They attended in the first ever three-day art exhibition on Bangabandhu titled ‘Bangabandhu: In Remembrance' at the Embassy of Bangladesh, said the Embassy on Saturday.
Ambassadors of India, Republic of Korea, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Kosovo, Republic of Georgia and Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See as well as representatives from the Embassy of United States, Spain, Russian Federation, Panama and Austria were present in the inaugural ceremony.
Chairperson of the Board of Trust Fund Victims Felippe Micheleni, and other TFV Board Members and representatives from International Organizations were also in attendance.
Former Deputy Mayor of The Hague Rabin Baldewsingh and Carlos J. Arguello Gomez, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in the Netherlands were the guest of honor of the ceremony and joined Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands Sheikh Mohammed Belal in inaugurating the art exhibition ceremonially.
A total of 30 art works of artists from Bangladesh, including art works of celebrated artists Quayyum Chowdhury, Rafiqun Nabi, Sarbori Roy Choudhury, Murtaja Baseer, Abdus Sattar and Jamal Ahmed being exhibited by the Embassy of Bangladesh in The Hague in cooperation with Buriganga Arts and Crafts, Dhaka.
Ambassador of India to the Netherlands Vanu Rajamony stated Bangabandhu as the greatest Bengali of all time and shared his own memory of “Joy Bangla” moment in his life when he heard, in his own ear, the news of Bangladesh’s independence on 16 December 1971 when he was a boy of 11 years.
Terming Bangabandhu’s assassination as history’s one of the darkest chapter, he recalled the days of Bangabandhu’s two remaining daughters in India after the assassination of Bangabandhu.
Recalling his time with former President of India Pranab Mukerjee, with whom he had the privilege of serving as his Press Secretary; Ambassador Rajamony shared how respectfully Bangabandhu is recalled in the whole of India and indeed in the world.
Ambassador Rajamony became emotional when he tried to share his experience of his visit to Bangabandhu Museum in Bangladesh years ago.
Rabin Baldewsingh, former Deputy Mayor of The Hague drew reference from former Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro on Bangabandhu.
Baldewsingh shared Fidel Castro’s famous quote "I have not seen the Himalayas. But I have seen Sheikh Mujib. In personality and in courage, this man is the Himalayas. I have thus had the experience of witnessing the Himalayas."
Mayor Rabin presented himself as a witness to Bangabandhu’s unmatched love for his people while recalling his recent visit to Bangladesh.
Ambassador Belal while paid tributes to the best Bangalee of all time, the architect of Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh MujiburRahman.
Giving reference to world’s greatest leaders, Ambassador Belal stated that Bangabandhu was as unique in his unequivocal love for his people as history is going to get ever.
Ambassador Belal noted that the canvas of Bangabandhu’s life is too big to grasp in a brief setting like this or in an exhibition or two.
An art camp for children was also arranged involving children of Bangladeshi diaspora. In the camp, conducted by visiting artists Dr. Gopal Chandra Trivedi and Shafiqul Islam, children put their thought and imagination on Bangabandhu in an innovative and creative display of talent.