স্বাধীন বাংলাদেশের প্রথম নববর্ষ উপলক্ষে বঙ্গবন্ধু
ঢাকা
১৪ এপ্রিল ১৯৭২ (বাংলা সন ১৩৭৯)
(ভাষণটি ইংরেজিতে সংগৃহীত)
Today is Pahela Baishakh. The day marks the happy beginning of 1379 Bangla year closing the tragic chapter of the past sufferings and sacrifices of 1378 (B. S.). Another year has passed into the blue void of eternity. But for many reasons the year will remain ever bright and unforgettable in human history. For in this year that we have just passed, our dear Bangladesh, the land of 75 million people, carved its place on the world map at the cost of three million lives.
After long 25 years of struggle, sacrifice and bloodshed the green flag with a red orb today flies over Bangladesh.
Let us, therefore, take a vow in the name of millions of martyrs to rededicate ourselves to the task of building up of this country so that we all can keep the honour and sanctity of this flag intact.
The 75 million people live in our Bangladesh with its only 56 thousand square miles. For an all-round development of these people, it is essential to translate into reality all the policies declared by the government.
Nationalism, democracy, secularism and socialism — each of these principles has become absolutely essential for the good of the common man of our country. Nobody can take me away from this belief.