Politics on reverse gear

President Abdul Hamid has said politics in Bangladesh is now moving in the opposite direction and some opportunists have made politics a profession.

"The cardinal motto of politics should be -- party takes precedence over person and country over party. It seems that politics is moving in the opposite direction," he said.

The president was addressing the inaugural ceremony of a 10-day special programme at the National Parade Ground yesterday, marking the 50 years of Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Hamid delivered the welcome speech at the programme, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

He called upon the politicians to learn from the life and deeds of Bangabandhu and devote themselves to serving the country and its people.

"Politics and profession is not the same thing. With a profession, one earns a livelihood for himself and his family. Politics is a greater field to work for the welfare of the country and its people. If one considers politics as a profession then he will have to reel in the family cycle forgetting the country and the people," he said.   

Neither family happiness nor comfy life could distract the Father of the Nation from his goal, Hamid said, adding that if Bangabandhu wanted he could have become the prime minister of undivided Pakistan and spent his days happily with his family.

"He could have immersed himself in wealth. But he very easily rejected all this and took the interest of the country and people as his vow of life."

The president said Bangabandhu always dreamt of building a happy and prosperous country along with political independence.

The incumbent Awami League government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is making relentless efforts to realise his dream, he added.

Praising the current development in the country, Hamid said if this pace of development continues, Bangladesh will emerge in the world as a developed and prosperous country by 2041.

Stressing the preservation of the invaluable memories and mementoes of the Father of the Nation through the implementation of the action plan adopted on the occasion of his birth centenary, the president said it would enable future generations to know about the glory of the Bangalee nation as well as the courage and patriotism of their predecessors.

Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih attended the inaugural function as guest of honour while Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered welcome speeches virtually.

Welcoming the president of the Maldives, Hamid said the Maldives and Bangladesh share excellent ties of friendship and understanding, which have grown significantly during the recent years.

He also expressed heartfelt thanks to his Maldivian counterpart for his valuable speech.The Maldivian president arrived in Dhaka yesterday on a three-day visit to Bangladesh.