Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday emphasized on informing the new generations about the struggles and sacrifices behind the achievements of the country. "If the future generations know about these sacrifices and struggles they will learn the value of patriotism. Their merits, knowledge and creativity will flourish," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said this while inaugurating a 150-feet-long scroll painting on the life of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman titled "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib: Great Canvas of the Great Life". The program was held at the National Museum in Dhaka, with the prime minister joining it virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.
She said that the government has developed the country a lot from 2009 to 2022, changing the lives of the people significantly. She mentioned that poverty has been reduced and people are getting education and other facilities with development spreading to the rural areas.
"With these developments I think that the sacrifices and struggles of the people behind these achievements have to be known by the people," she said. The prime minister said that the country observes February 21 as International Mother Language Day and Martyrs' Day, historic March 7 for the speech of the Father of the Nation, brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation on August 15, genocide in 1971.
She also recalled the struggle of the people and the bravery of the unarmed Bangalis to liberate the country through a war. "We have many historical events like these. Our children, youths and generations have to know this history. Knowing this they will be imbued with patriotism and inspired to devote them to the welfare of the people," she said.
"They will be imbued with the spirit of serving the people of the country and that is very much important for us," she added. The prime minister said that there was an evil attempt to erase the name of Bangabandhu and his struggle and sacrifice from the history of the country after his brutal assassination in 1975.
"But truth triumphed as the name of the Father of the Nation could not be erased from the history of the country," she said. Thanking the artists, poets, novelists and other sections of the people for their efforts to bring Bangabandhu in their creative works over the years, Hasina said that the scroll will be exhibited across the country in phases.
She suggested placing it permanently at Bangabandhu Mausoleum in Tungipara, the birthplace of Bangabandhu. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee organized the event.
Shahjahan Ahmed Bikash painted the longest scroll painting of the country illustrating Bangabandhu's life and works. The exhibition will continue for two weeks at Nalini Kanta Bhattasali Gallery at the National Museum.
Education Minister Dipu Moni, artist Shahjahan Ahmed Bikash, Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad president Artist Jamal Hossain and Managing partner of Matra Artist Afzal Hossain also spoke at the programme.
Chief Coordinator of the Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech. At the outset of the ceremony, the theme song of Mujib Year and a video documentary on the scroll painting was screened.
