Staff Reporter:
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) yesterday launched a new social and cultural organization titled ‘So-bar Agey Bangladesh’ to promote native culture.
BNP Joint Secretary General and former lawmaker Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Anee announced the introduction of the platform at a press conference at Uday Tower in city’s Gulshan-1.
About ‘Sobar Agey Bangladesh’, Anee, also its convener, said through this social and cultural organiza-tion, people will get opportunity to celebrate the month of victory in a new way in the new environment after August 5, 2024.
Under the direction of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, ‘Sobar Agey Bangladesh’ has chalked out elaborate programs and activities ahead of December 16, he said.
“Our leader Tarique Rahman gave us the idea of ‘Sobar Agey Bangladesh’ for uniting the whole nation with the spirit of victory,” he added.
“We did not observe and celebrate the days of victory in our own way during the fascist regime in last 16-17 years,” he said.
To promote and flourish the country’s own culture and tradition, ‘Sobar Agey Bangladesh’ will organize an open concert in city’s Manik Mia Avenue at 3pm on December 16, he added.
Noted singers and bands, including Baby Naznin, Monir Khan, Kanak Chapa, Syed Abdul Hadi, Khurshid Alam, Dilshad Nahar Kona, Imran Mahmudul, Pritom, Xefer, Moushumi, Nagar Baul (James), Different Touch, Ark, Souls, Shironamhin, Artcell, AvoidRafa and Shonar Bangla Circus are expected to take part in the concert, he said.
BNP Treasurer and former lawmaker M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Swechhasebak Dal President S M Jilani, Jubo Dal General Secretary Nurul Islam Noyon and ‘Amra BNP Paribar’ Convener and journalist Atiqur Rahman Rumon were present, among others, at the press conference.
In the press conference, Anee also urged all, specially the youth, to remain united in upholding country’s own culture to stop the spread of foreign culture.
“I urge all, specially the youth, to remain united in upholding native culture, and tradition of the country coming out of foreign culture, including Hindi and Urdu songs,” he said.
To protect the country’s independence and sovereignty, all have to come out of the practice of foreign culture, he said, adding that the Bangalee nation struggled, fought and sacrificed their lives for achieving the country’s independence in the great Liberation War in 1971.
He hoped that the youth will protect the country’s own culture, tradition and national identity, being im-bued with the spirit of patriotism and the Liberation War.
“We have to think about Bangladesh before all matters. If all people of the country remain united, we will be stronger further,” he added.
He urged BNP men to work together to fortify the strength of the youth in the interest of national unity.
Criticizing the ousted Sheikh Hasina-led fascist government, he said those who established fascism in Bangladesh and later fled the country are hatching various conspiracies against the country.
“We did not achieve independence from the Pakistani occupation forces for doing slavery of the neigh-boring country (India),” he added.
“We have to consider Bangladesh first above all matters,” he said, hoping that people of the country will not bow down their heads to any foreign conspiracy, injustice and alien culture.
He urged all to work together to fight against foreign conspiracies.
Noting that December is the month of victory, Anee said this month and ‘December 16′ are very im-portant for the nation as the patriotic people of the country clinched the country’s independence from Pakistani occupation forces after a nine-month long war in 1971.
Highlighting the role of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, the BNP leader said he had declared the coun-try’s independence.
Through his declaration of independence and prudent leadership in the battlefield, the nation had man-aged to achieve victory in the Liberation War, he said.
Anee paid glowing tributes to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman for his outstanding contribution to the country.
He also paid homage to 30 lakh martyrs in the Liberation War and all the martyrs of the July-August Mass Uprising and conveyed deep sympathy to the family members of the 2024’ mass uprising victims.