বাংলা 
English 
To build a non-communal spirit Bangladesh, Lalon is the ideal of the people
Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury (Bir Bikram), adviser to the Prime Minister on power, energy and mineral resources, has said that Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai had no religion and no caste. Lalon had only one identity, and that was humanity. He is the only Baul sage who, rising above the limits of all religions, always called people to the path of the humanist, to walk the path of truth. With the vow of non-violent humanity he created countless songs for the welfare of man.
His immortal musical creations were confined to no religion. Standing above all religions, binding people in the bond 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 that day, to strengthen further the bond of harmony: religion for each, the Utsab (festival) for all. In today's age that call of his is timely for the Bengali nation. So let us all, united, build in Lalon's ideals a Bangladesh of non-communal consciousness. He said these words as chief guest at the opening day of the three-day Smriti Utsab of Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai, organised by the Lalon Academy at the Akhra Bari in Cheuria on Wednesday night.
He said further: in the name of religion, terrible barbarity and mutual attacks are being carried out on ordinary innocent people in an attempt to divide the nation. The world today is in great crisis — nothing a civilised society desires. Only the words of a sage like Lalon Shah can give the mantra to overcome this crisis. He was a social reformer. I have mixed with the sadhus and gained much spiritual satisfaction. Taking the lessons of the non-communal consciousness of Lalon's ideals, we must build Bangabandhu's golden Bangladesh. He said: our honourable Prime Minister, the people's leader Sheikh Hasina, stands today among the best three in the whole world for her success. The nation has never been misled by supporting the people's leader Sheikh Hasina; rather, they have found a place of trust. The law is equal for all; the people's leader Sheikh Hasina is working to establish that and to establish good governance in the country. Does the country's judiciary not see all this? In their eyes everyone is equal.
He said further: the creations of Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai are not confined within the country's borders. Extensive research on him is going on across the world, yet here we see hardly any study of Lalon's ideals. Believing in Fakir Lalon's thought, it is possible to end all kinds of attack and counter-attack in society. Though this mystic sage had no institutional education, he was self-educated in the arrangement of a modern society. His store of knowledge was far greater than that of five ordinary people put together. Let us all unite for the good of the country and the nation, carry Lalon's immortal words in our hearts, and move forward.
Chaired by Kushtia District Commissioner Md. Aslam Hossain, the speakers as special guests included Mahbubul Alam Hanif, MP for Kushtia-3 (Sadar) and joint general secretary of the Bangladesh Awami League; Selim Altaf George, MP for Kushtia-4 (Khoksa-Kumarkhali); A K M Sarowar Jahan Badsha, MP for Kushtia-1 (Daulatpur); Kushtia police superintendent S M Tanvir Arafat; Haji Robiul Islam, chairman of the Kushtia Zila Parishad; Azgar Ali, general secretary; learned government pleader Adv. Akhtaruzzaman Masum; learned public prosecutor Adv. Anup Kumar Nandi; Tajal Ali Khan, member of the convening committee of the Lalon Academy; and Rashedul Islam Biplab, president of the Kushtia branch of the Journalists' Union, among others.
As the main discussant, Professor Dr. Md. Harun-ur-Rashid Askari, vice-chancellor of Islamic University, spoke on Lalon Sai's life, his songs and the fakiri doctrine; and Mohammad Ali, khadem of Lalon Saiji's shrine, spoke on Saiji's ideals. Azad Jahan, additional district commissioner (general) of Kushtia, delivered the speech of good wishes; and A. B. M. Ariful Islam, NDC of the Kushtia district administration and member secretary of the Lalon Academy's convening committee, gave the welcome address. At the very start of the event, the incoming guests were welcomed on behalf of the Kushtia Lalon Academy with bouquets, crest and the ektara, symbol of self-purification. After the discussion, in the second session Lalon songs were performed on the Lalon stage by various artistes and cultural organisations, in which reputed artistes of the country performed along with the local artistes of the Lalon Academy. The musical performance continued until late at night.
