On this day, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, addressed the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, in Bengali. This was the first time a speech was being delivered in Bengali at the UN.
The speech, which articulated the ideas and struggles of the young nation, is considered an emphatic statement of the vision of Bangladeshi to the world. In this passionate speech, Rahman also spoke about his vision of the future of the world, resting on equality and peace and linking his country’s fate to that of other nations.“The very struggle of Bangladesh symbolised the universal struggle for peace and justice. It was, therefore, only natural that Bangladesh, from its very inception, should stand firmly by the side of the oppressed people of the world. …Great victories have been won in Algeria, in Vietnam, in Bangladesh and in Guinea-Bissau. Such victories prove that history is on the side of the people and that justice ultimately triumphs,” he said.
Rahman added that his country, which was built on the debris left by war, had just been devastated by huge floods and appealed to the international community for financial help.
