Mirzapur, Tangail: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged affluent people to dedicate them to the cause of nation following philanthropist RP Shaha’s footprints as she handed over ‘Danveer Ranada Prasad Shaha Smarak Gold Medal’ to four national celebrities.

‘Ranada Prasad Shaha set an example in serving the human being,’ she told the medal awarding ceremony at the green lawn of Kumudini Complex at Mirzapore here this afternoon, reports the UNB.

The premier added: ‘Many rich people are there in our country (and) if they follow his footsteps, the ordinary people would not have any sufferings.’

Sheikh Hasina particularly appreciated with respect the enormous philanthropic activities of Shaha, more known as RP Shaha, in Mirzapore what was visibly a remote area during his time. Legendary politician and erstwhile Pakistan’s Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam were posthumously honoured with the award while the rest two recipients were 1952 language movement veteran National Professor Rafiqul Islam and eminent painter Sahabuddin Ahmed.

On behalf of Suhrawardy, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana received the gold medal from the premier while she herself joined the ceremony as a special guest.

Poet Nazrul’s granddaughter Khilkhil Kazi received the medal on behalf of the National Poet.

Professor Rafiqul Islam and painter Sahabuddin Ahmed received themselves the award the medal from the premier.

A businessman by background Shaha earned the repute of being a leading Bengali philanthropist and founded educational institutes like Bharateswari Homes, Kumudini College and Debendra College.

Pakistani occupation forces had picked him up during the Liberation War while he never returned home. ‘He had earned money in one hand and donated it with the other hand’ led by his feelings for the people in miseries, distressed widows and concern for women education, the premier said.

She noted with appreciation RP Shaha established Kumudini Welfare Trust activities for serving the humanity and promoting women education yielding organizations like Kumudini Women Medical College and Kumudini Nursing School.

Sheikh Hasina said her door would always remain open for the Kumudini Welfare Trust in their endavour to serve the cause the nation’s wellbeing.

Chairman and Managing Director of the Trust Razib Prasad Shaha presided over the function, while its director education 1952 language veteran Protiva Mutsuddi also spoke at the ceremony. Another director of the Trust Srimoti Shaha delivered the welcome address, while local parliament member Ekabbar Hossain was present on the dais.

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Murad Hasan, parliament members, secretaries to the prime minister and other dignitaries were present.

A documentary on 86 years’ journey of the Kumudini Welfare Trust was screened at the function the Bharateswari Homes students staged a spectacular physical display.