PM alerts people against history distorters

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought people's alertness against distorters of history who opposed the 1971 independence to prevent their return to power as she joined the official celebration of the UNESCO recognition of Bangabandhu's 7th March speech.

"We will build Bangladesh with the spirit of the Liberation War . . . we should remain careful so the Rajakars, Albadrs, killers and misinterpreters of the history cannot come to power again," she told the celebration at the Suhrawardy udyan, reports BSS.

The premier said the extempore speech of 7th March, 1971 had a clear directive for the people how to liberate the country and what will be the future course of our nation.

She wondered how those who tried to misinterpret the history by virtually prohibiting the historic speech would now "hide their faces" after its recognition by UNESCO as one of world's memories enlisting the address in the "Memory of the World International Register" on October 30, 2017.

The cabinet division organized the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, the scene of the Bangabandhu's historic speech, as part of the nationwide celebration of the recognition of the speech by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

"It' not merely a speech . . . it's the history of a nation as he (Bangabandhu) depicted 24 years of Pakistani oppression (in the address)," she said.

Cabinet Secretary Md. Shafiul Alam gave the welcome address while Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Kamal abdul Naser Chowdhury also spoke at the function with the national anthem marking its start.

The rally was preceded by a procession from Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to Suhrawardy Udyan which was joined by tens of thousands of people.

"Today we are a free nation, which was known as an extreme poverty stricken nation once. But the country has created its position amid global community as a dignified nation . . . Today, Bangladesh is not dependent on the grace of others as we are economically gained strength and progressing fast," the premier said.

But, she said the country attained its current elevated status as the outcome relentless work stewarded by the ruling Awami League since returned to power 21 years after the assassination of Bangabandhu.

Bangladesh would be a hunger and poverty free nation as dreamt by the Father of the Nation and it would be a middle income country by 2021 and a developed on by 2041, she said.