Bangabandhu's March 7 speech Bangladesh's inspiration to rise: PM

Enthused by Bangabandhu's historic March 7 speech and the Liberation War's spirit, Bangladesh will emerge as a modern, developed and secular country and stand high in the global arena, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday.
“Bangabandhu's March 7 speech will work as the strength and encouragement of the Bangalee nation to move forward,” she told a seminar on the speech in the capital's Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
“Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust” organised the seminar with Hasina, the trust's chief and the ruling Awami League president, in the chair.
Hasina said the speech still had an appeal in the hearts of Bangladeshis even after 42 years.
“Being inspired by his March 7 speech, the people forgot about military rule, firmly got united, fought a battle and gave the nation an identity, Bangladesh,” she said.
Hasina, Bangabandhu's eldest daughter, said the speech was the most heard, played and discussed among all the speeches made in the world.
Presenting a keynote on the speech, Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Prof Anwar Hossain urged the current political leadership to develop relations with people, just as Bangabandhu had done, to build a vibrant organisation.
Taking part in a discussion on the keynote, eminent historian Prof Muntasir Mamun suggested the pro-liberation people to retaliate if the anti-liberation forces cause any harm to them.
“If they (Jamaat-Shibir) attack houses and businesses, then they must be given a reply with the same acts,” he said.
Prof Zarina Rahman Khan of Dhaka University's public administration department said the fact that Bangabandhu was a leader whom people acknowledged as their guardian played an important role in uniting people against the strong Pakistani military.
The trust's Member Secretary Hafizur Rahman delivered the inaugural address and Chief Executive Officer Mashura Hossain gave the vote of thanks.