Staff Reporter: Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, USA celebrated the Great Victory Day with due dignity and festive atmosphere. Local time on Thursday (December 16), the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was celebrated in two phases. The first episode begins at 9:30 am with the hoisting of the national flag and the performance of the national anthem. After that a minute of silence was observed paying homage to the memory of the martyrs of the great liberation war. Then: Following the oath read by the Prime Minister on the occasion of Subarna Jayanti and Mujibvarsha, all the officers and employees of the Mission led by the Permanent Representative read the oath.
The second episode of the show begins at 6 p.m., local time. The discussion was held virtually as per the building authorities and local guidelines in the embassy building in the context of Kovid-19’s new type ‘Omicron’. It was attended by expatriate freedom fighters, the United States Awami League and expatriate Bangladeshi leaders of various professions, including young Bangladeshi-Americans involved in the mainstream of the United States.
Before the commencement of the discussion, a minute of silence was observed in memory of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the great war of liberation and special prayers were offered for the forgiveness of their departed souls.
The speeches of the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of State for External Affairs were read out on the occasion of the day. Ambassador Rabab Fatima, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, delivered the welcome address. At the outset of his speech, he paid deep respects to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangamata and all members of the family of Father of the Nation who was martyred on 15th August, four national leaders and all freedom fighters including 3 million martyrs and 200,000 honorable mothers and sisters. He said, “The Bangladesh government is implementing Vision 2021, Vision 2041 and Delta Plan 2100 under the strong leadership of his worthy daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the aim of building the golden Bengal of Bangabandhu’s dream. In November this year, we received the final approval of the United Nations to move from the Least Developed Countries category to a developing country, which is a sign of our dignity and capability in the international arena, including the United Nations. ”
Highlighting Bangladesh’s leading role in UN peacekeeping operations, Ambassador Fatima said, “We are now the top sending peacekeepers.” He noted that Bangladesh has been playing a leading role in a number of multilateral platforms, including the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, Climate Change, Migration, Peacekeeping, Peacebuilding, Poverty Alleviation and Women’s Empowerment. The Permanent Representative added, “Today we are the 41st largest economy in the world. It is hoped that by 2035, Bangladesh will emerge as the 25th largest economy in the world. Today, Bangladesh is a role model for the world in co-management and sustainable economic development. ”
Addressing the expatriate Bangladeshi community, he said the leading role of expatriate Bangladeshis in various fields in the United States is enhancing Bangladesh’s reputation in foreign lands. The new generation of Bangladeshi-Americans has begun to play a leading role in mainstream politics here, which is very promising.
The Permanent Representative of Bangladesh highlighted various aspects of the long struggle of the Father of the Nation for the ultimate victory of the Bengali nation including the context of the Great Liberation War for the expatriates. He sought the cooperation of expatriates to bring the father of the nation and the intellectual killers who are staying in the United States back to justice. The open discussion was addressed by the United States Awami League and its affiliates, children of freedom fighters and martyrs’ families and a new generation of Bangladeshi-American leaders. They expressed their determination to contribute in their respective fields for the development of Bangladesh and the implementation of the ideals announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through their acquired experience, knowledge and skills.
Before the open discussion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took part in the oath taking ceremony on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of victory.
BP/SM
