I convey my heartiest greetings to my countrymen as well as to all expatriate Bangalees on the occasion of the great Independence and National Day of Bangladesh.

The 26th March is the day of earning self-identity; it is a day of breaking the shackles of subjugation.

On this auspicious occasion of the Independence Day, I pay my deep homage to the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose dynamic leadership we earned our great independence.

I recall with deep gratitude the 3 million martyrs and 200,000 women who lost their innocence in the War of Liberation in 1971.

We earned our desired victory through their supreme sacrifices.

I also pay my humble tributes to four national leaders who led the liberation war.

I pay my respect to the valiant freedom fighters, including those wounded in the war.

I extend my sympathies to those who had lost their near and dear ones, and were subjected to brutal torture.

I recall with gratitude our foreign friends who had extended their whole-hearted support and cooperation to our liberation war.

The Pakistani occupation forces started killing innocent and unarmed Bangalees launching a sudden attack on the black night of March 25, 1971.

The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh at the early hours of March 26.

Bangabandhu’s proclamation was spread all over the country through telegrams, tele-printers and the wireless of the then EPR.

The proclamation was also circulated in international media.

Earlier on March 7 at Suhrawardy Udyan, Bangabandhu made a fervent call for waging independence struggle.

He declared: “This time the struggle is for our freedom; this time the struggle is for independence.” He directed the Bangalee nation to resist the enemy.

The ultimate victory was earned on Dec. 16 after a 9-month bloody war carried out under the directives of Bangabandhu.

The independence earned through the sacrifice of millions of people is the greatest achievement of Bangalee nation.

To make the achievement meaningful, all would have to know the true history of the liberation war and retain the spirit of the independence. It would have to be spread from generation to generations.

Bangladesh Awami League, whenever came to power, remained devoted to take the country forward with the spirit of independence and freedom fight.

During the last six years, we implemented huge development works in all sectors, including agriculture, education, health, communication, energy and power, ICT, urban and rural development, human resource, social safety-net and women empowerment.

As a result, peoples’ purchasing power, per capita income, forex reserves, export, FDI and employment opportunity have multiplied manifold. Bangladesh has turned into a role-model for development.

Various nations and world bodies have lauded and recognized our achievements.

The trial of the war criminals is going on and the verdicts are being executed.

The conspiracy of the anti-liberation communal and anti-democratic forces is continuing to frustrate the war crimes trial, democratic process and our development spree.

The BNP-Jamaat hoodlums are carrying out subversive activities in 71-style.

They are killing people by hurling petrol bombs.

On this auspicious day, I urge the countrymen to face unitedly any ill-attempt against independence, democracy and anti-country activities.

We are committed to reaching the fruits of our independence at each home.

Our target is to turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041.

We have relentlessly been working to realize the target.

I hope that every Bangalee being imbued with the mantra of patriotism would engage themselves from their respective positions and with the highest sincerity, dedication and honesty to turn Bangladesh into a peaceful, non-communal and middle-income country at the golden jubilee of our independence. Bangladesh would be established as a dignified nation in the comity of nations.

Let us come and build Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.

This is our vow on this great day.

Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu

May Bangladesh Live Forever.

Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh