Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim. Honorable Vice President of India, dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen, As-salamu alaykum. I would like to thank the Pranab Mukherjee Legacy foundation especially Sharmistha Mukherjee for inviting me to speak at this program marking the first death anniversary of late President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. It was hard to pass a year without Pranab dada. He was a true friend of Bangladesh and a great political icon of the subcontinent. I pay my deep homage to the memory of this towering personality on his death anniversary. Pranab dada had deep love for Bangladesh. His contribution to our great liberation war will never be forgotten. As a young MP, he took bold initiatives for our support and levelled a motion in Rajya Sabha in June, 1971 for the recognition of Bangladesh. People of Bangladesh gratefully remember his support. Pranab Mukherjee had enormous respect and deep rigors for our father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. As he had been given Bharat Ratana for his contribution by the government of India, it was our honor to have conferred the prestigious Muktijuddho Sanmanona’ Liberation War honor on him in 2013 for his invaluable contributions to our liberation war. Bharat Ratna Pranab Mukherjee had a colourful political career and he was known for his extraordinary wisdom, for assertiveness, and visionary leadership. With his versatile talent, he efficiently managed important ministries like finance, defence, and external affairs of the government of India. His extraordinary qualities eventually led him to become the first citizen of the country and the first Bengali President of India. I, myself, had close personal relations and very fond memories with him and his wife Suvra Mukherjee, who was from Bangladesh. Pranab dada and Suvra didi had deep affection for me and my sister Rehana. They remained beside us as guardians and family friends during our difficult days in India after the assassination of my parents along with 18 other close family members on 15^th August, 1975. His departure was a personal loss for me and my family and I will continue to miss him and his affection. The death of Shri Pranab Mukherjee had created a vacuum in the intellectual as well as in the political arena of the subcontinent. He would remain as an inspiration for coming generation for our            

 We would remember him for his support and love for Bangladesh. Thank you all once again.