DHAKA: President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have given separate messages on Thursday on the occasion of Homecoming Day of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Hasina.  

In the message president Hamid said, “Today is the historic `Homecoming Day` of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I along with grateful nation recall with deep respect the great leader on this very auspicious day.”

“On this day of 1972, the architect of independent Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led our War of Liberation and struggled for independence, returned to sovereign homeland after being freed from Pakistani prison.”

“With the return of the great leader, who faced deadly challenges of life for his brave leadership in various struggles for the country`s independence and who cherished the dream of sovereign Bangladesh for his whole life, the people from all walks of life were overwhelmed with endless joy and enthusiasm,” he added.

The statement also reads returning from the gallows, on this day, Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of Bengal uttered with emotion at the then Race Course Maidan that his lifelong dream had become true. Bangladesh emerged as a free and sovereign state. The independence let not be spoiled till the last Bangalee remained alive.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given the following message in a statement on the Homecoming Day of her father.
 
“The 10th January of 1972 is one of the historic days in the chronology of the liberation struggle of Bangalee nation. On this day, the greatest Bangalee of all time, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to independent Bangladesh after over nine and a half  months’ confinement in a Pakistan jail.”

“Bangladesh Awami League earned absolute majority in the 1970 elections under the leadership of the Father of the Nation. But the Pakistani military junta continued to cling to power ignoring the people’s mandate staging various farces. A cruel persecution descended on the Bangalee nation.”

“Aiming at an ultimate target to free the Bangalee nation, the Father of the Nation in his address at the then historic Racecourse Maidan on the 7th March in 1971 declared, “This time the struggle is for our freedom, this time the struggle is for the independence”. The Pakistani occupation forces launched brutal attack on innocent Bangalees and carried out massacre on the 25th of March in 1971,” it added.

The statement added that the Father of the Nation declared Independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of the 26th March. The Bangalee nation started the liberation war.

BDST: 2030 HRS, JAN 09, 2013
Edited by: Golam Rosul, Newsroom Editor/MMA