National

Kemal Ataturk’s reformist revolution shakes Bengalis too

Gono Bishwabidyalay lecturer and also former Türkiye Bursları Scholarship Fellow Md Mahady Hasan alias Soroj Mehedi on Friday opined that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s reformist revolution had also shook the Bengali people in the sub-continent during his time, says a press release. 

Soroj Mehedi, who is well-known for his writings, came up with the comment while speaking at a public lecture titled, “Bangodeshe Kemal Ataturk: Itihash, Rajniti o Sahitto” (Kemal Ataturk in the Bengal: History, Politics and Literature) held in the capital’s National Museum on Friday afternoon.

It was 309th weekly public lecture organized by the Reading Club Trust.

Soroj Mehedi in his hour-long speech mainly focused on Turkey's revolution; Turkey’s life and culture; Mustafa Kemal Ataturk; and his impact on the Bengali people.

Rakibul Islam Robin moderated the lecture program with Reading Club Trust President Arif Khan was in the chair while Rashed Rahman gave the closing speech.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is the founder of the Republic of Turkey and he was an iconic leader of some reformist movement in the world and he has great impacts on some revolution in social political and economic spheres. The abolition of Khilafat by Kamal Ataturk in Turkey was a serious blow on Khilafat movement in the sub-continent.

Soroj Mehedi said: “Rebellious poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Kazi Abdul Wadud, Ismail Hossain Siraji, Qazi Motahar Husain and writer Abul Fazal were among the people, who supported the Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s reformist revolution.”

Professor Ahmed kobir, linguist and former chairperson of department of bengali at University of Dhaka, Mashrur Shakil, senior reporter of Channel I, Iftikharul Islam, head of communication of Reading Club Trust, Hasan Ahmed Khan and Jamshed sakib were present there.