To write about one’s country is an extremely demanding task. To write about a people stretches the mind’s reach. To write a message about Bangladesh on the day of her birth overwhelms mind and soul. Her people, past, present and future invoke the finest, the best and the forever. When Bangladesh entered the international comity of states on 26 March, 1971, she proclaimed herself as a rightful member of that comity. She announced that she was born of pain and suffering and a human struggle for liberation; that such liberation had come after her existence for thousands of years as a nation, now as an independent sovereign republic. She poured forth her identity, from her people, of a language and literature, of her music, culture, and values and gave to the world a distinct statehood hitherto unrecorded in the streams of history.

Her Founding Father had declared her to be “Sonar Bangla” (Bengal of Gold). Her people claimed their rightful place amidst independent and sovereign states. She spelled forth that she would be national, socialistic, democratic and secular and would create a society free from exploitation in which the rule of law, rule by and under the Constitution, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality and justice would prevail and be secured for all her citizens. She declared the Supremacy of the Will of her people so that she may prosper and make her full contribution towards international peace and cooperation in keeping with the progressive aspirations of mankind.

In the 38 years since that date when she so proclaimed herself, she has grown and evolved, stood the rest of times, of encroachments and aberrations, of the forces that challenged her, her peoples identity, her future and her leaders. She has demonstrated repeatedly that her sovereign will and her republican character may not be stayed, suspended or abrogated by any whim or extra– constitutional “doctrine of necessity”. She has demonstrated her innermost and innate characteristics, of a state to be served by her people and in the services of her people. Bangabandhu’s “Sonar Bangla” has restated her fundamental principles, that of a tolerant and a peaceful society within and among a human fortress against detractors and bigots. She has spoken in her elections on Dec. 29, 2008 that she is the mistress of her own destiny the kind of life she wishes to have, namely, a democratic and secular society however harsh this path and process might be.

On this auspicious day, as a Minister for Foreign Affairs, it is my privilege and opportunity to call upon the Foreign Ministry itself in Dhaka and our missions abroad in dedicating themselves to nation building, consolidating statehood and projecting the real Bangladesh to the world.

I recall with pride, the role of our expatriates for their immense contribution in different spheres of our national life. I particularly recognize and salute Bangalees living abroad who, through their sweat and toil, have generated earnings and remitted their income which in turn, have met our valuable foreign exchange requirements. Our expatriate brothers and sisters are our real goodwill ambassadors who will speak and deliver our nation’s pride and achievements.

I take the liberty and opportunity to reaffirm our purpose and will to achieve victory against hunger and poverty and usher in a quality of life consistent with human dignity. The dream of Bangabandhu, the Father of the Nation to achieve a “Shonar Bangla” is the task of every citizen. Under the leadership of our Prime Minister, Jono Netri Sheikh Hasina, the nation has resurrected itself to statehood embodying and exercising sovereign will toward the achievement of that dream.

I congratulate and felicitate Bangladesh and its entire people living at home and abroad.