Citizens joined Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday in taking an oath to build the country as a developed, prosperous and non-communal "Sonar Bangla" imbued with the ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee [of Independence] and the Victory Day in the Mujib Year, I take oath in glowing voice that I will not let the blood of the martyrs go in vain, I will love the country, I will use all my strength for the overall welfare of the people of the country," she said in the oath words, urging the people to join her vow afresh.

Hasina conducted the nationwide oath at 4:30pm from the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, which was broadcast live by Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private TV channels.

The PM said, "We will build our beloved motherland as Sonar Bangla, we will continue to move ahead, raising our heads as a prosperous and victorious nation in the world."

People from the country's eight divisional cities and also from the grassroots took the oath together with the premier. Bangabandhu's younger daughter, Sheikh Rehana, was present.

The National Implementation Committee of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Birth Centenary Celebration organised the event titled "The Greatest Hero of the Great Victory" as part of the birth centenary and Bangladesh's Independence Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Hasina also said under the leadership of Bangabandhu, Bangladesh had achieved independence through a bloodstained liberation struggle against the exploitation and deprivation of the Pakistani rulers.

"We'll build the country as a developed, prosperous Sonar Bangla with a non-communal spirit. May the Almighty help us," she said, concluding the oath.

Chief coordinator of the National Implementation Committee Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury moderated the function.

On December 16, 1971, Bangladesh was liberated as an independent country.

Hasina said Bangabandhu, in his historic March 7 speech, asked the people of Bangladesh to turn every home into a fortress, remain ready to confront the enemy with whatever they had, as well as to form Sangram Parishad immediately under the leadership of Awami League in every village, union, sub-district and district.

"The struggle this time is a struggle for emancipation, the struggle this time is a struggle for independence," she quoted from the speech, adding that the people of Bangladesh followed his instructions word for word.

'WORKING TO CHANGE THE FATE OF PEOPLE'

Chairing the celebration of Bangabandhu's birth centenary and the Golden Jubilee of victory at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, PM Hasina yesterday promised to bring smiles to the faces of the distressed people as dreamt by Bangabandhu.

President Abdul Hamid also spoke at the function as the chief guest, while Indian President Ram Nath Kovind as the guest of honour.

The PM said Bangabandhu wanted to bring smiles to the faces of the unhappy people and that is the government's goal too.

"This celebration is not merely a festival; rather it's our conviction in our future journey that we must build Bangladesh as a hunger-poverty-free, developed and prosperous Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation."

She said her government has been taking the country forward since 2009 and now Bangladesh has earned the status of a developing country.

Hasina said her government reduced the poverty rate to 20 percent from 40 percent, ensured electricity for every house, raised the per capita income to $2,554 and is now providing free homes to the homeless and landless families.

"Though the Covid-19 slowed down our progress, we'd been able to keep the wheels of economy moving by controlling coronavirus," she said, adding that the government simultaneously took measures to develop the rural economy.

Noting that Bangladesh is a non-communal country, she said people of all faiths can perform their respective religious rituals equally.

The PM said Bangladesh has already become a middle-income country and now the goal is to turn it into a developed country by 2041. "We've been working towards this goal."

Hasina said her government announced "zero tolerance policy" against militancy, terrorism, repression against women and drugs. "We want to ensure peace and security for the people of the country and build a developed and prosperous Sonar Bangla."

At the outset of her speech, the PM showed profound respect to Bangabandhu, the four national leaders, 30 lakh martyrs and two lakh women oppressed during the Liberation War.

She also expressed her gratitude to friendly countries, organisations and persons who extended their support and help by giving food, money, arms, humanitarian assistance during the Liberation War.

The PM particularly recalled the contribution of India as it had set an example for the world to give shelter to 10 million Bangladeshi refugees alongside giving training to freedom fighters and fought for Bangladesh's liberation against the Pakistani occupation forces during the war.

"I recall with due respect the members of Indian armed forces who sacrificed their lives in Bangladesh's Liberation War against Pakistan as members of allied forces."

President Hamid and PM Hasina received the Indian president when he arrived at the venue.

Bangabandhu's younger daughter Sheikh Rehana handed over the "Eternal Mujib Memorabilia" to the Indian president.

'NATION BUILDING IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY'

Addressing the event, President Abdul Hamid said the responsibility for developing the country does not lie only with the political leadership.

"The development of the country and the people are not the sole responsibility of the political leadership. As citizens of an independent country, this is the responsibility and duty of all of us," he said.

Mentioning freedom as a human right, Hamid said freedom only makes sense if it can be exercised properly without limiting the acquisition of rights.

He said abuse of power undermines freedom.

The president asked everyone to fulfil one's responsibilities from their respective positions with honesty, devotion and sincerity.

Hamid thanked the Indian president for visiting Dhaka to attend the historic celebrations of Bangabandhu's birth centenary and the Golden Jubilee of the country's Independence.

He said the Bangladesh-India relationship, which started in 1971 during the Liberation War, has now reached a new height.

The president hoped that Kovind's visit will further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.

He also expressed optimism that the world community, including India, will play an effective role in resolving the Rohingya issue.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque also spoke on the occasion.

At the function, the cover of a memorial book titled "Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Volume" was unveiled. Hasina edited the book which was published in Bangla and English on the occasion of the birth centenary.