PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH
47th ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL DAY
2 6th March, the Independence Day of Bangladesh. On the occasion of our great Independence and National Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings and warm felicitations to my fellow countrymen living at home and abroad.
On this historic day, I recall with profound respect the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who proclaimed independence on March 26, 1971. Under his able leadership, we achieved our independence through a nine-month long armed struggle. Today, I pay my deep tributes to the martyrs and valiant sons of the soil, who made the supreme sacrifices in the war of liberation. I also recall with deep reverence our four National Leaders, valiant freedom-fighters, organizers, supporters and people from all walks of life for their unmatched valour, immense contributions and courageous role that accelerated the achievement of our victory. I remember with deep respect our foreign friends who extended their wholehearted support directly and indirectly in our war of liberation in 1971. They sheltered millions of refugees who fled from our country during war. The contributions of all would be written in golden letters in the history of our independence forever.
We have achieved our hard-earned independence through huge sacrifices. Bangabandhu always cherished a dream of building a happy and prosperous country along with achieving political independence. Keeping that in mind, the present Government has been rendering untiring efforts in materializing the dream of Bangabandhu. The growth rate of GDP is increasing constantly. Per capita income is increasing and the rate of poverty is decreasing. Our country has attained foodsufficiency owing to the huge development in agriculture. The pace of advancement in the sector of empowerment of women, social safety net, etc. is going on. Now the Padma Bridge is not a dream, it is a reality. Bangabandhu Satellite-1 is waiting to be launched into the space. Bangladesh is elevated from least developed country (LDC) to a developing nation in context of three indexes of being a developing country. As a nation, it is a great achievement for us. Bangladesh is now being branded as a role model of development in the outside world. In pursuing our diplomatic objectives, the government has been consistent in upholding the principle of “Friendship to all, malice towards none” as enunciated by the Father of the Nation. Our achievement in international arena is also commendable. Our expatriate Bangladeshis have also been making significant contributions to our national economy by sending their hardearned remittances. Nevertheless, we have to go a long way to achieve the desired goals of independence. We must ensure good governance, social justice, transparency and accountability to make the development people-oriented and sustainable.
Self-restraint and showing respect to others’ opinion are important for thriving and institutionalization of democracy. Therefore, we have to maintain patience, self-restraint and forbearance in our national life. We must show respect to others’ opinion. The National Parliament would be the centre of hopes and aspirations of the people. For this, the ruling party as well as the opposition would have to play a constructive role. The people of Bangladesh are always peace loving. They do not support any type of violence including militancy and terrorism. Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt of transforming Bangladesh into ‘Sonar Bangla’. The present Government has set ‘Vision 2021’ and ‘Vision 2041’ to materialize Bangabandhu’s dream into reality. Concerted efforts are imperative from all to implement those initiatives.
Imbued with the spirit of war of liberation and democratic values, let us work together irrespective of caste, creed and party opinion to make our hard-earned independence more meaningful. Let this be the pledge of our Independence and National Day.
Khoda Hafez, May Bangladesh Live Forever.
Iconvey my heartiest greetings and congratulations to my countrymen as well as all expatriate Bangalees on the occasion of the great Independence and National Day of Bangladesh.
26th March is the day of earning self-identity of our nation. It’s the day of breaking the shackles of subjugation. On the eve of the Independence Day, I recall with deep homage and gratitude the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose undisputed leadership we earned our beloved independence. I pay my homage to the three million martyrs and two hundred thousand women who lost their innocence in the War of Liberation. I also pay tributes to four national leaders who led the War of Liberation. My homage goes to the valiant freedom fighters, including wounded ones. I extend my sympathies to those who had lost their near and dear ones, and were subjected to brutal torture during the war. I recall with gratitude our foreign friends who had extended their whole-hearted support and cooperation for the cause of our liberation.
The Bangalee nation had fought against Pakistani rulers’ oppression and deprivation for 23 long years under the leadership of Bangabandhu. They were compelled to hold general elections in 1970. Bangladesh Awami League led by Bangabandhu won overwhelming majority in the elections. But instead of handing over the power to the majority party in a democratic way, the Pakistani rulers launched repressive measures against them. Bangabandhu in his 7th March historic address at the then racecourse Maidan declared, “The struggle of this time is for freedom, the struggle for this time is for our independence.” He instructed the Bangalee nation to resist the enemies.
The occupation forces unleashed a sudden attack and started killing innocent and unarmed Bangalees on the black night of the 25th March 1971. They killed thousands of people in cities and towns, including Dhaka. The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman officially proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of the 26th March 1971. Bangabandhu’s proclamation was spread all over the country through telegrams, teleprinters and EPR wireless. The international media also had circulated Bangabandhu’s proclamation of independence. Under the brave and dauntless leadership of Bangabandhu, we earned the ultimate victory on the 16th December 1971, after a ninemonth bloody war.
