Today, Bangladesh celebrates its 42nd anniversary of her glorious Independence Day. As we celebrate the Day, I convey my heartfelt greetings and felicitations to my compatriots living at home and abroad. On this memorable day, I recall with profound respect the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who proclaimed country’s independence at the early hours on March 26, 1971. I also pay my deep homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives in the war of liberation in 1971 and the hundreds of thousands of women who were raped by the occupation Pakistani Armed forces, the auxiliary forces and their local collaborators.

It all began with the assertion of a national identity in the face of systematic denial, discrimination and deprivation of that identity rooted in a millennia-old heritage of language, culture and customs. It evolved through the shaping of political demands for inclusion and equal access to opportunities, against marginalization of the Bangalee people and their cultural essence.

It crystallized into the 6-point demand, a detailed manifesto for autonomy and devolution.

The landslide victory for the Awami League in the first ever general elections in 1970 and the refusal to hand over power by the Pakistani authorities led to the non-co-operation movement culminating in the declaration of independence by Bangabandhu when the genocide began. We achieved our long-cherished independence through nine-month long armed struggle and supreme sacrifices of millions of people.

Cherishing the true history of the liberation war, the present government has made giant strides to achieve the objectives of Charter of Change which will lead to Bangabandhu’s ‘Sonar Bangla’ — the Golden Bengal. We can visualize a middle-income, digital knowledge-based Bangladesh in 2021. We have demonstrated our intent and ability to forge partnerships with our immediate neighbors and far beyond. We are deeply involved in the process of multilateralism, through global and regional commitments in line with the policy of “Friendship to all and malice towards none” enunciated by Bangabandhu.

The present government remains pledge-bound to bring the perpetrators of atrocities committed during the war of liberation in 1971 to justice. The defeated anti-liberation, communal and identified reactionary forces are trying to destabilize the country and derail the democratic and development process. They are out to portray a negative image of the country outside Bangladesh.

I urge the international community to add their voice to the overwhelming popular demand emanating from the people of Bangladesh and join in their condemnation of those found guilty of crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes. On this very special day, I take the opportunity to thank all our officials and staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Missions abroad who have devoted themselves to achieve our foreign policy objectives. I also congratulate the Bangladesh Diaspora who has been contributing to the buoyancy of the economy of their country of origin as well as of their host countries.

Finally, I urge all to work unitedly imbued with the spirit of war of liberation to expedite economic self-reliance and democratic advancement of the country.

Joy Bangla

Joy Bangabandhu

Dr. Dipu Moni, MP

Foreign minister of Bangladesh