Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the countrymen to uphold own culture and tradition while keeping pace with the globalisation.
"We may have to learn many languages, many things and use newer technologies, but we will have to uphold our own unique characters," she said.
The Prime Minister came up with the statement while speaking at a function marking the distribution of Ekushey Padak-2018.
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Tuesday.
She said the Bangalee, as a nation, has many things to be proud of. "We have to preserve those, and publicise those for the future generation."
She said the Bangalee as a nation has earned everything through struggles and huge sacrifices. "We must uphold these achievements."
The Prime Minister said the new generation must know the nation's glorious history to be prepared to face the future challenges as Bangladesh will never bow down to others.
Hasina also reminded the people of the country about the 'ghosts' of Pakistani occupational forces as they are still there in the country.
"They couldn't forget their masters. That's why there've been blows to our tradition, language and political rights. We had to fight that repeatedly," she said.
After returning to power in 2009, Hasina said her government has taken numerous projects and programmes for the overall development of the country and the fate of people.
"That's why we have regained our dignity that was lost after 1975, we will gain further in the global arena keeping up that dignity," she said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that she delivers her address in the UN General Assembly in Bangla every year following the footprint of Bangabandhu.
Congratulating the Ekushey Padak recipients, the Prime Minster hoped that the award will inspire the future generation to do even greater works for people who would learn from them and follow their footsteps.
She said the greatest Ekushey is the symbol of grief, strength and glory in the life of every Bangali.
"On this day in 1952, many valiant sons of the soil, including Rafiq, Shafique, Salam, Jabbar and Barkat, sacrificed their lives for protecting the dignity of the mother tongue," the Prime Minister said.
Referring to the development taken place in the last eight years in various sectors, she said, Bangladesh is now a 'Role Model' for development in the world.
Hasina hoped that her government would turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041.
Minister for Cultural Affairs Asaduzzaman Noor presided over the function.
According to UNB, Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam read out citations of the recipients of the award.
Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Ibraheem Hosein Khan delivered the welcome address.
