True independence thrives on continuous medical research, guided by the enduring vision of the Father of the Nation and the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

The word "freedom" is our most cherished and revered term. Just as every individual dreams of freedom, thirsts for it, and holds the desire for freedom in their hearts, so too does a nation achieve its ultimate transformation and embark on the path of development through the means of freedom. Just as individual freedom develops and liberates a person, igniting the stream of their free thoughts, similarly the freedom of a nation takes all its people towards progress and modernity, ensuring the success of nation so that all citizens can enjoy its benefits. Therefore, if we analyze the history of the world, we will see that without freedom, no nation could uphold self-respect, dignity, and prosper. Thus, throughout the world, in every country, we have witnessed the aspiration for freedom, wars fought for freedom, compromises made for freedom, and people of the whole world being mobilized for freedom.

Nelson Mandela famously stated that Without freedom, no one can survive. Without freedom, a nation perishes. Reflecting on Bangladesh's history, in 1947, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, recognized that true freedom for the Bengali nation was only possible through independence. He envisioned the construction of a non-communal, progressive state structure for Bengalis, a dream achievable only when the nation gained sovereignty. Hence, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, from the very onset of the country's partition in 1947, wanted independence, nurturing the desire for freedom and initiating a relentless struggle that culminated in 1971. Bangabandhu realized that if we can't achieve independence, the Bengali nation would not stand tall on the world stage. Bangabandhu realized that if we can't achieve independence, the Bengali nation would not stand tall on the world stage. He envisioned for a modern, progressive, and developed state. Even back in 1947, when he was actively involved in the struggle for independence, he had a vision for what Bangladesh would be like. He had a plan for that time as well. He had only attained a scant three and a half years to implement that plan in reality.

We all know that a war-torn country where Pakistani occupying forces wreaked havoc for nine months, it's impossible to get everything back on track within just three and a half years. But Bangabandhu had laid out a blueprint for Bangladesh within that short span. We call it an architectural plan. Plan to build the sonar Bangla. However, even after facing defeat in the Liberation War of 1971, the anti-liberation forces in Bangladesh did not accept their defeat. They initiated rebellions in Bangladesh, and in the course of those rebellions, on August 15, 1975, they mercilessly assassinated the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with his family. This assassination was an act of anti-liberation forces. The real reason behind this massacre was to thwart the fruits of Bangladesh's independence. Making Bangladesh a subordinate state again, making it a confederation of Pakistan. Therefore, upon analyzing the individuals in power post-1975, it becomes evident that figures like Mostaq, Ziaur Rahman, and Hussain Muhammad Ershad all exhibited pro-Pakistani inclinations and adopted a Pakistani-style approach. Their objective was to transform Bangladesh into a replica of Pakistan. They manipulated the state apparatus to ensure that the benefits of freedom remained elusive for many. Consequently, their actions were consistently anti-Bangladesh and anti-independence. They managed the state structure so that not all people get the benefits of freedom. Every action they took was against the interests of Bangladesh and its independence. On May 17, 1981 Sheikh Hasina returned to her homeland, aiming to thwart the efforts of those opposing independence. Upon her return, amidst a hostile atmosphere, the visionary leader Sheikh Hasina wholeheartedly embraced and pursued the dreams of Bangabandhu. The significant progress we witness today in Bangladesh, both in infrastructure and in the evolution of mindset, can be attributed to the actualization of Bangabandhu's aspirations.

When considering the advantages of freedom, the correlation with medical research becomes apparent. If we analyze the developed countries of the world, we see that those countries which have prioritized medical science are the ones that have advanced the most. And we have many such examples around us. The United States of America is perhaps the biggest example of how prioritizing medical science has led to advancement.

Bangabandhu understood it in 1971. And it was because of this realization that he identified the areas of priority in his first five-year plan, among which he marked education and healthcare as the most crucial sectors. If we observe the first five-year plan closely, we will see that Bangabandhu particularly emphasized granting priority to medical research. In determining the priorities for the development of the newly formed state of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu identified the health sector as a priority. He envisioned extending healthcare services to the rural population and established the BMRC to emphasize research in healthcare. However, from the late seventies to 1996, we call this period the dark age. During that time, Bangladesh plunged into a dark world. As a result, our modern thinking, liberal thought, and progressive ideas were obstructed. Consequently, scientific and medical research also suffered a setback. From there, today we have embarked on a journey. 

We have seen that the Philosophical Statesperson Sheikh Hasina gives special importance to medical research and ensures that medical research is conducted under proper leadership. Therefore, she has entrusted the responsibility of chairing the BMRC to an expert like Professor Dr. Syed Modasser Ali. I hope that the initiatives taken by the BMRC today are complementary to Bangabandhu's dream. It is closely related to the thinking of Statesperson Sheikh Hasina. That's why we see three levels clearly. Bangabandhu's dream, the guidance of the philosophical statesperson Sheikh Hasina, and the practical implementation plan of the BMRC. If these three can converge at one point, then undoubtedly Bangladesh will stand as a modern developed country in front of the world. Not only infrastructure development, but also through thought, contemplation, and research, Bangladesh will illuminate the world as an advanced state.