PM sends Pahela Baishakh greetings, says ‘it’s the day of great reunion’

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has greeted the people of the country on Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year 1431, which will be celebrated today.

Pahela Baishakh is a universal festival and it is a day of harmony, the premier said in a message.

Sheikh Hasina called upon all, irrespective of religion and caste, to wake up with new joy, forgetting the sorrows and failures of the past year.

The search for the identity and roots of Bengalis can be found through its celebration, Sheikh Hasina said, adding that Pahela Baishakh is a reflection of the Bangalis.

During the Pakistan period, the colonial power wanted to destroy the Bangla tradition, the premier said, adding that the Bangalis resisted it with the strength of self-identity and their own culture.

Bangalis joined the struggle for liberation by holding that power under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she continued.

She said the combined flow of culture and politics has been turned into a struggle for independence and freedom.

“This is how independent sovereign Bangladesh emerged in the world.”

Following this, the traditional Mangal Shovajatra has been recognised as world heritage by UNESCO, she said.

“The international recognition of it is undoubtedly a great achievement. Following this path, the Bangalis will become the best nation in the world community.”

The Bangali nation cannot be suppressed as the achievements and progress of the Bangali heroes will be remembered ages after ages, she said.

Ethnic heritage and pride are also the key to the lifelong struggle of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in establishing ideologies such as secularism, liberalism, nationalism and democracy, the premier added.

She hoped that this year’s Baishakh will be a great inspiration for the nation to fight against militancy, fundamentalism, extremism and anti-liberation forces and to build a society free from hunger and poverty and a golden Bangladesh cum Smart Bangladesh as dreamt by Bangabandhu.