The international editions of volumes 8, 9 and 10 of the “Secret Documents of Intelligence Branch on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman" by UK’s leading publisher Taylor & Francis was launched on Wednesday at the international London Book Fair.
The Bangladesh High Commission, London in collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Bangladesh hosted the launching event at the Bangabandhu pavilion of the fair.
Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi unwrapped the international editions of the three new volumes of the Secret Documents in presence of Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem, Curator of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum Nazrul Islam Khan, Director of Taylor & Francis Jeremy North, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh Asim Kumar Dey, eminent organiser of Bangladesh’s liberation war movement in the UK Sultan Mahmud Sharif and proprietor of Hakkani Publishers Golam Mostofa.
This was the first time that Bangladesh participated in the prestigious London Book Fair and commissioned the Bangabandhu pavilion dedicated to Father of the Nation where every year more than 25,000 publishers, writers and book critics from around the world showcase their books and other publications.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Gowher Rizvi said, "Launching the international edition of the historical documents at the London Book Fair will allow people around the globe to get a better understanding of how Bangabandhu was politically abused, tortured, and imprisoned time and again during the 23 years of Pakistan.
The Adviser further said, “People specially the researchers and younger generation must read the Secret Documents to learn about Bangabandhu's long struggle for Bangladesh’s independence.”
High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem in her remarks said, “Bangladesh High Commission is extremely fortunate to have collaborated with Taylor & Francis and the Bangabandhu Museum and be able to launch the international edition of all the 10 volumes of the Secret Documents here in London during Bangabandhu’s birth centenary year.”
The High Commissioner said, “Last November the High Commission took the initiative to organise the launching of the first seven volumes of the international edition of this historic and empirical evidence-based documents in the hand of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Claridge’s ballroom where Bangabandhu held his historic 8 January 1972 international press conference. Today the High Commission is very happy to have organised launching of the volumes 8, 9 and 10 of the international editions of the Secret Documents at the London Book Fair in collaboration with Taylor & Francis."
The envoy further said, “We have also commissioned the Bangabandhu Pavilion at the London Book Fair for the first time where we are able to showcase the international editions of the Secret Documents and hundreds of other books on Bangabandhu as well as on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”
“We are now working together with Taylor & Francis to promote this book for its further exposure and research at eminent universities in the UK and distribute to local community libraries for the new generation to learn about the historic facts of Bangabandhu’s political career between 1947-71.
Speaking on the occasion, Nazrul Islam Khan, who oversees the publication of the Secret Documents, said, “These documents serve as the ultimate manual for the freedom-loving people around the world.”
Director of Taylor & Francis Jeremy North in his remarks termed the Secret Documents as a landmark publication and said, “No prime minister in the world except Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who could take the initiative to publish such a secret document of the state.
Proprietor of Hakkani Publishers Golam Mostofa thanked Bangladesh High Commission for taking the initiatives of international edition and launching it at the prestigious London Book Fair.
Academics from UK universities including Cambridge University, eminent members of British and British-Bangladeshi communities and a good number of book-loving visitors to the annual book fair attended the launching event with great enthusiasm.
