“Today, Bangladesh has achieved enviable successes in social-economic indicators. All have applauded us for the development we made in a very short time,” she said.

The Prime Minister made the statement while speaking on the sixth day of the 10-day programme arranged at the National Parade Square, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of our Independence.

President Abdul Hamid as the chief guest and President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari as the guest of honour were present at the programme presided over by Sheikh Hasina.

Sheikh Hasina, in her speech, said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was always vocal about establishing basic human rights and wanted the people of independent Bangladesh to be economically self-reliant.

She said Bangabandhu was on a mission to ensure the basic rights like food, clothing, shelter, medicine, and education for all. “It was very unfortunate that the progress of Bangladesh came to a halt after the assassination of Bangabandhu including his family members by killers on the 15th August 1975,” said Sheikh Hasina, also the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu.

“Since we’ve been in power for the last 12 years in a row after the formation of government in 2009, today we’re taking Bangladesh forward on the development journey tracking through the path guided by the Father of the Nation,” she said.

She said Bangladesh received a final recommendation last month to shift from a least developed country to developing country status.

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Mentioning that Bangladesh’s friend Nepal has also received a final recommendation to step up to a developing country status at the same time, the PM on behalf of the people of Bangladesh and herself congratulated the government and the people of Nepal.

Climate change

The Prime Minister put emphasis on controlling the current trend of climate change for sustainable development otherwise, she said, the adaptation process will fail to provide sustainable protection.

“We live in a natural disaster-prone area. Countries in the basin of the Himalayas are prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, cloud bursts, avalanches, landslides, flash floods, etc., while coastal regions like Bangladesh are to stand against frequent floods, tidal surges, earthquakes, heavy rains, or droughts,” Hasina said.

She said global warming or climate change has made the countries of this subcontinent the most vulnerable. “We’re the most sufferers of the consequence of climate change though we’ve no role for this change. We can temporarily protect ourselves through adaptation, but the adaptation process will fail to provide sustainable protection unless the current trend of climate change is restricted,” she said.

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As the current President of the Climate Vulnerable Forum or CVF, Bangladesh has been urging world leaders to take immediate steps to tackle climate change, she added.

Last year, the Global Climate Adaptation, Bangladesh office was launched in Dhaka. The Dhaka office has started working on tackling the effects of climate change in South Asia, she went on.

“In this auspicious moment of celebrating the birth centenary of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of independence, I call upon the world to make sure of sustainable development,” said the PM.

Poverty in South Asia

Sheikh Hasina said no one denies that a huge fraction of the population in South Asia is still living below the poverty line. Many people are still going to bed every night half-fed or no food. Many are deprived of the minimum necessities of life, she said.

“It’s possible to alleviate the poverty of the people of South Asia by ensuring optimum utilisation of the natural resources that are naturally endowed in this region. We’ll continue our efforts to transform the region into a poverty-free developed region by maintaining friendly relations with each other,” she said.

Nepal, a close friend

Recalling Nepal's contributions to the great liberation war of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said Nepal is a close friend of Bangladesh. Nepal was among the first countries to recognise independent-sovereign Bangladesh and the people of Nepal also provided weaponries for freedom fighters of Bangladesh, she said.

“Excellent friendly relations have existed between our two countries since independence. In addition to the geographical proximity, we share almost the same historical trend between us. We uphold a similar position on various regional and international issues,” she said.

She said cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal in affairs of trade, road-rail-air communication, power-energy particularly hydropower, tourism, and water management is increasing day by day. “We have given access to Nepal to use our Syedpur Regional Airport, as well as Mongla and Chittagong Seaports,” she said.

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At the event, the Nepalese President was honoured with the Eternal Mujib Memento. Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni handed over memento to the guest of honour.

Dr Dipu Moni delivered the welcome speech, while noted novelist Selina Hossain delivered the keynote speech at the function conducted by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam.

Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana, President’s wife Rashida Khanam and Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury were present at the time.

Like previous days, the discussion was followed by a cultural programme.

Earlier, President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari reached the venue at 4:42pm and President Abdul Hamid received her there.

The nationwide 10-day program is being held on 17-26 March 2021 with the theme ‘Mujib Chirantan’ in the Mujib Year, marking the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and the 50 years of the country’s Independence.