Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has written a letter to the children of Bangladesh through their institutions on the eve of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day.
In the open letter, Hasina, eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, talked about her father’s birth on March 17, 1920 and his sacrifices and contributions made towards the emancipation of Bangladesh.
The letter was supposed to be read out by over 10 million primary school students of the country on Tuesday, marking the National Children’s Day and as part of the Mujib Year celebrations.
However, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education cancelled the program after the government on Monday declared that all educational institutions across the country will remain closed from March 18 to 31, in light of the coronavirus situation in the country.
So far, Bangladesh has detected eight people infected with Covid-19, most of whom returned home from abroad recently. Three of them, however, have made full recovery, according to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossen told reporters that the head teachers of primary schools were asked to distribute among the students copies of the prime minister’s letter on Monday, instead of Tuesday.
“Dear Sonamoni (little angel), take my greetings and affections. Please convey my salam (greetings) to your parents and affections to your siblings. Extend my greetings to your neighbours as well,” the prime minister said in the letter, reports BSS.
“Today is March 17. A great human being was born on the soil of Bangla on this day in 1920. He is my father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she said.
She informed the children that Bangladesh is actually a gift of Bangabandhu to the Bengali nation. “He [Bangabandhu] gave the opportunity to the Bengalis to be identified as a nation. That’s why he is our Father of the Nation.”
Hasina told the children that throughout his entire life Bangabandhu had to struggle and sacrifice his personal comforts for the emancipation of the wretched people from hunger and poverty.
“He languished in jail for several times. Misery of the people used to make him saddened. He didn’t hesitate to sacrifice anything for establishing the rights of deprived people,” the letter read.
The prime minister added: “He had emerged as nearest and dearest one of the sons of this Bangla – That is why, he is Bangabandhu.”
She said it was not Bangladesh alone, several other countries across the globe was celebrating “our Father of the Nation’s birth centenary — ‘Mujib Year’.”
“Brutal bullets of killers took away father of the nation. They [killers] tried to erase his name from the history of Bangladesh. But they couldn’t do so,” she said, adding they could not realize that from the stairs of his Road 32 residence, Bangabandhu’s blood spill over Bangladesh and gave birth to crores of Mujibs.
That’s why, today, people of Bangladesh are wide awake in search of truth, Sheikh Hasina said, adding, “History can’t be erased. Truth can’t be suppressed by falsehood. Today, the birth centenary of Father of the Nation is being celebrated not only in Bangladesh, but also across the world. The world has recognized Bangladesh trough his momentous sacrifices.”
She continued: “We have pledged to Father of the Nation that we will build the “Sonar Bangla” as dreamt by him. And that day is not far. The father is asleep next to his parents amid the greeneries of Tungipara. May he rest in peace.”
She added that Bangabandhu’s Bangladesh is marching forward in an indomitable pace and will continue to do so in the days to come. “We will remain wake up with his ideals inscribed in our hearts. People will wake up– generation after generation — in his Sonar Bangla. The flag that he gave [to the nation], will remain raised forever.”
The prime minister urged the children: “You must study attentively; develop yourselves as worthy citizens of the country to serve the nation and people.”
“Joy Banglar Joy, Joy Mujiber Joy, Joy Bangabandhur Joy,” she said ending the letter.
Since the outbreak started in China’s Wuhan city in late December last year, the new coronavirus strain has infected more than 170,000 people and killed over 6,500 people in 158 countries and territories.