Today, we commemorate the 34th anniversary of our glorious independence and National Day. It is a day for rejoicing and for remembrance. We pause to pay tribute to those countless martyrs who laid down their lives for a free and independent Bangladesh.
I take this opportunity on this auspicious occasion to extend my heartiest greetings to all Bangladeshis at home and abroad. Together, we must reaffirm our solemn pledge to dedicate ourselves to materializing the dreams of our heroic martyrs for a democratic, prosperous and independent Bangladesh. This will be the real testimony to their supreme sacrifice.
Thirty-four years ago, our war of independence began with the bold proclamation of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman in March 1971 calling for the establishment of an independent Bangladesh. This electrifying call was to spontaneously rally people from all walks of life and culminate in our freedom after nine months of bloody struggle. Bangladesh emerged as a sovereign independent state.
Freedom and true political independence is the bedrock on which we seek to build a strong and prosperous Bangladesh founded on democracy, participatory human development and assurance of individual human rights. Our fundamental aim is to improve the socio-economic condition and living standards of our masses through hard work, commitment and dedication and through specific and targeted plans of action.
To this end, Bangladesh has undertaken a wider and deeper reform process within the framework of a National Strategy for Economic Growth, Poverty Reduction and Social Development. Our endeavors have borne results including some remarkable achievements in macro-economic management and human development. Economic growth is being sustained at over 5.5 percent despite huge setbacks due to natural disasters.
There has been visible impact in improving per-capita income; in enhancing food security, in strengthening our capacity to cope with natural disasters and in promoting key social sectors and health services. Bangladesh’s steady progress especially in comparative terms with countries at its income level and in its own sub-region constitutes a significant socio-economic revolution backed by sound macro-economic fundamentals.
In the external environment, Bangladesh’s foreign policy continues to promote wider and more dynamic cooperation with all countries of the world bilaterally, regionally and internationally. A major thrust is aggressive pursuit of our economic interests in five specific areas viz. efficient utilization of aid, trade, investment, technology, particularly IT and ICT and export of manpower.
Our “Look East” policy is a manifestation of pursuing this competitive edge and seeks to supplement our on-going bilateral relations with all regions of the world. Regionally and multilaterally Bangladesh seeks to play a proactive and contributory role not only in terms of participation but also through pragmatic ideas and initiatives. It is in this context, that Bangladesh’s commitment to peace-keeping remains a major plank of our foreign policy despite the increasing toll it has taken in terms of those killed and wounded in the cause of peace.
Tributes are due to our expatriate community whose contributions during and since the war of independence are recognized by all.
They remain our goodwill ambassadors abroad and are a major repository for protecting and projecting our image abroad. It is our expectation that their role will rise above party affiliations and opinions and unitedly promote our common cause.
On this joyous occasion, I call on all our countrymen to renew and reaffirm the pledge to build a strong, prosperous and self-reliant Bangladesh.
Allah Hafiz.
Bangladesh Zindabad.
Khaleda Zia
(Prime Minister of Bangladesh)