President M Abdul Hamid on Friday said that his indoctrination cum first ascension in politics was at the hands of Bangabandhu while his second ascension in 1996 was through the hands and initiatives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"My indoctrination cum first ascension in politics was at the hands of Bangabandhu . . . My second ascension in 1916 was through the hands and initiatives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," the President told the Jatiya Sangsad while addressing the 'Special JS Session' marking the Golden Jubilee (50-year of the parliament) on Friday afternoon.
He added: "It is because of Bangabandhu's immense love and his foresightedness that I have reached this position today. I am more proud of identifying myself as a soldier of Bangabandhu's ideology than as a President."
Apparently in his farewell address to the House chaired by JS Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, he also expressed his gratitude to Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"If the Prime Minister had not given me the rank of Deputy Speaker that day, my politics would have revolved around Kishoreganj," the President mentioned.
He continued: "I met Bangabandhu in 1966. I was a student of Kishoreganj Gurudayal College. I became a follower of Bangabandhu's principles and ideals from then".
Abdul Hamid said, Bangabandhu used to meet sometimes and sometimes he himself would call him. "At that time, Bangabandhu was my only meditation. His principles, ideals and guidance were the most important thing for me to follow and emulate," he added.
"Just because Bangabandhu was the only role model for many of the youth of East Pakistan at that time; it is impossible for anyone, who has ever felt Bangabandhu's hand on the back or the touch of his affection, to forget Bangabandhu," the President recalled.
He said Bangabandhu always gave equal importance to socio-economic development as well as the development of democracy. Therefore, in his speech on 7th March, Bangabandhu talked about economic freedom along with political freedom.
The President mentioned the visionary leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu in making the Jatiya Sangsad effective after the Great War of Liberation.
After the Great Liberation War, Abdul Hamid said, Bangabandhu took the initiative to start reconstruction activities after post war situation and also the make a effective parliament.
"In independent Bangladesh, the first session of the Constituent Assembly began on April 10, 1972 at Sangsad Bhaban in Tejgaon, Dhaka. Our Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 4, 1972 and came into force on December 16, 1972," he mentioned.
