DHAKA, Dec 13, 2023 (BSS) - High commissions of Bangladesh and India in the United Kingdom (UK) jointly hosted a special screening of 'Mujib: The Making of a Nation', the biopic based on the life and works of Bangabandhu, at a prominent theatre in London. 

The event was organised to celebrate the glorious 'Month of Victory' and Bangladesh-India friendship, which was attended by a full house of young British-Bangladeshis and British-Asians, according to a message of Bangladesh High Commission in London received here today.

Members of the British House of Lords, diplomats, British academics and professionals, and mainstream journalists also attended the special screening on Monday evening.

Dr Gowher Rizvi, the former international affairs adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the principal adviser to the biopic, spoke at the event as the chief guest. 

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem and High Commissioner of India to the UK Vikram K Doraiswami delivered welcome speeches at the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Gowher Rizvi said, "The movie is a historical document that captures the essence of Bangabandhu's life story and long struggle". 

He mentioned that the internationally acclaimed director of the movie, Shyam Benegal, did an excellent job of keeping the historical content intact while accommodating the long history of Bangabandhu's life, struggle, and sacrifice for Bangladesh's independence in a two-and-a-half-hour script.

In her welcome speech, High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi for jointly announcing the plan for making the biopic on the life and legacy of Bangabandhu at a programme at Hyderabad House in New Delhi in April 2017.

She said, "This biopic presents the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of a South Asian leader who fought for the independence of Bangladesh and its people". 

Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen referred to him as 'Biswabandhu' - Friend of the World- while the BBC named him the greatest Bangalee of all time after conducting a global survey in 2004, Muna added. 

Indian High Commissioner Vikram K Doraiswami in his speech spoke about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's personal connection and contribution to the film. 

He said that the Prime Minister put this project in her heart as she wanted to be personally associated with the history of which she was a part.

Doraiswami also said that the story of Bangladesh cannot be told without the story of Bangabandhu's epic struggle, and emphasised the importance of the movie and how it provides an opportunity to learn about the past of Bangladesh and pass on the lessons to future generations.

Bangladesh and India jointly made the film based on the life and works of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to mark the 'Mujib Year', the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, while Indian prominent film maker Shyam Benegal directed the movie.

The movie was released across Bangladesh on October 13 while it was released in India on October 27 this year.