Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa was the source of all encouragement, power and courage for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to work for the welfare of the people of this country.

"My mother always encouraged him (Bangabandhu) to do politics for the people of this country... she never pulled him back ...she never cared about her own interests...even she never thought what she would get in life," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing a function marking the 87th birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa at Osmani Memorial Hall.

She said Bangamata helped Bangabandhu from behind the curtain and Bangabandhu could become the great leader as she was beside him.

Sheikh Hasina said before taking any major political decision Bangabandhu used to talk to Bangamata.

While talking about the influence of Bangabandhu's wife in his political life, Hasina, the eldest child of Bangabandhu's family, said Bangamata helped Bangabandhu take various important political decisions.

She mentioned the suggestions of her mother before going to deliver the historic 7th Match address at Suhrawardy Udyan in 1971.

She said Bangabandhu used to learn about the leaders and workers of the party through his wife while she met him in jail during the Pakistan period.

The Prime Minister said her mother sent her with a message to Bangabandhu not to accept the proposal of coming out of jail through parole in Agartala Conspiracy case and Bangabandhu rejected the parole proposal. Later, the Pakistan government was forced to release Bangabandhu unconditionally.

She mentioned that the Father of the Nation was frequently imprisoned on political grounds, but during that time she played an important role in administering the Awami League.

The PM recalled that during the liberation war in 1971, Bangamata had faced the situation with patience, courage and wisdom while her husband remained imprisoned in Pakistan.

Bangabandhu wrote in details about his better half in his Unfinished Memoir from which many unknown aspects of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, including her mental strength, sacrifice, courage, wisdom and sufferings came out.

She also said Bangamata, standing beside Bangabandhu, established rehabilitation centers for the suppressed women who lost their innocence during the liberation war while Bangabandhu was rebuilding the war-ravaged country after the country's independence.

She urged the new generation to be imbued with the spirit of patriotism through practicing the lifestyles and ideals of Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib.

Terming her mother as a simple and humble person, Sheikh Hasina said she played a unique role in the movement for freedom, liberation war and rebuilding of the nation soon after independence staying beside Bangabandhu.

Bangamata will remain in the heart of Bangalee nation and will be ever remembered for her sacrifices, patriotism and love for the people, she added.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki presided over the function organised by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women and Children Affairs Ministry Rebeka Momen, chairperson of Jatiya Mohila Sangstha Momtaz Begum and secretary of the ministry Nasima Begum spoke, among others, on the occasion.

Advocate Fazilatunnesa MP was the keynote speaker.

A documentary on the life and works of Bangamata was screened on the occasion.

On this day in 1930, she was born in a noble Muslim family at Tungipara village of the then Gopalganj sub-division in Faridpur district.

She was assassinated along with Bangabandhu and most of her family members on August 15, 1975.