EMK: “The Postage Stamps for Independence”

Live Correspondent: EMK Center has organized for the documentary screening, “The Postage Stamps for Independence” on July 31. It beholds the unique history of first postage stamps releasing event of Bangladesh, during the Liberation war in 1971.

Mr. Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, MP and Former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh presented in the ceremony as Chief Guest. In his speech, he shared his experience of the time how they came altogether in a fragile time and fought together to by this initiative in 1971.

He also expressed how he got support from U.S. to work for this Postage Stamps.Senior Advisor of U.S. Embassy, Mr. James Callahan officer expressed his experience as diplomat with Bangladesh.

Music Composer Azad Rahman, Acting Director of EMK Center, Asif Uddin Ahmed and Film Director Ms Nasrin Islam were also present in the film screening ceremony. After the speech session, the 38 minutes’ documentary has been shown to the distinguished guests and audiences. People from academia, media and students joined to the movie screening show.

This documentary is an effort of describing the unique history of Bangladesh’s first postage stamp releasing event. It is indeed that no other nation has this unique history of postal stamp releasing event even before Bangladesh officially existed as a country on the political world map.

In July 29th 1971, even before Bangladesh was recognized internationally as an independent country on this earth the first ever Postage Stamp (a set of 8) was released. The designer of these postage stamps is one of the eminent designers in the world, Mr. Biman Mullick. Through the design of these stamps Biman Mullick depicted the political scenario and peoples’ struggle for independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

In August 8th, 1971 ‘The New York Times’ stamp section published the releasing news of Bangladesh’s first eight stamps. Mr. Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Honorable Member of Parliament and former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, who contributed from the core of his heart about this regard. This stamp releasing news made a tremendous impact in gaining trust and support from the world community which in turn helped achieving the freedom of Bangladesh.

Foreign friends of Bangladesh at that time, namely, Mr. John Stonehouse (Post Master General of England, MP, and Minister, UK), David Lidman (Editor of Stamp section, New York Times), Mr. Sydney Schanberg (Correspondent, New York Times), F. R. Khan (Structural Engineer), Reporter Kathleen Teltsch Kitty (Junior correspondent to the UN for New York Times) and many others who responded and came forward proactively to make awareness, raised funds and so forth especially, to let the rest of the world know about our struggle for independence.

The Postage Stamp for Independence is the first documentary film made by Nasrin Islam. She did her Bachelors and Master’s Degree on Indian Classical Music from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, India.

Dhaka 31 July (campuslive24.com)//MIH

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