DHAKA, May 16, 2022 (BSS) - President Md Abdul Hamid today said the 
homecoming of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina paved the way to establish 
the spirit of the Liberation War, the values of independence and democracy in 
the country. 
 
"Sheikh Hasina's home return is a milestone in Bangladesh's history of 
democracy. Her historic homecoming paved the way to establish the spirit of 
Liberation War, the values of independence and democracy," he said in a 
message issued on the occasion of the 42nd homecoming day of Sheikh Hasina.
 
Abdul Hamid said upon returning home, Sheikh Hasina started a movement to 
recover the country's democracy and following it, the autocratic government 
collapsed through the 1990 mass movement and the democracy got triumph.
 
He said Awami League formed the government under the leadership of Sheikh 
Hasina after achieving a landslide victory in the general election held on 
June 12, 1996. 
 
During that time, the President said, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord 
was signed to resolve the long-standing conflicts between the hill dwellers 
and Bangalees, while the Ganges Water Sharing Agreement was inked between 
Bangladesh and India.
 
He said the 14-party alliance assumed power under the leadership of Sheikh 
Hasina through the 29 December general elections in 2008 and took various 
programmes for the welfare of the people, while the judgment of the 
Bangabandhu killing case was implemented.
 
Bangladesh's image was brightened in the national and international arena 
through the implementation of various programmes, including the establishment 
of democracy and human rights, education, health, agriculture, women's 
empowerment, cent percentage electricity coverage, information technology, 
rural infrastructure, and foreign employment. 
 
Abdul Hamid said the alliance, led by Sheikh Hasina, assumed power again 
through the January 5 general elections in 2014 and started trials of war 
criminals and executed the verdicts, and continued efforts to ensure welfare 
for the commoners through establishing Bangladesh's rights in the sea, and 
resolving long-pending land boundary disputes with India.
 
The 14-party alliance government led by Sheikh Hasina has created history by 
assuming the state power for three consecutive times by the general elections 
on December 30 in 2018, and since then, it has been running the government 
successfully, he said.

Despite having various obstacles, the President said, Bangladesh is moving 
forward through the people-oriented activities under the bold and visionary 
leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
  
With continued growth, per capita income is increasing while the poverty is 
declining, he said, adding that construction work of the Padma Bridge with 
the government's own funds is nearing completion.
 
Construction works of Metrorail, Payra Deep Seaport, Karnaphuli Tunnel, 
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's Third Terminal and Rooppur Nuclear 
Power Plant are also progressing uninterruptedly, the President said. 

To turn the country into a happy and prosperous 'Sonar Bangla', she has taken 
far-sighted programmes like 'Vision 2041' and 'Delta Plan-2100' in line with 
the successful implementation of 'Vision 2021', Abdul Hamid added.
  
"These groundbreaking programmes of Sheikh Hasina for democracy, development 
and people's welfare are being considered as role models throughout the world 
today," he said, adding Bangladesh has already evolved into a developing 
country from a least developed country.
 
"Last year, we celebrated the birth centenary of Father of the Nation 
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's 
independence at home and abroad. The presence of the heads of states and 
governments of different countries and sending greeting messages at these 
events brightened the country's image," the President said.
  
On the occasion of the 'Mujib Year', he said, a huge number of landless and 
homeless people in the country are being provided with housing, which has 
created a new trend in the concept of poverty alleviation for the destitute 
people all over the world.
 
Despite the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the world economy, 
Abdul Hamid said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's timely and courageous 
actions have enabled the government to cope with the Covid-19 impacts and 
sustain economic growth.
 
The country's economy has turned around due to the government's various 
socio-economic and investment-oriented projects, programs and activities, he 
added.
 
If this progress of sustainable development continues, Bangladesh will stand 
with head high in the world as a developed and prosperous country by 2041, In 
Sha Allah, the President expressed hope.  
  
"On the occasion of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina's Homecoming Day, I 
wish good health, longevity, happiness and well-being for herself and all her 
family members along with the continued success of the government," Abdul 
Hamid added.
 
On May 17 in 1981, Sheikh Hasina returned to the country after a long exile.
 
A large number of people had gathered outside the Kurmitola Airport in Dhaka 
to receive Sheikh Hasina upon her arrival in the country. 
 
They had come from every corner of the country and the whole thoroughfare 
from the Farmgate point to Kurmitola in the city was full of a jubilant 
crowd.
 
"I have come to stay beside the people of Bangladesh. I have taken part in 
the struggle for freedom. I have not come to be the leader of the Awami 
League. I want to stay beside you as your sister, as your daughter, and as a 
worker of Awami League, who believes in the ideals of Bangabandhu," she told 
a huge mass gathering at Manik Mia avenue on the day.

Earlier, Awami League in its February 14-16 council meeting in 1981 elected 
Sheikh Hasina as the president of the party.