Constitution's calligrapher got Independence Award but drafter Dr. Kamal did not: Rehman Sobhan

Eminent economist Rehman Sobhan has expressed regret that Dr. Kamal Hossain, the main architect of Bangladesh's constitution, has not been state-honored with the Independence Award. He noted that while the artist who calligraphed the constitution received the state award, Dr. Kamal Hossain, who worked tirelessly to draft it, did not receive any major state recognition. He made these remarks at a recent discussion program in Dhaka.

The process of drafting a new constitution for independent Bangladesh began in 1972. A special committee led by the then Law Minister, Dr. Kamal Hossain, prepared the draft of the constitution. This historic document was prepared in just 10 months and is recognized as one of the best constitutions in the world. Later, artist Abdur Rouf calligraphed the constitution by hand, for which he was awarded the Independence Award.

Rehman Sobhan mentioned in his speech that it is highly regrettable not to give a person like Dr. Kamal Hossain his due respect. He believes that major national contributions should not be overlooked due to political differences. He emphasized that the roles of individuals in the country's history and national achievements should be accurately presented to the new generation.

Experts believe that to keep the country's history free from controversy, deserving individuals must be honored regardless of political affiliations. Honoring personalities like Dr. Kamal Hossain would set a positive example for future generations. The demand to properly recognize the real heroes behind the drafting of the country's constitution is now growing stronger.