Those disregarding Independence, Ekushey are enemies: PM

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina said on Thursday those who disregard the spirit of Ekushey and the four pillars of the country's independence are the enemies of both the Amar Ekushey and the independence, reports UNB.
"Those who disregard the spirit of Ekushey and the four pillars of the country's independence are the enemies of the Ekushey and the independence. We'll have to spread the ethos of the Ekushey among the new generation to face these elements," she said.
The PM was delivering her speech at the prestigious Ekushey Padak distribution ceremony among the distinguished personalities. Cultural Affairs Ministry organised the event at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.
The PM also emphasised spreading Bangla language and literature to every level of society.
Describing the recent political violence across the country, Hasina said: "We're struggling every time to uphold our ideals and the spirit of our liberation war. This struggle is still on and we have to continue this."
She also said Bangladesh is the only language-based country in the South Asia. "We have to move ahead keeping up that spirit in our mind for which we liberated this country."
Voicing her firm stance not to see the eruption of political violence anymore in the future, Hasina said the people of Bangladesh are peace-loving ones. "We'll take forward our country with the continuation of its democratic process."
Terming Ekushey the source of pride and spirit of the Bangalee nation, the premier said, "Ekushey is a heroic story of sacrifice of the Bangalee nation for establishing the rights of mother tongue."
Elaborating historical backgrounds of the language movement and the liberation war, Hasina said the Bangalee nation established its rights through a long struggle and sacrifice.
In this connection, she recalled with deep gratitude the great contribution of the Father of Nation who led various struggles and movements starting from the language movement and presented an independent country to the nation.
She mentioned that the struggle to establish an independent Bangladesh began through the spirit of Ekushey episode breaking the chain of the then Pakistan that was established on the basis of a two-nation theory.
The language movement began December 8, 1947, when Dhaka University students for the first time raised the demand for the recognition of Bangla as a state language, she said.
This struggle reached the final stage giving birth to a new independent country, Bangladesh, through the war of independence and various struggles, including six-point demand led by Bangabandhu.