Bangladesh is growing in the vision of Bangabandhu and under the strong leadership of his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, US Secretary of State John Kerry wrote in the visitor’s book of Bangabandhu Museum.
As the day’s first engagement on his arrival on a nine-hour long Dhaka tour, Kerry in the morning went to the country’s most honoured museum on the historical road number 32 in Dhanmondi residential area of the capital city, which was the residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Paying a rich tribute to the Father of the Nation, the US Secretary of State went around the museum to saw the marks of August 15, 1975 atrocities with deep attention and grief.
“What a tragedy to have such brilliant and courageous leadership is taken from the people of Bangladesh in such a moment of violence and cowardice,” he noted in the visitor book with a clear observation that today’s Bangladesh is growing in the vision of Bangabandhu – and under the strong leadership of his daughter.
He added: “The United State is proud to be friend (of Bangladesh) and strong supporter of the fulfillment of his (Bangabandhu’s) vision. We look forward for growing and working together for peace and prosperity.”
Kerry, accompanied by US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal, US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat went straight to the museum from Hazrat Shahjajal International Airport and stayed there from 11.42 am to 12.05 pm.
Bangabandhu’s grandson and Sheikh Rehana’s son Rezwan Siddique Bobby, Bangabandhu Memorial Trust’s member secretary Sheikh Hafizur Rahman and museum’s curator Nazrul Islam Khan, among others, received him.
Later talking to newsmen, Hafizur Rahman said Kerry saw the marks of August 15, 1975 atrocities with deep attention and expressed his grief as he went round different parts of the house.
“He visited Bangabandhu’s reading room, living room and blood stained staircase of the house when he expressed grief while seeing the marks of atrocities . . . he was curious about Bangabandhu and his family members and the details of the carnage that took place on August 15, 1975,” Rahman said.
He said Kerry expressed his hope that Bangladesh would be able to contain militancy, and the US-Bangladesh relations would be cemented further in the coming days.
