Sheikh Hasina while addressing a Pahela Baishak gathering and Sheikh Rehana in her reaction to the UNB gratefully acknowledge the way people saluted Bangabandhu.

A grand procession observing the Pahela Baishak, the Bengali New Year, brought out on Wednesday by the main opposition Awami League (AL) and its front organisations eventually turned into a celebrating parade to rejoice the recognition of Bangabandhu as the greatest Bengali of all-time. The gorgeously decorated procession marched through the city streets, from Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka to Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi.

When the procession reached Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Sheikh Hasina, AL Chief and also the Opposition Leader, in an emotion-choked voice said, "Sheikh Mujib is the name of a history, an ideal, a noble sacrifice, an independent Bangladesh and a proud nation,"adding that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib earned Bengali the long-cherished independence and thus established it as the proudest nation on earth.

"Today history once again established the truth... and proved that history speaks--and speaks the truth," she said.

"Bangabandhu is a name engraved so deep on the heart of every Bengali that it can never be erased as long as independence is there, as long as the Bengali nation is there."Hasina continued.

Yet, she alleged, for the last 29 years anti-liberation elements made futile efforts to blot out the name of Bangabandhu.

Sheikh Rehana, the younger daughter of Bangabandhu, in her reaction to the UNB on Wednesday from London extended her grateful thanks to the BBC listeners for honouring Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the greatest Bengali of all time.

"I am extremely happy... It has proved again that history determines one's place, as one deserves," she said.

Carrying portraits of Bangabandhu and the opposition leader Sheikh Hasina and waving scores of miniature national flags, people in a jubilant mood chanted slogans for Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina while elephants, horse-carts decorated in vibrant colours, and vans made the procession look splendid. Wearing paper-caps, many of them exchanged colour to celebrate the BBC listeners' selection.