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Bangabandhu’s historic speech recalled at ‘Freedom Fighter
Friendship Award’ giving ceremony
DHAKA, Feb 6, 2021 (BSS) – Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud
today handed over the honorary crests to Indian personalities who were
recognized with the ‘Freedom Fighter Friendship Award’ for their
outstanding contribution to Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
The minister handed over the crests recalling a line from
Bangabandhu’s speech — ‘Bangladesh-India friendship will exist
forever’ — at the historic Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata where
Bangabandhu gave the historical speech in presence of about 10 lakh
people on this day in 1972.
Ministry of Information of Bangladesh with the help of Bangladesh
Deputy High Commission in India organized the function marking the
grand celebration of birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman, 50th anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh and the
historic rally of Bangabandhu at the Brigade Parade Ground, Kolkata,
on that day in 1972.
Panchayet and Rural Development Minister of West Bengal Subrata Mukharjee addressed the function as guest of honour while Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Information Saimum Sarwar Kamal and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Mohammad Imran addressed the function as special guests. Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata Towfiq Hasan chaired it.
Hasan said the programme organized in memory of the contribution of
the friend country India to the great Liberation War of Bangladesh.
Economic emancipation of both the people of Bangladesh and India is
possible with the deep relationships of the two nations, he added.
The minister said Bangladesh is now moving forward and left behind
Pakistan in every index including human and economy. Now, today, the
people of Pakistan are becoming disappointed by seeing the
unprecedented development of Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership
of Bangabandhu’s worthwhile daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he
said.
He said they (Pakistani) want to be like Bangladesh. And, here is
the great achievement, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general
secretary.
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Subrata Mukharjee said, “Bangabandhu was close to the people of the
West Bengal. On that day in 1972, the Brigade ground was filled up
within 1 noon. Indira Gandhi came along with Bangabandhu at Brigade
from Rajbhaban on 3pm. I was near of the stage and it was greatest
public rally which I had seen.
“Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the then Indian Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi gave speeches in front of about 10 lakh people
on February 6, 1972 on the Brigade ground. Bangabandhu’s time-honored
speech contained the joys of independence, the pain of losing
relatives, unconditional gratitude to India and everlasting harmony
and criticism of the anti-independence forces.”
Dr Hasan and Subrata handed over the honorary crests of Friends of
Liberation War crests to the Indian personalities in the function.
The dignitaries Jadukar Pradip Chandra Sarker, journalist Manash
Ghose, Sukharanjan Dasgupta, Pankaj Shaha, Dilip Chakkrabarty, human
rights activist Utpala Mishra, Professor Zishnu Dey and his wife Mira
Dey, Pranabranjan Roy and Pabithra Sarker were present.
The ministers also handed over the crests to the family members of
poet Govinda Halder, timeless singer Manna Dey, the then education
minister and former chief minister of West Bengal Shiddhrata Roy,
Congress leader Bijay Sing Nahar, novelist Moithry Devi, social
workers Ranu Mukharjee and Ila Mithra, journalist Panna Lal Dasgupta,
leftist leader Ronen Mithra, Debdulal Bandhyopadhya, journalist Dilip
Mkharjee and Upen Tarfdar, singer Angshuman Roy, former lawmaker
Fulrenu Guha, journalist Bashab Sarker, Nibedita Nag and Nepal Nag.
Later, they uncovered a publication of Kolkata Deputy High
Commission marking the day.
Earlier, Hasan unveiled a memorial plaque in Kolkata established in
memory of journalists Dipak Bandopadhyay and Surajit Ghoshal of West
Bengal, India, who sacrificed their lives in the Liberation War of
Bangladesh.
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The minister, now visiting Kolkata, unveiled the plaque on the
premises of Kolkata Press Club before going to Brigade Parade Ground
associated with the memories of Bangabandhu, said a press release
here.
Speaking on the occasion, Hasan said though the countries are
divided, the minds of the people of Bangladesh and India could not be
divided.
Bangladesh, he said, is now moving forward maintaining the deep
relations between the two nations. Bangladesh is now on the way of
building ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina astonishing the whole world, he said.
Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Saimum
Sarwar Kamal, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Mohammad Imran,
Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata Towfiq Hasan, Kolkata
Press Club President Snehashish Sur and secretary Kingshuk Pramanik,
AL Deputy Publicity Secretary Aminul Islam and Press Minister to Delhi
Saban Mahmud, officials of the information ministry and actors, among
others, joined the function.
Later, the minister joined a lunch and discussion organised by
banglaworld.com. Hasan exchanged views with former chief justice of
Kolkata and Mumbai High Courts Chithatosh Mukharjee and other members
of the organization.
After Bangladesh’s independence, Bangabandhu paid his first visit to
Kolkata on February 6, 1972 when the then Indian Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi received him at Dumdum Airport.
Then both the leaders addressed a mass rally at the Brigade Parade
Ground. During the visit, it was decided that India would withdraw its
army from Bangladesh by March 1972.
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