6 | The Japan Times | Tuesday, March 26, 2019 Bangladesh Independence Day Special In pursuit of prosperity, development Buddha Dhatu Jadi, also known as the Bandarban Golden all would be written in golden letters in the 2041. Bangladesh is now being branded as a ABDUL HAMID Temple, is the largest PRESIDENT OF BANGLADESH history of our independence forever. role model for outstanding success in socio- Theravada Buddhist We have achieved our hard-earned economic development. temple in Bangla- Today is March 26, independence through huge sacrifices. In pursuing our diplomatic objectives, desh. The temple is the Independence Bangabandhu always cherished a dream of the government has been consistent in located in Bandarban Day of Bangladesh. building a happy and prosperous country upholding the principle of “friendship to district in the south- On the occasion of along with achieving political emancipa- all, malice towards none’’ as enunciated eastern part of the our great indepen- tion. Immediately after independence, by the father of the nation. Our achieve- country. embassY of dence and National he had taken all-out steps in rebuilding ment in the international arena is also bangladesh Day, I extend my the economy of the war-ravaged country. commendable. Our expatriate Bangla- heartfelt greetings Keeping that in mind, the present govern- deshis have also been making significant and warm felicita- ment has been rendering untiring efforts in contributions to our national economy have started the new journey after the 11th ize Bangabandhu’s dream of transforming tions to my fellow materializing the dream of Bangabandhu. through sending their hard-earned remit- parliamentary elections. Collective initiative Bangladesh into Sonar Bangla (Golden Ban- countrymen living at home and abroad. After a long struggle, Bangladesh is now tances home. Nevertheless, we have a long is necessary to implement the development gladesh). Sincere and collective efforts are On this historic day, I recall with pro- The father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh moving toward development and pros- way to go for achieving the desired goals of ideas of the government and make the par- imperative to implement the programs. found respect the architect of our indepen- Mujibur Rahman perity. Besides, the overall development, independence. We must ensure good gov- liament meaningful. I hope the national par- Imbued with the spirit of the war of lib- dence, father of the nation Bangabandhu the implementation of mega-projects like ernance, social justice, transparency and liament will become the center of the hopes eration and democratic values, let us work Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I pay my deep freedom fighters, organizers, supporters, our Padma Bridge, Metro Rail and a nuclear accountability to make the development and aspirations of the people. For this, together irrespective of party affiliation to homage to the martyrs and valiant sons of foreign friends and people from all walks power plant are ongoing. With the launch- people-oriented and sustainable. the ruling party, as well as the opposition, make our hard-earned independence more the soil, who made the supreme sacrifice in of life who made immense contributions ing of the Bangabandhu-I satellite, we have Democracy and development comple- would have to play constructive roles. The meaningful. Let this be the pledge of our the war of liberation. I also recall with deep to attain our right to self-determination in cemented our place in space. We are dream- ment each other. Jatiya Sangsad (the present government has set “Vision 2021” independence and national day. reverence our four national leaders, valiant the war of liberation. The contributions of ing of a developed Bangladesh by the year national parliament) and the government and “Vision 2041,” respectively, to material- Khoda Hafez, may Bangladesh live forever. Projected benchmarks achieved in all sectors throughout the past decade SHEIKH HasINA bur Rahman, under whose undisputed abandhu. They were compelled to hold Dhaka. Bangabandhu formally proclaimed ment in the world. Our government is The people made the Bangladesh Awami PRIME MINISTER OF BANGLADESH leadership we earned our coveted indepen- general elections in 1970. The Bangladesh the independence of Bangladesh at the first maintaining a “zero tolerance” policy to League victorious in the recent 11th parlia- dence. I pay my deep homage to the 3 mil- Awami League led by Bangabandhu won hour of March 26, 1971. Under the brave tackle militancy, terrorism and the drug mentary elections. We will fully honor the I convey my hearti- lion martyrs and 200,000 women who lost an overwhelming majority in the elections. and dauntless leadership of Bangabandhu, menace. For the first time in the world, we huge mandate that the people of our coun- est greetings and their honor in the war of liberation. I also But the Pakistani rulers, instead of handing we earned the ultimate victory on Dec. 16, have formulated a 