Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury has said Bangladesh would have achieved higher growth much earlier if Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur were alive.
However, he said, Bangabandhu’s killing could not deter the progress of Bangladesh as his visionary daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken the country to an unprecedented height of development.
“Now, Bangladesh has many success stories to tell globally, particularly the stories of faster growth and prosperity, led by our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said while addressing a webinar on Saturday.
The Minister expressed hope that Bangladesh and the UK would be celebrating the 50th year of diplomatic relations in 2021, with high-level visits taking place between the two countries, said the High Commission on Sunday.
Bangladesh High Commission in London observed the 45th Martyrdom Anniversary of Bangabandhu and the National Mourning Day when participants including British minister and members of parliament (MPs) paid their profound homage to the Greatest Bengali of All Time.
Chaired by Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, Saida Muna Tasneem, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury was the chief guest at the commemorating discussion where panelists were from the UK, Austria and Bangladesh.
Political Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister HT Imam and UK Minister for London and Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Paul Scully were the guests of honour at the programme.
Chair of the UK Labour Party Angela Rayner and British MP and the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh and the UK’s Trade Envoy for Bangladesh Rushanara Ali joined the webinar as special guests.
Besides, eminent journalist Abdul Gaffar Choudhury, leading organisers of Bangladesh War of Independence in the UK Sultan Mahmud Shariff and British-Bangladeshi community leader Syed Sajidur Rahman Faruk participated in the event as the special guests.
A large number of expatriate Bangladeshis from the UK, Ireland and EU countries joined the webinar and paid their tribute to the Father of the Nation and the martyrs of August 15 tragedy. HT Imam termed Bangabandhu as an unmatched world leader saying that he made us feel taller.
He said Bangabandhu could not materialise his vision, but fortunately his daughter embodies the vision to make Bangladesh “Sonar Bangla”.
The adviser mentioned that Bangladesh and the UK always enjoy very special relations, which will go strength to strength in the post-Covid era under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Paying the highest tribute to Bangabandhu, High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem said the 45th anniversary of Bangabandhu’s martyrdom bears a specially significance this year as it takes place during the Birth Centenary Year of the Bangabandhu and at the advent of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence in 2021, the two most unique milestones in the history of Bengali Nation.
