September 28 is very significant for the birthday of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. I pray that our Jononetree Sheikh Hasina's birthday is happy and elegant. Her life is eventful throughout the year. But this birthday is preceded by some important events including her participation in G-20 Summit in New Delhi and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in the USA. Actually, the distinguished position has been bestowed upon the people of Bangladesh. The nation is blessed with towering leader like her. She has received encouraging commitments from various parts of the world, including India. She has been awarded this one-of-a-kind distinction by the United Nations for her consistent development as a response to the global urge to end poverty, safeguard earth, and secure peace, harmony, and prosperity of the people in general.

In 1971, our country was the only one in the world to own a megastar, and it was the only one that could outshine and outdo all the others in terms of its brilliance and enormity. This happened at the same time in our country and emerged triumphant from its struggle for freedom, even though it suffered a significant loss of lifeblood during the conflict. That Icon, the unquestionable winner of the liberation war, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was the only person with that title. He was also known as the "Father of the Nation." He used to love the Bengalis with all of his big heart's worth of affection, and he did it from the depths of his being. Consequently, he put forth every ounce of effort within his power to steer the newly-established nation, ravaged by war, towards unbroken growth. When Bangabandhu was in charge of operations on the ground, he did everything in his power to maintain the dignity of a new administration from the perspective of the more incredible world.

Being Bangabandhu's apt inheritor, Jononetree and Bengali nation's saviour, Sheikh Hasina rises in the sky of the nation's destiny. She is also upholding Bangladesh's aspiration, rebuilding its vegetation and attractions by preserving the essence and motivation of Bangabandhu. Over the past ten years, Jononetree has been directing the land to such a climbing posture of expansion that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has joyfully pronounced Bangladesh the wildest rising financial advancement in the Asia-Pacific area, surpassing China, Vietnam, and India in the process.

She is the embodiment of heritage of the Father of the Nation, and the most influential force behind the actualisation of Bangabandhu's ideas. Sheikh Hasina is the only person capable of representing the current growth of Bengal's economy. She has always been a strong supporter of women's rights. The term Hasina originates from an Arabic root that means "very pious," "great value," and "wonderful sense." On September 28, we commemorate the birthday of Bangabandhu and Bangamata's capable, innovative, and worthy daughter, Sheikh Hasina, who is our hope.

On September 28, 1947, the worthy daughter of Bangabandhu excelled like dizzying moonshine in the lap of the Mother of the Nation Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib. Sheikh Hasina is still flooding the entire nation-state with the same serene, kind, enchanted light of determination and potentiality. In addition to expressing heartfelt respect and best wishes to Jononetree Sheikh Hasina on her birth anniversary, we hope to continue basking in the same moonlight coming from her personality for a long time. Bangabandhu and every member of his family were murdered in a heinous manner on the night of the darkest and saddest August 15, 1975. Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana escaped the carnage for being in Belgium. God likely made a special provision for her on that particular day so that she can bring the torch of Bangabandhu and helm his party Awami League in his absence.

Sheikh Hasina's capable leadership ensured that Sonar Bangla continued to fulfil its intended goal throughout its existence. Bangabandhu's daughter has devoted her life to diligently tending to the idea that her Father had planted deep inside the very centre of her heart. She defied the military administration's watchful and potentially lethal eyes to achieve that objective. She returned to her birthplace and eventually took over as President of the Awami League, bringing the party back to active status.

Jononetree Hasina had a tremendous desire to provide the people of Bangladesh with true emancipation from starvation, poverty, injustice, and oppression. In addition, she was successful in putting an end to the country's rule by colonial authorities. As a direct result, the people gave her leadership the decisive mandate during the elections in 1996. As a kind of retaliation, Jononetree Sheikh Hasina has shown that she can restore a diseased land to total health through the magical enhancement of growth. On April 2, 2004, members of the BNP-Jamaat regime committed attacks targeting Sheikh Hasina at Gaurnadi in Barishal.

Later, on August 21, 2004, the same BNP-Jamaat carried out grenade attacks on Awami League rally in Bangabandhu Avenue of the capital killing at least 24 people, including Ivy Rahman, former women affairs secretary of Awami League, and wounding scores of others.

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, also then Leader of the Opposition, narrowly escaped the barbaric attack, but suffered a serious damage to her right ear.

The consistency and harmony she has brought to politics and public life via implementing many programmes and projects are unequalled in other parts of the world. She has been holding the Prime Minister’s office for four different terms. She is catalyst for Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development. 

It is our solemn job to look out for her well-being and ensure that she is healthy and safe. On the occasion of Sheikh Hasina's 76th birthday, let us send her our warmest wishes for many more happy returns of the day. On this happy occasion — the anniversary of the cherished leader's birth — we wish her a long life filled with excellent health. Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, we pray that you will continue to bless us in the future, just as you have been. Sheikh Hasina, our Jononetree! Happy birthday to you, O Deshratna, the leader of the familiar people and the founder of democracy!

(The author is a columnist, academic, researcher, Professor of English, and former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh)