PM lays foundation of Rabindra University

SHAHZADPUR (Sirajganj), May 8 (UNB/ BSS): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid on Friday the foundation stone of Rabindra University, an institution named after Nobel Laureate Biswakobi Rabindranath Tagore, marking the great poet's 154th birth anniversary.
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the university from Shahzadpur Pilot High School ground fulfilling the long-cherished demand of the people of this region.
"It's a very of delighting day for the people of Shahjadpur as the Rabindra Bishwabidyalaya is being constructed in this area which is blessed with the memories of Rabindranath," she said.
The Rabindra Bishwa bidyalaya would be a public university and provide education on literature, music, drama, dance, fine arts, social science, agriculture, cooperatives, zoology and technological studies side by side with conducting research and practice on Rabindranath, the Prime Minister said.
From the same venue, she also inaugurated the Regional Passport Office, Sirajganj, upgradation of Sirajganj 150MW gas turbine power plant to 225MW combined cycle one, Institute of Marine Technology, District Registers Office and Sheikh Russell Poura Children's Park, Sirajganj.
Hasina also laid the foundation stone of Sirajganj 225 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant (2nd unit).
Professor Emeritus of Dhaka University Anisuzzaman delivered a memorial speech on 'Sabhyatar Sangkat O Rabindranath (crisis of civilisation and Rabindranath) on the occasion chaired by Minister for Cultural Affairs Asaduzzaman Noor.
Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, PM's adviser on political affairs HT Imam and local parliament member Hasibur Rahman Swapan attended the function as special guests.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Rabindranath had a very hearty relation with the people of this landscape. Rabindranath passed a very special time of his life in Shahjadpur, Patisar of Naogaon and Shilaidah of Kushtia for supervising his jamidari. At that time he deeply tried to understand the causes of woes and sufferings of the people of the then East Bengal.
"Rabindranath looked after his jamidari but unlike other jamidars he never tried to stock up his treasury through imposing taxes on the subjects," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Rabindranath could understand that quality of living of the people of Bengal was not possible without modernization of agriculture. He could also realize that farmers would remain hostage to money-lenders without having easy access to capital.
Rabindranath taught his son Rathindranath agricultural education in America and sent a son of his friend Santoshchandra Majumder for studies on animal husbandry. As well, he sent his son-in-law Nagendranath Ganguli to America for study on agriculture, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said Rabindranath donated four thousand bighas of his own land to famers for using as the grazing ground for cattle on which the dairy firm of Shahjadpur was developed, creating income opportunities for the people.
The people of Shahzadpur earlier demonstrated on many occasions demanding Rabindra University at Shahzadpur.
To fulfill their demand, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a meeting at the Sirajganj University College ground earlier had pledged to establish the university.
Now, to fulfill her pledge, the Prime Minister decided on laying the foundation stone of Rabindra University at Shahzadpur on Baishakh 25, the 154th birth anniversary of the Nobel Laureate poet.