We all are familiar with the following verses “As long as the Padma, Meghna, Gouri, Jamuna flow, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, your accomplishments will live on”. The stature and imperishable glory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman can be realized from this poem of Annada Shankar Roy. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is our source of inspiration.

The greatest ever tragedy in Bangladesh’s history hit the country when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated with most of his family members on 15th August 1975. I wrote an article titled “From Karbala to tragic August” which appeared in The Asian Age on 30 August 2020. In this write-up I compared Bangabandhu’s assassination to the heart-rending occurrence that took place in Karbala on 10 Muharram.

Bangabandhu never changed his ideology while he was facing torment from the Pakistan authorities. He never bowed down to undue pressure. Bangabandhu delivered his speech in the United Nations General Assembly in Bengali right after the independence of Bangladesh. Bangabandhu’s life and work remain an example for generations to come. Bangabandhu’s achievements and love for the people of Bangladesh have made him immortal. Bangabandhu’s essence illuminates the nation.

Principal Syedur Rahman was Bangabandhu’s favourite teacher when Bangabandhu was a student in Baker Hostel, Kolkata. A striking thing happened in Syedur Rahman’s life. Once he went to meet Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while Bangabandhu was President of Bangladesh. Bangabandhu stood up from his chair as soon as he saw Syedur Rahman. Bangabandhu showed deep honor to Syedur Rahman and seated Syedur Rahman on the President’s chair.

Bangabandhu’s amicable and respectful behavior impressed Syedur Rahman. Bangabandhu further said to Syedur Rahman, “Sir, please call me up over telephone whenever you need to meet me. I will go to meet you myself.”

Bangabandhu loved Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam both. Rabindranath Tagore wrote our national anthem “Amar sonar bangla, ami tomay bhalobashi” (My golden Bengal, I love you). On the other hand, Kazi Nazrul Islam wrote our combat song “Chol, Chol, Chol. Bangabandhu brought Kazi Nazrul Islam to Bangladesh from India in 1973 and made Kazi Nazrul Islam our national poet.

Bangabandhu hated corruption. He once said, “7.5 crore blankets have come from abroad, where is my one?”Bangabandhu visited Calcutta right after Bangladesh’s independence. He said there, “I have nothing to give you except my unalloyed love.”

We will have to bear Bangabandhu’s ideology in our hearts. Hoisting large billboards, colourful banners, setting up loud sound boxes are not necessary to recall Bangabandhu. Bangabandhu led a very ordinary life though he had a broad heart. Bangabandhu believed in the saying of English philosopher John Ruskin who once said, “We have our duty towards God, towards our parents and towards mankind”.

High Court declared Joy Bangla as our national slogan in 2020. We are grateful to High Court for this. It may be recalled that once upon a time people in Bangladesh were barred from chanting Joy Bangla slogan publicly and officially. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized Bangabandhu’s 7th March speech as part of world heritage. Bangabandhu said in his speech on 7th March, “This struggle is for our independence, for our emancipation”.

He often said, “I am on the side of the downtrodden masses.” Unfortunately at present we can see the rise of religious fundamentalists and fanatical gangs in our country. Communal parties do not support the peaceful coexistence of the people of different religious beliefs. Radical Islamic parties do not believe in manmade laws.

They want to administer the country in a theocratic way. These things contradict with the spirit of the Liberation War of 1971.Extremist Islamic groups even do not pay respect to Bangladesh’s national flag, national anthem and constitution. The Taliban has captured Afghanistan. Under these circumstances, we will have to deal with our country’s internal situation very cautiously.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the bridgework between Bangladesh’s present and future. Bangabandhu led us all the way from darkness to light. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman struggled all his life for the betterment of the people of Bangladesh. Bangladesh gained independence through the uncompromising leadership of Bangabandhu. We are lucky that Bangabandhu’s two daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana were abroad during the assassination in 1975. Otherwise we would never be able to implement Bangabandhu’s visions and dreams.

