Celebrating Mujib Barsho: Farmer makes Bangabandhu mural with vegetable plants

Many people proved their love for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in many different forms before. But most likely in a first in the country, a farmer in Ishwarganj upazila has expressed his love for the Father of the Nation by creating an aesthetic landscaped mural in a crop field.

Abdul Kadir has created the mural on 35 decimals of land in his village   home Parakhalbala. The main components the farmer used in the mural are red amaranth (laal shaak) and mustard plants. 

"Depicting Bangabandhu with symbols of Bangladesh in a crop field is first of its kind in the country," said Sadhan Chandra Guha Majumder, agriculture officer in the upazila.

Kadir said he always wanted to do something extraordinary on the occasion of Bangabandhu's birth centenary and the country's golden jubilee of Independence.

"At a young age, I learned that we won the War of Independence over the occupation forces of Pakistan under the steadfast leadership of Bangabandhu in 1971.

"I also learned that he was from a family of farmers and an advocate of agricultural revolution. So I wanted to do something in my capacity on the occasion of Bangabandhu's birth centenary and shared my ideas with young members of 'Parakhalbala Bandhumahal Digital Club' [a local social club]."

The club members enthusiastically provided necessary support to Kadir in implementing his idea. With their support, on December 3, they etched forms of Bangabandhu's portrait, his party symbol boat, the national flower and the National Martyrs' Memorial in the crop field that was cleared up before.

They later planted seedlings of red amaranth and mustard along the etched marks of the art forms. The plants started to grow taller this week and their mural became visible clearly to all, Kadir added.

Kadir's eldest son Ekram Hossain, an SSC examinee, said he feels proud about his father when he sees how people from all walks of life are appreciating the mural his father created with the help of the club members.

He also hoped that his father's creative work will inspire the younger generation in the area in working towards preserving the history of the country in various other creative forms. 

Mohammad Oliullah, president of 'Parakhalbala Bandhumahal Digital Club', said after figuring out how they would etch the art forms on the ground, they selected a suitable place for it in the field, which will easily catch attention of passersby.

Kadir had previously made a massive 'love sign', using vegetable plants in his field last year, but people's response toward the mural he made this year has exceeded all expectations, said a smiling Oliullah.

Ishwarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Zakir Hossen said Kadir deserves national recognition for such inspiring work.