<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The Embassy of Bangladesh in Tokyo observed the historic 7th March 7 on Tuesday commemorating the landmark speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</span><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today’s programme began by placing a wreath at the portrait of&nbsp; Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Embassy early in the morning.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All Embassy officials and a good number of expatriate Bangladeshis attended the event.&nbsp; Ambassador Shahabuddin Ahmed hoisted the national flag along with rendition of the national anthem.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was followed by observance of one minute silence in remembrance of the Father of the Nation, his family members and the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Later, a special prayer (munajat) was held for the salvation of the souls of the Father of the Nation, his family members, and martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh as well as for the peace, progress and prosperity of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The messages issued by the President and the Prime Minister on the occasion of “Historic 07 March" were read out by Embassy officials.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In his remarks, Ambassador Ahmed paid homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and explained the significance of the March 7 speech.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said March 7 is a glorious and important day in the history of Bangladesh, when Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared his vision of independence. His clarion call conveyed a clear message to his people that it was time to prepare for the ultimate struggle to freedom and attain independence.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Following his call, after the brutal crackdown of the Pakistani military forces on the unarmed Bengalis on the black night of March 25, the whole country joined the Liberation War and after nine-month of war the country became victorious, he narrated.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ambassador Ahmed termed the March 7 speech as the expression of a deep commitment of Bangabandhu for the nation and extreme love for mass people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also said that this speech gained international recognition when UNESCO enlisted the historic speech as 'World's Documentary Heritage' in the "Memory of the World Register” in 2017 as part of a list of the world's important documentary heritage maintained by UNESCO.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A discussion on the significance of the day was held following the address of the ambassador.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In this phase, a significant number of Bangladesh community members took part in a live discussion paying their deep tribute to the Father of the Nation and the role and significance of the historic speech of March 7 in the independence of Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The speakers said the March 7 speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave&nbsp; inspiration to the Bengali people in their quest for freedom and emancipation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They expressed their strong commitment to work together to realise the dream of Bangabandhu to build a ‘Sonar Bangla’ through implementing the vision 2041 of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by contributing from their respective positions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, a documentary was screened on the historic March 7 speech. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>