Seoul, 07 March 2021:

Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul arranged an elaborate programme to observe the Historic 07^th March Day with a befitting manner commemorating the landmark speech of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered on 7^th March, 1971. The programme was divided in three segments.

The first segment of the programme started at 9.30 hrs at the Embassy premises with the hoisting of the national flag by the Bangladesh Ambassador with the presence of the Embassy officials. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures, the participation in the event was limited to the officials of the Embassy. The Ambassador then paid floral tribute to the sculpture of the Father of the Nation inside the Chancery. It was followed by the reading out from the Holy Scriptures. Messages, issued on this occasion by the Hon’ble President and Hon’ble Prime Minister, were read out at the programme. During the programme, the video of Bangabandhu’s historic 7th March speech translated into Korean language by the Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul was screened.

Later, a discussion session was held where the discussants discussed on the significance of this historic speech in the nation's history.  In her speech, Ambassador Abida Islam paid rich tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and highlighted the importance of 7^th March historic speech which inspired the entire freedom-loving Bengali nation to join the struggle for independence. She said that this recognition is a befitting tribute to the sacrifice of our 3 million martyrs and 200000 Birangana.

The second segment of the programme was an online discussion programme on the commemoration of the historic 7^th March speech which started at 1200 hrs (Korean Time) and 0900 hrs (Bangladesh time). The online discussion session was hostedby Bangladesh Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Abida Islam and participated by Writer, Novelist, Columnist Professor (Retd.) Syed Manzoorul Islam as keynote speaker. Later,H.E. Yunyoung Lee, Visiting Research Fellow, Asia Center, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea discussed on the deliberation of Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam. Prior to the commencement of the discussion session, the video of Bangabandhu’s historic 7th March speech,subtitledin Korea language at the initiative of the Embassy, was screened.

Paying profound tribute to the memory of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ambassador Abida Islam highlighted on the background and significance of the historic 7^th March speech of the Father of the Nation and its inclusion in the “Memory of the World International Register” with the status of World's Documentary Heritage. She informed that given the importance of the historic speech of Bangabandhu and for the wider publicity of the speech among the Korean people, the Embassy has translated the speech into Korean language and incorporated Korean subtitles in the video of the historic speech.

Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam, in his keynote deliberation, touched upon the different aspects of the historic speech of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.He elaboratedthe background of the historic 7^th March speech and its effects on the then political situations. He was presenton thatday at Racecourse ground and shared his personal enriched experiencerelating to historic speech of the Father of the NationBangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 7 March 1971.

H.E.Yunyoung Lee, discussed on the historic speech of Bangabandhu in international perspective. He said that the appeal of the speech is never-ending and it has indeed surpassed time and ushered in unprecedented new phenomenon and dimensions in the lives of the people of Bangladesh as well as the world.

The third segment of the programme was the online discussion on the significance of the historic 7^th March speech of the Father of the Nation. The expatriate Bangladeshi nationals living in Korea took part in the vibrant discussion session and discussed on the significance of the historic speech of Bangabandhu. Recalling Bangabandhu’s charismatic leadership and contribution to the independence of Bangladesh, Ambassador Abida Islam called for joint efforts of the expatriate Bangladeshis to realize the long-cherished dream of ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal) as envisioned by our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.