He made the remarks at a virtual panel discussion held recently.

The panel discussion featured a conversation moderated by Ambassador Saleh with Dr Habibul Haque Khondker, Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Indrani Bagchi, Diplomatic Editor, The Times of India and Dr Chanchal Khan, International Development Consultant and Tagore Exponent.

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The Embassy of Bangladesh in Brussels organized the panel discussion titled ‘Bangabandhu’s Vision of an Independent Bangladesh’ to celebrate the Homecoming Day of the Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the year of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

Prior to the panel discussion there was a pre-recorded conversation between Ambassador Saleh and Dr David Nalin, Professor Emeritus, Centre for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, New York, United States, and an awardee of Bangladesh’s ‘Friendship of Liberation War Honour’ in 2013.

Dr Nalin reminisced about his first-hand experience of witnessing Bangabandhu’s arrival at Tejgaon Airport in Dhaka on 10 January 1972 from his captivity in Pakistan during the War of Liberation.

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He also recalled the memory of his meeting with Bangabandhu later when he had the opportunity to present to him the works done by the Bangladesh Information Centre he had established in Washington D.C. in 1971 for lobbying with the members of the US Congress for their support towards the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

During the panel discussion, Dr. Habibul Haque Khondker elaborated on Bangabandhu’s pragmatic idea of social justice and equality as an essential pillar of freedom in the newly independent country.

Indrani Bagchi spoke about Bangabandhu’s vision of peace in his Foreign Policy dictum of ‘Friendship to all and malice towards none’.

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Dr Chanchal Khan spoke about Bangabandhu’s vision for rebuilding a war-ravaged country through combining agrarian reforms and industrial development, and also through secular and progressive educational and cultural policies.

Ambassador Saleh highlighted the efforts of the present government under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership to bring Bangladesh back on the right track in pursuit of Bangabandhu’s vision and ideals and to continue the impressive developmental journey of building a modern and developed Bangladesh.

He stated that the diplomats of Bangladesh are honoured and fortunate to have the opportunity of proudly presenting Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Iconic Statesman and Greatest Bengali of All Time, to the world.

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The day’s programme began with reading out the messages issued by the President and Prime Minister on Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day.

The virtual programme was organized through Zoom and was shared live on the Facebook page of the Embassy.

People from Europe and different corners of the world joined the programme.