Waheedul Haque, who died on January 27 2007, was the commanding officer or the General of our cultural front. His accomplishment in laying the cultural foundation of Bangladesh is so much that he is considered as one of the icons of secular culture.

At the same time he was an iconoclast and voice for the voiceless, whenever there was an attempt of suppression.

In early 1960s, when there was attempt by the then Pakistani government to ban Tagore songs and Islamize Bengali nationalism, Waheedul Haque played a leading role in fighting the conspiring rulers and politicians of Pakistan.

Tagore was and is the prime pride of Bengali nationhood. Banning the songs written and composed by Tagore from being broadcast by Radio Pakistan was considered as the first step towards alienating Bengali Muslims from secular culture.

Waheedul Haque's organizational capacity brought many Bengali intellectual together to fight against such conspiracy. He realized how important is Tagore for Bengali nationalism to survive in its secular form.

Although, the rulers give in to their drive, Waheedul Haque did not stop. He continued promoting Tagore songs in a way so that it became a part and parcel of all cultural activities in the country.

He did not stop there, but continued his efforts throughout Bangladesh by establishing Rabindrasangit Sammelon Parishad. This organization has committees in every district, and these committees promote Tagore songs. And by virtue of its own structure these committees disseminate the essence of secular culture.

Seeing the strength of Bengali language and cultural movement in 1950s, the then Pakistani government wanted to de-secularize the culture.

In order to do that the rulers of Pakistan started to gradually reduce the number of schools and increase the number of madrasas. Number of primary schools decreased down from 32,000 in late 1940s to 24,000 in early 1960s.

The mullahs started giving sermon in mosques and religious gathering against all cultural activities. Even yearly Baishakhi Utsab, the nobo barsha festival (Bengali new year), which Bengalis celebrated for centuries, was considered as something forbidden for the Muslims.

People like Waheedul Haque, Sanjida Khatun and other organizers of Chhayanot, a music school, stood up to save the most secular festival of Bengalis.

While number of sites for celebrating Baisakhi Utsab started decreasing, Waheedul Haque and friends made it point that a cultural function for celebrating Bengali new year takes place early in the morning of Pohela Baishakh under the banyan tree of Ramana Park in Dhaka.

This two hours function of early morning has now evolved into the most important national function of Bengali new year in Bangladesh. No matter who organizes what state function where for the new year, Chhayanot's Barshabaran Utsab under the banyan tree of Ramna Park is considered as the most important function.

Millions of people visit the spot on the Bengali new year even long after the function is over.

In 2000, there was a bomb attack on this function, killing at least 10 persons. The identity of the perpetrators is not known yet. But it is believed that the purpose of the attack was to weaken the secular strength of Bengali nationalism.

It could not stop Waheedul Haque or other organizers of Chhayanot, they continued organizing function in the following years without fear and more people started visiting the site.

Now a days, Bengali new year festival is organized almost everywhere in Bangladesh. Our tribute goes to Waheedul Haque, who will continue to reincarnate in the heart of Bengalis, for his contribution in saving this festival for the nation.

During the time of our Liberation War in 1971, Waheedul Haque was instrumental in organizing cultural/musical function for those who were fighting against the occupying army.

At a time when a genocide was ongoing in the country, 10 million people were displaced, Waheedul Haque, who himself was displaced, did not forget the need for keeping the secular moral and spirit of the front-liners.

A group of singers went from camp to camp throughout the borders and sang patriotic songs to keep the spirit alive. This was, perhaps, one of the unique event happened in the history of wars.

We salute you, Waheed Bhai.

The writer is a lawyer.