Bangamata was Bangabandhu’s constant political associate: Quader

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DHAKA, August 8, 2020 (BSS) – Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib was not only the wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman but also his constant political associate.

“Bangamata played a vital role from behind the scene in Bangabandhu’s political success . . . she was an associate of Bangabandhu in the Bangalee’s struggle for freedom,” he said.

Quader, also minister for road transport and bridges, was speaking at a virtual press briefing after paying homage to Bangamata by placing a wreath at her grave at Banani graveyard here marking her 90th birth anniversary.

He said Bangabandhu led the Bangalee’s long struggle for freedom and the Liberation War to free this soil from the subjugation of Pakistani oppressors and in that way he not only became the father of the nation and architect of independent Bangladesh but also a world-acclaimed politician and statesman.

Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib brought encouragement and strength from behind the scene for Bangabandhu in his every step and struggle, he added.

The minister said Bangamata had some similarities with the longest serving first lady of the United States of America (USA) Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of Franklin D Roosevelt who was elected president four times and served as president for the longest time in the history of that country.

He said both Fazilatunnesa Mujib and Eleanor Roosevelt, who was later dubbed as the “First Lady of the World by President Harry S. Truman in tribute to her human rights achievements, lost their parents in their childhood, married their first cousin and both of them had extraordinary contributions to their husband’s political life.

But the difference between the two is Fazilatunnesa Mujib had the chance to make direct contributions to a state’s attainment of independence but Eleanor Roosevelt didn’t get the chance, he added.

Quader said Bangamata gave the ultimate inspiration to Bangabandhu in her delivery of the landmark 7th March speech which was actually the call for independence.

He said Fazilatunnesa Mujib was an associate of Bangabandhu until their deaths and the great woman gave inspirations to father of the nation to lead in every glorious achievement of the country, including the independence.

Later, the AL general secretary virtually joined the coronavirus (Covid-19) protective equipment distribution ceremony arranged by the party’s relief and social welfare sub-committee marking the birth anniversary of Bangamata at the party’s central Bangabandhu Avenue office here.

Under the directives of AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, devoted workers of the party are extending cooperation to local administrations in taking the flood victims to shelter centers and reaching cooked meals to them apart from their continuous efforts to stand by the people during the coronavirus crisis, he added.

Quader said since the inception, it is the party’s long heritage over the seven decades of its journey to stay beside people in every crisis as AL leaders and workers are devoted to extend humanitarian service to the downtrodden people.

Marking the Bangamata’s birthday, Covid-19 protective and medical equipment were given for distribution among 500 frontline physicians of different district level hospitals, upazila health complexes and eight Covid-19 hospitals on the occasion.

AL Presidium Members Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, BM Mozammel Haque and Mirza Azam, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Abdus Sabur, Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, Dhaka City South AL President Abu Ahmed Mannafi and General Secretary Humayun Kabir were present on the occasion.

AL Central Working Committee Member Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin chaired the function.