Get ready to lead

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the children to prepare themselves to lead the country in a better way in future.

“On the 46th Independence Day, I wish that our children would build themselves as worthy citizens to uphold the country's dignity,” she told a rally of children at Bangabandhu National Stadium.

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The Dhaka district administration organised the programme to mark the Independence and National Day.

The PM said the children as the future leaders will have to be prepared to lead the country by taking education, obeying the guardians and taking part in sports and cultural activities.

“Our children must remember that we are a victorious nation. We've earned freedom through the Liberation War. So we cannot fail to maintain the desired pace of development on any front.

“We will go ahead. We will work for building the country to further consolidate our position in the world and ensure our dignity,” Hasina added.

Recalling the long history of oppression and negligence of the rulers to Bangali nation, the premier said people had no access to food, education and healthcare. They could not dress well or live in a decent home due to poverty.

“People were living in miseries when the rulers were exploiting them and looting their wealth,” she said, adding that the Pakistani rulers even tried to snatch their right to speak in mother language.

The Father of the Nation staged protest against it. When he was studying at Dhaka University, he launched the movement for establishing the status of Bangla as a state language. In course of the movement, Bangabandhu floated the historic six-point demand, a charter for freedom of the nation, mentioned Hasina.

She said the Awami League had secured win in the 1970 general election, but the Pakistani rulers did not hand over state power to Bangabandhu.

Against this backdrop, Bangabandhu urged people for launching a non-cooperation movement. In his historic speech on March 7, 1971 at the Suhrawardy Udyan, he called for a final movement for freedom and independence, the PM told her audience.

She said the speech of Bangabandhu inspired the people to forge unity against Pakistani rulers and get prepared for a guerrilla war. On March 25, the occupation forces swooped on Bangalis and launched the most barbaric genocide in world history.

In the early hours of March 26, 1971, Bangabandhu formally proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh, asking the people to continue their fight against the Pakistani forces, she noted.

Soon after the proclamation of the independence, the Pakistani junta detained Bangabandhu. But he prepared the people beforehand for the war. People took up arms and freed the nation from enemy on December 16, 1971, said the PM.

Hasina paid tributes to Bangabandhu, martyrs of Liberation War, all freedom fighters and the mothers and sisters who lost their chastity and suffered torture at the hands of the occupation forces during the war.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haq was present.

The PM witnessed the march past of smartly turned out units of schoolchildren and took salute. She also enjoyed attractive displays by students on different themes on the Liberation War.