Eminent writer Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal on Saturday said there is no doubt that assassinating Bangabandhu along with his family was a notorious crime but the attempt to remove his name from history is the world's biggest crime.
He referred to the dark chapter of post-1975 Bangladesh where no one could even utter the name of Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The noted author and educationist came up with the observation while unveiling the ninth and tenth episodes of CRI-publication Mujib, a graphic novel based on the unfinished memoirs of Bangabandhu at the Ekushey Book Fair.
“When I came back to Bangladesh in 1994, I observed that the name ‘Bangabandhu’ was not uttered on television. I was shocked. The man who presented this independent country was virtually eliminated from the country,” said Zafar Iqbal.
After Awami League came to power in 1996, the writer said: "My wife and I bought a television hoping that now we would be able to see Bangabandhu on it. When he was shown on television indeed, tears of joy rolled down my cheek.”
He hailed Mujib Graphic Novel as a great initiative to inform children about the Father of the Nation, observing that in this country, generation after generation grew up without knowing who Bangabandhu was and what he did for Bangladesh.
That, according to Zafar Iqbal, is the biggest crime in world history.
“That's why whenever there is something done on Bangabandhu, I pledge my support to it. I wish it every success,” he said, adding that seven years of efforts through Mujib Graphic Novel culminated into a success.
Praising his ability as a writer in the unfinished memoirs written by Bangabandhu, Zafar Iqbal said, “We say many things about Bangabandhu but, no one says how great of a writer he was. He was an outstanding writer.”
The graphic novel is available in the CRI stall (number 735 and 736) at the book fair.
