‘Bangabandhu a towering figure of 20th century’

Bangabandhu is a "towering figure of the twentieth century" who shaped modern Bangladesh and continues to inspire the people to further develop their country, said a top US official.

Dean Thompson, acting assistant secretary of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the US Department of State, said this at a webinar on Sunday night, marking the historic March 7 speech.

He said under the Biden Administration, the US wants to strengthen bilateral relationship with Bangladesh that offers so many opportunities in diverse areas, from renewable energy, port infrastructure to artificial intelligence.

"One of the areas we are most excited to work on is expanding our economic partnership," he added.

At the event hosted by Bangladesh embassy in Washington, Thompson applauded the generosity of Bangladesh in protecting the Rohingyas and said the US is a steadfast partner of Bangladesh in finding a durable solution to the Rohingya crisis.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Earl Miller quoted Senator Edward Kennedy that the American people were with the people of Bangladesh during the Liberation War, although the government was not.

Renowned South Asia Analyst Seth Oldmixon said the March 7 speech is a culmination of incredible historical events that led to the independence of Bangladesh.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Bangladesh Ambassador to the US M Shahidul Islam, Prof Dr Syed Anwar Husain and Ambassador Tariq A Karim also spoke at the event moderated by Bangladesh embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Ferdousi Shahriar.

At another discussion, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima said Bangabandhu's March 7 speech was a clear instruction for the Liberation War through which the nation achieved independence.

Unesco included the speech in the Memory of the World International Register, a list of world's important documentary heritage, in 2017.

"The bold speech of the Father of the Nation should be transmitted to the generations so they can be inspired," Rabab Fatima said, calling upon all the expatriate Bangladeshis to contribute to the development journey of Bangladesh.

At a discussion organised by Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi, High Commissioner Muhammad Imran said the historic speech of Bangabandhu delivered extempore before a sea of crowd at then-Race Course in Dhaka will remain ever inspiring for the people of Bangladesh.

Other speakers including diplomats, journalists and academics expressed their high appreciation on the progress of Bangladesh, while paying tributes to the memory of Bangabandhu.

The event included a documentary screening on the historic speech of the Father of the Nation and a cultural show at Maitree Hall of Bangladesh High Commission.

Bangladesh missions in China, Canada, Austria, UK, Brunei and Italy also organised various programmes marking the day.