Political think-tank CRI today launched the English version of a novel for kids on Bangabandhu with hand-drawn illustrations, the first of a 12 volume titled Mujib Graphic Novel.
Launching the publication at Dhaka Lit Fest at Bangla Academy, CRI's trustee and Bangabandhu's grandson Radwan Mujib Siddiq said it was part of the organisation's initiative to raise keenness among children and teenagers about Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reports BSS.
He said Centre for Research and Information (CRI) earlier published three of the 12 volumes of the graphic novel in Bangla while today "the English version of the first part of this novel has been published.
He made the comments as the launching of the book was followed by a discussion titled "Mujib: Taking History to the Next Generation".
"When I was schoolboy, I used to tell my friend about my grandfather (Bangabandhu). But at that time no such book was there to make them interested about him," Radwan Mujib said.
He recalled that during that period, there were graphic novels on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose or Indira Gandhi while "I also used to think, if such a book on my grandfather could be there to be given to my friends".
Redwan said years later he shared his thoughts with her mother Sheikh Rehana and aunt Sheikh Hasina and "they asked me to initiate the work" and the publication was done after the Bangabandhu daughters critically reviewed the book and gave their consent.
Cartoonist Syed Rashed Imam Tanmoy illustrated the volumes.
Indian poet and child fiction writer Jerry Pinto conducted the function joined by Tanmoy, UK-based magazine Granta online editor Luke Neima and ULAB teacher Arju Ismail, among others.
The first volume of the book's Bengali version was launched ccoinciding with Bangabandhu's 96th birth anniversary and National Children's Day on March 17, 2015, the second part was unveiled at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on February 13, 2016 and the third part was published at the book fair in February this year.
CRI said the entire "The Unfinished Memoirs" by Bangabandhu would be reflected in the 12 parts of the graphic novel series.