State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said, “Those who said there is no democracy in the country they do not believe in Bangabandhu, liberation war and independence. I do not want to hear the definition of democracy from those who deny these truth. Those who want to live in Bangladesh must abide by Bangabandhu, liberation war and independence spirit and the government.”
The state minister was speaking as the keynote speaker at the publication ceremony of the golden jubilee of the weekly ‘Dabanol’ held at the National Press Club on Friday.
Regarding the nature and spirit of Dabanol newspaper, sate minister said, “There was a lot of propaganda during the liberation war. Several newspapers like Dabanol have conveyed the purpose and spirit of the liberation war to the people by stopping the propaganda. That magazine is coming in a new guise again so the propagandists should be aware.”
The former organizing secretary of the Awami League Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said about the founder, publisher and patron of Dabanal, late Dr Mohammad Selim, the eldest son of the Shaheed Captain M Mansur
Ali, “Selim has spent most of his life on abroad.
He had a comfortable life, yet he did not forget the people of the country. He felt the need to publish a newspaper during the war of liberation from his responsibility towards the country and the people.”
He said that after the assassination of the father of the nation with whole family on August 15, 1975, the defeated forces of independence rose again. At that time, along with Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, M Selim played an important role in creating public awareness worldwide and in forming a commission of inquiry in the international arena.
"Our leader Sheikh Hasina often say blood speaks," he said. Today, the late Dr. Mohammad Selim’s only son Shehrin Selim Ripon took the initiative to publish ‘Dabanal’ magazine out of respect for the spirit of the Liberation War that proves he is also dutiful to his country like his father and grandfather.
Awami League presidium member Advocate Kamrul Islam, heroic freedom fighter Nasir Uddin Yusuf, Rezaul Karim son of Shaheed Captain M Mansoor Ali and reciter Mahidul Islam were the chief guests on the occasion. Shaheed Captain M Mansur Ali Foundation President and publisher and editor of Dabanal newspaper Sheherin Selim Ripon presided over the function and General Secretary of the Foundation Advocate Mujibur Rahman conducted the function.
