Etched in Stone

The 99th Turkish Republic Day Programme in Dhaka embodied everything that makes Türkiye so special to the people of our country.

From the beautiful landscapes, historical sites, and fantastic cuisine to the warmth of its people, Türkiye is undoubtedly one of the most popular countries in the world among Bangladeshis. However, our love for the country goes well beyond tourism, cuisine or pop culture; we stood beside the people of Türkiye during the War of Independence, which led to the foundation of the Republic. The end of the war, which marked the foundation of the Republic of Türkiye on 29 October 1923, ushered joy among the people of Bengal; the glee is best expressed in our national poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam’s epic poem Kemal Pasha. Besides being the only foreign poet who praised Ataturk and the Turkish War of Independence with a poem at the time, he also brought a victory song to life that resonates with Bengali culture to this day. Therefore, the Türkiye-Bangladesh friendship is an emotion that goes back to back to the founding principle of the two countries. The 99th Turkish Republic Day Programme hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Dhaka was a celebration of this emotion.

To that end, the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Dhaka arranged an exciting evening of celebration hosted by Ambassador Mustafa Osman Turan at the embassy premises on October 29, 2022. The theme of the night was based on Kazi Nazrul Islam, whose admiration for the Turkish War of Independence and Türkiye’s Founding Father, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, became the cornerstone of Türkiye-Bangladesh brotherhood for generations. Unarguably, the rebel poet has profoundly impacted the greater Bengali society for decades by confronting orthodoxy through literature, journalism and political activism. He was deeply influenced by Mostafa Kemal Pasha’s leadership, who overthrew the feudal sultanate and turned Türkiye into a republic. Kamal Pasha’s influence inspired Kazi Nazrul Islam to produce some iconic pieces of Bengali literature that would later influence Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The enthralling evening featured a recital of Kemal Pasha by Naila Azad, followed by the rendition of the song Katibim by Mehreen Mahmud. This folk tune from Turkey is about a clerk (kâtip) who accompanies his master on a trip to Üsküdar. The music is a well-known türkü from Istanbul that has gained popularity outside the country. The Bengali adaptations of this tune, Tri-vuboner Priyo Muhammad and Shukno Patar Nupur Paye, were composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam.

In addition to ambassadors from several nations, other high-ranking officials and a diverse group of public personalities also enjoyed the colourful cultural performance and traditional Turkish cuisine. Welcoming the participants at the program, Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Osman Turan said that bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Türkiye is booming while the people-to-people connectivity is also growing. He also pointed out that Turkish investors had already recognised Bangladesh as a land of opportunities and decided to expand their investments in critical sectors of the economy, such as energy, consumer goods, and ready-made garments. “Our shared values date back to the times of Hazrat Shah Jalal. His mother was from Konya, a Turkish city where Sufi mystic poet Mevlana Jalaluddin al-Rumi lived and died,” he added. 

The chief guest of the evening, Bangladesh’s Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister, Md Tajul Islam, addressed the deep historical and cultural ties between the two nations. “The two moderate Muslim nations have very good relations with all the other countries across the world, and both can contribute not only to mutual benefits but to the world’s peace and stability,” he added. The minister also urged Turkish companies to engage in Bangladesh’s thriving areas, such as the ready-made garment industry, information and communications technology, and agriculture. The program was also attended by Bangladesh’s State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid, and former ministers. 

The 99th Turkish Republic Day Programme in Dhaka embodied everything that makes Türkiye such a unique nation. Turkish Republic Day celebrates the spirit of freedom, sacrifice and triumph. The essence of the occasion binds Türkiye and Bangladesh together, two sovereign democracies in the pursuit of peace and prosperity in the face of mounting external challenges. Currently,  Türkiye and Bangladesh are thriving countries led by the legacies of their respective founding fathers, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Our current socio-economic progress and partnership promise bright prospects for both countries. Long live Türkiye-Bangladesh friendship!

Event Partners                                                                                           

Square Group 

Kazi Farms Group 

Mohammadi Group

BSRM 

United AYGAZ LPG Ltd.

Bengal Group Ltd. 

Cosmos Group 

Singer Bangladesh Ltd. 

NKY Architects & Engineers 

LC Waikiki 

Reired International Ltd.

Media Partners

Maasranga TV 

Deepto TV 

ICE Media Ltd.

UNB

The Daily Star 

Dhaka Courier

 

 

Photographs: Najmul Haque Sagor