Bangabandhu's Homecoming Day today

The historic Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is being observed today.

On January 10, 1972, Bangabandhu had returned to independent and sovereign Bangladesh after over nine and a half months of captivity in a Pakistani jail.

Bangabandhu was subjected to inhuman torture in the prison where he had been counting moments for the execution of his death sentence that was pronounced in a farcical trial.

Bangabandhu inspired the Bangalee nation. He was the inspiration of the freedom fighters.

Under his undaunted leadership, the Bangalee nation earned the ultimate victory through the nine-month war. The defeated Pakistani rulers were finally compelled to release Bangabandhu from jail. The Bangalees' victory attained fulfilment with his release.

The ruling Awami League, its associate and front organisations and various socio-political platforms have drawn up elaborate programmes to mark the day.

The programmes include hoisting of the national and party flags atop AL offices at dawn and placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the city's Dhanmondi in the morning.

The AL will also hold a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 3:00pm where Sheikh Hasina, also the party president, will speak as chief guest.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and the premier have issued messages on the occasion.

In his message, the president urged all to continue collective efforts to build a non-communal and democratic Bangladesh imbued with the spirit and ideology of Bangabandhu. “Let this be our pledge on the Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu.”

Hasina in her message said, “Let us build a hunger- and poverty-free and happy, prosperous Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”