TANGAIL : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the affluent people of the country to come forward for the welfare of the distressed people following the example set by Ranada Prasad Shaha through his philanthropic activities, reports UNB.
“He (Ranada Prasad) had founded many service-providing institutions in such a remote village.
What he did was to serve people. So, I think, there’re many wealthy people in our country who can follow the example the Kumidi Welfare Trust (founded by him) set for the promotion of women education and services of distressed people.”
The Prime Minister said this while addressing a function arranged to distribute the ‘Danveer Ranada Prasad Shaha Memorial Gold Medal’ at Kumudini Complex in Mirzapur district.
The function was arranged on the occasion of the 86th founding anniversary of Kumudini Welfare Trust.
The Prime Minister said now no one can neglect Bangladesh treating it as a poor country, rather the whole world considers Bangladesh as a development role model.
“We could bring these changes in the last 10 year,” she said adding that Bangladesh is marching towards development.
Hasina said her government wants to develop the country and society further.
Noting that today’s children are the future citizen of the country, she said the government wants to build a decent life and bright future for them.
Sheikh Rehana, younger daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was present as a special guest at the function organised by Kumudini Welfare Trust of Bengal (BD).
The Prime Minister handed over ‘the Danveer Ranada Prasad Shaha Memorial Gold Medal’ to four eminent persons this year.
The four persons are legendary political leader and former Prime Minister of erstwhile Pakistan Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy (posthumous), National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam (posthumous), Nazrul expert and researcher National Professor Rafiqul Islam and internationally renowned artist Shahabuddin Ahmed.
On behalf of Suhrawardy, Sheikh Rehana received the gold medal from the Prime Minister, while Khilkhil Kazi, granddaughter of Poet Nazrul Islam, received the medal on behalf of the National Poet.
Chairman and Managing Director of the Kumudini Welfare Trust of Bengal (BD) Ltd Rajiv Prasad Shaha also spoke at the event presided by its director and language movement veteran Protiva Mutsundi. Another director of the trust Srimoti Shaha delivered the welcome speech.
At the function, two separate documentaries were screened over the life and works of Ranada Prasad Shaha and the 86-year journey of Kumudini Welfare Trust.
The Prime Minister witnessed an attractive drill of students of Bharateswari Homes.
The Kumudini Trust Welfare conferred honorarium crests on Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana. The Prime Minister also provided an honorarium crest to Kumudini Welfare Trust.
Earlier, the Prime Minister opened and laid the foundation stones of a total of 31 development projects in the district.
Ranada Prasad Shaha (1896-1971) was a social worker and promoter of education, is well-known as RP Shaha.
Between 1938 and 1944, RP Shaha had set up a free dispensary, Kumudini Hospital, (named after his mother at Mirzapur in 1938).
He established Bharateswari Homes, Kumudini Girls’ College and Debendra College. In 1944 he donated an amount of Rs. 2.5 lakh to the British Red Cross.
On May 7, 1971, R P Shaha and his only son were abducted by the Pakistan Army and their collaborators from Narayanganj. They never returned.