“We’ll have to celebrate the time (Mujib Year) in a way so that the common people of the country get its benefits. Simultaneously, we’ll have to move on with our festivities. So, we’ll arrange these programmes till December 16 next marking the Mujib Year and the Golden Jubilee of Independence,” she said while addressing a virtual discussion.
Also read:Sheikh Mujib a champion of human rights, freedom: Modi
Bangladesh Awami League arranged the discussion at its Bangabandhu Avenue central office, marking the 101th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children Day 2021.
AL President Sheikh Hasina chaired the function, joining it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The Prime Minister also asked AL and its associate bodies to take separate programmes like cultural ones, discussions, essay and other competitions, Doa Mahfil, tree plantation, particularly programmes for supporting the poor upto the grassroots level to observe the Mujib Year after the conclusion of the ongoing 10-day national celebration.
“Our every associate body alongside AL will have to take separate programmes after the national celebration (after March 26). Take different programmes not only in Dhaka city, but also at the grassroots levels -- Union, Upazila and Zila levels,” said the AL President.
Also read:Make a vow to implement Bangabandhu's dreams: PM
About the assistance programmes for the poor, she said the most important thing is to help the poor. “We’ll have to alleviate the sufferings as much as possible, what the poor are facing due to Coronavirus. You (her party’s men) did it as well. The assistance work was done in our country. But we’ll have to continue it,” she said
Sheikh Hasina asked her party’s all leaders and activists to continue its tree plantation drive in the Mujib Year. “We perhaps could not arrange a big programme making mass gathering to celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, but we took a tree plantation campaign and planted huge trees,” she said.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader delivered the introductory speech, while AL presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, MP and Dr Abdur Razzaque, MP; its organising secretaries Ahmed Hossain, Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan, MP and Mirza Azam, MP; its finance and planning secretary Waseqa Ayesha Khan, international affairs secretary Waseqa Ayesha Khan, education and human resource secretary Shamsun Nahar Chapa, president of AL Dhaka city north unit Sheikh Bazlur Rahman and general secretary of AL Dhaka city south unit Humayun Kabir spoke on the occasion.
AL publicity and publication secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP conducted the discussion.
Not land should remain uncultivated
Referring to the fresh rise in Covid-19 infection globally, the Prime Minister asked AL leaders and activists to motivate people not to keep a single inch of land uncultivated, aiming to prevent any food crisis.
She also urged all o follow health protection protocols amid the fresh resurgence of the Coronavirus.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has been able to control the coronavirus largely in the country due to measures taken by the government.
She said the government will have to pay attention so that people do not get affected economically due to the fresh global wave of the pandemic.
Also read:No chance for Bangladesh to look back: PM Hasina
The AL president said her party men will have to work from their organisations to help people at the critical time as well.
Recalling Bangabandhu's contributions to the nation, the PM said the Father of Nation had stood beside people risking his life in every case. “He had never bowed down to anyone.”
“Had Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib not been born, we Bengalees would never get the dignity as a Bangali nation in the world,” said Hasina, also the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu.
Hasina said her government has got the scope to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu and the 50 years of Independence as people voted her party to power.
“Once there was an attempt to erase the name of Bangabandhu but this name can’t be wiped out anymore,” she said.
In an oblique reference to Ziaur Rahman, the PM said, “There had been efforts to be a false proclaimer (of independence)...But today there’s no more address of that proclaimer.”
Today, she said, world leaders also say and resolutions are being adopted in many places that it was Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who proclaimed the Independence on March 26 in 1971.
Sheikh Hasina made a vow that they would surely implement the dreams of the Father of the Nation.