Handout                                                                                                                Number: 1041

  Prime Minister's message on the occasion of 99^th birth anniversary

of Bangabandhu and National Children's Day

Dhaka, 16 March:    

            Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given the following message on the occasion of the 99^th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children's Day :

            "I pay my deep homage to the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his 99th birth anniversary. The day is our National Children's Day. I convey my best wishes to the countrymen, especially the children, on this auspicious occasion. This year the theme of Bangabandhu's birth anniversary and National Children's Day is 'Bangabandhu's birthday, rinse life of the children with colour.'

            We have relentlessly been working to make children's lives colorful. The main aim of the Father of the Nation of his long political career was to liberate the Bangalee nation and bring economic freedom. The language movement of 1948, the election of United Front in 1954, 6-point movement of 1966, mass upsurge in 1969, general elections in 1970 and the independence war of 1971 were carried out under the undisputed leadership of the Father of the Nation. Under his leadership, we achieved an independent sovereign Bangladesh.

            Bangabandhu had a limitless love for the children. He added special provisions in the constitution with regard to the responsibilities and duties of the state to the welfare of children. In 1974, he enacted children laws and made primary education compulsory.

            The present government is undertaking and implementing various initiatives for the welfare of the children. 'World Children's Day' and 'Children's Rights Week' are being observed at national level to protect child rights and to ensure their safety. National Child Policy-20l1, Child Act-2013, Child Marriage Prevention Act-2017 have been enacted. National children's day, child marriage prevention day, street-children rehabilitation and various activities for children with special needs have been undertaken.

            We are pledge-bound to make our beloved motherland as a safe habitat for the children. Various programs related to safety, food and nutrition, shelter and protection for children and basic needs like education and health are being implemented along with sustainable development under the social safety net program to prevent child labour. Free textbooks are being provided to the students at the beginning of the year, "Almost 100 percent children are now going to school. We have published books based on life and work of the Father of the Nation and added original history of liberation war in the textbooks for the children. Children are being involved in art, literature, culture and various branches of sports in order to infuse patriotism, build personality and develop their confidence.

            Our goal is to create a better future by ensuring equal rights for all children. The role of parents, family and society is immense in achieving this goal. On this day, I urge everyone to stop violence against children and child abuse.

            Let us dedicate our present to the welfare of the children. Let us build Golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

            I wish every success of all programs undertaken for the celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 99th Birth Anniversary and National Children's Day, 2019.

Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu

May Bangladesh Live Forever."

#

Emrul/Nice/Rahat/Sanjib/Mosharaf/Abbas/2019/1710 HoursHandout                                                                                                                                                           Number : 1040

President’s Message on the occasion of 99^th birth anniversary

of Bangabandhu and National Children Day

Dhaka, 16 March :

                President Md. Abdul Hamid has given the following message on the occasion of the 99^th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children Day :

"On the occasion of the 99^th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children Day 2019, I pay my profound tribute to the memory of the greatest leader. On this auspicious day, I convey my heartfelt greetings and felicitations to the children around the world including Bangladesh.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born in Tungipara of Gopalganj district on 17 March in 1920. Since his boyhood this most distinguished person was very kind and generous to the people but uncompromising on attaining rights. In the early forties of the last century, as a young student leader, he actively participated in politics having close association with Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Haque. He led the nation in every movement towards attaining democracy and independence including the Language Movement in 1952, Jukta-Front Election in 1954, movement against Martial Law in 1958, Six-Point Movement in 1966, Mass Upsurge in 1969 and the General Elections in 1970.  For this, he was sent to jail several times and had to bear inhuman sufferings. Despite manifold challenges, he did never compromise with the Pakistani rulers on the question of establishing rights.

On 7 March in 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered the historic address before a mammoth gathering at the Race Course Maidan ignoring the blood-shot eyes of the then Pakistani rulers which was the true mandate of emancipation of the Bangali. Considering the political situation and holding the emotion, dream and desire of the Bangali, Bangabandhu uttered in his speech with thunderous voice, “The struggle this time is a struggle for emancipation, the struggle this time is a struggle for independence" which was, in fact, the true charter of independence. In line with the historic address, Father of the Nation, finally, declared the long-cherished independence on 26th March in 1971. We achieved ultimate victory on December 16, 1971 through a nine-month long armed struggle under the leadership of Bangabandhu. How an address can rouse the whole nation, inspire them to leap into war of liberation for independence, the historic 7^th March Speech by Bangabandhu is its unique example. UNESCO has recognized the 7^th March Speech of Bangabandhu as part of the ‘World’s Documentary Heritage’ and included it in the ‘Memory of the World International Register’ on 30^th October 2017. For his extraordinary contributions to the people, Bangabandhu and Bangladesh, thus, emerged as a unique symbol to the people of Bangladesh. Bangabandhu is now the symbol of independence and the forerunner of freedom not only for the Bangali but also for the down-trodden and oppressed people of the world. He made immense contributions for establishing world peace and harmony including equality, friendship and democracy throughout his life. In his speech on 9^th September in 1973 at the 4^th Summit of Non-Aligned Movement, held in Algiers, Bangabandhu said, “Today the world is divided into two- the Oppressor and the Oppressed: I am with the Oppressed”.

                    Bangabandhu was the symbol of policy and ideology in politics. He had struggled throughout his life for the welfare and rights of the country and the people. Bangabandhu loved children very much. He knew that to build a happy and prosperous golden Bengal, the new generation would have to be made as a golden man. We have to build our young generation with the spirit of noble qualities from their very childhood. Let us make our generation as enlightened citizens through providing proper education and knowledge and igniting them with the deep sense of patriotism so that they can make themselves as worthy citizens. I welcome the observance of Bangabandhu’s birthday as the `National Children Day’. I hope our new generation will be able to know the life and works of Bangabandhu through observing the day and will contribute to build the nation imbued with the spirit of patriotism.

                    Bangabandhu is the eternal source of our inspiration. I hope his policies and ideals would spread from generation to generation and nourish brave, sacrificial and idealistic leadership. I pray to the Almighty for the salvation of the departed soul of Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his 99th birth anniversary.

    Khoda Hafez, May Bangladesh Live Forever."

#

Imranul/Nice/Rahat/Sanjib/Mosharaf/Abbas/2019/1702 Hours