Never did politics for personal gain: President Hamid

President Abdul Hamid yesterday urged the senior politicians to come forward to highlight the authentic history in front of the new and future generations to enrich them with the spirit of Liberation War and independence.

“If we want to enrich our new and future generations with the spirit of Liberation War and independence, we should tell them the authentic history of these things. And this is the responsibility of all of us,” he said.

The president made the statement while delivering his speech at the publication festival of his two books ‘Amar Jiban Niti, Amar Rajniti’ and ‘Swapna Jayer Ichcha’. The event was organised at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was present as the chief guest while Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury and Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique spoke as special guests.

He said that independence is the biggest achievement of the Bengali nation. Struggle of independence and Liberation War is the most important chapter in the history of Bengali nation.

The two-time president referred to himself as a common man born in the remote areas of haor region and raised in the mud of haor, and said that he never did politics with the aim of getting or becoming something. His politics started from his school life.

“I had not seen Bangabandhu yet. But the noble call of the great man always exposed me to the spirit of the independence movement. The first meeting with Bangabandhu was in 1964. And from then on, my activities in politics began.”

“Bangabandhu’s political philosophy and ideology became my path. He was one and only sources of the ideal and inspiration in the language movement of 1952, Anti-military movement of 1958, six points of 1966, 11 points of the Chhatra League, uprising of 1969, general election of 1970, and Liberation War of 1971. And he is the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” he added.

This senior politician also commented that Bangabandhu’s ideals and inspiration have given him strength to face all the ups and downs in life, including facing extreme situation.

“I prefer to think of myself as a worker of Bangabandhu. Please pray for me so that I can uphold Bangabandhu’s teachings and ideals and live as a soldier of Bangabandhu’s ideals till the end of my life,” he added.

He also thanked everyone who was directly or indirectly associated with the publication of his autobiographical books.

After inaugurating the Amar Ekushey Book Fair this year, the prime minister unveiled the autobiographical book ‘Amar Jiban Niti, Amar Rajniti’.

Mentioning that Bangabandhu is his political spiritual guide, and his journey to politics started under his guidance, the president said he started writing the autobiographical book with the intention of presenting the history of his political life to the next generation.

“I am very grateful to my wife for inspiring me to start writing. Late Mainuddin Uddin Khandkar also played a significant role in this regard.”

In order to spread the ideals of Bangabandhu from generation to generation, Hamid called on all those who came close to Bangabandhu to write autobiographies.

In addition, the first and second volume of the book entitled ‘Swapna Joyer Ichcha’ is basically a collection of speeches given on various occasions during 2013-2018. The book was compiled and edited by the Press Wing of Bangabhaban.

After the welcome speech, Bangabandhu’s close companion and longtime political colleague of the president, a member of the advisory council of Bangladesh Awami League Tofail Ahmed discussed the two books. First Lady Rashida Khanam gave the vote of thanks.

Director General of Bangla Academy Mohammad Nurul Huda delivered the welcome speech in the publication ceremony.

Later, the visual documentary on the glorious history of Bangabhaban was displayed on two side screens of the stage. Then, a brief cultural soiree was held by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy there.