The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion meeting in the city yesterday recalled lasting contributions made by Nawab Sir Salimullah who not only did found the All India Muslim League in the historic city of Dhaka but also played a pivotal role in the establishment of the University of Dhaka.

The discussion meeting was organized by the Nawab Salimullah Academy in observance of his 137th birth anniversary at the national press club. The speakers called for making the new generation of Bangladeshis aware of the life and works of Nawab Salimullah to form a clear idea of the country's past for a better understanding of its present.

Eminent industrialist Barrister Tamizul Haque presided over the discussion meeting which was addressed by eminent educationist Tozammul Hussain, Abdul Jabbar and Al-haj Akbar Hossain Pathan of the Muslim League, senior journalist Sheikh Raqubiddin, Mustafa Anwar Khan and editor of The New Nation, Mostafa Kamal Majumder among others.

Tozammul Hussain said that Nawab Sir Salimullah did realise more than a century ago the necessity of a political party to protect the distinct entity of the Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent and formed the Muslim League in Dhaka when the then partition of Bengal was facing resistance from Kolkata.

Barrister Tamizul Haque said that Nawab Sir Salimullah performed a duty of uniting Muslims under an organisation - the All India Muslim League. Muhammad Ali Jinnah upheld the concept of Muslim unity and relied upon the Muslim League to pursue his goal of establishing separate homeland for Muslims. He said, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Muslim League worker during the pre-partition period.