Kovind: Bullets couldn’t wipe out Bangabandhu’s ideals
Indian president celebrates Victory Day in Dhaka
File photo: Indian President Ram Nath Kovind Reuters
Tribune Desk
Publish : 16 Dec 2021, 11:36 PMUpdate : 13 Feb 2022, 06:20 PM
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind celebrated the Victory Day and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh attending various state ceremonies in Dhaka on Thursday.
He attended the Victory Day parade ceremony in the morning along with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while President M Abdul Hamid took the salute.
He said the anti-liberation forces who brutally killed Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family did not realize that bullets and violence cannot extinguish an idea that has captured the imagination of millions of people.
Above all, he said, the anti-liberation forces did not count on the determination and resilience of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who faced assassination attempts and dictatorships with remarkable courage.
He made the remarks at a discussion on the Victory Day and Mujib Borsho celebrations on the parliament premises. President Hamid spoke as the chief guest.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Rehana, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and Chief Coordinator of International Implementation Committee Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury also spoke.
The Indian president said Prime Minister Hasina has been driven by the strong conviction to realise the dream of Bangabandhu, and his spirit of the “rebel”, as set out in the famous poem by the great poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Kovind said these ideals of Bangabandhu are now being realised by the hardworking and enterprising people of Bangladesh, guided by the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“The vision of Bangabandhu was of a Bangladesh that was not only free politically, but also of a nation that was equitable and inclusive. Sadly, his vision could not be realised in his lifetime,” he said.
“On this historic 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Bangladesh, I bring you festive greetings from your 1.3 billion brothers and sisters in India. We celebrate with you this historic day: 50 years ago, the ideological map of South Asia changed irreversibly and the proud nation of Bangladesh was born,” he said.
On this occasion, President Kovind paid tribute to the memory of the untold suffering of tens of millions of people of Bangladesh, especially the brutalized daughters, sisters and mothers.
“It is their sacrifice, and the righteousness of the cause of Bangladesh, that has transformed the region.
“As our nations develop and our friendship further deepens, let us continue to work together towards realizing the dreams of our peoples,” he said.
President Kovind said history will always bear witness to this “unique foundation” of friendship between the two countries, forged in the people’s war that liberated Bangladesh.
“Veterans of that war – both from India and Bangladesh – some of whom are here in this audience, including the President of Bangladesh – are living testimony to the power of faith and friendship, which can move mountains,” he said.
Terming the invitation a unique honour, President Kovind said it is also a true reflection of their very special friendship.
“Like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I’m delighted that my first visit outside India since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic is to your country Bangladesh. I am also honoured to participate in the Mujib Borsho celebrations,” he said.
A little over 50 years ago, the vision of an independent Bangladesh inspired millions but it seemed a remote and impossible dream then to naysayers, sceptics and detractors, the Indian president observed.
“But the inspiring statesmanship of Bangabandhu; his clear-sighted moral conviction and his unflinching determination to seek justice for the people of East Pakistan were truly the game-changers,” he said, adding that world learnt a valuable lesson that the will of the majority of people cannot be subjugated by any force, however brutal.
Kovind is the lone foreign head of state to join the celebrations while Dhaka rolled out a red carpet as he arrived on Wednesday on a three-day visit along with his wife and daughter with a delegation.
Bangladesh invited him to the celebration as New Delhi extended its crucial support during the 1971 Liberation War while on this day in 1971 the defeated Pakistani troops unconditionally surrendered to Bangladesh-India allied forces.
This year Bangladesh is simultaneously celebrating the 50th year of Dhaka-New Delhi diplomatic ties.
Kovind: Bullets couldn’t wipe out Bangabandhu’s ideals
Indian president celebrates Victory Day in Dhaka
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind celebrated the Victory Day and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh attending various state ceremonies in Dhaka on Thursday.
He attended the Victory Day parade ceremony in the morning along with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while President M Abdul Hamid took the salute.
He said the anti-liberation forces who brutally killed Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family did not realize that bullets and violence cannot extinguish an idea that has captured the imagination of millions of people.
Above all, he said, the anti-liberation forces did not count on the determination and resilience of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who faced assassination attempts and dictatorships with remarkable courage.
He made the remarks at a discussion on the Victory Day and Mujib Borsho celebrations on the parliament premises. President Hamid spoke as the chief guest.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Rehana, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and Chief Coordinator of International Implementation Committee Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury also spoke.
The Indian president said Prime Minister Hasina has been driven by the strong conviction to realise the dream of Bangabandhu, and his spirit of the “rebel”, as set out in the famous poem by the great poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Kovind said these ideals of Bangabandhu are now being realised by the hardworking and enterprising people of Bangladesh, guided by the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“The vision of Bangabandhu was of a Bangladesh that was not only free politically, but also of a nation that was equitable and inclusive. Sadly, his vision could not be realised in his lifetime,” he said.
“On this historic 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Bangladesh, I bring you festive greetings from your 1.3 billion brothers and sisters in India. We celebrate with you this historic day: 50 years ago, the ideological map of South Asia changed irreversibly and the proud nation of Bangladesh was born,” he said.
On this occasion, President Kovind paid tribute to the memory of the untold suffering of tens of millions of people of Bangladesh, especially the brutalized daughters, sisters and mothers.
“It is their sacrifice, and the righteousness of the cause of Bangladesh, that has transformed the region.
“As our nations develop and our friendship further deepens, let us continue to work together towards realizing the dreams of our peoples,” he said.
President Kovind said history will always bear witness to this “unique foundation” of friendship between the two countries, forged in the people’s war that liberated Bangladesh.
“Veterans of that war – both from India and Bangladesh – some of whom are here in this audience, including the President of Bangladesh – are living testimony to the power of faith and friendship, which can move mountains,” he said.
Terming the invitation a unique honour, President Kovind said it is also a true reflection of their very special friendship.
“Like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I’m delighted that my first visit outside India since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic is to your country Bangladesh. I am also honoured to participate in the Mujib Borsho celebrations,” he said.
A little over 50 years ago, the vision of an independent Bangladesh inspired millions but it seemed a remote and impossible dream then to naysayers, sceptics and detractors, the Indian president observed.
“But the inspiring statesmanship of Bangabandhu; his clear-sighted moral conviction and his unflinching determination to seek justice for the people of East Pakistan were truly the game-changers,” he said, adding that world learnt a valuable lesson that the will of the majority of people cannot be subjugated by any force, however brutal.
Kovind is the lone foreign head of state to join the celebrations while Dhaka rolled out a red carpet as he arrived on Wednesday on a three-day visit along with his wife and daughter with a delegation.
Bangladesh invited him to the celebration as New Delhi extended its crucial support during the 1971 Liberation War while on this day in 1971 the defeated Pakistani troops unconditionally surrendered to Bangladesh-India allied forces.
This year Bangladesh is simultaneously celebrating the 50th year of Dhaka-New Delhi diplomatic ties.
Topics: