Bangladesh marks 51 years of independence

Bangladesh observed the 51st anniversary of its independence on Saturday with programs at home and in diplomatic missions abroad with a renewed pledge to create a nation of prosperity, the United News of Bangladesh reported.

In messages on the occasion, President Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh is moving forward on the "highway of development" as an independent country.

Per capita income has tripled over the past decade, and despite the impact of the pandemic the country has maintained economic growth.

"We have achieved enormous success in various areas of socioeconomic development including poverty alleviation, education, health, human resources development, women empowerment, reduction of child and maternal mortality rates, elimination of gender discrimination and increase in average life expectancy," bdnews24.com quoted Hamid as saying.

The country's leaders called for unity to build a self-confident and self-respecting Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty.

Among the celebrations, both the president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, regarded as father of the nation, and the four national leaders and martyrs of the war of liberation in 1971. They laid wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar to pay homage to the freedom fighters, the United News of Bangladesh reported.

China's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Li Jiming, visited the Mausoleum of the Father of the Nation earlier, with ambassadors and heads of missions from over 20 other countries. Li also visited Tungipara, Gopalganj, Bangabandhu's birthplace.

At the mausoleum, he wrote in the guest book: "China-Bangladesh Friendship is like a well, nurturing generations of us, and we should never forget who dug it when drinking water from it."

Li attended a ceremony last Monday at which Hasina inaugurated the country's first 1,320MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant at Payra in Patuakhali district, about 200 kilometers south of the capital, Dhaka.

The country had moved to a new era by attaining 100 percent electricity coverage with the inauguration of the first China-funded eco-friendly mega power plant, Hasina said. "This is the biggest thing that we've been able to light houses of every people."

In a message to the president and the prime minister, Russia's President Vladimir Putin wished all Bangladeshis happiness and prosperity. Leaders of the United Arab Emirates including President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan also sent messages of congratulations to Hamid.

Xinhua contributed to this story.