Speakers at a memorial programme on Thursday said that the people of the coastal region remain indebted to Father Marino Rigon for his contributions to education, social development, and cultural enrichment.
They said since 1950s, Father Rigon went door to door, encouraging children from rural households to attend school in Mongla. Without his efforts, many in the region would have remained deprived of education, they noted.
The remarks were made at a commemorative programme held in Mongla yesterday morning marking the 101st birth anniversary of Father Marino Rigon. The event was jointly organised by St Paul’s Catholic Church, St Paul’s High School, Mongla Government College, the Father Rigon Education Development Foundation, Mongla Civil Society, Haldibunia Secondary School, and Seba Sangstha.
The programme that began at 9:00 am was presided over by Subash Chandra Biswas, president of the Father Rigon Education Development Foundation. The chief guest was Lion Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam, chairman of the Save the Sundarbans Foundation.
The programme was addressed by Father Philip Mondol, parish priest of St Paul’s Parish, Md Nur Alam Sheikh, former upazila vice-chairman and president of Mongla Civil Society, Dr Asit Kumar Basu, secretary of the teachers’ council of Mongla Government College, BNP leader Nasir Talukder; Golam Nur Jony, development worker and former student leader Asaduzzaman Hero, assistant parish priest Ripon Sardar, former headmaster of St Paul’s High School Manindra Nath Halder, senior teacher Nishikanta Biswas, women leader Shamima Laizu, Mina Halder of Seba Sangstha, sports organiser Palash Halder, cultural organiser Jane Alam Babu, lyricist Molla Al Mamun, Mostafizur Rahman Millon of Service Bangladesh, youth leader and environmental activist Mehdi Hasan, and environmental activist Kamala Sarkar.
Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam said Father Marino Rigon set a unique example of human and environmental development in the coastal belt. “He was not only devoted to serving humanity, but also deeply immersed in the art, literature, culture, and nature of this country,” he said.
Nur Alam Sheikh said Father Rigon served as an unofficial ambassador of Bangladesh in Italy, translating 48 books of Rabindranath Tagore and more than 350 songs of Lalon into Italian. “He discovered a divine essence in Lalon’s songs,” he said.
Subash Chandra Biswas said Father Rigon established 17 educational institutions in the Mongla region, including St Paul’s School. Through these initiatives, he contributed to education. He also highlighted Father Rigon’s sincere contributions to Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
A cake was cut to mark Father Rigon’s birth anniversary while people from various professions and organisations placed wreaths at his grave. The programme concluded with a cultural event, and a friendly football match in the afternoon.