Awami League on Wednesday condemned the interim government’s move to cancel eight significant national days, including the one commemorating the historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu and August 15. “The Bengali nation is rejecting this intention of wanting to fuel the politics of division and reactionary evil forces by erasing the national history of Bengali by pressing the reset button,” the party said in a press release. It mentioned that the entire nation and people inspired by the spirit of the great Liberation War will unitedly respond to this ‘despicable’ action. The Council of Advisers took the decision in a recent meeting. The Cabinet Division is expected to issue a gazette notification in this regard soon. The days are— March 17 celebrates both the birthday of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children's Day, August 5 marks the birth anniversary of Shaikh Hasina's brother Sheikh Kamal and August 8 the birth anniversary of Hasina's mother Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnecha Mujib, October 18 is observed marking Hasina's youngest brother Sheikh Russell Day, November 4 as National Constitution Day and December 12 recognises Smart Bangladesh Day. Awami League said that ‘well-planned’ steps are being taken to destroy human values and the spirit of the liberation war. “They are hostile to the brave freedom fighters and those who believe in the spirit of the liberation war.” Awami League offers Durga Puja greetings to Hindus, calls for peaceful celebration The press release mentioned that misusing the state apparatus to eliminate the pro-liberation forces from national politics, the interim government is carrying out ‘mass arrests on false charges’. “State has established anarchism in the country, which is called Matsyanyaya.” Fed up with the government's inefficiency and lawlessness, Awami League said that people have already started saying, “we used to have a beautiful days.” The press release said that the greatest achievement of Bengal and Bengalis is the establishment of the independent and sovereign Bangladesh state, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation. “The contribution of the trusted colleagues of the Father of the Nation, the freedom-loving people of the country and his family is indelible. But we can see that all the individuals, institutions and symbolic structures of the liberation struggle are suffering from the vindictive behavior of the government.” As a result of this, the press release reads, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and national days related to national history are decided to be excluded from the state activities. “We strongly condemn and protest against such retaliatory measures.” These included the historic Awakening Speech Day on March 7, Children's Day on March 17, and days of mourning such as August 15, recognized as World Heritage by Unesco. “The significance of these days in our national history cannot be denied in any way. No one can 'hold' us by pressing the reset button.” Awami League firmly hopes that truth shall prevail above all. “The days that were cancelled due to the hatred of the government, the Bengali will observe them socially and culturally with utmost compassion as always and will firmly say, we will come back to the banks of the Dhanshiri River.”

The Japan-Bangladesh Society (JBS) is an organisation of leading Japanese who are closely associated with Bangladesh. Formed in 2014, this relatively new organisation is already making significant contribution in cementing further the friendly ties between Japan and Bangladesh and is also serving as a window to allow Japanese people to know about the country better. Former Japanese ambassadors who served in Bangladesh, leading Japanese academics involved in research about various aspects of Bangladesh, leading business houses in Japan and business community leaders with commercial interest in the country, as well as NGO representatives, media related people and students who are studying Bangla or subjects related to Bangladesh are members of this group. The society is already enjoying high reputation in Japanese community.

The bands that rocked the Joy Bangla Concert stage in previous years reminisced their special moments about the past episodes and rendered songs online as the concert has been halted this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said the historic 7th March speech was apparently the actual declaration of independence as Bangabandhu uttered twice with utmost assertion that this time the struggle is for our freedom and this time the struggle is for our independence. “He (Bangabandhu) said twice that “Ebarer Sangram Muktir Sangram. Ebarer Sangram Swadhinatar Sangram” (this time the struggle is for our freedom. This time the struggle is for our independence) giving utmost assertion in his speech. That means he had clearly said that it’d be the struggle for independence and it’d be a war of independence. So, the 7th March speech can be said as the actual declaration of independence from this point of view,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while addressing a virtual programme arranged by the Cultural Affairs Ministry to mark the Historic 7th March.

Public Diplomacy wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday released a video on historic 7th March Speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangladesh Embassy in Paris and Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to UNESCO have unveiled a book titled "The Historic 7th March Speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: A World Documentary Heritage."

Only two weeks after the vandalism of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s sculpture in Kushtia, yet unidentified miscreants vandalised the sculpture of British revolutionary leader Baghajatin. Vandals damaged the nose and parts of the right cheek of the sculpture installed at Kaya College in Kumarkhali upazila, police said.

The Cabinet on Wednesday declared March 7 as ‘Historic Day’ instead of the ‘National Historic Day’ in a bid to observe the day nationally and internationally, commemorating the historic speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The historic March 7, a memorable day in the history of Bangalis’ long and arduous freedom struggle, was observed on Islamic University campus in Kushtia on Saturday in a befitting manner.

The historic March 7, a memorable day in the history of Bangalis’ long and arduous freedom struggle, was observed across the country on Saturday in a befitting manner.