AZM Sajjad Hossain, Washington DC — The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC 26th March Sunday celebrated the 53rd Independence and National Day with a fresh vow to materialize the dreams of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyrs of the great Liberation War.
To celebrate the day, the Embassy arranged elaborate programs that included hoisting of the National Flag, placing a floral wreath at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, screening of a documentary and discussion session.
The day’s programs began in the morning with ceremonially hoisting of the National Flag by Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Muhammad Imran on the Chancery premises. Officials and employees of the Mission were present on the occasion.
Later, the Ambassador placed a floral wreath at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the presence of the officials of the Embassy.
The messages issued on the occasion by President Md. Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr A. K. Abdul Momen, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam were read out.
Deputy Chief of Mission Ferdousi Shahriar, Minister (Consular) Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Counsellor (Public Diplomacy) Arifa Rahman Ruma and Counsellor and Head of Chancery Mohammad Moniruzzaman read out the messages.
Later, a discussion session highlighting the significance of the Independence and National Day was held at the Bangabandhu Auditorium of the Embassy.
Taking part in the discussion session, Ambassador Imran termed the great Independence and National Day as the most glorious and memorable day of Bangladesh and extended his heartfelt greetings to all Bangalees across the USA on the occasion.
He also paid deep homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and three million martyrs who sacrificed their life for the cause of independence.
Ambassador Imran said in the wake of the Pakistani army’s barbaric attack on the unarmed Bangalees in Dhaka on the night of 25th March in 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formally declared the independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of 26th March.
The nation, he said, soon launched the War of Liberation at the call of the Father of the Nation, and under his fearless leadership, Bangladesh achieved long-cherished independence on December 16 in 1971 after the nine-month bloody war against Pakistan.
The Ambassador said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought throughout his life for transforming Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal).
But Bangabandhu could not materialize his cherished dream as he was brutally assassinated by the anti-liberation elements on the black night of 15th August in 1975, Ambassador Imran continued.
He called upon all to work unitedly to materialize the dreams of Bangabandhu and martyrs of the War of Liberation by turning Bangladesh into a hunger-and-poverty-free developed and prosperous country.
Ambassador Imran also requested the expatriate Bangladeshis to project the country’s tremendous achievements and progress abroad that took place in the last 14 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Defense Attaché Brigadier General Md. Shahedul Islam also took part in the discussion and highlighted the significance of the Independence and National Day. He also discussed in detail the important contribution of the members of the Armed Forces to the War of Liberation in 1971.
After the discussion, a special prayer was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the Father of the Nation and the martyrs of the Liberation War. First Secretary Md Ataur Rahman conducted the programs.