Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday unveiled the cover of the ‘Unfinished Memoirs of Bangabandhu’ (Bangabandhur Asamapto Attajiboni) in Chinese language.

The prime minister and former Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Chai Xi who along with his team translated the book into Chinese language unveiled the book’s cover at a simple ceremony at her official residence Ganobhaban in the afternoon.

Chai X who had stayed in Bangladesh for long 15 years in different capacities translated the book at the request of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Unfinished Memoirs of Bangabandhu has already been translated into English, Urdu and Japanese languages and works are on to translate it into German and French languages.

After unveiling its cover, the premier extended her heartfelt thanks to Chai Xi and his friends for translating the book, written by Bangabandhu in jail, into Chinese language.

Sheikh Hasina said the writings of Bangabandhu in jail are important historical documents, not only for Bangladesh but also for this subcontinent's history.  

She recalled her mother Bangamata Fazilatunnessa Mujib's role in protecting the diaries of Bangabandhu from the wrath of the then Pakistani regime.

Recalling Bangabandhu’s visit to China in 1952 and 1957 and also Chinese first Prime Minister Zhou Enlai visit to Dhaka in 1956, Hasina said Bangabandhu had noted down about those visits in his diaries predicting China's emergence as an economic and political power.

‘Bangabandhu's prediction came true as China is now a big economic and political power in the world,’ she said.

Writings of Bangabandhu on her Chinese visit will be published in a separate book, the Prime Minister informed Chai Xi, requesting him for the translation of the book into Chinese language.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh values her relation with China. ‘We want a peaceful regional coexistence by all and make the region free from poverty.’  

The prime minister said the problems of people in this region are almost the same and there is a need for maintaining harmonious atmosphere among the countries of this region.

Wishing further strengthening of the bilateral ties with China, Hasina expressed her firm optimism that the people of this region would be able to come out of poverty and further improve their livelihood.

The former Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh informed the Prime Minister that all the proceeds from the sales of the book to be published in China would be donated to the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust.

Mentioning that he had passed his long 15 years in Bangladesh in various assignments, Chai Xi said he has already fallen in love with Bangladesh adding, ‘Bangladesh is my second home.’

Chai Xi who served in Bangladesh from 2003-2007 as Chinese ambassador said he first visited Bangladesh in 1976 as a student and then worked at the Chinese embassy in Bangladesh in four assignments.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her last visit to China in 2014 had requested him to translate the Unfinished Memoirs of Bangabandhu into Chinese language. At that time, Xi said, ‘Of course, if you ask me to do it. It would be a great honour for me.’

Xi said Bangabandhu was a great leader and a great friend of China.

About the translation, Xi said although it took a little bit time, he was very much happy to complete its work. ‘I think that I've accomplished a good task.’

He also told the prime minister that they would hold a publication ceremony in China on the book adding that through translating of the Unfinished Memoirs of Bangabandhu in Chinese language, the people of China would be able to know about the great leader and the architect of independence of Bangladesh.

The former Chinese envoy said he was happy coming to Bangladesh after long eight years to see that Bangladesh is gaining over 6 percent GDP growth on average for the last couple of years, which was not so easy considering the world economic situation.

He also expressed his firm optimism that Bangladesh would be able to realize the dream of turning Bangladesh into a mid-income country by 2021 and a prosperous developed country by 2041 under the wise leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, PM's Power and Energy Adviser Tawfic e Elahi Chowdhury, PM's Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad, Power Division Secretary Monwarul Islam, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, PM's Special Assistants Abdus Sobhan Golap and Mahbubul Hoque Shakil were, among others, present.