The historic March 7 was observed in Tungipara of Gopalganj in a befitting manner this year, with students from 102 educational institutions delivering the historic March 7 speech given by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
A total of 714 students were present on the Tungipara Upazila Parishad helipad premises on Thursday morning to replicate the speech delivered at the Race Course Maidan by Bangabandhu.
The 1,080-word speech was chanted by the students in cohesion, and their performance made an echo all around the ground.
Tungipara Upazila Parishad and the local administration had organized the event.
The helipad ground turned into a mini Race Course Maidan as the children were dressed in traditional white Panjabi and Mujib Coat. They chanted ‘This time the struggle is for our freedom, this time the struggle is for independence’.
The students had memorized the entire speech of Bangabandhu and people from all walks of life, including government officials, leaders, and activists of the local Awami League and affiliated organizations were dazzled by their performance.
Md Shahid Ullah Khandker, development representative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Gopalganj-3 constituency, was the program's chief guest. The event was presided over by Tungipara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mainul Haque, where Tungipara Upazila Parishad Chairman Solaiman Biswas, Municipal Mayor Sheikh Tozammel Haque Tutul and Upazila Awami League and its organizational leaders were present, among others.
UNO Md Moinul Haque said: "Bangabandhu's March 7 speech is a source of inspiration for the Bengali nation. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for independence by preparing a nation for a united struggle in a critical moment of freedom-loving Bengalis. The well-crafted 1,108 words from his heart have given the Bengali nation the motherland and the unstoppable progress of Bangladesh. Therefore, the young students' March 7 speech has been imbibed to inspire them with the spirit of the Liberation War, patriotism and Bangabandhu's ideals."
Md Shahid Ullah Khandker said: “The students memorized Bangabandhu's 19-minute speech. Such a March 7 is rare in the history of Tungipara. Through this, young students will be inspired by the ideals of Bangabandhu and will play an important role in building a developed nation and fulfill Bangabandhu's dream in the future.”
Tungipara Upazila Awami League President Abul Bashar Khair said: "This event of March 7 has added a different dimension to Tungipara, the birthplace of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. UNO Moinul Haque has tried to invigorate the spirit of the Liberation War among the children by organizing this event. I welcome this initiative.”
At the end of the event, a procession was organized with banners, placards, and balloons containing the 1,108 words of the historic speech. The procession toured the upazila and ended at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu. Later, children and students paid tribute to Bangabandhu by placing flowers at the mausoleum.
