Today is 14th December, The Martyred Intellectuals Day. Our nation observes this memorable sad day paying glowing tributes to the illustrious sons of the soil who made the supreme sacrifice at the fag end of the 1971 Liberation War. To cripple the nation intellectually, the brutal Pakistani occupation army and their local collaborators (Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams) abducted frontline Bengali intellectuals and professionals on 14 December 1971 and brutally killed them just before the victory of our Liberation War. Unfortunately, the killers are still unpunished!

On this sad day let us mourn for our Martyred Intellectuals and pray to Allah for the peace of their departed souls. We need to go a long way to fill that vacuum and build Bangladesh as a self-reliant and self-respecting nation. With warmest wishes and regards. Sincerely,

Md. Tofazzal Islam (Ph.D)
President
Bangladesh Society - Sapporo (BSS)

The grateful nation observing the 33rd Independence and National Day today, paying rich tributes to the three million martyrs who made their supreme sacrifice to build a happy and prosperous SONAR BANGLADESH. We all know, on the night of 25 March 1971, the Pakistani junta launched "Operation Search Light" against the unarmed Bangalis, and started murder, mayhem and began a genocide of millions of Bangalis. On March 26, the nation started an armed battle against the Pakistani forces following the declaration of Independence by our great leaders. We achieved an Independent Bangladesh on 16 December 1971 after a nine month long bloody war against Pakistani occupation forces and their collaborators (Razaker, Al-Badr and Al-Shams). However, the nation is not yet attained its expected economic and social advancement during more than three decades of Independent existence. The biggest disappointment is that we do not yet have a democratic culture, which mentioned in the PREAMBLE of the constitution of Bangladesh:

"(.......a fundamental aim of the State to realise through the democratic process to socialist society, free from exploitation-a society in which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality and justice, political, economic and social, will be secured for all citizens (Source: http://www.pmo.gov.bd/constitution/consti2.htm#1)."

We, the BSS members can do very little to change all those frustrating situations in our beloved motherland. However, as every BSS member is considered as the ambassador of Bangladesh in Sapporo, we can do our best to up uphold the image of our motherland by showing excellent performances in our own missions. I strongly do believe that we are highly prolific to perform the best in our own area.

On the eve of our Independence Day, I would like to express my warm wishes and regards to all BSS members. Let us remember and pray for the departed souls of those national heroes who laid down their lives for the sake of an Independent Bangladesh. On this great day, let us promise to make our BSS (a tiny organization/big family) as a source of our inspiration, cooperation, love, and friendship - a place where we can only learn good human qualities from each other. We can test levels of our tolerance, dedication, sacrifice, cooperation and other good abilities in this model organization.

I wish your success and prosperity in your mission, and a very happy life in Sapporo.

Md. Tofazzal Islam (Ph.D)
President
Bangladesh Society - Sapporo (BSS)

"Ekush Mane Matha Noto Na Kora, Ekush Mane Shadhinota." Ekushey is the day of celebrates victory, Ekushey is the day that commemorate event of historical importance, Ekushey is the symbol of the hopes and inspiration of a people who were denied their rights. Ekushey is also the day of mourning and of solemn remembrances of the AMAR BHAIYER ROKTE RANGANO..... and now Ekushey is the day, which belongs to the people of the world. On this day 52 years ago, the students of Dhaka took to the streets in protest at the denial of Bangla as a national language and imposition of under as the sole of official language of Pakistan. The protest that spooked of on February 21, 1952 led to the long-drawn-out struggle and eventually the birth of Bangladesh. On the occasion of that day I would like appeal to our respectable Bangladeshi Sapporobashi to come forward and utilize the spirit of Ekushey February in taking necessary initiative to increase literacy rate as well as to think about how the language could be more efficiently utilized for rapid national advancement. It is very shameful for our nation that literacy rate is still at very low level whereas the youths of our nation sacrificed their lives for mother language.

Dr. ARM Myeenuddin Chowdhury
President
Bangladesh Society - Sapporo (BSS)

Today is March 26, 2001, our Independence Day. The whole nation is celebrating its 31st Independence with much enthusiasm and patriotic spirit. Our tiny organization Bangladesh Society-Sapporo duly respects and remembers this day with a great dedication. On this day in 1971, the people of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) started armed resistance against the Pakistan occupation army for our Independent country- Bangladesh as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence. Later, Late President Major Ziaur Rahman Read out the proclamation of independence from Kalurghat radio station, Chittagong. We also remember one of the horrifying genocide by the Pakistan army on innocent Bangles in 1971.

I would like to congratulate you all in our independence day. In this occasion, Bangladesh Society- Sapporo, pay great respect to all the freedom fighters who have sacrificed their lives for our nation and our immense appreciation to the people who have took part in our liberation war. We also pray for the peace and prosperity of the country and salvation of the victim in the liberation war.

Wish you all the best,

Sincerely,

Ali Mahbub Quoreshi
President
Bangladesh Society - Sapporo