The independence earned through supreme sacrifices of millions of people is the greatest achievement of the Bangalee nation. To ensure that this achievement remains meaningful, all have to know the history of our great liberation war and retain the spirit of independence. The history has to be passed on to generations.
Being imbued with the spirit of freedom struggle, the Awami League government has been working relentlessly to develop the country. During the last nine years, we have implemented expected development programmes in all sectors. As a result, Bangladesh has emerged as a ‘Role Model’ of socioeconomic development. The world is now acclaiming Bangladesh for attaining remarkable progress in socio-economic fronts. We will turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041, Insha Allah.
The historic 7th March speech of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Majibur Rahman has been included in the international Memory of the World Register as World Documentary Heritage by UNESCO. This recognition of the 7th March Speech has made the whole nation proud once again.
We have executed the verdict of the killing case of Bangabandhu and most of his family members. The verdicts of cases against those who committed crimes against humanity are also being executed. Our government is maintaining a ‘zero tolerance’ policy to tackle militancy and terrorism. We have stopped taking over of power in an undemocratic way through the 15th amendment of the constitution. On this auspicious day, I urge our countrymen to foil any plot of the antiliberation, communal forces and anti-development and anti-democracy forces together.
Being imbued with the spirit of our great liberation war, let us work together to advance our country’s development and democracy and build a non-communal, hunger-poverty-free and happyprosperous Sonar Bangladesh as dreamt by the Father of the Nation. On the historic day, this is our commitment. Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu. May Bangladesh Live Forever.
Today is 26th March, the 48th Independence and National Day of Bangladesh. Forty-seven years back on this day, our great leader, the greatest Bengali of all time and the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh. Bangabandhu steered the freedomseeking nation to independence through his visionary and charismatic leadership. His historic 7th March speech was a great inspiration for our Liberation War. We celebrate our independence day this year at a time when his historic 7th March speech has been recognised as part of the Memory of the World Register of UNESCO. At the same time Bangladesh has graduated from the LDC group to the developing country category. This milestone feat of the country has been officially confirmed by the United Nations on the eve of the 98th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On this auspicious day, I take this opportunity to pay my sincere tribute to the three million martyrs of our glorious War of Independence, who made supreme sacrifices for the independence of our beloved motherland. I also pay homage to all valiant freedom fighters, and the two hundred thousand mothers and sisters who sacrificed their honour during our Liberation War. I recall with gratitude the invaluable contributions of the members of our diplomatic front who played a crucial and courageous role in garnering moral and material support from the international community during our War of Independence. I also convey my heartiest greetings and felicitations to all Bengali brothers and sisters at home and abroad as well as to all our foreign friends and partners across the globe.
The present government under the visionary leadership of our beloved leader Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working hard to realise Bangabandhu’s dream of building a ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal) with a view to achieving people’s socio-economic emancipation and building poverty- and hunger-free society. Bangladesh is now a ‘role model’ for success in all socio-economic sectors like education, health, gender equity, and women empowerment. After the successful attainment of most of the ‘Millennium Development Goals’, we are confident of achieving the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ on time through appropriate plans and initiatives.
Due to our intense diplomatic efforts and extensive engagement with the international community, Bangladesh’s relationship with other countries and international organizations has reached a new height in recent years, both in depth and dimension. We have been able to garner widespread support from the international community on the Rohingya issue and significant progress has been made so far in this regard. Today, Bangladesh stands out in the comity of nations with its own hard-earned reputation, development achievements and self-esteem.
On this historic day, I wish to thank all the members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our missions abroad for their committed efforts in advancing our foreign policy objectives and development goals, and promoting our national interests on the world stage. I also congratulate the Bangladesh Diaspora in every corner of the world, who are immensely contributing to our development endeavors and enhancing Bangladesh’s image abroad. On this glorious day, being imbued with the spirit of our great Liberation War and with a view to building Bangabandhu’s dream of ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal), let us take a fresh vow to devote ourselves to work from our respective positWions in advancing the ongoing development efforts of the present government to strengthen the hands of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and build a better world for our future generations. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.
Today, March 26, is the glorious Independence and National Day of Bangladesh. On this very day in 1971, our great leader, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the independence of our beloved motherland.
On this auspicious occasion, I recall with deep reverence the greatest Bengali of all time, our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by whose clarion call the Bengali started the War of Liberation against the Pakistani occupation forces. I pay my profound homage to the three million martyrs and two hundred thousand mothers and sisters whose supreme sacrifice and dishonour ushered us an independent and sovereign Bangladesh coloured in red and green. My respectful salute goes to all freedom fighters including the wounded war heroes. On this memorable moment of Independence Day, I express sincere gratitude to all foreign friends, expatriate Bangladeshis, and members of diplomatic front, who accelerated our victory by extending all possible support during the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
26 March is the day of breaking the shackles of subjugation when the Bengalis protested against misrule, exploitation and oppression by the then Pakistani rulers. Our war heroes took arms at the call of the Father of the Nation. Before that, on 7 March in 1971, Bangabandhu in his historic speech declared, “The struggle this time is the struggle for our emancipation; the struggle this time is the struggle for liberation”. It is matter of great joy indeed that the UNESCO has included this historic 7th March speech of Bangabandhu in the Memory of the World Register, a list of world’s important documentary heritage. Being started on 26 March, the bloody war ended fruitfully through the emergence of an independent and sovereign Bangladesh on 16 December 1971.
