Shedding the spotlight on the revolutionary rebel of Bengal and pioneering social reformer Leelabati Nag, Eliza Binte Elahi’s informative travel documentary titled “Leelabati Nag: The Rebel” was premiered at the Liberation War Museum (LWM) auditorium, Agargaon in the capital on Wednesday.
The documentary film, researched, scripted and produced by Eliza Binte Elahi from “Quest: A Heritage Journey of Bangladesh”, is directed by ARM Nasir.
The screening, hosted by Associated Press (AP) Bangladesh Bureau Chief Julhas Alam, was joined by esteemed personalities including Attorney General AM Amin Uddin, eminent thespian and former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Liberation War Museum founder Trustee Mofidul Haque, Daily Ittefaq and fortnightly feminist magazine ‘Anannya’ Editor Tasmima Hossain, filmmaker and researcher Manzare Hasin Murad, historian-educator Muntasir Mamun, Deepto TV CEO Fuad Chowdhury, Director of Indira Gandhi Cultural Center Mrinmoy Chakraborty, General Secretary of Leela Nag Smriti Parishad in Moulvibazar Khosru Chowdhury and others.
Mostly remembered for being the first-ever female student at Dhaka University, the pioneer Leelabai Nag devotedly worked her entire life in both the Bengals (Bangladesh and West Bengal) for female education and women empowerment in society, alongside actively being a revolutionary during the anti-British movement in the subcontinent.
She was an ardent follower of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the mentor of warrior Pritilata Waddedar, and also the founder of ‘Deepali Sangha’, the first women's community in this subcontinent, the ‘Deepali Sangha’ which is the predecessor of the current day Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.
“However, the pioneer Leela Nag and her activities are still unknown to the majority, even her residence in Sylhet’s Moulvibazar has been occupied by others. For the sake of our history, we need to highlight this icon - and that was the driving force for me to march forward with this documentary project,” Eliza Binte Elahi told UNB.
Guests of the screening shared their feelings after watching the documentary, lauding the efforts of the makers. They also urged the Attorney General to take the necessary steps to recover Leela Nag's ancestral home which has been stuck in a lengthy legal battle, and the Attorney General assured that the government will take necessary steps to settle the case and name a road after Leela Nag in Moulvibazar.