AZM Sajjad Hossain, Washington, DC : The historic “Homecoming Day” of the greatest Bangalee of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was observed at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC 10 January in a befitting manner.
Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of the Bangalee nation, returned to the sacred soil of independent Bangladesh via London and New Delhi on January 10 in 1972, after 290 days of confinement in Pakistan jail.
The Embassy arranged a program by remembering the landmark day and paid profound homage to the great architect of Independence.
The day’s program started with placing of a floral wreath at the bust of Bangabandhu by the Embassy officials led by Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy Ferdousi Shahriar.
The messages of President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were read out by Defence Attaché Brigadier General Md Shahedul Islam and Minister (Political-II) Md Rashedujjaman.
Later, a discussion session was held at the Bangabandhu Auditorium of the Mission highlighting the significance of the day.
Taking part in the discussion, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy Ferdousi Shahriar paid deepest homage to Bangabandhu who led the Bengali nation in achieving its long-cherished independence.
Highlighting the significance of the historic day for the nation, Ferdousi Shahriar said under Bangabandhu’s unwavering leadership, the Bengali nation snatched ultimate victory in the great Liberation War on 16 December in 1971. With the homecoming of the great leader on this day, the joy of the final victory of the Liberation War was fulfilled, she added.
The Charge d’Affaires requested all to work from their respective positions with utmost sincerity and integrity under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to build ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bangladesh) and a developed and prosperous ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041 being imbued with the ideology of Bangabandhu and the spirit of the great Liberation War.
The program ended with offering special prayers seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of the August 15 carnage as well as continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation. Mohammad Moniruzzaman, Counsellor (Political-I), conducted the program.