Mohammad Amjad Hossain :
Surviving sixty-six years of a children organization in Bangladesh is really a matter to be reckoned with. The central Kachi-kanchar Mela – largest children organization of Bangladesh — celebrated its 66 years of birth on 5 October this year. More than five-decade existence of children organizations in Bangladesh is really praiseworthy indeed. During this long period many children’s organizations were born and died as well. Possibly only Khelaghor Ashor- a children’s organization exists which was established in 1952.
During British period Moni Mela of Ananda Bazar Patrika and Mukul Mahfil of Daily Azad had contributing as children organization but Mukul Mahfil had its natural death following turn into Mukul Fauj
Incidentally, Kachi-Kanchar Mela has been progressively maintaining its performances as a result of imbibing in them the spirit of patriotism, sense of value and devotion by founder Rokanuzzaman Khan, who was popularly known as Dada bhai until his death in 3rd December of 1999. Since the departure of Rokanuzzaman Khan from this world Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled, former Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank has been steering the wheel of Kochi-Kanchar Mela as of now successfully. Incidentally, the founder of Kochi-Kanchar Mela could not see the present structure of Kochi-Kanchar bhavan.
The present four storied structured building of Kochi-Kanchar Mela at Segun Bachicha on two bigha land in perpetuity by President Ziaur Rahman through Barrister Abdul Haq, the Land Development Minister, is a the pride of Kochi-Kanchar Mela whose foundation was seen by founder Rokanuzzaman Khan. NORAD (Norway Agency for Development Cooperation) came forward to assist Kochi-Kanchar Mela for the construction of the building. A construction committee was formed by the founder of Kochi-kacnhar Mela. Apart from Director of Central Kochi-Kanchar Mela Rokanuzzaman Khan, artchitect Robiul Hossain, an advisor of Kochi-Kanchar Mela, advisor Mohammad Amjad Hossain, an official of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and engineer Syed Mohiuddin Mansur was formed. Rokanuzzaman Khan inaugurated Kochi-Kanchar Bhaban on 21 April 1995 while the auditorium was inaugurated by Chief Justice Habibur Rahman in presence of Barrister Mohammad Abdul Huq. Since I have had contact with the Norway embassy in Dhaka my friend counselor Erik Berg had also extended his hand of cooperation in installing air conditioning systems in the building. Last but not the least, my friend Shigaharu Maruyama, Minister in Japan Embassy in Dhaka with whom I had developed friendship in Bonn, Germany where both of us were working in embassies. Shigeharu was with Japan embassy while I was with the Bangladesh embassy in Bonn. On my return to Bangladesh on completion of my tour of duty in Germany I joined the Ministry of Foreign affairs in October of 1999 as Director of Far East. Having received information from Japanese Ambassador that Mr. Shigeharu was still in the embassy and I availed of the opportunity to call him over telephone. His response was that he wanted to call on me tomorrow.
Having friendly discussion, he showed interest to look at Kochi Kanchar office and I took him to Kochi-Kancher Mela’s office at Shegun Baghicha. Having visited office of of Kochi-Kanchar Mela Mr. Shigeharu asked me to apply to Japanese embassy for financial assistance for construction of two more floors. KhondKar Ibrahim Khaled, Director the Kochi-Kanchar Mela applied for assistance and Japanese embassy granted around 85 thousand dollars for construction of two more floors of Kochi-Kanchar Bhaban. I am really happy to note that a lift has been added to the building which I noticed during my visit to Bangladesh in June 2019. This is the only juvenile organization in the country to have its own building where children are attending painting, music and dance classes, apart from computer training classes. Kochi-Kachar Mela has one of the best libraries to cater the needs of the children. Two big almirah were gifted by this writer in the name of my son: Asif Hossain who expired at the age of 22 years whose body was found at Potomac River of Washington District of Columbia sometime in October 2001.
It is really heartening to know that Kochi- Kachar Mela crossed sixty-six years of its existence on 5th October despite all political chaos and widening social inequality which begun its journey at Tarabagh residence of illustrious poet and social worker Sufia Kamal under the chairmanship of Dr. Abdullah Al Muti Sharfuddin while committee was formed with Mr. Rokanuzzaman Khan as Director who was known to the children as Dada Bhai and Mahbub Talukdar, renowned poet and juvenile writer of Bangladesh as Convenor now associated with Bangladesh Election Commission as commissioner. An advisory board was formed with Poet Sofia Kamal, Dr. Abdullah Al Muti Sharfuddin, Professor Ajit Guh, Mr. A Wadud General Manager of Daily Ittefaq and Professor Anisuzzaman. These illustrious personalities are no longer exist in this world but their contribution will be remembered by the younger generation because this children organization religiously celebrate their birthdays.
Presently the structure of central Kochi-Kachar Mela has been changed. Instead of Director the position of Central Mela now is President of Central Kochi-kanchar Mela while a trusty board has been formed. Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled is the President while others have been designated as Vice-Presidents of Central Kochi-Kancher Mela.
(Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat from Bangladesh, apart from former Joint Director of Central Kochi-Kanchar Mela and permanent member of Central Kochi-Kanchar Mela
