Staff Reporter:
French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday visited Bangabandhu Museum and paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Macron stayed about one hour at Bangabandhu Museum, carrying the memories of Bangladesh’s found-ing father Bangabandhu as well as evidences of brutal killing of the great leader along with his family members on August 15,1975.
“I wanted to pay tribute to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who dedicated his life to the fight for the independ-ence of his nation, its language and its culture and for the people of Bangladesh,” Macron wrote in visi-tors’ book in French language.
“Surrounded by his family, in the memory of those who fell alongside him, I want to express here the respect and friendship of the French people,” he also wrote.
During the visit, Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana and her son Radwan Mujib Siddiq accompanied Macron. From them Macron listened the saga of the deadly night of August 15 and ordeals of a new born South Asian nation within three and half years of independence following Bangabandhu’s killing.
Macron was informed about the illustrious life and work of Mujib and how an ordinary boy from a re-mote village emerged as a national leader behind whom Bengalee people rallied to fight for their lan-guage and freedom against Pakistan occupational forces.
Grisly memories of August 15 and killing spree unleashed on that house gripped the visitors while they were looking at photos of Sheikh Mujib, an embodiment of Bangalee nation.
That midnight massacre did not even spare a 10 year kid Sheikh Russell, youngest son of Bangabandhu. Mujib’s eldest daughter Sheikh Hasina along with her two kids- Joy and Putul, and her youngest Sheikh Rehana survived as they are abroad.
During the visit, the French president also watched a hologram on the country’s founding father, offi-cials of the museum said.
