National Mourning Day and 48th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were observed with due solemnity by the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo. A significant number of expatriate Bangladeshi citizens including academia, journalist and other professionals and embassy officials attended the event. The program started in the morning at the Embassy premises with hoisting of the National Flag at half-mast by the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan, Mr. Shahabuddin Ahmed. The National Anthem was played at this time.After this, one-minute silence was observed followed by the laying of a floral wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Auditorium. Ambassador Ahmed followed by other participants paid deepest homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. A special dowa and munajat was offered for the salvation of the martyred souls of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his family members and all other martyrs of 15th August in 1975 with the participation of all Embassy officials and expatriate Bangladeshis. Messages of the Hon’ble President, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Hon’ble Foreign Minister and Hon’ble State Minister for Foreign Affairs issued on the occasion were read out to the audience.In his remarks, Ambassador Shahabuddin paid profound homage to the greatest Bengali of all time and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as he dreamt for freedom of his Bengali people and their independent statehood. Under the visionary, fearless and strong leadership of the Father of the Nation, the Bengali Nation was united to forge a struggle for independence and fought liberation war to attain an independent country- Bangladesh and established its national identity as Bangalee in the comity of nations. Immediate after independence, under his leadership, Bangladesh joined all major international and regional bodies and established bilateral relations with large number of countries including Japan thus firmly establishing Bangladesh’s place in the world stage.The Ambassador said the historic foreign policy adage postulated by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which is ’Friendship to all and malice towards none”, remains as the guiding principles of Bangladesh’s foreign policy. Bangladesh opened its Embassy in Tokyo in 1972. The Ambassador mentioned that the historic Japan visit of the Father of the Nation during 18-24 October 1973 laid the political foundation for advancing the bilateral relations between the two countries. His daughter the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in recent years has developed bilateral relations in a robust manner. As a successful outcome of Hon’ble Prime Minister’s visit to Japan held on 25-28 April 2023, the bilateral relations between two countries have now elevated to a “Strategic Partnership”. He said Bangabandhu is not with us today, but his dream, ideals and directives are still guiding us in the pathway for emancipation of Bangladesh. Under the leadership of his daughter and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh will implement the Vision 2041 to build a knowledge-based, modern, developed and smart Bangladesh in line with the dream of Bangabandhu’s “Shonar Bangla”, Ambassador expressed his resolve.A discussion on the significance of the day was held following a documentary screening on the life and work of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In this segment, Bangladeshi community members and professionals working in Japan highlighted the significance of the day and vowed to turn the grief of losing Bangabandhu into strength. They called upon everyone to work together in strengthening the hands of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to further develop the country and fulfil the dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build a ‘Shonar Bangla’ by implementing the Vision 2041 of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
National Mourning Day 2023 observed in Japan
