Joy Bangla slogan a message to world not to bow heads down: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that her government has made the 'Joy Bangla' as the national slogan of Bangladesh to send a message to the world people that the Bangalees wouldn't bow down their heads, describing the slogan as an element of achieving everything that included the country's independence.

"We want to send a message to the world's people through making the Joy Bangla slogan as the national slogan of Bangladesh that we are a victorious nation, we had achieved victory. We don't bow our heads down and we won’t do that. Each of the Bangalee where they will move across the globe with keeping their heads high," she said.

She said this while opening the Joy Bangla festival as the chief guest organised by Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) marking the "Joy Bangla (Victory of Bengal)" slogan as a national slogan of Bangladesh at the Hotel Continental and Banani in the capital on Monday evening. 

Joining virtually the programme from her official Ganabhaban residence here, the Prime Minister also said that the Joy Bangla slogan is the slogan of the struggle for independence and Liberation War, achieving everything and for self-sacrifice.

"We have achieved victory during the War of Liberation in 1971 through the slogan," she said.

The Prime Minister also unveiled a book titled “Muktidata Sheikh Mujib” and launched seven patriotic songs in the programme.

On February 20, 2022 the cabinet division decided to make Joy Bangla as the national slogan of Bangladesh while the government had issued a notification to this end on March 2 last.

PM's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, MP, spoke on the occasion as the special guest while Chairman of the BAB and EXIM Bank Ltd. Md. Nazrul Islam Mazumder gave a welcome address.

Describing the Joy Bangla slogan a source of inspiration to the freedom fighters during the Liberation War, Sheikh Hasina said that the slogan gave them so much strength as they didn’t hesitate to shed their blood in creating the way for the victory.

The Prime Minister said that the victory was achieved through the Liberation War as the Joy Bangla slogan inspired the people to join the struggle and sacrifice their lives for the noble cause of the country’s independence.

“Being inspired by this slogan, the people had written with blood that they want to achieve victory and Bangladesh will win,” she added.

The Prime Minister said today ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan has got recognition as the national slogan, saying “Today the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan is for all, the people of this country, the victorious nation and the Bengali nation…… it has proved that no sacrifice goes in vain.”  

Sheikh Hasina said she would have been very glad had her lone surviving younger sister Sheikh Rehana been beside her in the function. “She (Sheikh Rehana) is great strength for me,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu concluded his historic 7th March speech by chanting the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan that means he was quite sure that Bangalees would gain victory.

She said that the Joy Bangla slogan had banned alongside historic 7th speech after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975.

“But it is unfortunate that the slogan, which had given us so much inspiration (in the Liberation War) was banned when we became a victorious nation,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League (AL), said that the people who belong to her party or followers of the Bangabandhu’s ideology are the believers in the spirit of Liberation War and the freedom fighters upheld the Joy Bangla slogan confronting all the odds.  

Many AL leaders and workers had to sacrifice their lives because of chanting the Joy Bangla slogan and playing the 7th March speech of Bangabandhu after the 1975 changeover.     

“---we had to hear many insulting words and face various criticisms. It has been recognised as the national slogan today and we’ve been able to keep up this slogan even after facing those,” she added.

The Prime Minister said that after coming to power after 21 years, her government has taken measures to nourish all the achievements of the Liberation War and for this reason the historic 7th March speech had got recognition from the UNESCO, February 21 become the International Mother Language Day and the Joy Bangla slogan had been made the national slogan of Bangladesh.

Praising the BAB for organising such a wonderful programme marking the state recognition of Joy Bangla slogan, she said, ‘’It has been possible to make Bangladesh forward as we have got support from all of you (business community).’’

The Prime Minister reiterated that none would be able to push Bangladesh Behind, saying that she has given the policy how Bangladesh would be a developed and prosperous nation by 2041 and started implementing Delta-2100 plan to ensure a better and improved life for the people of generation after generation.  

Sheikh Hasina has come down heavily on the governments’ came to the power after assassination of the Father of the Nation as they did nothing for the welfare of the people rather they make some quick bucks using state power despite getting a solid foundation made by Bangabandhu with three and a half years tenure of his government after the independence.