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PM-PHILANTHROPY-SHAHA
PM urges rich people to follow RP Shaha for philanthropy
MIRZAPORE, Tangail, March 14, 2019 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
today urged affluent people to dedicate them to the cause of nation following
philanthropist RP Shaha’s footprints as she handed over “Danveer Ranada
Prasad Shaha Smarak Gold Medal” to four national celebrities.
“Ranada Prasad Shaha set an example in serving the human being,” she told
the medal awarding ceremony at the green lawn of Kumudini Complex at
Mirzapore here this afternoon.
The premier added: “Many rich people are there in our country (and) if
they follow his footsteps, the ordinary people would not have any
sufferings.”
Sheikh Hasina particularly appreciated with respect the enormous
philanthropic activities of Shaha, more known as RP Shaha, in Mirzapore what
was visibly a remote area during his time.
Legendary politician and erstwhile Pakistan’s Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed
Suhrawardy and National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam were posthumously honoured with
the award while the rest two recipients were 1952 language movement veteran National
Professor Rafiqul Islam and eminent painter Sahabuddin Ahmed.
On behalf of Suhrawardy, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman’s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana received the gold medal from the
premier while she herself joined the ceremony as a special guest.
Poet Nazrul’s granddaughter Khilkhil Kazi received the medal on behalf of
the National Poet.
Professor Rafiqul Islam and painter Sahabuddin Ahmed received themselves
the award the medal from the premier.
A businessman by background Shaha earned the repute of being a leading
Bengali philanthropist and founded educational institutes like Bharateswari
Homes, Kumudini College and Debendra College.
Pakistani occupation forces had picked him up during the Liberation War
while he never returned home.
“He had earned money in one hand and donated it on the other hand” led by
his feelings for the people in miseries, distressed widows and concern for
women education, the premier said.
She noted with appreciation RP Shaha established Kumudini Welfare Trust
activities for serving the humanity and promoting women education yielding
organizations like Kumudini Women Medical College and Kumudini Nursing
School.
Sheikh Hasina said her door would always remain open for the Kumudini
Welfare Trust in their endavour to serve the cause the nation’s wellbeing.
Director (education) of the trust and 1952 language veteran, Protiva
Mutsuddi presided over the function while its Chairman and Managing Director
Razib Prasad Shaha also spoke at the ceremony.
Another director of the trust Srimoti Shaha delivered the welcome address,
while local parliament member Ekabbar Hossain was present on the dais.
Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni,
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Murad Hasan, parliament
members, secretaries to the prime minister and other dignitaries were
present.
A documentary on 86 years’ journey of the Kumudini Welfare Trust was
screened at the function the Bharateswari Homes students staged a spectacular
physical display.
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