Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said ‘Joy Bangla’ has got recognition of the national slogan proving that no sacrifice goes in vain.

“Today the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan is for all, the people of this country, the victorious nation and the Bengali nation…… It has proved that no sacrifice goes in vain,” she said 

The prime minister was addressing a programme titled ‘Joy Bangla’ at a city hotel, virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.

Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) arranged the programme to mark the announcement of ‘Joy Bangla’ as the national slogan.

 Hasina said Bangabandhu concluded his historic 7th March speech by chanting the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan that means he had been quite sure that Bengalis would gain victory.

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“This ‘Joy Bangla’ was once banned in the country, which is very unfortunate,” she said.

But the people who belong to Awami League or followers of the ideology of Bangabandhu, freedom fighters and believers in the spirit of liberation war upheld the slogan, she said.

“Obstacles came. We had to hear many insulting words and face various criticisms. Since we’ve been able to keep up this true (words) even after these, it has been recognised as the national slogan today,” said the PM. 

She said this slogan had helped achieve the victory by inspiring the people of the country to sacrifice their lives. “Inspired by this slogan, the people had written with blood that they wanted to achieve victory,” she said. 

"With this ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan, we want to reach it (message) to the people of the world that we are victorious nation, we gained the victory, we don’t move downing our heads, and every Bengali will move raising head, no matter where he or she stays,” she said.

Talking about the difficult days after the 1975 assassination, Hasina said had her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, the only other survivor, been beside her in the function, she would have been very glad. “She (Sheikh Rehana) is a big strength for me,” the PM added.

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Noting that the Joy Bangla slogan was an immense source of inspiration for freedom fighters in the Liberation War, she said this slogan had given so much strength to them that they didn’t hesitate to face the foes even for a single moment and to shed their blood in creating the way for the victory.

“But it is unfortunate that the slogan, which had given us so much inspiration (in the liberation war) was banned when we were victorious nation,” said Sheikh Hasina.

The prime minister formally inaugurated the ‘Joy Bangla’ festival arranged on this occasion.

She also unveiled the cover of a book titled ‘Muktidata Sheikh Mujib’ and launched an album of seven patriotic songs in the function.

PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman also spoke at the function presided over by BAB Chairman Md Nazrul Islam Mazumder.

The Cabinet Division on March 2 last issued a notification declaring ‘Joy Bangla,’ the main inspiring slogan in the freedom struggle and the war of liberation, as the national slogan following the cabinet’s decision taken on February 20 last.

Earlier, the High Court asked the government to take steps for ensuring the use of ‘Joy Bangla’ as the national slogan.