Sheikh Rehana meets veteran foreign freedom fighter Lucy Holt

Barishal Correspondent :

Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana has met Bangladeshi and British citizen Lucy Helen Francis Holt, and said we all should follow the humanitarian ideals of Lucy.
Lucy Holt wrote in support of Bangladesh’s independence in different countries during the Great War of Liberation and it should be preserved with due respect, Rehana added.
Sheikh Rehana went to Oxford Mission to see Lucy during her visit in Barishal on Friday (December 29) afternoon to inquire about physical condition of Lucy. In that lively meeting, Sheikh Rehana asked Lucy Holt to sing Kazi Nazrul Islam’s song ‘Nach Mayuri Nacherey’ and daughter of Bangabandhu also joined with Lucy’s voice.
Later they went visited the Oxford Mission church and learnt about the history of the Oxford Mission. After that took pictures with everyone then Sheikh Rehana returned to Circuit House.
Sheikh Rehana also felt that the letters she wrote in support of Bangladesh’s independence in different countries during the Great War of Liberation should be preserved.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Rehana also congratulated journalist Apoorba Apu for doing an investigative report on Lucy.
Earlier on December 1, 2016, Lucy Holt came to the discussion after series of investigative reports on the contribution to the Great Liberation War and public welfare work in different parts of the country, published in different media outlets.
Lucy’s only demand was to get Bangladeshi citizenship and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana conferred about process and procedure of granting Bangladeshi citizenship to Lucy.
In 2018, first by handing over passports with visa fee waivers and later by taking them to the Ganobhaban, Bangadeshi citizenship was granted to Lucy.
Father John of the Barishal Oxford Mission said that Sheikh Rehana brought flowers and fruits to our mission on Friday at around 1:30 pm to meet Lucy Holt as a courtesy.
Mission’s Father Francis, Father John, Sister Margaret, Sister Shefali, Sister Shikha, Church Manager Richard Ratan Halder and journalist Apoorba Apu who find out Lucy Holt and social worker Rafiqur Rahman, project coordinator of Opsonin Pharma were present there during the visit.
Rafiqur Rahman said the visitors after entering in the hall at around 1:30 afternoon, the daughter of Bangabandhu first went to Lucy Holt and greeted her with flowers.
Lucy Holt got up from the chair and went to each of the 8 people who participated in the short meeting.
The Oxford Mission Authority thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana for granting Bangladeshi citizenship to Lucy Holt.