‘Sonar Bangla’ not far away

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday vowed to build Bangladesh as "Sonar Bangla" soon to realise the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who wanted to ensure a better life for all Bangladeshis.

"We must build 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by you [Bangabandhu]. The day is not far away. It's our commitment to you," she said while addressing the nation during the formal inauguration of the Mujib Borsho celebrations marking the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, reports UNB.

Noting that Bangladesh now enjoys a dignified position on the world stage, the PM said the country would have to march forward further to establish it as a hunger-and-poverty-free and developed one as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.

She called upon the young generation to love the country and its people as well as build themselves as worthy citizens for moving with dignity in the world arena.

"My appeal to today's children, teenagers and youth generation is that you'll love the country and the people of the country. This freedom we earned in exchange for many sacrifices.  So, you'll have to build yourselves as worthy citizens so that you can move to keep your head high as an independent nation," she said in her speech.

Hasina also urged the young generation to develop their life with the ideals of Bangabandhu and love the people as he did.

She extended the greetings of the Mujib Borsho to all the citizens of Bangladesh living at home and abroad as well as all the people of the world.

The celebrations started with fireworks at 8:00pm at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan.

Recalling the dedications and sacrifices Bangabandhu made for the wellbeing of the people of this country, the PM said he gifted this country named Bangladesh. "He had given the Bangalees the dignity of identity as a nation."

The PM said the world has come to know about Bangladesh following the great sacrifices of Bangabandhu. "Today, your [Bangabandhu's] birth centenary is being celebrated not only in Bangladesh but also across the world," she said.

President Abdul Hamid said the ideals of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will inspire the new generation to contribute to the nation-building.

He said the new generation will be able to know about the life and works of Bangabandhu by reading two of his books -- The Unfinished Memoirs and Karagarer Rojnamcha (Diary in Jail) -- and other books written on him.

And thus they will be able to contribute to the nation-building process after being inspired by the ideology of Bangabandhu.

"His ideal will remain as our source of eternal inspiration… Let the principle and ideals of Bangabandhu spread from generation to generation," he said.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen greeted Bangladesh yesterday, BSS reports.

Modi said deep-rooted relations between Dhaka and New Delhi are based on shared heritage, legacy and inspiration of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh.

He described Bangabandhu as one of the greatest figures of the last century, and said, "India has always been attached to his ideals and values."

"Life of Bangabandhu gives a great message to the world of 21st century," he added.

The Indian PM recalled how Bangabandhu devoted every moment of his life towards bringing Bangladesh out of the phase of devastation and genocide and making it into a positive and progressive society.