Praising the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the High Commissioner of India in Dhaka Vikram Doraiswami stated on Tuesday that Bangabandhu was not only an iconic statesman, but also a hero in India as well as other parts in the world.

The Indian envoy made his remarks while presiding over a group art exhibition titled 'Bangabandhu: Statesman of the Era' at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on Tuesday.

The exhibition is organized by the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) and the High Commission of India in Dhaka, in collaboration with BSA - marking the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni virtually inaugurated the special exhibition as the chief guest, while eminent thespian and former Cultural Affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor and chief coordinator of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee, Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury virtually joined as the special guests.

Acknowledging the Father of the Nation as one of the greatest leaders in the world, HC Doraiswami said that Bangabandhu is an inspiration for millions of his countrymen for his sagacity, courage and most importantly, his unconditional love for his people.

"We take immense pleasure showcasing these artworks from all these incredibly talented artists, in remembrance of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. To be a part of something like this (exhibition) is a huge honour for us and the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre as well, which is named after our great leader Indira Gandhi who considered Bangabandhu as his brother", the Indian High Commissioner said at the event.

He also greeted the participating artists along with the curator of the exhibition ARK Reepon on the stage with flowers, and presented a sanitizer machine to BSA secretary Md Naoshad Hossain and fine arts director Syeda Mahbuba Karim Mini as a token of friendship, on behalf of the Indian High Commission.

Thanking the Indian HC, Education Minister Dr Dipu said, "India and Bangladesh have always shared great mutual friendship. Many of the Indian soldiers have also sacrificed their lives alongside our freedom fighters for our independence in the 1971 War of Liberation, embracing the martyrdom. We hope that exhibitions like this will also be arranged in India as well, as part of the great relationship that India-Bangladesh and Indira Gandhi - Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have always continued".

Focusing on the artistic importance of Bangabandhu's life, eminent thespian-politician Asaduzzaman Noor said, "Bangabandhu changed the norms of politics and made it accessible to the common people, which was previously greeted only as a matter of imperial autocracy. His majestic life must be studied properly in the realm of arts and culture, and this exhibition is a great example on how that study should be projected".

Curated by renowned art curator ARK Reepon, the special exhibition is featuring artworks of 12 prolific Bangladeshi artists including Abdul Mannan, Md Muniruzzaman, Syeda Mahbuba Karim Mini, Quader Bhuiyan, Kiriti Ranjan Biswas, Sanjib Das Apu, Prashanta Karmakar Buddha, SM Mizanur Rahman, Md Zakir Hossain Pulok, Monjur Rashid, Manik Bonik and Sourav Chowdhury.

The exhibition will remain open for everyone from November 24 to November 26 at the Gallery 4 at the National Art Gallery, every day from 11 am till 6 pm.

It will also be moving forward at the District Shilpakala Academy in Rajshahi, Sylhet, Jashore and Chittagong from December 4 - 6, 11 - 13, 18 - 20 and 25 - 27, respectively.