Staff Correspondent

The Autobiography of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s “The Unfinished Memoirs” has been translated into Bhutanese (Dzongkha) language.

WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Granddaughter of the Father of the Nation Saima Wazed and Her Royal Highness Princess of Bhutan Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck launched the Dzongkha version of the book on 31 March 2024 in Thimphu.

State Minister for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat was present at the launching ceremony.

The “Unfinished Memoirs” of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been translated into Dzongkha Language by the most prominent writer and Commissioner of Centre for Bhutan and GNH Studies (CBS) Dasho Karma Ura, with an initiative of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Bhutan.

In the launching ceremony, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk, Agricultural Minister Yonten Phuntsho, Home Minister Lyonpo Tshering, Industry, Commerce, & Employment Minister Namgyal Dorji represented the Royal Government of Bhutan. A large number of dignitaries including the Ambassador of Kuwait in Bhutan, the Ambassador of Bhutan in Bangladesh, the Head of Diplomatic Missions and UN offices in Thimphu, secretaries, academicians, intellectuals, researchers, expatriate Bangladeshi nationals were also present in the program held at Zhichenkhar in Thimphu.

In the launching programme, Saima Wazed said that the Dzongkha translation of the autobiography will create a new opportunity for cultural connection and the book will serve as a milestone for the researchers of Bhutan and Bangladesh to unearth new information about history. She thanked the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Centre for Bhutan Studies for accomplishing the Dzongkha version of the significant book.

In the welcome speech, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Bhutan Shib Nath Roy paid respect to the Father of the Nation and elaborated the connection between the Wangchuck Dynasty and the family of the Father of the Nation. He urged the intellectuals of Bhutan to utilize the Dzongkha version of the Unfinished Memoirs to excavate the history.

In the launching ceremony, the book's essence was presented by Counsellor Sujan Debnath with Bangladeshi and Bhutanese students. The students read out some portions of the Dzongkha, English and Bangla versions of the book. The book was published by PT Printing in Thimphu. After the launch, copies of the book were gifted to all the attending guests. Bangladesh Embassy informed that the book will be distributed to the libraries, universities, colleges, research centers, and monk bodies of Bhutan. The book will be a new tool for the historical connection between Bangladesh and Bhutan to expand cultural bondage.