'Shamsur Rahman was a warrior against fanaticism'
Staff Correspondent
Poet Shamsur Rahman was a warrior against autocracy and fanaticism and generation after generation will feel his enthusiastic presence in this war, speakers at a memorial meeting said yesterday. Although he was attacked by militants, nothing could hold him back from raising his voice against militancy, they said. Forum for Secular Bangladesh organised the meeting in memory of the poet at the WVA auditorium in the city, with Prof Kabir Chowdhury in the chair. Describing the poet as a co-warrior in the war against autocracy and militancy, Borhan Uddin Khan Jahangir said politics and verse are flowing together from the days of language movement. The people of Bangladesh carry Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in one hand and artist Zainul Abedin and poet Shamsur Rahman in the other hand with reverence, he observed. Shahriar Kabir, acting president of the Forum, highlighted the bond of the poet with the state and society and recalled a press conference where the poet demanded trial of the culprits involved in the attack on Prof Humayun Azad and in the killing of Prof Yunus of Rajshahi University. Syed Shamsul Haque said since there is a conspiracy to wipe out the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the same evil axis might try to wipe out the name of Shamsur Rahman. Justice KM Sobhan said a state may cease to exist, but the architect of the nation could never be wiped out. The memory of the poet will also remain fresh with glory and grace, he added. Prof Muntasir Mamun, poet and architect Robiul Hussain, Prof Ajoy Roy and Shyamoli Nasreen Chowdhury also spoke.
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