Staff Correspondent: Laying emphasis on preserving the memories of the war of liberation and martyrs, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said generation after generation should know the country’s real history, evolution and achievement.
“Bangladesh is now an independent nation which once upon a time was a deprived, exploited and repressed nation. But, it has stood up with high head before the world and generation to generation should know how we got this achievement,” she said.
The premier was addressing the launching ceremony of freedom fighters’ allowance disbursement through electronic fund transfer (Government to Person-G2P) using Management Information System (MIS) at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.
She said the government has taken initiatives to construct museums and preserve evidence and memories of the war of liberation so people could know the real history visiting these places.
“We want the next generation to see and know the evidence and memories of the war of liberation, and the government is tirelessly working to this end,” she added. Liberation war affairs minister A K M Mozammel Haque and secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh also spoke on the occasion.
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Secretary Md. Tofazzel Hossain Miah moderated the event.
An audio-visual presentation on the war of liberation and freedom fighters was screened at the outset of the ceremony.
Later, freedom fighters from Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur district, Fulbari upazila of Kurigram district, Paikegachha upazila of Khunla district, Haimchar upazila of Chandpur district and Borolekha upazila of Moulavibazar district were connected, and expressed their feelings and gratitude after getting the allowance directly to their bank accounts.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken massive initiative to preserve the memories of Suhrawardy Udyan, as Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had given March 7 speech here. Also
Bangabandhu, at the reception meeting here after his home-coming on January 10, had delivered directives on how the independent Bangladesh would run, she added.
She went on saying the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who helped most in the War of Liberation delivered speech at Suhrawardy Udyan and Silver jubilee of country’s independent was also celebrated here in the tenure of Awami League in 1996 where Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, South African President Nelson Mandela and Turkey’s President SÂleyman Demirel attended and installed “Shikha Chirantan”.
Also referring to the surrender of Pakistani occupation forces to the
Mitra Bahini (allied forces) at Suhrawardy Udyan, Sheikh Hasina said the
government is implementing different activities including an underground
museum here to preserve the memories and history so that people can know
everything by visiting this place.
She said initiatives have also been taken to preserve the places of war,
mass killings, burial places of martyrs and others alongside constructing
Muktijoddha Complex across the country to let the people and next generation
know the history of the country’s War of Liberation.
In the Muktijoddha Complex in every upazila, there will be a small museum
to preserve the materials related to the Liberation War, she added.
She requested the freedom fighters to tell their heroic stories of the War
of Liberation to the children.
Briefly elaborating various programmes of the government for the welfare
of the valiant war heroes of the country, the premier said the government is
providing accommodation facilities for the freedom fighters, who are
homeless.
“As long as I’m there in the government, it will never happen that freedom
fighters have no home and address, and they’re spending their days in
misery,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina also urged the rich people to extend support to the freedom
fighters (FFs) if anyone stays in hardship, saying that you people (rich)
have got the chance to be wealthier as they (FFs) have made the country
independent.
The premier also mentioned the government will provide a livable place for
everyone besides ensuring their livelihood in the Mujib Borsha.
Each house would be illuminated with electricity, and a hunger-poverty
free and non-communal Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation
would be materialized, she added.
