I convey my heartiest greetings and congratulations to my countrymen as well as all expatriate Bangalees on the occasion of the great Independence and National Day of Bangladesh. The March 26 is the day of earning self-identity of our nation. It's the day of breaking the shackles of subjugation. On the eve of the Independence Day, I recall with deep gratitude the greatest Bangalee of all times, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose undisputed leadership we earned our coveted independence. I pay my deep homage to the 3 million martyrs and 200,000 women who lost their honour in the War of Liberation. I also pay my tributes to four national leaders who steered the war of liberation in the absence of Bangabandhu. My homage goes to the valiant freedom fighters, including the wounded ones. I extend my sympathies to those who had lost their near and dear ones, and were subjected to brutal torture during the war. I recall with gratitude our foreign friend who had extended their whole-hearted support and cooperation for the cause of our liberation. The Bangalee Nation had fought against Pakistani rulers' oppression and deprivation for long 23 years under the leadership of Bangabandhu. They were compelled to hold general elections in 1970. Bangladesh Awami league led by Bangabandhu won overwhelming majority in the elections. But the Pakistani rulers instead of handing over the power to the majority party in a democratic way; they launched repressive measures against them. Bangabandhu in his March 7 historic address at the then Racecourse Maidan declared, "The struggle of this time is for emancipation, the struggle for this time for our independence, Joi Bangla." He instructed the Bangalee nation to resist the enemies. The occupation forces unleashed a sudden attack and started killing innocent and unarmed Bangalees on the black night of the March 25, 1971. They killed thousands of people in cities and towns, including Dhaka. The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formally proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of the March 26, 1971. Bangabandhu's proclamation was spread all over the country through telegrams, teleprinters and EPR wireless. The international media also had circulated Bangabandhu's proclamation of independence. Under the brave and dauntless leadership of Bangabandhu, we earned the ultimate victory on the December 16, 1971 after a 9-month bloody war. The independence earned through supreme sacrifices of millions of people is the greatest achievement of Bangalee nation. To ensure that this achievement remains meaningful, all have to know the history of our great Liberation War and retain the spirit of independence. The spirit of the Liberation War has to be passed on to generation to generations. Being imbued with the spirit of the freedom struggle, the Awami League government has relentlessly been working to develop the country. We have been accomplishing the unfinished work of the Father of the Nation. We have achieved expected developments in every sector during last 10 years. Bangladesh has become the ‘Role Model' of socio-economic development in the world. Our government is maintaining ‘zero tolerance' policy to tackle militancy, terrorism and drug-menace. For the first time in the world, we have formulated a hundred year plan named ‘Delta Plan 2100'. Bangladesh is one of the five top countries in the world in economic development. Ninety percent of development work is financed by our own resources. We have executed the verdict of the trial of the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman establishing the rule of law. The verdicts of the trials of the war criminals are also being executed. The trails of war criminals will be continued as per our pledges to the nation. Due to the continuation of the Awami League government, grassroot people are now getting the dividend of the development. Bangladesh is moving forward and it will continue. The next generation will get a prosperous Bangladesh. The people made Bangladesh Awami League victorious in the recent 11th parliamentary elections. We will fully honor the huge mandate that the people of our country have given us. We will turn Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021 and a developed-prosperous one by 2041, InshaAllah. Let us come and uphold the development and democratic spree being imbued with the spirit of the freedom struggle. Let us engage ourselves for the welfare of the country and nation. Let us build a hunger-poverty-free and happy-prosperous Sonar Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation. On the historic day, let this be our commitment. Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu, May Bangladesh Live Forever Sheikh Hasina