Our Father of the Nation, the great architect of our Liberation War, dreamt for a happy, prosperous, exploitation-free and equitable ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Bengal of Gold). His able successor, the leader of mass people, Sheikh Hasina has been working tirelessly to realise this dream. Formation of an equitable state mentioned in ‘The Charter for Change’ presented by Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina consists of a number of specific and integrated programmes for accomplishment. Following that roadmap, goals have been agreed on for transforming the country into a ‘Middle income’ one by 2021 and a ‘Developed’ one by 2041. At the same time it has taken firm measures towards achieving these goals.
Currently, Bangladesh is marching forward with US$ 1,610 per capita income and more than 7.28-percent growth rate. After successful completion of the ‘Millennium Development Goals’ (MDGs) in which Bangladesh has been acclaimed as a ‘role model’; we are now committed to the objectives and realisation of the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. As a sequence of all these tremendous achievements the United Nations has announced Bangladesh’s eligibility for graduation to the ‘Developing Country’ status from the ‘Least Developed Country’ category in this month of rebellious March.
On this Day, I congratulate Bangladesh Diaspora in every corner of the world which has been immensely contributing to our economic development and in brightening the image of Bangladesh. I also thank all the members of our Missions abroad who have been working with sustained dedication and commitment in achieving our foreign policy objectives and promote national interest of Bangladesh on the world stage. I appeal to all expatriate Bangladeshis and mission officials to work in unity with the government and people of your respective host countries to strengthen the relationship for greater benefit of all concerned.
On this 48th day of the declaration of our independence, Let us make a renewed pledge to devote ourselves to work from our respective positions imbued with the spirit of Liberation War to build a ‘Sonar Bangla’ and also a better world for our future generations. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.
May Bangladesh live forever.
Today, as we celebrate the 47th anniversary of our Independence and National Day, I convey my warm felicitations to Bangladeshis living in the Philippines and to the friendly people and government of the Philippines.
On this auspicious occasion, I pay my deepest respect to our Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose leadership, our nation achieved its precious freedom. We also remember the martyrs, freedom fighters, and the families who lost their dear ones during our Liberation War.
Despite all the odds, and the challenges that she faces, Bangladesh has been transforming herself. We have turned around from a warravaged economy to a vibrant one within 47 years through our resilience, perseverance, and innovations. What had been an aid-dependent economy in the seventies, has now turned into an emerging economy buoyant by domestic consumptions and export. We witnessed sustained growth of over five percent over two decades and this year, this is expected to be over seven percent. Goldman Sachs listed Bangladesh in its list of “Next Eleven”, and JP Morgan in its list of “Emerging Five”. This month, Bangladesh has entered into the process of officially graduating from LDC. Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we aspire to be a middle-income country by 2021.
Our policy regime has always been pro-poor, stressing more equitable distribution and more investment in people, ensuring their greater access to education, nutrition, better health, and decision making. The government provides universal free education at primary level, 25 million stipends to students at other levels, free books to every student, and offers girls free education until tertiary level. We achieved gender parity at primary and secondary levels. Maternal mortality, infant mortality and population growth have been significantly reduced. Within 10 years, our immunization coverage jumped from 10 to 70 percent, and birth control to nearly 60 percent. The driving force of these development initiatives and resultant progress are always women.
As a responsible and contributing member of the global community, we are committed to peace and stability. Our collective trauma during our Liberation War has taught us to be inclusive and pluralistic. We therefore, always promote peace and inclusiveness. We condemn extremism and terrorism in all its forms and shapes. We deplore any discrimination to any people based on ethnicity, religion, or any other excuses. From our own experiences, we try to contribute on evolving global narratives like sustainable development, climate change, disaster management, digital equity, blue economy, migration, and connectivity. Our peacekeepers are deployed in various conflict areas of the world under the UN flag for peace keeping and peace building. We are actively involved within different regional platforms including SAARC, BIMSTEC, ACD, ARF, OIC, and Commonwealth.
We attach great importance to our bilateral relations with the Philippines. Our relations are based on shared values and common principles. Both Bangladesh and the Philippines face similar challenges of climate change, migration, development, terrorism and disaster management. We continue to learn and adopt from each other’s experiences in these areas. We hope to further strengthen our bilateral relations and work together for peace and progress of our two countries.
Long live BangladeshPhilippines Friendship. Mabuhay!