The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Construction work of the 'Mukto Bihango' ( the freed bird) ,first sculpture on liberation war in Barisal, has been inaugurated on Friday morning at Amtala crossing of the city entrance point after 37 years of independence.

Advocate Shawkat Hossain Hiron, BCC Mayor inaugurated the construction work and inaugural ceremony held at the construction spot was addressed by Aminul Hassan, sculptor, Mohiuddin Manik Bir Protik, freedom fighter, Syed Dulal, president Barisal Sanskritik Sangothan Samanaya Parishad, Awlad Hossain Dilu, former mayor in charge, K M Shahidullah, local ward councilor, Advocate Talukdar Md. Yunus, district AL office secretary, Mehdi Hassan, chief executive officer of BCC.

Construction of the monumental sculpture 'Mukto Bihango' with steel made eight flying bird in memory of December 8, the liberation day of Barisal, would be completed within next three months at the cost of 10.07 lakh taka funded by Barisal City Corporation by using steel, stone , concrete and tiles.

Barisal Sangkritik Sangothan Samanaya Parishad and Charukala giving assistance in this project designed by Sculptors Hamiduzzaman Khan and Aminul Hassan and would be implemented by State Communication Firm of Dhaka.

Sources said first attempt of constructing sculpture on liberation war in the city was taken in 1996 and local people creating movement and breaking section 144 forced the authority to lay a foundation for that at Zila Parshad-Nagor Bhabon area.

However that project was abandoned by political governments and then by the initiatives of Barisal Charukala, the present site was selected and foundation was laid by Awlad Hossain Dilu, former mayor in charge of BCC on May 24, 2008.