Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said Bangladesh’s graduation to the developing country group is a slap on the faces of those who had thought it would be a ‘bottomless basket’ after the independence.

‘During the Liberation War, a quarter used to say what Bangladesh would gain after its independence....it would be a bottomless basket. I think this (Bangladesh’s graduation) is a slap on their face...the Bangalees have showed that they can,’ she said.

The prime minister said this while opening the month-long solo art exhibition of world-renowned artist Shahabuddin Ahmed at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).

Ganges Art Gallery, Kolkata in association with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has arranged the exhibition featuring artworks derived from a 20-year span of the iconic artist of Bangladesh, reports the UNB.

United News of Bangladesh (UNB) is the media partner of the exhibition.

Chaired by Cultural Affairs Secretary Ibrahim Hossain Khan, the function was addressed among others, by independence award-winning artist Shahabuddin Ahmed, BSA Director General Liakat Ali Lucky and Director of the Ganges Art Gallery Smita Bajoria spoke.

The Committee for Development Policy (CDP), a United Nations panel, recently made an announcement on the country’s eligibility at a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh got the UN recognition as a developing country. ‘We’ve learned how to stand on our own feet economically ...we’re not dependent on anybody. We’ve proved we can develop the country by ourselves,’ she said.

At the function, the prime minister unveiled the cover of a book ‘Amar Muktijuddha’ by Shahabuddin Ahmed.

Parts of a documentary on Shahabuddin Ahmed titled ‘Colour of Freedom’ showed at the programmes.

The prime minister also witnessed acrobatic exhibition of the children of Shilpakala Academy.

She later visited the gallery and saw the displayed artworks of Shahabuddin.

Thirty-two selected artworks are up for display depicting the artist’s affinity with Bangladesh’s War of Liberation, his fascination for Bangabandhu and other recurring themes Shahabuddin is well-known for.

In 2000, the government of Bangladesh hounoured Shahabuddin with ‘Swadhinata Padak’, while French government conferred upon him the prestigious civilian award Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight in the Order of Arts & Literatures) in 2014 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the nation’s cultural clique.