PM pledges economic emancipation of nation

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday vowed to build the Bangalee as a dignified nation with economic emancipation freeing it from hunger and poverty and ensuring tech-based knowledge.

"We want to build the Bengalee as a modern tech-based nation, ensuring its economic emancipation. We'll build Bangladesh as a country free from hunger and poverty with technological know-how, to make the nation a dignified one in the world as dreamed by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," she said while addressing a discussion organised by Awami League at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC), marking Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day.

Focusing on the  history of the Language Movement, Sheikh Hasina said although February  21, 1952 witnessed the tragic incident, the movement for the mother  tongue began much earlier.

She said Bangabandhu was sent to jail  time and gain for his role in the Language Movement. 

"Bangabandhu had  been kept behind the bars at a stretch from 1949 to 1952," she said.

The  PM said following Bangabandhu's proposal, the State  Language Action Council was formed in 1948. This council had  called a general strike on March 11, 1948 across the country, she said,  adding that Bangabandhu was arrested while picketing in front of the  Secretariat.

Sheikh Hasina said it was Awami League which  included the provision of making Bangla a state language after its  victory in the 1956 general election.  "The AL government had  declared February 21 as the Language Martyrs' Day and allocated  fund for constructing Shaheed Minars," she said.