Dhaka University Alumni in the UK celebrate Independence Day

Muhammed Shahed Rahman, Special correspondent : Dhaka University Alumni in the UK (DUAUK), an organization of former students of Dhaka University living in the United Kingdom, celebrated Bangladesh’s 56th Independence and National Day with due dignity, respect and patriotism.

The event was held at a hall in East London on Saturday, March 28th.

The program was presided over by the organization’s president, Sirajul Basit Chowdhury, and moderated by the organization’s general secretary, Barrister Mohammad Kamrul Hasan.

Treasurer Syed Jafar was in charge of the overall coordination of the event.

At the beginning of the program, the speakers paid deep tribute to the martyrs of the historic Liberation War of 1971 and remembered the victims of the genocide committed by the Pakistani army on the night of March 25, 1971 through the barbaric military operation “Operation Searchlight”. The speakers paid deep tribute to the millions of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the nine-month-long struggle of the Liberation War.

The program was officially inaugurated by the general secretary of the organization. Later, the patriotic song ‘Dhan Dhanye Pushpa Bhara Ameer Ae Bashundhara’ was performed in a gathering with the participation of all the members under the direction of Cultural Secretary Arena Siddique Suprabha.

Then, in his speech as the president, Sirajul Basit Chowdhury said, he remembered and highlighted the contributions of all the respected leaders who contributed to the organization of the great Liberation War.

Vice President and Program Coordinator Nilufa Yasmin Hasan, in her speech, detailed the active participation of Dhaka University students in all the movements and struggles of the great Liberation War and the massacre of teachers, students and employees by the Pakistani ruling class, especially the killing of intellectuals by the Razakars, Al-Badr, and Al-Shams across the country on December 14, two days before the victory of Bangladesh, when many teachers of Dhaka University were killed.

The keynote speaker of the event was Bangla Academy Award-winning renowned writer and University of Sussex Professor Dr. Shahaduzzaman.
He spoke about the historical, cultural and moral importance of Bangladesh’s Liberation War and said, “Bangladesh has a golden history, a history of glory.”

He said, “We, who believe that the Liberation War is part of the essence of Bangladesh’s existence, have a responsibility to guard that Liberation War.”
Referring to Bangladesh as a country with great potential, Dr. Shahaduzzaman said, “We have gone through a lot of sorrow, sacrifice and pain. I think the time has come after 56 years, now we want a stable and prosperous Bangladesh. We all have to go through deeper thoughts and practices so that we can truly get our Bangladesh back within us.”

The event featured a documentary video created by Syed Iqbal and Ismail Hossain, which was created to mark Bangladesh Genocide Remembrance Day on March 25. The video depicts the brutal massacre of unarmed Bengalis by the Pakistani army on the night of March 25, 1971, through Operation Searchlight.

The subsequent atrocities left millions dead and displaced, marking a dark chapter in Bangladesh’s history and intensifying the struggle for independence.

An important part of the program was the speech by two valiant freedom fighters, Dewan Ghaus Sultan and Abu Musa Hasan, members of the organization.

They reminisced about the Liberation War and highlighted various aspects of Bangladesh’s independence struggle. Everyone present expressed deep respect and gratitude for their courage, patriotism and sacrifice. Later, they were honored with flowers. This episode was moderated by General Secretary Barrister Md. Kamrul Hasan.

The discussion session titled “Free Thoughts” was moderated by the organization’s treasurer, Syed Jafar.

In this episode, Habib Rahman, MA Rakib, Nazir Uddin Chowdhury and Mahrun Ahmed Mala discussed the significance of the Liberation War and the responsibilities of the new generation. Maruf Chowdhury, Sahul Ahmed Maku, Ripa Sultana Rakib, Syed Enamul Islam, Mahfuza Rahman, MK Milon, Moin Uddin, Mirza Achab Beg and Konkan Kanti Ghosh expressed their views on the discussion.

The first part of the program was declared over by the organization’s Senior Vice President Misbah Uddin Eko. At the program, Dhaka University Alumni in the UK reiterated its commitment to preserving the spirit of the Liberation War and promoting the ideals and values ​​of independence among the Bangladeshi diaspora living in the UK.

At that time, he presented the Uttariya to the keynote speaker Dr. Shahaduzzaman along with the organization’s President Sirajul Basit Chowdhury, General Secretary MQ Hasan, and Vice President and Coordinator Nilufa Yasmin Hasan as a token of respect and gratitude.

The discussion was followed by a lively cultural program, which featured patriotic songs, poetry recitations, and dance. The cultural program was conducted by Cultural Secretary Arena Siddique Suprabha.

Dancer Punan Kundu performed a captivating dance to the patriotic song “O Amar Bangla Maa Tor”, captivating and moving the audience.

Ripa Sultana Rakib, Tarek Syed, Syed Jubayer, Mahfuza Rahman, MQ Hasan, Syeda Tamanna, Rasheda Banu, Syed Iqbal, Nila Niki Khan, Mizanur Rahman, Kazi Kalpana, Syed Hamidul Haque, Hasneen Chowdhury, Mahmuda Chowdhury and Monir Chowdhury participated in the cultural program.

Two renowned and popular musicians of Bangladesh, Syed Jubayer and Tarek Syed, performed at the cultural event. Both of them are former students of Dhaka University. Their lively and captivating performances created an exciting atmosphere at the event and attracted a large audience.

At the end of the program, everyone present stood up and sang the national anthem of Bangladesh, marking the end of the program in a patriotic atmosphere.

It is noteworthy that members of the organization paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the Shaheed Minar located in Altab Ali Park in East London on Independence Day, March 26.