The history of the people of this land is that of repression, of colonialism, and of being ruled and looted by foreign forces. So, their struggle for liberation and self-rule was something that was the most sought after.
While many leaders emerged and fought for this cause, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the one who ultimately inspired, mobilised, and led the people in snatching independence from the last of their rulers — the then West Pakistani junta. The Pakistanis discriminated against the Bangalee nation and dominated them in all possible terms, be it political, economic or cultural.
Yesterday was the birth centenary of the great leader and also the National Children’s Day. This year is special because the nation is celebrating the golden jubilee of its independence.
To mark the occasion, the government has taken up a 10-day celebration programme, under the title Mujib Chirantan (Eternal Mujib). The country went into a festive mood with the celebrations beginning yesterday in the presence of foreign dignitaries.
It started with the musical item “Anandaloke, Mongolaloke Birajo Sotto Sundaro…” around 4:30pm, performed by 100 children at the National Parade Square at the capital’s Tejgaon, which was decorated with colourful billboards welcoming the foreign dignitaries.
As the children performed patriotic songs, an animated film on Bangabandhu was screened at the venue. Earlier, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and his wife First Lady Madam Fazna Ahmed, and Sheikh Rehana, daughter of Bangabandhu, and National Professor Rafiqul Islam took seats on the stage after being invited by cultural personality and former minister Asaduzzaman Noor.
Verses from the holy books — the Quran, the Geeta, the Tripitaka and the Bible were read.
“Ebarer Sangram, Amader Muktir Sangram; Ebarer Sangram, Swadhinatar Sangram” — the historic call of Bangabandhu for emancipation was being played through loudspeakers, reminding the audience of the unequivocal call for independence of Bangladesh.
Eminent musicians sang “Tumi Banglar Dhrubo Tara, Tumi Hridoyer Batighar” [you are the polar star of Bangla and you are the lighthouse of heart], the theme song of the programme, written by poet Kamal Chowdhury and composed by Nakib Khan.
A video of Bangladesh Air Force places in formation in the shape of “100” was also screened, leaving the audience, which included cabinet ministers, government officials and foreign diplomats, impressed. The event was limited to people due to the pandemic.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga delivered video messages addressing the people of Bangladesh on the occasion.
Presiding over the inaugural event, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “On this day in 1920, a child was born in a secluded village of Tungipara. The child, who came to this earth enlightening the lap of mother Sheikh Sayera Khatun and father Sheikh Lutfur Rahman, illuminated the life of the Bangalees and brought them freedom.”
She said the freedom of the country came as a result of the continuous struggle initiated by Bangabandhu on March 11, 1948, with the ultimate target of political-economic and cultural emancipation of the Bangalees.
“It was a war-ravaged country, which was under hundreds of years of subjugation. In just three and a half years, he carried out the mammoth task of building a fully-fledged sovereign state where people were suffering from exploitation, deprivation, hunger, and poverty.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had done many things which seemed impossible, Hasina said, expressing sincere gratitude to all the friendly countries and leaders who extended necessary help during the Liberation War and post-war reconstruction of the country.
She said Bangladesh is going to celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and the golden jubilee of independence at a time when the country is well on track to graduate from the LDC status to that of a developing nation.
She stated that the country’s per capita income has exceeded $2,000; the poverty rate has declined below 20.5 percent; the country has become self-sufficient in food grain production and the average life expectancy has increased to 73 years.❐