BD New Delhi mission observes Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day
NEW DELHI, Jan 10, 2021 (BSS) – Bangladesh High Commission here today paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to mark the great leader’s triumphant return to independent Bangladesh from Pakistani jail.
On this historic day in 1972, Bangabandhu returned home nearly a month after Bangladesh gained victory in the nine-month liberation war against the Pakistani occupation forces.
Speaking on the occasion, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran paid tribute to Bangabandhu describing his homecoming as a complete fulfillment of the victory, according to a press release issued by the mission after the function.
He recalled the help and assistance of India, under the leadership of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, extended to the 1971 War of Liberation in which three million people laid down their lives.
The high commissioner said Bangabandhu, in his historic address to a cheering crowd during a stopover in New Delhi on way to Dhaka, laid the foundation of the “unique relation”, Bangladesh and India enjoy today.
Calling Bangabandhu as a real “people’s leader”, Muhammad Imran urged the young generation, students and children to read about the life and work of the Greatest Bengali of all time so they can better contribute to fulfilling his dream of building “Sonar Bangla”, a land of happiness and prosperity free of hunger and exploitation.
Two Indian journalists, Gautam Lahiri and Soumya Bandyopadhyay took part in the discussion at the mission underlining the importance of further consolidation of the mutually beneficial relationship between Bangladesh and India.
Farid Hossain, Minister (Press) at the mission also spoke.
Earlier, the high commissioner, accompanied by the officers and staff of the mission, placed a floral wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation at the mission’s Bangabandhu Corner.
Besides, messages from President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, sent on the occasion of the Homecoming Day, were read out respectively by Deputy High Commissioner A.T.M. Rokebul Haque and Minister (Consular) Selim Jahangir.
The function was conducted by Minister (Political) Md. Nural Islam.
A documentary edited by the high commissioner on Bangabandhu’s release from Pakistani jail on January 8, his arrival in London, meeting with former British Prime Minister Edward Heath, Bangabandhu’s press conference in London, his stopover in New Delhi before finally landing in Dhaka on January 10 and his speech before a sea of people at the then-Race Course maidan was screened on the occasion.
A special magazine titled “Glorious Bangladesh” published to mark the 50th Victory Day, was also unveiled by Muhammad Imran.
A one-minute silence was observed in memory of Bangabandhu, followed by a special prayer.