The Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature on Sunday conferred ‘Special Literary Award’ to Bangladesh’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his three books.

Eminent Punjabi novelist and FOSWAL founder president Ajeet Cour formally handed over the award to visiting Bangladeshi writers and researchers Ramendu Majumder and Mofidul Haque at the regional conference of the organisation.

SAARC Literary Award is an annual award conferred by the Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature since 2001.

The three books of Bangabandhu are- Unfinished Memoirs, Prison Diaries and New China 1952.

The three-day regional literary conference of FOSWAL began in the Indian capital New Delhi on Sunday morning. A large number of eminent writers and literatures from the South East Asian region including Bangladesh have been participating in the conference.

Narrating the significance of opening the conference on the Independence Day of Bangladesh, Ajeet Cour earlier wrote in a message that the victory of Bangladesh in 1971 over Pakistan was not a small incident.

‘It was a unique achievement through the most unique courage of conviction of the Father of the Bangla Nation; lovingly called ‘Banga Bandhu’, who fought like a lion for preserving tradition, culture and language! All that is more important to preserve a country’s dignity than the life of any human being!’ she wrote.

Cour also wrote, ‘People all over the globe have been fighting wars for lands and territories, for their independence for foreign oppression, or from Monarchs and Dictators. But the War of Liberation of Bangladesh was different and unique, because it was for preservation of the ‘Vibrant Spirit of Man’ which throbs and thrives only in its own culture and in its own language!’

In the message, she said, ‘although Bangabandhu is not amongst us, but he left behind three valuable and thoughtful books for us. So, to pay respect to the great human being, he (Bangabandhu) is being honoured of the FASWAL literature festrival-2023.’

Eminent writer Selina Hossain, Ramendu Majumder, Mohidul Haque and Mohit Kamal, among others, have been participating in the FOSWAL Regional Conference from Bangladesh.

Minister (press) of Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi Shaban Mahmood and Consular (political) Safiul Alam were present at the function on behalf of the high commission.