The Bangladesh embassy in the Netherlands has organized the first ever art exhibition on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the Hague.
The exhibition titled ‘Bangabandhu: In Remembrance' displayed a total of 30 art works of artists from Bangladesh, including art works of celebrated artists Quayyum Chowdhury, Rafiqun Nabi, Sarbori Roy Choudhury, Murtaja Baseer, Abdus Sattar and Jamal Ahmed.
More than 100 guests, comprising members of diplomatic corps, local media, students, expatriate Bangladesh community gathered at the opening ceremony last week, says a press release issued by the embassy.
Buriganga Arts and Crafts, Dhaka aided the embassy in organising the exhibition.
Envoys of India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Kosovo, Georgia and Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See as well as representatives from the embassy of United States, Spain, Russian Federation, Panama and Austria were present at the inauguration ceremony.
Former Deputy Mayor of the Hague Rabin Baldewsingh and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in the Netherlands Carlos J Arguello Gomez were the Guests of Honor of the ceremony and joined Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal in inaugurating the art exhibition ceremonially.
Baldewsingh in his speech drew reference from former Cuban leader Fidel Castro on Bangabandhu. He shared Fidel Castro’s famous quote "I have not seen the Himalayas. But I have seen Sheikh Mujib.”
Arguello Gomez said in this time of populism plagued world, leaders like Bangabandhu would have been the right antidote.
Former Dutch Ambassador to Dhaka Garben de Jong narrated his own memories during his tenure in Dhaka and informed that he saw spontaneous love and affection of mass people towards Bangabandhu.
He reminisced his visit to foreign ministry in Dhaka where he had the chance of observing so many beautiful paintings of Bangabandhu.
Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands Belal noted that the canvas of Bangabandhu’s life is too big to grasp in a brief setting like this or in an exhibition or two.
He went to state that “childhood of immortality” that people of Bangladesh bestowed on Bangabandhu is a perpetual inspiration for all to continue their quest to know more about him through in-depth research and studies.
Sulayman, Curator of Buriganga Arts and Crafts, Dhaka presented how contemporary arts are constantly evolving in Bangladesh and how our contemporary artists are adding new dimensions in this ancient form of art.