The mortal remains of Bangladesh's friend and freedom fighter, Father Marino Rigon, will arrive on Sunday from Italy, a year after his demise.
Father Rigon, who was given honourary citizenship in 2009 and honoured with “Friends of Liberation War Honour,” breathed his last undergoing treatment in Italy's Vicenza on October 20, 2017, said the Foreign Ministry.
The government of Bangladesh has taken all necessary steps to bury him with due state honour, beside the Saint Paul’s Church at Shelabunia, Mongla upazila of Bagerhat district, showing respect for his last wish, reports UNB.
Father Rigon was born on February 5, 1925, in Villaverla, Italy. He came to then East Pakistan in 1953.
After extensive visits to villages in Bangladesh , he established a church and a school in Shelabunia village of Mongla and started living there permanently.
Father Rigon took part in the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 by sheltering and taking care of injured freedom fighters.
The Foreign Ministry statement read: "Bangladesh has set another shining example by upholding the pride of all freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the War of Liberation by fulfilling the last wish of a true friend of Bangladesh.”
Father Marino spent 61 years in Bangladesh as a missionary. He was famous for translating the works of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
He was a great expert on the Bangladeshi poet Tagore and translated 40 of his works into Italian.
In 60 years of mission work, he played a key role in fighting poverty, expanding education, offering medical services, and helping poor women. Thousands of women still benefit from the assistance program he helped set up.
