Bangabandhu was ahead of his time: Ban Ki-Moon

Former Secretary General of United Nations Ban Ki Moon has said that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a visionary leader.

“He was ahead of his time,” Moon said while delivering his speech online at the 4th edition of the Bangabandhu Lecture Series titled “Bangabandhu: the Soul of Bangladesh” at the Foreign Services Academy on Monday.

Bangladesh Embassy in South Korea and Bangabandhu Birth Centenary Cell of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly organised the function.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam, and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen also addressed the function.

Moon said Bangabandhu was a champion of human rights who fought against oppression and exploitation.

He also shared his experience of working as a junior diplomat in the South Korean Embassy in New Delhi during the Seventies.

"I had to prepare a draft report which was sent from Delhi to Seoul to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh," he said. "With my fountain pen, I signed a document for establishing diplomatic relations between the two nations."

He said he still preserves the pen as a souvenir.

Appreciating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, the former UN secretary-general said she has been carrying out the vision of the great leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

He said she is leading the nation towards the right direction for which Bangladesh now became one of the fastest growing nations.

"Bangladesh has set an example in tackling climate change," he said.