'Shabash Bangladesh', an exclusively designed, lively and vivid sculpture depicting two sterns, brave Freedom Fighters with rifles in their hands is certainly a perfect epitome of our Movement of Freedom struggle.
To free this country from the clutches of the Pakistani marauding, occupation forces, thousands of Freedom Fighters of the country have laid down their lives, have been tortured and persecuted but, in recognition of the contribution of the Freedom Fighters of Bangladesh, there is almost no sign of any mentionable structure throughout the country. Except for the National Memorial in Savar, the plains and the cities of the country hold no remarkable structure to depict our Freedom Struggle and the Freedom Fighters through which we could introduce our future generations about the great Freedom Struggle and the Liberation we earned by shedding a sea of blood.
'Shabash Bangladesh' sculpture situated in front of the Administrative Building of Rajshahi University is an exception. This sculpture is a shadow of strong morale, indomitable courage of the Bangalees. It is incomparable in all respects. It can be also termed as the Light House of Inspiration for all freedom-loving people of the world.
According to sources marauding Pakistani Army entered into Rajshahi town during the mid-April 1971 and set up permanent camps at Rajshahi University campus. To resist the Pakistani armed forces, many teachers, students, staff and surrounding people laid down their lives. Of them the names of RU Professors Habibur Rahman, Professor Sukhranjan Samaddar, Professor Mir Abdul Quiyum are worth mentioning. In honour of sacrifice and memory of those martyred RU, teachers, students and staff, this sculpture has been erected in RU.
The construction works of the sculpture started on February-3,1991. Mother of the martyr Jahanara Imam formally inaugurated the sculpture on February-10, 1992.
The sculpture is situated on 40 sq. ft. of the area with an Open Stage at its feet. The sculpture showed two young freedom fighters running forward with rifles in their hands to drive away their enemies. One of them is wearing a Pant whether another is wearing a Lungi.
Just 36-foot behind the sculpture, there is a wall where a red circle depicts the Sun of Freedom. There are two more rectangular walls on both sides of the wall where some Baul singers are seen to sing and, in another wall, a mother is seen with a child on her lap and two young girls, one holding the National Flag of Bangladesh. Another male juvenile is seen to watch at the flag with awe.
Artist Nitun Kundu is the creator of this lively, historical Sculpture. At the foot of the sculpture, two lines of poem written by poet Sukanta Bhattacharya have been quoted.The lines are: 'Sabash Bangladesh, a prithibi obak takiye roy/ Jole, pure-more charkhar tobu matha noyabar noi'. (Bravo Bangladesh, this world looks back in awe/ Even by being tattered in burning and death, never to submit).
Renowned Journalist, columnist, Life Member of Rajshahi Press club and a former RU official Ahmed Shafiuddin informed, the sculpture was constructed during the tenure of Professor Amanullah Ahmed as the Vice-Chancellor of RU. The sculpture was constructed under the concerted effort of the teachers, students and staff of the varsity. Not only the teachers, students and staff, people of neighbouring areas also contributed by paying toll to construct the sculpture.
Helal Uddin, a teacher of the Department of History of RU informed, the sculpture is the inspiration of freedom for all.
Professor Dr Abdus Sobhan, two-term, successful Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University while expressing his remark of Shabash Bangladesh sculpture said, ‘Shabash Bangladesh' is only one of its kind in Bangladesh, maybe, in the world. It is an unequal and peerless sculpture depicting our great struggle of Freedom and the Freedom Fighters. This will continue to inspire our generations learning the history of our freedom. It is a symbol of our Independence and incomparable in all respects.