CONTENTS 1 Message from Honʼble President 2 Message from Honʼble Prime Minister 3 Message from Honʼble Foreign Minister 4 Message from Honʼble State Minister for Foreign Affairs 5 A Few Words from the High Commissioner 8 Bangabandhu in Timeline 12 Bangabandhu: The Making of a Great Leader 15 Bangabandhu: A Poet of Politics 18 The Greatest Speech of the Greatest Bangali 21 The Political Philosophy of Bangabandhu 25 Bangabandhu's Thoughts on Economic Development 28 Foreign Policy in Bangabandhu's Time 31 People-centric Education Policy of Bangabandhu Chief Editor Photos His Excellency External Publicity Wing, 34 Bangabandhu, Who Set the Tone of Md. Mustafizur Rahman Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Agricultural Revolution Dhaka Official website of Mujib Executive Editor Borsho Celebration Bangabandhu and his Policy of Health for All Committee 37 Md. Toufiq-ur-Rahman (https://mujib100.gov.bd/) Collections from Public 41 Bangabandhu: What the World Needs to Know Editorial Team Domain A.K.M. Azam Chowdhury Learnings from Bangabandhu's Writings Mohammad Ataur Rahman Portraits 45 Sabbir Ahmed Shahabuddin Ahmed Md. Rafiqul Islam Ahmed Shamsuddoha 47 What Lessons We Can Learn from Morioum Begum Shorna Moniruzzaman Monir Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Shahjahan Ahmed Bikash Cover Photo Kamaluddin Painting of Ahmed Samiran Chowdhury 50 Bangabandhu and Nelson Mandela: Samsuddoha Drawing a Parallel Courtesy of Hamid Group Design and Printing Kaleido Pte Ltd 53 Lee Kuan Yew and Sheikh Mujib: Article Sources 63 Ubi Avenue 1, #06-08B 63@Ubi, Singapore 408937 Titans of Tumultuous Times Collections from Public Domain M: 9025 7929 T: 6741 2966 www.kaleidomarketing.com Write ups by the High 55 Bangabandhu in the Eyes of World Leaders Commission 57 Tributes to Bangabandhu in Pictures Property of the High Commission of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh #04-00/ #10-00, Jit Poh Building, 19 Keppel Road, 58 Bangabandhu Corner in Pictures Singapore 089058, Tel. 65 6255 0075 Web. www.bdhc.sg This publication has been prepared by the High Commission of the People's Republic of Bangladesh in Singapore commemorating birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The information contained herein have been made available by the Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore. The opinions, pronouncements or views expressed or implied in this publication are those of contributors or authors. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher cannot be liable for loss incurred in any way whatsoever by any company or person relying on the information contained herein. Mujib Year's Diplomacy || Friendship & Prosperity Message from Hon’ble President Today is 26th March, the Independence Day of Bangladesh. On the occasion of our great Independence and National Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings and warm felicitations to my fellow countrymen living at home and abroad. On this historic day, I remember with profound respect the architect of our independent Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I pay my deep homage to the millions of martyrs who made supreme sacrifice in the war of liberation. I also recall with deep reverence our four National Leaders, valiant freedom-fighters, organizers, supporters, our foreign friends and people from all walks of life who made immense contributions to attain our right to self-determination and the war of liberation. Their contributions to our national economy by sending their contributions to the history of our independence would be hard-earned remittances. Nevertheless, we have to go a long written in golden letters forever. way towards achieving the desired goal of independence. We must be ensured good governance, social justice, We have achieved our hard-earned independence transparency and accountability to make the development through huge sacrifices. Bangabandhu always cherished a people-oriented and sustainable. Forbearance, human rights dream of building a happy and prosperous country along with and rule of law have to be consolidated for institutionalizing attaining political emancipation. Keeping that in mind, the democracy. National Parliament will have to make as the present Government has been rendering untiring efforts in centre of hopes and aspirations of the people. For this, the materializing the dream of Bangabandhu. Today, Bangladesh ruling party as well as the opposition would have to play a is moving towards the highway of development at a constructive role in the parliament. tremendous pace. We have achieved enormous success in various areas of socio-economic development including Bangabandhu is the source of eternal inspiration for poverty alleviation, education, health, human resources the Bangali nation. This year, the government has declared development, women empowerment, reduction of child and 'Mujib Year' to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu maternal mortality rates, elimination of gender discrimination in a befitting manner. Being imbued with the spirit of the and increase in average life expectancy. Rate