President, PM define Bangamata’s role

Staff Correspondent:President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday paid glowing tributes to Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, saying her ideology would always remain as a source of inspiration for Bangalee women.
In separate messages on the eve of the 91th birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the President and the Prime Minister said Bangamata is a pride of the Bangalee nation and a source of inspiration for womenfolk.
They also said that Bangamata had played a pivotal role in building the nation staying beside the Father of the Nation.
“Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib is a pride of the Bangalee nation and a source of inspiration for womenfolk. She became Bangamata because of her sacrifice, compassion, cooperation and prudence,” said President Abdul Hamid in his message.
“On the occasion of the 91st birth anniversary of Bangamata, I pay my deep respects to the memory of this majestic woman,” he added.
For the first time on the birth anniversary of Bangamata, the initiative of awarding the ‘Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Padak’ to five eminent women for their outstanding contribution in various fields is very commendable, the head of the state continued.
The President said Bangamata, who had courageous and invincible characteristics since her childhood, used to face any situation with her intellect and prudence.
Staying beside her husband, he said, Bangamata faced the difficult days with firmness during Bangabandhu’s frequent imprisonments.
“Bangabandhu had to go to jail for many times for the sake of the country. Bangamata had to run Bangabandhu’s cases, gave directives and extended cooperation to organizational activities of the party side by side looking after her family,” he said.
Bangamata always gave advice and support to Bangabandhu in every movement of the Bangalees, he said.
He said Fazilatunnesa Mujib was not only the wife of father of the nation but also one of the pioneers of the Bangalee’s struggle for freedom.
Abdul Hamid said Bangamata also played a significant role from behind the scene in Bangabandhu’s historic 7th March speech.
With her inspiration, the unwritten speech Bangabandhu had delivered emitting from his heart was the call for independence, he added.
The President said her contribution to the history of struggle for independence and the War of Liberation would be ever remembered.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangamata played a unique role in bringing motivation, strength and courage for Bangabandhu to guide the struggle of independence and Liberation War towards its right direction side by side carrying out family responsibilities.
Bangamata made a strong contribution to the six point movement and 11-Point movement, she added.
She said the theme of the 91th birth anniversary of Fazilatunnesa Mujib is ‘Bangamata is a fearless companion in the crisis and struggle’ which has reflected the true sense of the great woman’s life and works and the inspiration in Bangabandhu’s political, social and family life.
Fazilatunnesa Mujib was a constant associate and inspiration of Bangabandhu in his political, social and family life, she added.
Bangamata had a remarkable role behind the political success of Bangabandhu, she said.
The Prime Minister said Bangamata was an adept and genuine associate of Bangabandhu in his struggle to realize the rights of the Bangalee nation and the struggle for independence.
She recalled that during the Liberation War in 1971, Bangamata had faced the situation with patience, courage and wisdom when her husband remained imprisoned in Pakistan.
She said after the independence, Bangamata devoted herself to rebuild the war-ravaged country.
Especially, she stood beside the violated, repressed and self-sacrificing women and sisters by ensuring their treatment, sympathizing and extending cooperation to them and took initiative to make them socially established, she added.
The premier said the nation has genuinely bestowed Bangamata title on Fazilatunnesa Mujib because of her unparallel sacrifice, cooperation and prudence.
The Prime Minister said the ideology and examples Bangamata had set will remain as a source of inspiration for the Bangalee women throughout the ages.
She hoped the new generation will be imbued with patriotism through the practice of life and works of Fazilatunnesa Mujib and could learn many unknown chapters of the Liberation War, struggle for independence and Bangabandhu’s life and struggles.
On occasion of the birth anniversary of Bangamata, both the president and the premier sought eternal peace of her departed soul.
They also wished overall success of all the programmes taken to observe the birth anniversary of Bangamata.