How was Bangabandhu’s birthday celebrated on March 17, 1975, before he was brutally assassinated 5 months later? A video posted on Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy’s verified Facebook profile shows how the country celebrated the Father of the Nation’s birthday that year. Along with the video, Sajeeb Wazed posted a caption that reads: “March 17, 1975 was a memorable one as all ways led to Dhanmondi 32 where thousands of people gathered since the dawn to wish their leader on his birthday. Read More: Bangabandhu’s birth anniversary and National Children’s Day celebrated in Canberra “My grandfather Bangabandhu appeared before them, exchanging greetings and shaking hands. His day was tightly knitted with programs from appearing in an award-handing ceremony to receiving greetings from overseas diplomats. In addition, school students also greeted their leader inside the national parliament premises. “Who knew that this man who kindled the spirit of freedom in the hearts of millions would be gunned down by the assassins the same year? The successive military rulers sealed the chapter in such a way that even the footages, recorded and stored by Bangladesh Film Archive, were not allowed to see the light. “However, owing to the tireless works of those who preserved it, these footages are now made public.” Read More: The Fearless Call commemorates fearless Bangabandhu “On his birthday, I would like to pay my tribute to the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” Sajeeb Wazed wrote.

Amid criticism from Dhaka University Teachers’ Association over US ambassador’s “contradictory” approach towards family members of armed forces officers – many of whom were freedom fighters – executed during Gen Ziaur Rahman’s regime, Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy called out the “double standards” in a humorous tone. On Martyred Intellectuals Day (December 14, 2022), US Ambassador Peter Haas visited the residence of Sanjida Islam, coordinator of ‘Mayer Dak’, an organisation of families of victims of enforced disappearance, in Dhaka’s Shaheenbagh. Sanjida is the sister of BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon, who is reportedly a victim of enforced disappearance that took place in 2013. Read more: DUTA slams US Ambassador for ‘contradictory’ behaviour Acting on information that the US ambassador was visiting a house in Shaheenbagh area, members of ‘Mayer Kanna’ – a platform of family members of victims of enforced disappearance during Gen Zia’s rule – showed up and tried to draw the attention of the ambassador. Awaiting justice for over four decades, the victim families sought intervention of the US ambassador for bringing the perpetrators to book. Gen Zia “unjustly executed around 1,156 army and air force personnel – by hanging or firing squad,” the ‘Mayer Kanna’ appeal reads. Terming the US ambassador’s behaviour “contradictory”, a Dhaka University Teachers’ Association statement said that the envoy went to the house of a disappeared person, but didn’t listen to what ‘Mayer Kanna’, an organisation seeking justice for those killed and disappeared during the regime of Ziaur Rahman, had to say. Read more: US envoy’s visit to Mayer Dak coordinator’s house won’t hurt ties: Info Minister Following the much-talked about incident, Sajeeb Wazed on his verified Facebook page wrote: “Why has there never been a coup in Washington, DC? Because, there is no US Embassy there!” The post gained traction on social media amid statement from BNP leaders raising concerns about diplomats’ security in the country. Many netizens pointed out the 2004 grenade attack on the then British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Anwar Choudhury, in Sylhet, when BNP was in office. Many also questioned the timing of the US ambassador’s visit on Martyred Intellectuals Day. The nation mourns the day by honouring the martyrs, going to memorials. During the Liberation War in 1971, Pakistan army with its local collaborators — many belonging to Jamaat — picked up over 1000 Bengali intellectuals and brutally killed them. The alliance between Jamaat and BNP dates back to the latter’s founding days under Gen Ziaur Rahman.

Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed has highlighted how Bangladesh harnessed the power of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to achieve its transformative socio-economic development during the last decade at the UN. Highlighting the success of the “Digital Bangladesh” vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said Bangladesh is a perfect example of how science, technology and innovation can drive growth and development. Sajeeb was delivering a keynote speech at a thematic panel discussion titled “Leveraging the Power of Science, Technology, and Innovation to fight multidimensional vulnerabilities and achieve the sustainable development Goals” on Tuesday. The discussion was held as part of the ongoing Preparatory Committee Meeting of the 5th United Nations Conference on the LDCs. The policy stimulated a high GDP growth in the country, which exceeded not only India and Pakistan, but also China in recent years. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, Bangladesh’s economy showed an upward trajectory. The per capita income has reached US$2227 overtaking India. The ICT Adviser said that the implementation of the “Digital Bangladesh” has helped the country quickly adapt to the new business and work environment imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.d Also read: Sajeeb Wazed appears online to encourage youth initiatives