Terming life as a premier sort of a ‘captive’ one, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina regretted not being able to freely roam around the Ekushey Book Fair.
"When I was not in power, I used to roam around freely in the book fair. But now, I’m living sort of a captive life. I don’t get the scope to visit Boi Mela like before. When I think about general people’s inconvenience caused by the security arrangements, I decide against visiting. To tell the truth, my heart yearns for it,” Prime Minister Hasina said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the month-long Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela-2019 at the Bangla Academy premises on Friday (Feb 1).
Quoting the premier, state news agency BSS reported that she called upon all to make the new generation aware of the real history of the nation.
“Our new generation should be enlightened about the real history. The history of the independence of the Bangalees is a unique example of how a nation could reach its destination through sacrifice, subjugation and bloodshed,” she said.
The “Unfinished Memoirs of Bangabandhu” and the “Secret Documents of the Intelligence Branch on the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” are important sources for new generation to know the real history, added the prime minister.
On the occasion, the prime minister unveiled the cover of the second part of the “Secret Documents of the Intelligence Branch on the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” which contains the events of jail life of Bangabandhu in 1951 and 1952.
The “Secret Documents of the Intelligence Branch on the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman” is being published in 14 volumes where many unknown facts on Bangabandhu’s struggle for independence were unveiled.
Chairman of the Bangla Academy Dr Anisuzzaman presided over the function while state minister for cultural affairs K M Khalid, eminent Bengali Indian poet Shankha Ghosh and Egyptian writer, journalist and researcher Mohsen Al Arishi were present as special guests, added the report.
Cultural affairs secretary Dr Md. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, president of Gyan O Srijanshil Prokashona Samity Farid Ahmed also spoke on the occasion where Director General of the Bangla Academy Habibullah Sirajee gave the welcome address.
The prime minister also handed over Bangla Academy Sahitya Purashkar 2019 to four recipients in different categories. They are Kazi Rosy (poetry), Muhith Kamal (literature), Syed Md. Shahed (easy and research) and Afsan Chowdhury (research on Liberation War).
The prime minister said the 21st February has now been recognised as the International Mother Language Day. This has also been materialised by Awami League government.
She recalled the effort by Bangladeshi expatriates in Canada late Rafiqul Islam, Abdus Salam and others to achieve UNESCO recognition.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has established an International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka for developing, fostering, preserving and restoring mother languages of different language groups and communities.
The prime minister said this year Bangalee people will celebrate the anniversaries of the Mass Upsurge of 1969 and the conferring of the ‘Bangabandhu’ title on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will complete 50 years this year.
“There is a close link between the two events and the independence of Bangladesh. The aspiration of independence of Bangalee was materialized through the events like the Language Movement of 1952, Mass Upsurge of 1969 and absolute Victory in the 1970 election.
Sheikh Hasina said she is pleased to know that Bangla Academy has arranged seminars commemorating the two historic events.
Praising the Bangla Academy’s efforts in making the Ekushey Book Fair as the longest book fair in the world, the prime minister said now Bangla Academy is significant not only as a centre for selling and purchasing books, but also deeply associated with the national spirit of Bangalee nation.
