C T Online Desk: Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today highlighted the Liberation War, victory and the country’s prosperity under the leadership of Awami League in a discussion of Bangladesh Betar marking the 51st anniversary of the country’s victory.
Officials of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Bangladesh Betar joined the discussion followed by a colorful cultural function in the auditorium of Betar headquarter at Agargaon here.
Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, recalled the atrocities of Pakistani occupation forces including indiscriminate firing, killing and torturing and stories of victory of Bangalees of his own village “Sukh Bilash” under Rangunia upazila in Chattogram.
Once Pakistani rulers underestimated Bangalees, but now that Pakistan let out a long sigh of despair witnessing Bangladesh’s achievements, he mentioned.
Bangladesh, he said, has moved ahead a lot surpassing Pakistan in all indexes. The incident of Bangladesh’s surpassing India in per capita income under the leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina got huge coverage in Indian media, but Bangladeshi media didn’t give much coverage, he said.
World Bank, the United Nations, the USA and many countries are praising Bangladesh while UN Food and Agriculture Organization presented Bangladesh as a model of agriculture, he said.
The joy of Padma Bridge inauguration reached West Bengal crossing the border of Bangladesh as the people of the Indian state considered it as a bridge of Bangalees, he said.
Bangabandhu tunnel beneath Karnaphuli river will be the first ever road tunnel in the subcontinent, he said.
Terming Betar as a traditional mass media of common people, the minister said Betar wave can reach the place where other media cannot reach.
“So, Betar is a friend of people,” he said.
He called upon all to work in unison to materialize the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Betar can play a big role here, he said.
He gave directives to digitize all programme of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra and broadcast those sometimes in Bangladesh Betar and other media to let the new generation listen the programme which was aired 52 years back during the Liberation War.
Additional Director General of Bangladesh Betar Nasurullah Md Irfan delivered the welcome address while Swadhinata Purashkar recipient, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artiste (Sabdo Sainik) and former director of Bangladesh Betar Ashraful Alam joined it as the discussant.
Bangladesh Betar Director General Khadiza Begum chaired the function.
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra singers performed chorus song, eminent elocutionist Shimul Mustapha recited poem and Shilpakala Academy artistes also performed chorus dance in the cultural function.
