After nine months of a bloody Liberation War in 1971, Bangladesh won the right to declare itself an independent country on the global stage. The country recently marked the golden jubilee of its independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu with a 10-day program, which included a discussion at the National Parade Ground in Dhaka on the theme "Banglar Mati, Amar Mati" (Bengal's Soil, My Soil) with participation from author Selina Hossain, Education Minister Dipu Moni, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam. Nepal's President Bidya Devi Bhandari joined Bangladesh's President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in commemorating the events. Selina highlighted Sheikh Mujib's role in establishing a secular Bengali nationalist identity worldwide. She mentioned that Bangabandhu had called for changing the name of East Pakistan to Purbo Bangla during his speech to the assembly on Aug 25, 1955. She quoted him as saying, "I will not disrespect my Bengali nation even in death. I will not ask for forgiveness. As I depart, I will cry out: Joy Bangla, Free Bangla, Bengali is my nation, Bangla is my language, the land of Bangla is my place." Shahriar also cited Bangabandhu's statement from his Jun 7, 1972 speech at the Suhrawardy Udyan, where he declared, "Today I proudly declare myself as a Bengali; I affirm that Bengali is a nation; I proclaim that Bangla's soil is my soil." She added that although Bangabandhu was taken from us by his killers, we continue to follow the path he showed us. Dipu Moni described him as an eternal source of our motivation. Bhandari stated that Bangabandhu not only captured the affection of Bengalis, but also held a respected position as a leader in the region. She emphasized that as a skilled speaker, organizer, and advocate, Bangabandhu was able to connect with the people of Bangladesh and achieve the goal of establishing a new nation. Hamid urged politicians to set a new standard in politics by setting aside their differences and focusing on the well-being of the country's most impoverished and vulnerable citizens, following the spirit of independence and the principles of Bangabandhu. In celebration of the two occasions, Hasina urged global leaders to prioritize sustainable development and cautioned that efforts to adapt will not adequately protect the most vulnerable countries unless climate change is urgently addressed. The second session of the program featured an orchestra performance, traditional Nepalese dance, and a Jatrapala folk theatre drama titled 'Ma, Mati O Manush'. Following this, 100 folk singers performed in chorus. The President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, have both visited Bangladesh to participate in the festivities. The Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lotay Tshering, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have also been invited to attend.