world along with Bangladesh.
Replying to a supplementary of Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizbhandari of Tariqat Federation, Sheikh Hasina said the nation was plunged into a darkness after Bangabandhus killing. Overcoming that darkness, Bangladesh started its journey towards the path of light and we advanced far long to materialise the ideology and spirit for which the Father of the Nation liberated the country, she said.
The prime minister in her speech also elaborately highlighted the governments programmes to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. Sheikh Hasina said the UNESCO member states will celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation alongside Bangladeshs missions abroad.
She said the heads of state and government will be invited to the programmes in Bangladesh in phases. Besides a special session of the Jatiya Sangsad will be held on the occasion. Responding to another question of Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque, the leader of the House thanked the Austrian government for releasing a commemorative postage stamp on Bangabandhu.
