বাংলা 
English 
Joint general secretary of the Bangladesh Awami League and member of parliament for Kushtia-3, Mahabubul Alam Hanif has said: Baul Samrat Fakir Lalon Saiji belonged to no religion and no caste. His only identity was humanity. He is the only Baul sage who, casting aside the boundaries of all religions, called upon people to walk the true path of humanism.
He took the vow of non-violent humanity and created countless songs for the welfare of people. This immortal musical creation of his was not confined within any religion. Standing above all religions and bound in the thread of harmony, this mystic sage created the Fakiri doctrine for the liberation of man. Inspired by Lalon's ideals, Bangabandhu, the father of the nation, said on that day - each to his own religion, the festival is for all - to make the bond of harmony still firmer. In today's age, that call of his is most timely for the Bengali nation. So let us all, united, build a Bangladesh of non-communal consciousness on Lalon's ideals.
He said these things as chief guest at the inauguration of the three-day programme marking the Baul Samrat's 127th Tirodhan Dibas, organized by the Lalon Academy at the Akhra house of Baul Samrat Fakir Lalon Saiji in Cheuria on Monday night.
Mahabubul Alam Hanif further said that the creations of Baul Samrat Fakir Lalon Saiji are not confined within the borders of the country; extensive research on him is going on across the world. Yet here in our country one hardly sees much practice devoted to Lalon's ideology. He said: to spread Lalon's ideology across the world, we shall in the future try to establish at this Lalon Dham in Cheuria an international-standard university in the name of Baul Samrat Fakir Lalon Saiji.
He further said that Fakir Lalon stood for a society of non-communal equality in order to establish a casteless philosophy of man and the ideal of humanity. Lalon taught that harmony cannot be maintained while confined within any religion; above all religions stands the religion of man. Religion is a festival - to each his own religion, the festival is for all. Believing in Fakir Lalon's thought and consciousness, it is possible to remove all kinds of conflict and violence from society. First of all one must build oneself into a genuine human being. Once people can become human, the social system of this land will stand as one and indivisible. Before joining the programme, he inaugurated the installation of a stream of pure drinking water to solve the food-and-water problems of the sadhu-gurus and visitors coming to the courtyard of Baul Samrat Lalon Sai's mazar. He also expressed the hope that the construction of a modern-standard rest house at the Lalon Academy would begin very soon.
At the very start of the programme, the arriving guests were welcomed with bouquets of flowers, crests and the symbol of self-purification, the aektara, on behalf of the Kushtia Lalon Academy. Chaired by Kushtia's Deputy Commissioner Md. Jahir Raihan, those who spoke as special guests at the programme included Kushtia's Police Super SM Mehedee Hasan (BPM), Kushtia District Awami League president and Khoksa Upazila chairman Alhaj Sodor Uddin Khan, district Awami League general secretary Azgar Ali, learned GP Advocate Akhtaruzzaman Masum, learned PP Advocate Anup Kumar Nandi, and Kushtia city Awami League president and former general secretary of the Lalon Academy Tajal Ali Khan.
As the chief discussant, Professor Dr. Sarowar Murshed of the Bangla department of Islamic University, Kushtia, spoke on the life, works and creations of Lalon Shahi. The discussant was Mohammed Ali, chief khadem of Lalon's mazar. Words of congratulations were given by Kumarkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahinuzzaman, and by member of the Lalon Academy's ad hoc committee and former acting general secretary Selim Haque. The welcome address was given by the Lalon Academy's vice-president, Kushtia's Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mohammad Habibur Rahman.
After the discussion, in the second phase, Lalon Sangeet was performed on the Lalon stage by various artists and cultural organizations. The opening prayer-song was performed by the most revered Guru Nahir Shah and his devoted Baul fakirs. Following that, Kushtia's renowned artist Shahanaj Beli, a regular Lalon Sangeet artist of Bangladesh Betar and Television, together with Samir Baul and local artists, presented Lalon's songs. The musical performance continued until deep in the night. The programme was presented by Saikat Mahmud.
Source: Andoloner Bazar
