Noagaon – President Abdul Hamid on Monday called for establishing a humanitarian and non-communal, poverty- and exploitation-free society imbued with the spirit and ideals of poet Rabindranath Tagore. UNB news agency reported
“Rabindranath is not only a poet of a certain period but also Bangalees’ pride for all times. He is a great source of our inspirations and courage to establish patriotism, humanity, Bangalee nationalism and universal consciousness,” he said.
The President was inaugurating the national programme marking the 156th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore here in the afternoon.
Abdul Hamid said the practice of Rabindranath’s thoughts and works on poverty alleviation, rural development, people’s economic emancipation, health and environment is now very relevant even at the time of emergence of fanatic and communal forces worldwide as those still inspire all in many ways.
He said the concept of establishing an agricultural bank is the brainchild of Rabindranath as he had set up ‘Potisar Agriculture Cooperatives Bank’ to protect farmers and working people from torture and exploitation of landlords. “Rabindranath had donated over Tk 1 lakh he received as Nobel Prize to this agriculture bank. He even sent his son Rathindranath Tagore, son-in-law and others to the US for pursuing higher education on agriculture and they had subsequently worked for the development of agriculture.”
Noting that the great poet had wanted to see rural people as self-reliant and educated ones, the President said he started establishing village society, introducing cooperatives system, setting up agricultural laboratory and health cooperatives society, modernising agriculture and flourishing cottage industries to this end.
He also said Rabindranath had a deep relation as well as fascination with present Bangladesh as he came close to the people of Shahjadpur in Sirajganj, Potisar of Naogaon and Shilaidaha of Kushtia to look after his zamindari.
Hamid urged all concerned to take necessary steps to bridge the gap between villages and towns in terms of resources in line with the concept of Rabindranath’s cooperatives system to boost the rural economy.
Paying homage to the poet, he said, “Being a Bangladeshi, I’m proud of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore who upheld the image of our Bangalee culture and literature in the world arena. The Bangla-speaking people across the world owe to him for his outstanding creations as a poet, composer, litterateur, dramatist, artist, essay writer, philosopher, educationalist and social reformer.”
Textiles and Jute Minister Emaz Uddin Pramanik, Mohammad Israfil Alam, MP, Prof Dr Hayat Maud, acting Cultural Affairs Secretary Mohammad Ibrahim Hossain Khan were, among others, present at the programme held with Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor in the chair.