100-year plan named try have given us. We will turn Bangladesh congratulations to pay my tribute to the four national leaders over the power to the majority party in a 1971, after a bloody nine-month war. “Delta Plan 2100.” Bangladesh is one of the into a middle-income country by 2021 and my countrymen, as who steered the war of liberation in the democratic way, launched repressive mea- The independence earned through the top five countries in the world in terms of a developed and prosperous one by 2041, well as all expatri- absence of Bangabandhu. My homage goes sures against them. Bangabandhu, in his supreme sacrifices of millions of people is economic development. Ninety percent of Insha Allah (God willing). ate Bangalees, on to the valiant freedom fighters, including March 7 historic address at the then-Ramna the greatest achievement of the Bangalee development work is financed by our own Let us come and uphold the develop- the occasion of the those wounded. I extend my sympathies Race Course declared, “The struggle of this nation. resources. We have executed the verdict ment and democratic spree being imbued great Independence to those who had lost their near and dear time is for emancipation, the struggle for Being imbued with the spirit of the free- of the trial of the killers of Bangabandhu, with the spirit of the freedom struggle. Let and National Day of ones, and were subjected to brutal torture this time for our independence, Joy Ban- dom struggle, the Awami League govern- establishing the rule of law. The verdicts us engage ourselves for the welfare of the Bangladesh. during the war. I recall with gratitude our gla.” He instructed the Bangalee nation to ment has relentlessly been working to of the trials of the war criminals are also country and nation. Let us build a hun- March 26 is the day of earning self-iden- foreign friends who had extended their resist the enemies. develop the country. We have been accom- being executed. The trials of war crimi- ger-, poverty-free; happy and prosperous tity for our nation. It’s the day of breaking wholehearted support and cooperation for The occupation forces unleashed a sud- plishing the unfinished work of the father nals will continue as per our pledges to Sonar Bangladesh (Golden Bangladesh) as the shackles of subjugation. On the eve of the cause of our liberation. den attack and started killing innocent of the nation. We have achieved expected the nation. Due to the continuation of the dreamed by the father of the nation. On the independence day, I recall with deep grati- The Bangalee nation had fought against and unarmed Bangalees on the black night developments in every sector during the Awami League government, grass-roots historic day, let this be our commitment. tude the greatest Bangalee of all time, father Pakistani oppression and deprivation for of March 25, 1971. They killed thousands last 10 years. Bangladesh has become the people are now getting the dividend of the Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu. of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Muji- long 23 years under the leadership of Bang- of people in cities and towns, including role model of socioeconomic develop- development. May Bangladesh Live Forever. PAGE: 6 Tuesday, March 26, 2019 | The Japan Times | 7 Bangladesh Independence Day Special Steady achievements at Internet access among major priorities home and internationally RABAB FATIMA promoting friendly relations between our in the region. Our gross domestic prod- mation and communications technology AMBASSADOR OF BaNGLADESH two countries. I congratulate and extend uct growth has remained steady at over 6 (ICT) outsourcing destination, with annual warmest felicitations to them on this percent for the last decade, and was 7.86 export earnings in the ICT sector at over $1 A.K. ABDUL MOMEN gladesh becoming an upper middle-income I extend my warm- happy occasion. percent last year. Foreign direct investment billion this year and it is expected to sur- FOREIGN MINISTER OF BANGLADESH country by 2021 and developed country by est greetings to the Japan has been one of our most impor- to Bangladesh is expanding significantly. pass $5 billion by 2021. 2041. She hopes to realize Bangabandhu’s readers of The Japan tant development partners since our One-hundred special economic zones are Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s develop- On the occasion of dream of Sonar Bangla, a prosperous, exploi- Times on the 48th independence. Today, this strong relation- being developed in Bangladesh, includ- ment and growth road maps, “Vision 2021” March 26, the great tation-free, just and developed Bangladesh. Anniversary of the ship stands firm on the foundations of a ing one exclusively for Japanese investors. and “Vision 2041,” place an inclusive and Independence and Now Bangladesh is on a pathway to pros- Independence and comprehensive partnership. Japan is our I invite Japanese investors to be a part of participatory development model at the National Day of Ban- perity.