Today is December 12. It marks the birthday of Abdul Gaffar Choudhury—a lodestar in Bengali history, a legendary journalist, an eminent litterateur, and the beacon of our consciousness. As a dedicated worker of the Awami League, I pay my deepest respects to the memory of this great human being today.
Abdul Gaffar Choudhury is not merely a name; he is an institution of history. Following the blood-stained streets of the 1952 Language Movement, it was from his pen that the immortal song emerged—*”Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano Ekushey February, Ami Ki Bhulite Pari”* (Can I forget the twenty-first of February, reddened with the blood of my brothers?). With this single song, he achieved immortality in the hearts of Bengalis. As long as the Bengali language exists, this song and Gaffar Choudhury will remain intertwined with our very existence.
But to us—the soldiers of Bangabandhu’s ideals—he was not just the lyricist of the Ekushey song; he was the commander-in-chief of our intellectual battle.
Abdul Gaffar Choudhury was exceedingly close to and deeply cherished by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Throughout his life, he upheld and nurtured Bangabandhu’s ideals through his writings. After the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu and his family on August 15, 1975, when many were paralyzed by fear into silence, and when the wheels of history were being turned backward, Gaffar Choudhury roared as a pen-warrior even from exile. He unmasked the killers and provided guiding directions from afar to help establish the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
At every critical juncture for the Awami League—whether during the 1/11 caretaker government or the misrule of the BNP-Jamaat coalition—Abdul Gaffar Choudhury’s pen never stopped. His famous columns acted as a tonic for workers like us. Whenever we felt despondent, reading his *’Tritiyo Mot’* (Third Opinion) or other columns made us realize that we were not alone; we had a guardian who was unafraid to speak the truth. He waged a lifelong, uncompromising struggle against communalism, fundamentalism, and anti-liberation forces.
He adored Sheikh Hasina as his own daughter and stood by her like a shadow during times of crisis. Though living abroad, his heart always resided in Bangladesh, at Dhanmondi 32, and in Ganabhaban. He envisioned Bangladesh being built as a non-communal, democratic nation—the ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal) of Bangabandhu’s dreams.
Today, he is no longer with us in person, but his ideals, his writings, and his courage remain with us. On the occasion of his birthday, let this be our oath: to realize the non-communal and progressive Bangladesh he dreamt of, we will further strengthen the hands of Sheikh Hasina. Just as his pen acted as a sword against anti-liberation forces, our political activities will be equally sharpened.
O great soldier of the pen, we offer you our most respectful salute on your birthday. May Allah grant you paradise. Your creations and philosophy will forever remain our guiding light on this journey.
Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu. Long live Bangladesh.