বাংলা 
English 
Mahbubul Alam Hanif, member of the National Parliament and joint general secretary of the Bangladesh Awami League, has said that above everything are human beings and humanity. Caste and creed have no worth; worth belongs only to humanity. So before all else, giving up strife among ourselves, we must rise above communalism and devote ourselves to the good of the people.
The Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai had no religion and no caste. Lalon's only identity was that of a servant of humanity. He was the only Baul sage who, rising above the limits of every religion, called upon people to walk ever the path of truth and to follow the way of humanism. So to become a true human being one must be inspired by Lalon Sai's ideals and become the man of gold within oneself. Making use of the inspiration of our Lalon Sai's ideals, we must build a modern country and society. He said these words last Wednesday night as the chief guest on the opening day of the three-day programme of the Baul emperor's 129th Tirodhan Dibas, organised by the Lalon Academy at the akhrabari of the Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai in Cheuria.
He said further that taking up the vow of non-violent humanity, Lalon Sai created countless songs for the good of the people. This immortal music of his was confined to no religion. Rising above all faiths, seeking to bind people in the bond of harmony, this mystic sage created the Fakiri doctrine for the liberation of mankind. Inspired by Lalon's ideals, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu said that day that the bond of harmony must be made still firmer — religion is each one's own, the utsab is everyone's. In this age his call is utterly timely for the Bengali nation; so come, let us all, in unity and on Lalon's ideals, build a Bangladesh of non-communal consciousness.
He said that the very evening before, in a BUET of exceeding harmony, Abrar Fahad, a gifted son of Kushtia, had been beaten to death by his fellow students — a thing most grievous. Even now the weeping of Abrar's mother wounds my heart. Where is our student politics headed? A section of teachers is using these talented students for their own gain. The killing of Abrar Fahad shook the whole country, and loud voices rose across the campuses demanding an end to student politics. I hold that student politics should not be banned; before all else teacher politics must be banned in the institutions of learning, and that is a matter of great urgency. For the sake of their own gain, we must come out of the party-sponsored mercenary politics. What education are we being educated in? No sooner do we enter working life than we cast aside our own ideals and personality and plunge headlong into corruption. We want those people who, inspired by Lalon Sai's ideals, will come out of corruption and devote themselves to the good of the country and the nation. He said that over the incident the politicians played many a filthy political game. Do not muddy the waters over people's weaknesses, and let the people not step into their snares. Under the leadership of the people's leader Sheikh Hasina, to keep the stream of development flowing and to build the Golden Bengal, all must stand together and stand beside it. Facing the demands of the people of Kushtia, famed as the cultural capital, he said that all arrangements will be made to build the Lalon University in Kushtia in the name of the Baul emperor, the mystic sage Lalon Sai.
At the very start of the programme the guests were welcomed with garlands, crests and the ektara — the symbol of self-purification — on behalf of the Kushtia Lalon Academy. After the discussion, the chief guest and the other guests unveiled the wrapper of a commemorative volume named "Apon Ghorer Khobor" (News of One's Own Home).
Under the chairmanship of Kushtia's District Commissioner Aslam Hossain, special guests spoke at the programme — among them MP of the Kushtia-1 (Daulatpur) constituency AKM Sarwar Jahan Badsha; MP of Kushtia-4 (Khoksa-Kumarkhali) Barrister Selim Altaf George; DIG of Khulna Range Dr. Kh. Mohid Uddin; Kushtia Police SM Tanvir Arafat; chairman of the Kushtia District Council Haji Rabiul Islam; president of the district Awami League Alhaj Sodor Uddin Khan; general secretary Azgar Ali; PP Adv. Anup Kumar Nandi and others. As the main speaker, the pro-vice-chancellor of the Islamic University of Kushtia, Professor Dr. Shahinur Rahman, spoke, and the chief khadem of the Lalon shrine, Mohammad Ali, spoke as a discussant. The additional district commissioner (general) of Kushtia, Azad Jahan, was to give the address of courtesy, and the member secretary of the Lalon Academy's ad hoc committee, NDC M A Mohaiminul Zilani, was to give the welcome address.
After the discussion, in the second phase on the Lalon stage, Lalon's songs were performed by an ensemble of various artists and cultural organisations. The opening prayer-song was performed by the most revered guru Nahir Shah and the Baul fakirs in his attendance. Then the local artists performed Lalon's songs; the musical performance ran late into the night. Konok Chowdhury presented the programme.
Information source:- Arif Mehmud – Andoloner Bazar