Democracy, transparency, good governance and development cannot be detached from each other. A country’s democratic process faces impediments if good governance cannot prevail smoothly. Besides, good governance cannot be constituted without accountability in all organizations belonging to government and private sectors. Everything in a democratic state is done for the welfare of people.

Bangabandhu is seen in his study room who loved reading and led an ordinary life.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is another name for Bangladesh. Bangladesh would not have been created if Bangabandhu was not born.Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a glorified political leader in the whole world. In the same way in the present time his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is one of the most applauded leaders globally.

Bangabandhu is an imperishable leader of the third world. His charismatic qualities are still adulated by historians and political analysts. I wrote an article titled “Sheikh Hasina and Raoul Wallenberg in history” which appeared in The Asian Age on 16 October 2017 highlighting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s humanitarian role over the Rohingya crisis. This article was admired by the Cabinet.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman brought us independence through his uncompromising fight and endeavours. He envisioned dreams for a prosperous Bangladesh where people of all religions would be able to live in harmony. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been making the best of her efforts to materialize the intentions of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by implementing Vision 2021 and Vision 2041. Sheikh Hasina’s measures have transformed Bangladesh into a development role model. Sheikh Hasina does not want her name to be added to any projects.

She does not like this kind of publicity. When Sheikh Hasina was imprisoned during the caretaker government’s regime from 2007-2008, her younger sister Sheikh Rehana took great care of Awami League (AL) from London through late AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and ex President Zillur Rahman.

Per capita income of Bangladeshi people has mounted to 2000 dollars which was around 800 dollars in 2008. Widespread electrification and digital technologies have expedited and broadly facilitated the life of general people across Bangladesh. This is how we are moving towards the Golden Bengal that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had visualized.I personally went to meet Sheikh Hasina following the heinous grenade attacks of 21st August 2004 but I did not see most of the people who are now holding high posts.

At the same time we need to be careful about the tricks of the anti-independence groups who work stealthily to jeopardize Bangladesh’s socio-political advancement and to stain the government’s image. We know about the financial turmoil, banking scams, casino scams, steep fall of share prices, plundering money under cover of corporate social responsibility (CSR) which have hit news headlines over and over again. We are also alarmed at the rise of religious bigots who have emerged through communal organizations like Jamaat and Hefazat-E-Islam. The government will have to stay alert all the time to baffle all conspiracies.

Bangabandhu once said, “The lackeys are eating up everything.” It’s an alarming point to be noted that while the Prime Minister has been working with all her efforts to upgrade the country’s status in terms of everything, some unscrupulous and immoral people around high-ups are hatching vicious plots and stratagems to obstruct the development process of Bangladesh. They aim to embarrass the government as well as they harbor the evil target to tarnish Bangladesh in the global arena through false propaganda and suspicious activities.

Allegations from grassroots show that a bunch of infiltrators and opportunists who do not believe in the ideology of Bangabandhu are downgrading the ruling party’s image. These people are responsible for some of the mishaps which have smudged the government’s honor. They bar devoted leaders and activists even from meeting Sheikh Hasina. These harmful entities should be eliminated from Awami League without delay so that the success stories of the government do not get undermined. Leaders with tested and proven background should be placed in the key posts.

Case studies on Zimbabwe, Greece, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and some other countries show that uncontrolled financial rackets and banking woes plunged these countries into abysmal catastrophes. We should execute strong measures immediately to rectify our banks, stock markets and financial institutions so that Bangladesh does not confront similar consequences.

Ethical values are declining among the people. Telling lies has become more popular than speaking out the truth. False messages unfortunately have a faster pace to cross remote distances though the ethical strength of truth is invariably much superior. Sometimes people prefer to tell a sweeter lie instead of unfolding a bitter truth. It happens in personal relationships, in business, in politics, in corporate life and so on. But no matter how much we try to cover up reality with false canopies, the visage of truth gets exposed sooner or later by virtue of its own sublimity.

The government should mobilize a drive to identify the saboteurs who are working under cover of a fair camouflage to subvert the ruling party’s beneficial programs for the wellbeing of the people of Bangladesh. At the same time people who love Bangladesh and who want Bangladesh to move forward should also remain cautious about backstabbers.