State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat on Thursday highlighted the significance of Bangabandhu’s March 7 speech in making the Bangali nation indomitable and urged the students to go forward, imbued with the spirit of the speech.
There is no doubt that every word of BangabandhuÕs March 7 speech is very significant. But I like most of the words, you can’t keep seven crore people subjugated. Being imbued with these words, you should march forward in the days ahead,Ó he told the students.

The state minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 50th annual sports competition of Banani Bidyaniketan School and College on the school premises.
Arafat said the first part of the declaration of independence was materialized through the March 7 speech of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, where he uttered: ÒEbarer Shongram amader muktir shongram, Ebarer shongram, shadhinotar Shongram (this war is a war for independence, this war is a war for freedom).Ó.

Finally, Bangabandhu announced the independence of Bangladesh on March 26 before he was arrested by the Pakistani occupation forces, he added.

The spirit of independence is not limited to ensuring only fundamental rights — food, clothing, shelter, education, and medicine — but the main theme of independence is standing head high and not bowing down to anyone, Arafat said, adding that, being imbued with this theme, BangabandhuÕs daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has not only secured economic development but also improved the countryÕs status in all other sectors.

ÒIn todayÕs reality, which you (students) are now witnessing in the country, just 20 years ago, Bangladesh was not in this status. Today, your capacity to see big dreams has increased. We know you can now think big, and you will take Bangladesh much further in the future,Ó he added.

Just 20 years ago and even 10 years ago, there was no metro rail, nuclear power plant, 100% electricity coverage, or a tunnel (under river) in the country, the state minister said.

ÒBut today Bangladesh reached space with satellites and undersea with submarines. We have built a huge infrastructure like the Padma Bridge with our financing,Ó he added.