COLOMBO : Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo observed the Independence and Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh at the High Commission on Friday, March 26 with due fervour and solemnity, also attaching special importance to the celebration of the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman..
The program was inaugurated by High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Tareq Md Ariful Islam. Due to the prevailing pandemic situation, the observance took place in an in-house setting following the Sri Lankan government’s health guidelines. All officials of the High Commission attended the programme.
The celebration began with ceremonial hoisting of the National Flag at the Chancery premises. It was followed by the placing of floral wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The observance of one-minute silence as a mark of respect to the memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyred freedom fighters which was followed by recitation from the holy Quran and offering of special prayer seeking divine blessings for the salvation of the departed souls of the Father of the Nation and the martyred freedom fights and for continued peace and prosperity of the country. The video message of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh was screened and messages on the occasion given by the President, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh were read out by the senior officials of the High Commission.
In a broadcast message, High Commissioner Islam said Bangabandhu’s vision of a ‘Sonar Bangla’ came through Bangabandhu’s own life-long political struggles and close interactions with the people across the land.
“It was rather tragic for Bangladesh that Bangabandhu had a very limited amount of time to put his beliefs and visions into practice. He took over responsibility of a war-ravaged country with no foreign exchange reserve, dilapidated infrastructure, widespread poverty and an acute administrative and intellectual void. Even then, he commenced the arduous task of nation building.”
It was, no doubt, a course correction by history that Bangabandhu’s able daugther, our Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina got elected for subsequent terms to build on the foundation he had laid down. Emerging from the ashes of a bloody War of Liberation, Bangladesh is currently considered to be one of the developing world’s greatest success stories. What a turn-around for a country, once dismissed as the world’s ‘basket case’, to be recognized in five decades as an ‘economic miracle’. Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has led the country from the front in this journey, which has been spectacular to say the least. The political freedom that Bangabandhu had ushered is now being matched by economic emancipation as we envisage taking Bangladesh to a higher-middle income status by 2031 and a developed one by 2041.”
“While today is a historic and celebratory moment for our relatively young nation, it is also the occasion for reflection and conversations. Today, as we look back over our 50 years’ journey, we have reasons to be proud seeing where Bangladesh stands. This is the juncture where we must contemplate what our founding father had envisaged for an independent Bangladesh and how far have we moved along his desired direction as a nation. Today is the occasion when we should summon our collective resolve to re-commit ourselves to work for realizing Bangabandhu’s dream of a Sonar Bangla, which is not far. Our High Commission and all of you also have a role to play in making that happen. Let us pledge to deliver and contribute to that cause, “ the envoy concluded.
Subsequently, a discussion was held on the significance of the Independence and Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh. The discussants paid homage to the architect of independent of Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, martyred freedom fighters, war-wounded freedom fighters, heroic women who lost their dignity during the war, the four national leaders, foreign friends and others who contributed to our independence. They expressed their determination to work relentlessly under the pragmatic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for realization of her ‘Vision 2021’ and ‘Vision 2041’. The speakers also reflected on the history of our independence, our development journey and socio-economic advancements of the country at the golden juncture of the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh.
In his remarks, the High Commissioner paid rich tributes to all who contributed to the independence of Bangladesh. Referring to Bangladesh’s credentials as a ‘role model’ of development, he called upon all to work together under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to realize the vision of the Father of the Nation to turn Bangladesh into a ‘Golden Bengal’.
A cultural programme featuring recitation of poems and songs on the Liberation War rendered by the officials of the High Commission took place. Screening documentaries on the War of Liberation also took place. On the occasion, the Special Supplements focusing the Independence & National Day and Golden Jubilee of Independence of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were published in the Sri Lankan newspapers – The Daily Mirror, The Daily FT and the online news portal The Colombo Times.
