Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday pledged to build a hunger and poverty free Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who gave his life for the people of Bangladesh.
“On this historic day, it is our pledge to build a hunger-and-poverty-free developed and prosperous Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” Hasina, the proud elder daughter of Bangabandhu, told the inaugural programme of the 70th founding anniversary of ruling Bangladesh Awami League.
The premier formally opened the founding anniversary programmes by hoisting national flag as well as releasing pigeons and balloons while AL general secretary Obaidul Quader raised the party flag.
The national anthem was sung on the occasion.
The historic party, which gave leadership to the country’s war of independence in 1971 and played major roles in all democratic movements during Pakistan time and in independent Bangladesh, was floated as a new political party at the historic Rose Garden in the Old parts of Dhaka on June 23 in 1949.
Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and Shamsul Huq were unanimously elected president and general secretary respectively of the new political party that emerged as a rival of the then ruling Muslim League.
The newly formed AL also elected Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the joint secretary of the party.
In its 70-year-long glorious history, the party gave leadership in the 1952 Language Movement and the 1971 War of Liberation, and fought successfully against exploitation, disparity and violation of basic human rights with massive public support.
Hasina, also the president of the party, said the Awami League was founded to bring back the lost independence of Bangla.“Today is the founding anniversary of that Awami League. Whenever Awami League comes to power, it gives something to the country and its people,” she said after inaugurating the programmes in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi in the capital this morning.
The premier said Bangladesh had been marching forward towards socioeconomic development and the Bangalee nation achieved dignity in the entire world after Awami League came to power.
“The nation lost its dignity after the assassination of Bangabandhu on August 15 in 1975,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina narrated the history of establishment of the country’s oldest and biggest political party.
She also paid tributes to Bangabandhu and four national leaders as well as numerous party leaders and activists who had sacrificed their lives ungrudgingly for establishing rights of the people.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina placed a wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban marking the 70th founding anniversary of the Awami League.
After laying the wreath, the premier stood in solemn silence for sometime as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of independence.
Flanked by senior leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of her party.
Awami League leaders including Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Matia Chowdhury, Sahara Khatun, Abdur Razzaque, Abdul Matin Khashru,
Abdul Mannan Khan, Pijush Kanti Bhattacharya, Obaidul Quader, Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, Dipu Moni, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman, BM Mozammel Haque, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Enamul Haque Shamim, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Ahmed Hossain, Misbahuddin Siraj, SM Rezaul Karim and Hasan Mahmud, among others, were present on the occasion.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam and South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokan as well as leaders of Dhaka North and South City AL were also present.