By Mahdi Al Muhtasim Nibir
DHAKA, April 18, 2019 (BSS) – The lone photograph of Bangabandhu, taken in 1973 at Dhaka university’s Teacher-Student Center (TSC), was discovered today and put on display at the TSC.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had come to TSC at a reception programme accorded in honour of French novelist Andre Malraux who was visiting Bangladesh at that time.
The rare photograph has been revealed which portrays Bangabandhu, the then Vice-Chancellor Dr. Abdul Matin Chaudhury and student leaders proceeding to enter the programme venue.
“So far, we didn’t find any photograph of Bangabandhu taken at TSC … this is the only one we found on the Internet that was taken in 1973. We are elated as we hoisted the picture of Bangabandhu to express our pride and remember the history,” said TSC advisor Prof Soumitra Sekhar Dey.
After independence of Bangladesh, the Father of the Nation first came to his beloved university grounds in 1972 on the invitation of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).
Though the presence of the then young leader Sheikh Mujib, a Dhaka University (DU) Law department and non-resident student of Salimullah Muslim Hall, was vibrant in the campus, it is a matter of regret that no significant photograph of Bangabandhu’s visit to DU was found after 47 years of the country’s independence.
Now, students, teachers and visitors can realise the presence of Bangabandhu on DU while visiting TSC and commemorate the golden memory of the bravest son of the soil while observing the photograph.
The University of Dhaka, which was considered as the Oxford of the East also made an all-out preparation to hold a programme on the morning of August 15, 1975, where the country’s then President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was scheduled to attend.
The stage was all set and a special chair was brought for the Father of the Nation. But before dawn, Bangabandhu along with most of his family members were brutally murdered by a band of renegade army officers. The historic chair, remained unused and uncared for at a TSC room for 41 years, was put on display at TSC on August 15, 2016 and preserved.
Now, the rare photograph of Bangabandhu which was displayed at TSC adviser’s office room today is the latest addition to the memory of Bangabandhu’s relationship with DU.