Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday greeted all citizens of the country on the occasion of the Bangladesh Constitution Day to be observed today.
Today is Bangladesh Constitution Day as the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh
on November 4, 1972 and it came into effect on December 16 in the same year.
On the eve of the day, the premier, in a message, said responding to the call
of the greatest Bangalee of all time and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the long-awaited Constitution of the People's Republic
of Bangladesh was adopted within 11 months of the final victory on December
16, 1971 through long political struggle and nine months of bloody liberation
war, she said.
The Awami League (AL) gained an absolute majority in the 1970 general
elections under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, she added.
She further said that in this election, the people of Bangladesh elected
Awami League candidates in 167 out of 169 seats in East Pakistan.
There was a total of 313 seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan, she
added.
Later, in the provincial elections, AL candidates dominated the elections
winning 298 seats out of 310 seats, she said.
But the then Pakistan's military junta indulged in conspiracies without
handing over the responsibility of running the country to Awami League, the
premier continued.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for non-cooperation movement with
all the people of Bangladesh, she said, adding: "On March 7 in 1971, the
Father of the Nation stood in the crowd of the Race Course Maidan in Dhaka."
Standing there, Bangabandhu loudly announced - "The struggle this time is the
struggle for our freedom! The struggle this time is the struggle for
independence!" she mentioned.
The Pakistani occupation forces started the brutal massacre of innocent and
unarmed Bangalees on the night of March 25, she said.
Bangabandhu formally announced the independence of Bangladesh in the early
hours of March 26, 1971 before being arrested, she said.
This announcement was spread all over Bangladesh through telegram, tele-
printer and wireless of the then EPR, she said, adding that it was also
broadcasted in the international media.
During the struggle for independence, the 'Proclamation of Independence,
1971' was announced on April 10 in 1971 which is considered as the first
constitution of the interim government of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina
continued.
The Prime Minister said Syed Nazrul Islam as Vice President (Acting
President), Tajuddin Ahmed as Prime Minister, Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM
Qamaruzzaman as ministers took oath in the first government of Bangladesh in
Mujibnagar on April 17 in 1971.
The war of resistance against the occupation forces began, the premier said
adding, that the ultimate victory was achieved on December 16 after a nine-
month long bloody liberation war, she said.
Bangabandhu returned home on January 10, 1972 after being released from
captivity in Pakistan and issued the 'Provisional Constitution of Bangladesh
Order, 1972' on January 11, 1972 which is known as the second constitution,
Sheikh Hasina said.
The Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh Order, 1972 was issued on March 23,
1972 for the purpose of framing a complete constitution, she said.
Later, the Constituent Assembly (Gono parishad) was entrusted with the
responsibility of framing the constitution, she said.
On November 4, the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was
adopted by the Constituent Assembly, she added.
"...If future generations can establish a non-exploitative society based on
socialism, democracy, nationalism and secularism, then my life will be
meaningful, the blood-shed of the martyrs will be meaningful", said Sheikh
Hasina, quoting the speech of Bangabandhu which was given in the Constituent
Assembly (Gono parishad) at that time.
Mentioning November 4 as 'National Constitution Day', the premier firmly
believed that the Constitution Day will play a very important role in
building the future of Bangladesh from generation to generation imbued with
the spirit of the history of freedom and struggle of the country and
constitution.
She wished overall success of the 'National Constitution Day'.
