March 26 is our great Independence Day. This is the day of breaking the shackles of 24 years of subjugation — a day of reaching the enlightened world from the abyss of darkness.
On this very day in 1971, the Bengalee nation started the War of Liberation against the misrule, exploitation and torture of the Pakistani autocratic regime with the clarion call of our Father of the Nation Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On this very day, I recall with deep reverence the great hero and the greatest Bangalee of all time, Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose vigorous leadership inspired the Bengalee nation in the War of Liberation.
I pay my homage to our 3 million martyrs and 200,000 mothers and sisters whose supreme sacrifice ushered us an independent and sovereign Bangladesh colored in red and green.
I remember all the martyrs of all the movements and struggles — from the anti-colonial movement to the historic language movement and mass upsurge of 1969 — whose blood colored our homeland and their memory is shining in our national flag. Achievement of our independence has made these sacrifices glorious and meaningful.
The occupation forces unleashed a sudden attack and started killing innocent and unarmed Bangalees on the black night of March 25, 1971.
They killed thousands of people in cities and towns, including Dhaka.
The present Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on March 11, 2017 to observe March 25 as the “Day of Genocide” marking the brutality carried out by the Pakistani Army on the black night of March 25, 1971.
March 26 is a day to remember Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, war heroes and their contributions as well as to take oath to realize the spirit of our liberation war which motivated the Bangalee nation to make supreme sacrifices.
This is also an occasion to introduce our new generation to the true history of our War of Liberation.
The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working tirelessly to materialize the dream of the Father of the Nation for a secular as well as hunger and poverty-free, prosperous Bangladesh. As a result, Bangladesh is marching forward with a per capita income of $1,466, more than 7.1 percent growth rate and $32 billion of foreign currency reserve.
Today, Bangladesh is a role model to the outer world.
These changes in Bangladesh are toward prosperity and welfare. And, you, my expatriate brothers and sisters are a part of this onward movement.
Today’s remittances worth more than $14.91 billion are the outcome of your love for the motherland as well as your families.
These remittances are contributing significantly to the development process of Bangladesh.
To keep up with this pace of development, we all will be working unitedly under “Vision 2021” declared by the premier to transform Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021 and follow the path of development to take it to the level of a developed country by 2041.
We pledge this on this day of independence.
Joi Bangla.
Joi Bangbandhu.
Expat remittances play key role in national growth
Expat remittances play key role in national growth
History lives in stone in AlUla’s ancient city of Dadan
ALULA: The ancient city of Dadan is “one of the most significant historical discoveries in AlUla governorate and a key landmark reflecting the depth of human history in northwest Arabia,” according to an article published by the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.
Dadan served as the capital of the Kingdom of Dadan and later of the Kingdom of Lihyan, from the late ninth century to the early first century B.C., the report stated.
Among the site’s most striking features are tombs carved into red rock cliff faces. Some are distinguished by rectangular facades crowned with lion carvings, a symbol often associated with power. “These structures reflect a sophisticated level of artistic and architectural skill, highlighting the advanced craftsmanship of the region’s ancient inhabitants,” the SPA wrote.
Constructed primarily from local stone, the city developed into an important hub for agriculture and trade. Its strategic position along the Incense Route — one of the most vital trade routes in the ancient world — enabled Dadan to flourish economically while facilitating cultural exchange.
Merchants, travelers and envoys passing through the city contributed to the circulation of goods and ideas across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.
Archeological excavations at Dadan are ongoing, with teams of specialists conducting “systematic research in successive scientific phases to uncover additional structures, inscriptions and artifacts that may further clarify the city’s historical role and daily life,” according to the SPA.
AlUla’s recorded history spans more than 7,000 years of human presence. Discoveries at Dadan — including inscriptions and written records — continue to reshape understanding of the region’s social, economic and political development, “reinforcing AlUla’s status as an open-air archive of ancient civilization,” the SPA concluded.
