DU Correspondent :
The 4th National Flag Festival was held on Dhaka University (DU) campus amid hoisting flag, bringing out procession and discussion on Sunday.
DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique inaugurated the function at the base of Aparajeyo Bangla of the university.
Jayadhwani Sangskritik Sangathan, a cultural organiation, organized the function to mark the day as the then leaders of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), student wing of ruling Awami League, hoisted the national flag in front of the Arts Building on March 2, 1971 for the first time on that
occasion. Designer of the national flag Shib Narayan Das and BTV director general M Hamid were, among others, present at the function. Two female freedom fighters Gitashree Chowdhury and Forkan Begum were given ‘Jayadhwani honours’ in the ceremony.
Artists from ‘Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra’ and ‘Jayadhwani Sangskritik Sangathan’ rendered patriotic songs at the festival.
The speakers recalled the freedom fighters sacrifice for their outstanding contribution to make this land a land of freedom.
Shib Narayan Das said it was very difficult to make the national flag in 1971. They had faced many difficulties at that time. Sometimes the Pakistani army threatened to kill us, he said.
“The leaders of DUCSU and BCL asked me to design a flag for the independent Bangladesh. The Pakistani army heard the news and sent its intelligence agents to follow me and arrest me if they were needed.
But fortunately they could not trace me and I made the flag successfully. The flag was hoisted at a mass students gathering in front of the Arts Building. Now I feel very proud of it.”
