DHAKA, Nov 3, 2022 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted all citizens of the country on the occasion of the Bangladesh Constitution Day to be observed tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the Bangladesh Constitution Day as the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh on November 4, 1972 and it came into effect on December 16 in the same year.

On the eve of the day, the premier, in a message, said the Bangladesh Constitution Day is a historical day for the Bangalee nation.

Responding to the call of the greatest Bangalee of all time and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the long-awaited Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was adopted within 11 months of the final victory on December 16, 1971 through a long 23-year political struggle and nine months of bloody liberation war, she said.

The Awami League (AL) gained an absolute majority in the 1970 general elections under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she added.

She further said that in this election, the people of Bangladesh elected Awami League candidates in 167 out of 169 seats in East Pakistan.

There was a total of of 313 seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan, she added.

Later, in the provincial elections, AL candidates dominated the elections wining 298 seats out of 310 seats, she said.

But the then Pakistan's military junta indulged in conspiracies without handing over the responsibility of running the country to Awami League, the premier continued.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for non-cooperation movement with all the people of Bangladesh, she said, adding: "On March 7 in 1971, the Father of the Nation stood in the crowd of the Race Course Maidan in Dhaka."

Standing there, Banganadhu loudly announced - "The struggle this time is the struggle for our freedom! The struggle this time is the struggle for independence!" she mentioned.

The Pakistani occupation forces started the brutal massacre of innocent and unarmed Bangalees on the night of March 25, she said.

Bangabandhu formally announced the independence of Bangladesh in the early hours of March 26, 1971 before being arrested, she said.

This announcement was spread all over Bangladesh through telegram, tele-printer and wireless of the then EPR, she said, adding that it was also broadcast in the international media.

During the struggle for independence, the 'Proclamation of Independence, 1971' was announced on April 10 in 1971 which is considered as the first constitution of the interim government of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina continued.

The Prime Minister said the Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman were brutally killed by anti-liberation forces inside the Dhaka Central Jail on November 3, 1975.

Syed Nazrul Islam as Vice President (Acting President), Tajuddin Ahmed as Prime Minister, Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman as ministers took oath in the first government of Bangladesh in Mujibnagar on 17 April, she added.
 
The war of resistance against the occupation forces began, the premier said, adding that the ultimate victory was achieved on December 16 after a nine-month long bloody liberation war, she said.

Bangabandhu returned home on January 10, 1972 after being released from captivity in Pakistan and issued the 'Provisional Constitution of Bangladesh Order, 1972' on January 11, 1972 which is known as the second constitution, Sheikh Hasina said.

The Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh Order, 1972 was issued on March 23, 1972 for the purpose of framing a complete constitution, she said.

Later, the Constituent Assembly (Gono parishad) was entrusted with the responsibility of framing the constitution, she said

On November 4, the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was adopted by the Constituent Assembly, she added.

"...If future generations can establish a non-exploitative society based on socialism, democracy, nationalism and secularism, then my life will be meaningful, the blood-shed of the martyrs will be meaningful", said Sheikh Hasina, quoting the speech of Bangabandhu which was given in the Constituent Assembly (Gono parishad) at that time.

Declaring November 4 as 'National Constitution Day' on the golden jubilee of the formulation of constitution is a landmark step by the Awami League government, the premier said.

She firmly believed that the Constitution Day will play a very important role in building the future of Bangladesh from generation to generation imbued with the spirit of the history of freedom and struggle of the country and constitution.

"I wish all the programmes undertaken on the occasion of 'National Constitution Day' successful," the premier hoped.