British minister and MPs paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at London High Commission's National Mourning Day programme on Saturday.
The High Commission observed the 45th martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu and the National Mourning Day when participants paid their profound homage to the ‘greatest Bengali of all time’.
Chaired by the Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland Saida Muna Tasneem, Bangladesh's Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury MP was the chief guest at the commemorating discussion where panellists were from the UK, Austria and Bangladesh.
The Political Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, HT Imam, and UK Minister for London and Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Paul Scully were the guests of honour at the programme.
Chair of the UK Labour Party Angela Rayner and British MP and the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh and the UK's Trade Envoy for Bangladesh Rushna Ara Ali joined the webinar as special guests.
Besides, eminent journalist Abdul Gaffar Choudhury, leading organisers of Bangladesh War of Independence in the UK Sultan Mahmud Shariff and British-Bangladeshi community leader Syed Sajidur Rahman Faruk participated in the event as the special guests, the High Commission said.
A large number of expatriate Bangladeshis from the UK, Ireland and EU countries joined the webinar and paid their tribute to the Father of the Nation.
British Minister Paul Scully paid a rich tribute to Bangabandhu and expressed solidarity with the people of Bangladesh in observing the National Mourning Day.
Recalling Bangabandhu’s close relations with Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, he said Bangabandhu’s relation transcended UK party politics and cuts across both labour and conservative parties.
Praising the nation-building activities of Bangabandhu during his only three and a half years in power, the UK minister also lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her tremendous success in the socio-economic fronts that the world saw in the past decade.
Labour Party Chair Angela Rayner, who represented Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer at the meeting, paid special tribute to Bangabandhu on behalf of her party and termed Bangabandhu a great leader of Asia.
She recalled the close and informal relation between Sir Harold Wilson and Bangabandhu, mentioning that Sir Wilson mourned Bangabandhu’s death as his personal loss.
Rushna Ara Ali said 15 August is not only a day for mourning but also a day to learn from the life of Bangabandhu and the struggle and sacrifice that he made to create an independent country, Bangladesh.
BBC Bangla Chief Sabir Mustafa shared his memorable experience about the listeners' survey conducted by BBC in 2004 where Bangabandhu was nominated the ‘Greatest Bengali of All Time’.
The programme began with one-minute solemn silence followed by recitation of the Holy Qur'an and three other holy books and special prayer (munajat) for the peace and salvation of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and his family members.
A video documentary on the life and works of Bangabandhu was also screened at the programme.
The High Commissioner along with the Land Minister unwrapped the special edition of the international magazine Asian Affairs dedicated to Bangabandhu, marking his Birth Centenary.
A floral wreath was placed at the portrait of Bangabandhu by the High Commissioner along with the Land Minister and the officers of the High Commission.
Earlier in the morning, the national flag was hoisted at half-mast by Ambassador Saida Muna Tasneem and the messages marking the day given by the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs were read out to the audience.
