PM: Struggle for freedom started with Language Movement

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said Bangladesh’s struggle for freedom started with the Language Movement and culminated in victory during the War for Independence. 

"The blood of our martyrs did not go in vain, that is the proven truth. We gained our independence in exchange for the blood of millions of martyrs," she said while virtually addressing a discussion to mark Language Martyrs Day and International Mother Language Day from her official residence, Ganabhaban. 

Awami League organized the program at its Bangabandhu Avenue central office.

Sheikh Hasina, also chief of the ruling party, vowed to make the hard-won liberation meaningful. 

"We will deliver the results of independence to all doors, this is our promise," she said.

She mentioned that the essence of the development initiatives of the government is to provide basic rights, food, clothes, homes, medical treatment and education for all people, starting from the rural areas.

"We are working so that Bangladesh can get rid of hunger and poverty to become the Bangladesh that was dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, where people can make their lives meaningful and prosperous," she said.

Bangabandhu and Language Movement

Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on protecting the country's own culture and tradition.

"The Language Movement was not just a movement for language, it was a movement for our culture as well. He (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) did that and we have to move forward while maintaining it," she said.

She briefly described the contribution and role of the Father of the Nation in the Language Movement and requested all to go through the Intelligence Branch reports of Pakistan that are being publishing gradually.

‘Preserve all languages’

Talking about the establishment of the International Mother Language Institute, she said preserving all languages, irrespective of their size, is a grand task on the shoulders of the country.

“Create scope for research (for the researchers). This is the biggest-ever institution of this kind for preserving mother languages. There is no other instance of preservation like this. We have done that," she said.   

Regarding the assassination of Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975, the prime minister said that the spirit of independence was destroyed through this killing.

"The vested quarter and killers who never believed in the liberation of the country were always busy serving their own interests, not that of the people," she said.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader delivered the introductory speech at the program from 23 Bangabandhu Avenue, while Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap conducted the discussion from Ganobhaban.

Presidium members Matia Chowdhury, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman, joint secretary and Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Religious Affairs Secretary Advocate Sirajul Mostafa, Woman Affairs Secretary Meher Afroj Chumki, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Dhaka South unit of AL president Abu Ahammad Mannafi and Dhaka North unit of AL president Sheikh Bazlur Rahman also spoke.

One minute of silence was observed to show respect to all the martyrs that helped establish an independent and democratic Bangladesh.