VICTORY DAY: Bangladeshis carrying caricatures of war criminals during a rally held to mark the country’s 41st Victory Day in Dhaka yesterday. Bangladesh won independence from Pakistan after a bitter nine-month war in 1971 led by the country’s founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which is celebrated every year on December 16.

By Mizan Rahman/Dhaka

The Bangladesh prime minister has expressed her steadfast resolve to live up with the expectation of the international community to uphold the principles and values of equity, democracy, social justice, inclusive development and rule of law for which Bangladesh was born 41 years ago.

“The world acknowledges Bangladesh as a country where moderation and tolerance are practised. We are steadfast in our endeavour to live up to your expectations and turn Bangladesh into a country that you had envisioned while extending your support in 1971,” Sheikh Hasina said on the eve of Bangladesh’s 41st victory day on Saturday.

She was addressing a gala ceremony of conferring the ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’ and ‘Friends of Liberation War Honour’ on foreign friends and institutions for their unqualified and outstanding contribution to the glorious War of Liberation in 1971.

A total of 60 individuals and two institutions were given the honour at a function in Dhaka under a plan taken by the government in 2011 to honour more than 500 foreign friends and institutions for their sincere support and co-operation to country’s War of Liberation in 1971.

Earlier, a total of 145 foreign friends and organisations, including former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi were honoured.

“We are proving that we are worthy of the trust and confidence you had reposed on us, and we believe that our foreign friends are the equal partners of our accomplishments,” the prime minister said.

She said: “On this occasion we are offering you, the nation’s deepest sense of gratitude for what you have done towards attainment of statehood by Bangladesh. Our tribute epitomises the sentiment of an indebted nation, love of its people and it’s the manifestation of how deeply we value our friendship.”

The Bangladesh prime minister used the occasion as an opportunity to extend Victory Day greetings to foreign friends. “Honouring you in this month of victory makes the occasion more fitting and special,” she said.

“This august congregation exemplifies the strength and beauty of friendship and amity. This is also a rare opportunity for our people particularly the young generation to know and learn about their foreign friends and unsung heroes, many of whom worked behind the scene for our independence,” she said.

The prime minister added: “Our land had been the target of oppression from time immemorial; our people were subjected to all possible sorts of atrocities and injustices, the latest of which unfolded after the
partition of 1947.

“We had little means but we drew strength from our high moral standing and triumphed over insurmountable
adversities.”

The Bangladesh PM said that support of our foreign friends came at a critical juncture when “my country was engaged in this unmatched battle and freedom-loving innocent people were trying to ward off the wrath of a ruthless occupation army.

“Our fault, we stood up against discrimination and fought for a just cause, self-determination. It was one of the darkest period of human history, a time of unprecedented genocide and brutalities the world has rarely seen.”

Hasina said: “It was immensely emboldening to find the majority of the world community on our side in our trying time.

“We knew that we were not alone, our foreign friends were out to helping us. It was such a source of inspiration,” she said adding: “In fact, it was our foreign friends who inspired people all over the globe and played the lead role in mobilising the world opinion in our favour.”

She stated that the just struggle for “our emancipation received significant boost from their invaluable contribution and their intervention helped change the approach of many countries which were initially not so sympathetic to our aspiration but later paid heed to our saga of sorrow and humiliation.”

Hasina noted that many of the foreign friends had little or no prior connection with Bangladesh. “It would not have mattered anything to many of the foreign friends had Bangladesh not become independent.

Hasina said the contribution of foreign friends to the War of Liberation is immeasurable and it cannot be repaid. “It was purely a selfless act which would serve as glaring examples for the humanity and the posterity,” she added.

Highlighting her government’s relentless efforts to turn Bangladesh into a happy and prosperous ‘Golden Bengal’ as dreamt by Bangabandhu, Hasina said, “We resolve to become a middle income country within a decade”.

She said: “By honouring you, we are honouring ourselves, the nation feels happier. This reconnects and bonds us afresh with you and through it serves to enhance our relations with the countries you belong to”.

She extended her gratitude to the foreign friends for responding to the Bangladesh government’s call even though after more than four decades and many of them have braved old-age complications, traveled thousands of miles, and ignored personal inconveniences.