"Elimination of Bangabandhu's name was world's biggest crime"

Entertainment Live: Elimination of Bangabandhu's name from history was the world's biggest crime, said eminent writer Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, referring to the dark chapter of post-1975 Bangladesh where no one could even utter the name of Bangabandhu.

"If assassination of Bangabandhu along with his family members is a notorious crime, attempt to eliminate his (Bangabandhu) name from history is a hundred times bigger crime," said Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal.

The noted author and educationist came up with the observations while unveiling the ninth and tenth episodes of CRI-publication 'Mujib', a graphic novel based on the unfinished memoirs of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu at the Ekushey Book Fair.

"When I came back to Bangladesh in 1994, I observed that the name 'Bangabandhu' was not uttered on television. I was shocked. The man who presented this independent country was virtually eliminated from the country," said Zafar.

"After Awami League came to power in 1996, my wife and me bought a television, hoping that now we would be able to see Bangabandhu on television. He was shown on television indeed. Tears of joy rolled down my cheek," said Zafar, a popular science fiction writer.

Hailing 'Mujib Graphic Novel' as a great initiative to let know kids about the Father of the Nation, he said generation after generation in this country in the past grew up without knowing who Bangabandhu was and what he did for Bangladesh. This, according to Zafar, is the biggest crime in the world history.

"That is why whenever there is something done on Bangabandhu, I pledge my support to that. I wish it ever success," he said, adding that seven years of efforts through Mujib Graphic Novel culminated into a success.

Praising Bangabandhu as a writer (He wrote Unfinished Memoirs), Zafar said, "We say many things about Bangabandhu. But, no one says how great a writer he was ... he was an outstanding writer." The graphic novel is available in the CRI stall (number 735 and 736) at Ekushey Book Fair.

Dhaka, 19 February (campuslive24.com)//Bsc

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