Greatest Bengalees
I couldn't help but respond to Mr. Mehbub's letter titled, "Where is the martyr of 1757?" which was published on April 23.
In his letter, Mr. Mehbub expresses his surprise at not seeing the name of Sirajuddowla on the BBC list of top 20 greatest Bengalees.
Without getting into a lengthy discussion, I'll simply give him two reasons why Sirajuddowla was not and/or should not be included in a list of 20 greatest Bengalees:
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 1. Sirajuddowla was not even a Bengalee to start with. He was an Urdu speaking ruler of a predominantly Bengali-speaking subject.
2. BBC did not pick the names for the list of 20 greatest Bengalees. It simply compiled the list based on surveys conducted among its listeners.
It is the listeners that picked the names for the list and it is they who left Sirajuddowla out, and very much justifiably so.