Bangabandhu was like a gem that everyone loved to see: Sheikh Rehana

Bangladesh on Wednesday observed Bangabandhu's birth centenary.

At an event organised yesterday at the capital's Scholastica School, Rehana shared several moments in the life of her father and was quoted as saying by The Daily Star: "His two elder sisters cuddled him almost round the clock. Growing up, he started learning Bangla, English, Persian, and Mathematics. His initiation in education was through my grandfather."

Bangabandhu's younger daughter's speech was broadcast live from Bangladesh Awami League's verified Facebook page.

"Mujib was a bit different and elderly people in our household, teachers, farmers, boatmen, and everyone else admitted without any reservation that he stood out from his peers. This boy had a big heart and could reach out to anyone who needed help. Some of his feats such as taking off his own shirt to give it to someone else and sharing food with everyone earned reverence and blessings from the people around him," she said.

She said her father, when he was small child, was curious about everything.

"He used to read out stories of legends, spiritual lessons from religion, and scientific information to him. My grandfather and my father were like friends. While they could share everything without any reservation, their relationship didn't miss out on mutual respect. My grandfather never resisted his child from undertaking any feat," she said.

She said her father tried to help the poor and helpless since childhood.

"Once a natural disaster wreaked havoc on the crops in his locality. People didn't have food, which little Mujib couldn't stand. Requesting my grandparents, he started donating rice from our stocks. Along with his friends, he used to collect rice from door to door and donated that to the people in need," Rehana was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

"Once my grandfather returned from Kolkata with a beautiful shawl for Mujib. Clad in that shawl, Mujib went out. After a while, he was coming back and spotted a weak old man shivering in freezing cold under a tree. Mujib took off his shawl and gave it to him. Then he came back home shivering," she said.

She said her father used to read a lot of books.

"My grandfather used to buy a lot of books. He used to read out from books on history, geography, English, Bangla, religion, science, literature, stories about legends and the repression committed by the British to his child," she said.

Speaking about Bangabandhu's school life, she said: "The beautiful boy with spectacles didn't take time to befriend his peers. As he was older, they used to call him 'Mia bhai' or 'bhaijaan'. This teenage boy could mingle with people of any caste and creed with ease. Whoever got in touch with him became a fan. He was like a magnet that could attract everyone around him."

"Young Mujib was then a popular name in Gopalganj. With his rising popularity came some hurdles as well. Some students and people became envious of him. They started circulating negative stories about him to my grandfather. Sheikh Lutfur Rahman had an unwavering faith in his child. He certainly knew of one or two mischievous acts of his child and believed strongly that his son couldn't do anything unjust. If my grandfather inquired about any wrongdoing, Mujib admitted that lowering his head," she said.

She even highlighted the issue of Bangabandhu's assassination to the children and said, "Dear children, you must love to watch cartoons. I love them too. The way Lion King was betrayed by his closest, Mujib was also betrayed by some of his close people whose envy and conspiracy cut my father's life short."

Image: Awami League Facebook page video grab