Bangabandhu recalled at historic Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata

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DHAKA, Feb 7, 2021 (BSS) – Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has handed over crests of honor to a number of Indian citizens who were recognized with the ‘Freedom Fighter Friendship Award’ for their outstanding contribution to Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

The minister handed over the crests last evening 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 February 6, 1972.

Ministry of Information of Bangladesh with the help of Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, India organized the function marking the grand celebration of the 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 February in 1972.

Panchayet and Rural Development Minister of West Bengal Subrata Mukharjee, who was a young MLA of West Bengal in 1972 and a witness of the historic rally, 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 Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata Towfiq Hasan chaired the function while first secretary (press) Dr Mofakkharul Iqbal gave welcome speech, said a release received here today.

Hasan, in his speech, recalled the contribution of the friendly state India in the Liberation War.

He said the whole West Bengal had met on the historic Brigade ground on that day (February 6, 1972). “As per my own information, about 15 lakh people were present in that historic public rally. And I think the celebration of our victory was completed with the reunion of the people of West Bengal with Mujib in the brigade of that day. I feel proud to recognize the personalities again who were recognized in the Brigade,” he added.

The minister said Bangladesh is now moving forward and left behind Pakistan in every index including human and economy. Now 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.

The information minister said they (Pakistani) want to be like Bangladesh. And, here is the great achievement, added Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

Subrata Mukharjee said, “Bangabandhu was close to the people of the West Bengal. On that day in 1972, the Brigade ground was filled up by 1 pm. Indira Gandhi came along with Bangabandhu at Brigade from Rajbhaban at 3 pm. I was near 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,” he added.

Dr Hasan and Subrata handed over the honorary crests in the function to the Indian personalities for their outstanding role in the Liberation War.

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 Mukharjee 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.

AL Deputy Publicity Secretary Aminul Islam, eminent journalists Santosh Sharma and Subhash Singha Roy and Press Minister to Delhi Saban Mahmud, officials of the information ministry and actors, among others, joined the function.