Hasina calls LDC graduation a slap on ‘basket case’ story

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said Bangladesh's graduation to the developing country group is a slap on the faces of those who had thought it would be a 'bottomless basket' after the independence.

"During the liberation war, a quarter used to say what Bangladesh would gain after its independence....it would be a basket case. I think this (Bangladesh's graduation) is a slap on their faces...the Bangalees have showed that they can," she said.

The prime minister said this while opening the month-long solo art exhibition of world-renowned artist Shahabuddin Ahmed at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) in the city.

Ganges Art Gallery, Kolkata in association with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has arranged the exhibition featuring artworks derived from a 20-year span of the iconic artist of Bangladesh.

United News of Bangladesh (UNB) is the media partner of the exhibition.

Chaired by cultural affairs secretary Md Ibraheem Hosein Khan, the function was addressed, among others, by independence award-winning artist Shahabuddin Ahmed, BSA director general Liaquat Ali Lucky and director of the Ganges Art Gallery Smita Bajoria.

The Committee for Development Policy (CDP), a United Nations panel, recently made an announcement on the country's eligibility at a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh got the UN recognition as a developing country. "We've learned how to stand on our own feet economically ...we're not dependent on anybody. We've proved we can develop the country by ourselves," she said.

The prime minister said she wants Bangladesh to be built imbued with the liberation war spirit. "Our country will march ahead and stand up with its head high."

Keeping that view in mind, she said, the government has taken every single step to take forward the country with various development programmes. "Make it sure the spirit we've brought back after a long fight doesn't fade away again."

Recalling the sacrifice of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina said this land is the country of all.

"This land won't become a country of Razakars and Al Badrs again; this is my desire," she said.

The prime minister said her government has made tireless efforts to revive the true history of the liberation war as some generations got deprived of learning it.

"Once a distorted history was projected before them ...our aim is to highlight the true history so that we can get a dignity as a victorious nation," she said.

Hasina said Bangladesh lost its way after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975 as distorted history gives birth to distorted character of people. "And this happened at that time," she said.

The prime minister said Bangabandhu struggled throughout his entire life and spent his days in the dark cell of jail year after year but he never bowed down to anybody.

Hasina said a nation which is developed in education, art and culture can make progress.

She urged all the artists to come forward to spread the spirit and ideology of the liberation war through their respective means.

Hasina said one's hunger cannot only be met through food. "There is also a hunger of the mind which needs to be met. This hunger can be met through art, culture and literature," she said.

Mentioning politicians and cultural activists are complementary to each other, she said it is not possible to achieve any success if poets, writers, painters and artistes join a programme together.

The exhibition will remain open for all from 11am to 8pm every day (3pm to 8pm on Fridays).

At the function, the prime minister unveiled the cover of a book 'Amar Muktijuddha' by Shahabuddin Ahmed.

 A documentary on Shahabuddin Ahmed titled 'Colour of Freedom' was screened at the function.

The prime minister also witnessed an acrobatic exhibition of the children of Shilpakala Academy.

She later visited the gallery and saw the displayed artworks of Shahabuddin.

Thirty-two selected artworks are up for display depicting the artist's affinity with Bangladesh's War of Liberation, his fascination for Bangabandhu and other recurring themes Shahabuddin is well-known for.

In 2000, the government of Bangladesh honoured Shahabuddin with the 'Swadhinata Padak', while the French government conferred upon him the prestigious civilian award Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres(Knight in the Order of Arts & Literatures) in 2014 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the nation's cultural clique.