British envoy Blake remembers poet Nazrul, says recent attacks are assault on Bangladesh’s freedom

The British High Commissioner in Dhaka has said the recent attacks on bloggers, foreigners, human-rights activists, civil society figures, and religious and other minorities are assaults on the “hard-won” freedom of Bangladesh.

Alison Blake made the comment on Tuesday while remembering Bangladesh’s National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on his 117th birthday.

“Today we remember Nazrul’s work and life and the value of tolerance, inclusion, justice, and diversity,” she said, in a message.

Nazrul, also known as the rebel poet, fought against foreign rule, imperialism, colonialism, fundamentalism and exploitation during the British rule.

The British colonial government had banned his books and newspapers and put him behind bars.

The British envoy said Nazrul’s work had “inspired generations to pursue freedom and equality.”

“He was writing before the adoption in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with its statement that ‘all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights’.

“He gave powerful voice to a passionate belief that every person has the right to realise their full potential, free of any form of discrimination,” the diplomat said.

Blake said his writing was part of “Bangladesh’s rich culture and long tradition of harmony, inclusion, diversity and tolerance across all divides.”

“This year’s Commonwealth theme is inclusion and the values promoted by Nazrul are at the heart of the Commonwealth.

“Bangladesh and Britain share a set of core Commonwealth values around tolerance, inclusivity and diversity. And we share a commitment to protect and uphold human rights,” the high commissioner said in her message.