Staff Correspondent: Dhaka, Sept-27,
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is the name of a struggle’s anecdote and a living legend.
“Under her leadership, democracy has been established in the country and we have advanced a lot on the path of economic emancipation and towards building the Sanar Bangla dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu. Due to her leadership, Bangladesh is now a dignified state in the world,” he told a function here.
The Press Information Department (PID) arranged the photo album unveiling ceremony at its conference room at the Secretariat, marking the 75th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain also addressed the function with principal information officer Shahinoor Miah in the chair.
Speaking as the chief guest, Hasan, also the Awami League joint general secretary, said the September 28 is the 75th birthday of Bangabandhu's daughter and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“I was her personal assistant for some time. I noticed that she did not celebrate her birthday in her house. She did not cut the cake. If an event is arranged, she doesn’t want to go there. So we celebrate her birthday on behalf of the party without informing her,” he said.
Noting that this year's birthday of the premier is very significant, the information minister said: "Today I am praying that we may be able to celebrate her 100th birthday and she may live till that day."
Recalling the struggling life of Sheikh Hasina, he said in her childhood, Bangabandhu was mostly in jail and that was why she didn't get her father all the time.
“Bangabandhu was in jail at the time of her (Sheikh Hasina’s) marriage…she and her siblings did not get close to their father because of politics,” Hasan said.
Terming Sheikh Hasina as the daughter of democracy, the AL joint general secretary said there is no hut in the country now, while no person wearing torn clothes and with barefoot is found.
Under her leadership, poverty rate has come down to 20 percent from 40 percent and the country has changed due to her magical leadership, he said.
“We wish she may continue to lead the country in this way so that she can realise the Bangabandhu's dream,” Hasan said.
Information Secretary Mokbul Hossain said the ministry has taken initiatives to celebrate the birthday of the prime minister this year too.
He said a total of 14 programmes will be arranged in three days on the occasion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday apart from airing programmes in BTV and Betar and publishing articles in newspapers.
Mokbul said the people of Bangladesh had lost their leadership after the assassination of Bangabandhu, but the gap was bridged after Sheikh Hasina returned home in 1981 and became the AL president.
End/Dct/Naj/Sma/
