Qayuum Chowdhury, Ahmed Imtiaz receive Altaf Mahmud Padak
Shaheed Altaf Mahmud Foundation arranged a commemorative programme on Saturday at the Liberation War Museum to observe
the 43rd disappearance day of Altaf Mahmud.
The programme featured recalling Mahmud by his friends and family members and conferring of Altaf Mahmud Padak. Eminent artist Qayyum Chowdhury and lyricist-composer-freedom fighter Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul were conferred with Shaheed Altaf Mahmud Padak this year.
Altaf Mahmud, a singer, composer, social activist and freedom fighter, was abducted on August 30, 1971 by Pakistani army and never returned since then. From the language movement in 1952 to the liberation war in 1971, he was active in the country’s political and cultural arena to which he made an invaluable contribution.
Mahmud was a champion of people’s songs and composed the famous language movement song Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February. He was a member of the Dhaka Crack Platoon and a producer for the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, during the war of independence.
On Saturday, cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor, who was present as the chief guest, and Mafidul Haque, trustee of Liberation War Museum, who presided over the programme, recalled their memories of Altaf Mahmud.
Qayuum Chowdhury, who was a close friend to Mahmud, also recalled the martyr. Expressing happiness for the award, Chowdhury said, ‘Altaf Mahmud sacrificed his life so that many of us could live. I am not speaking metaphorically. Mahmud literally saved lives of hundreds. Even after being inhumanly tortured, he did not betray his friends by surrendering their names to Pakistani army’.
Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul, who was only in his teens when he joined as a freedom fighter, said ‘This Padak is the greatest award in my life. Altaf Mahmud is a beacon to me and to many of us’. Bulbul also requested the cultural affairs minister to name one of the halls/auditoriums after the martyr.
‘He was a simple man in his style of living, but he was a strong man in his beliefs and struggles. An archetype of courage and patriotism, Altaf Mahmud will always show us the path of sacrifice and good deeds’, said Asaduzzaman Noor.
Among others, Altaf Mahmud’s widow Sara Ara Mahmud, daughter Shawon Mahmud, thespians Nasiruddin Yousuff and Shimul Yousuff, recitation artiste Hasan Arif, actor Faruk Ahmed were also present at the programme.
-With New Age input