of poverty has liberation war let it be the pledge in ‘Mujib Year’ to turn our been dropped. High growth of GDP is continuing. Per capita country into ‘Sonar Bangla’ by completing the unfinished income has tripled over the past decade. The construction of tasks of Bangabandhu. The golden jubilee of our the Padma Bridge is also going on in full swing by our own independence will be observed in 2021 with great resources. The Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant is underway. enthusiasm. Bangladesh will enter into a new chapter-a new Bangladesh has been able to surpass herself not only the horizon. With the concerted efforts of all, let our beloved neighbouring countries of South Asia but also many motherland be a poverty-free developed one; it is my developed countries in terms of various indicators of expectation on Independence Day. socio-economic development. We are dreaming of a developed Bangladesh by the year 2041. Initiative has been Khoda Hafez, May Bangladesh Live Forever. taken up to frame the ‘Second Perspective Plan’ spanning from 2021 to 2041 in this regard. The Delta Plan 2100 has been formulated in order to achieve the status of a prosperous and developed country combating the long-term challenges for sustainable water, climate, environment and land system. With the continuation of development process, Bangladesh will raise its position high in the world as a prosperous country by 2041, insha Allah. In pursuing our diplomatic objectives, the government has been consistent in upholding the principle of “Friendship MD ABDUL HAMID to all, malice towards none” as enunciated by Father of the Nation. Our achievement in the international arena, including President the establishment of world peace, is also commendable. Our The People’s Republic expatriate Bangladeshis have also been making significant Of Bangladesh BANGLADESH BECKONS 1 Message from Hon’ble Prime Minister I extend my heartiest greetings to the countrymen and expatriate Bangladeshis on the occasion of the great Independence and National Day of Bangladesh. The 26 March is the day of establishing self-identity of our nation. It's the day of breaking the shackles of subjugation. On this Independence Day, I recall with deep gratitude the Greatest Bangalee of all times, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose undisputed leadership we have earned our coveted independence. I pay my tributes to four national leaders who steered the War of Liberation in the absence of Bangabandhu. I also pay my deep homage to the three million martyrs and two lakhs dishonoured women of the War of Liberation. My homage goes to all the valiant freedom fighters including the wounded ones. I extend my sympathies to those who had lost their near has to be passed on from generation to generations. and dear ones, and were subjected to brutal torture during the Being imbued with the spirit of the freedom struggle, the Awami Liberation War. I recall with gratitude our foreign friends who had League government has relentlessly been working to develop extended their whole-hearted support and cooperation for the the country since 2009. We have been accomplishing the cause of our liberation. unfinished tasks of the Father of the Nation. Bangladesh has achieved outstanding socio-economic progress in the last 11 Marking the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation years. It has fulfilled the requirements for graduating from least 'Mujib Year' is being celebrated from March 2020 to March developed country to developing one. Our government is 2021. Bangabandhu's birth centenary celebration has been maintaining 'zero tolerance policy to tackle militancy, terrorism started on 17 March. Along with Bangladesh, Mujib Year is and drug-menaces. For the first time in the world, we have being celebrated globally with the initiative of the UNESCO. formulated a 100-year plan named 'Delta Plan 2100'. Bangladesh is one of the five top countries in the world in The Bangalee nation had fought against oppression and economic development. Ninety percent of development works deprivation of Pakistani rulers' for long 23 years under the are financed from our own resources. By establishing the rule of leadership of Bangabandhu. They were compelled to hold law, we have executed the verdicts of the trial of the killers of General Elections in 1970. Bangladesh Awami League led by Bangabandhu. As per our pledges to the people the trials of war Bangabandhu won absolute majority in the elections. But the criminals are going on and verdicts of are being executed. Pakistani rulers adopted repressive measures instead of People are now getting benefits of development as Awami handing over power to the majority party in a democratic way. League has continuously been in power for third consecutive Calling for independence at the then Racecourse Ground on 7 time. Bangladesh is moving forward and it will go on. Today we March 1971 Bangabandhu declared, "The struggle this time is have become a self-respecting country in the world holding our the struggle for our emancipation; the struggle this time is the heads high.