State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain told UNB that the  Prime Minister’s letter was sent to all primary schools of the country on Monday to read it out to 1.36 crore students as the schools will be closed on Tuesday.

Addressing the children as ‘Chotto Sonamoni’, the PM wrote, “Take my love and warm wishes. Convey my salam to your parents, love to your siblings and greetings to your neighbours.”

Today is March 17. A great man was born on this day in 1920. He is my father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she wrote.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gifted us this country named Bangladesh. He gave Bengalees the opportunity to create self-identify as a nation. That is why he is the Father of the Nation, she said.

The Prime Minister wrote Bangabandhu sacrificed all his comforts and joys of life and struggled to free the poor people from hunger and poverty, and he was sent to jail many times.

“People’s woes deeply saddened him. He had never hesitated to make sacrifices to establish the rights of the powerless,” she added.

He became the dearest to the children of this soil and that is why he is Bangabandhu.

“We’re celebrating the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation in 2020. Not only in Bangladesh, but also many countries of the world are celebrating his birth centenary -- 'Mujib Borsho'. Sincere thanks to all.”

Calling children as dear friends, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina further wrote: “Cruel bullets of the assassins took the life of Father of the Nation. They had tried to erase his name from the history of Bangladesh but failed.”

Assassins could not realise that Bangabandhu's blood spread all over Bangladesh from the stairs of his Road 32 home that gave birth to crores of Mujibs.

The people of Bangladesh woke up in search of truth, and history cannot be erased. Truth cannot be suppressed by falsehood.

Today, not only Bangladesh, but the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation is being celebrated all over the world. The world has recognised Bangladesh for his sacrifices.

The Prime Minister wrote, “Our pledge to the Father of the Nation is that we will build ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by him. And that day is not far away.”

“The Father of the Nation is asleep next to his parents amid the greeneries at Tungipara. May he rest in peace. His Bangladesh has been marching forward and it will continue.”  

“We’ll stay awake with his ideals in our hearts. People, generation after generation, will thrive in his Sonar Bangla. The flag that he had given to us will remain raised forever.”

“Joy Banglar Joy, Joy Mujiber Joy, Joy Bangabandhur Joy.”