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| | #REDIRECT [[Greatest Bengali of All Time]] |
| [[File:Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1950.jpg|alt=Sheikh Mujibur Rahman|thumb|294x294px|[[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]]:<br/>Voted as the ''Greatest Bengali of all time'' in the 2004 BBC opinion poll]] | |
| Soon after the completion of ''[[100 Greatest Britons]]'' poll in 2002, the [[BBC]] organized a similar opinion poll to find out who is the greatest [[Bengalis|Bengali]] personality in Bengali nation's history of thousand years.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://dailyasianage.com/news/7256/listeners-name-greatest-bengali |title=Listeners name 'greatest Bengali' |work=The Asian Age |date=2016-01-10 |access-date=2018-01-26 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=567921&date=2016-04-13 |title=News Details |work=BSS |date=2016-04-13 |language=en |access-date=2018-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127004631/http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=567921&date=2016-04-13 |archive-date=2018-01-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3bcuCgAAQBAJ&q=Greatest+Bengali+Of+All+Time&pg=PA145|title=Communalism and Globalization in South Asia and Its Diaspora|last1=Heath|first1=Deana|last2=Mathur|first2=Chandana|date=2010-12-22|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136867873|pages=145|language=en}}</ref> In 2004, BBC's Bengali Service conducted the opinion poll with the title ''Greatest Bengali of all time'' started from February 11 continued onto March 22. The poll was participated by Bengalis around the world including from [[Bangladesh]], [[India]] (states of [[West Bengal]], [[Tripura]], [[Orissa]], and [[Assam]]) and overseas Bengali communities. No individual from the [[Bengal Sultanate]] and [[Mughal Bengal]] were nominated however.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3623345.stm| title=Listeners name 'greatest Bengali' |work=BBC News |date=2004-04-14 |access-date=2017-12-14 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2004/04/16/d4041601066.htm |title=BBC Listeners' Poll |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=2004-04-16 |access-date=2017-12-14}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Habib |first=Haroon |date=2004-04-17 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/17/stories/2004041703001700.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225011708/https://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/17/stories/2004041703001700.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2018-12-25 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |title=Mujib, Tagore, Bose among 'greatest Bengalis of all time' |access-date=2017-12-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.theindependentbd.com/printversion/details/36313 |title=The speech that changed the course of history |newspaper=The Independent |location=Dhaka |date=2016-03-07 |access-date=2018-01-26}}</ref>
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| Total 140 nominations had been produced from the poll. [[BBC]] started to announce the top 20 names from 26 March declaring one name each day starting from 20th position. On the final day of 14 April, which was also the [[Pahela Baishakh]] (Bengali New Year day), BBC announced [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]], the founding father of Bangladesh as the ''Greatest Bengali of all time'' voted by Bengalis worldwide.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
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| ==Methodology==
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| Describing the process of voting, BBC's Bengali Service stated that to avoid any flaw or controversy, they followed the most modern method of [[opinion poll]]ing. Participants were asked to nominate their five choices of greatest Bengali on the order of preference instead of one. The top nominee of each voter was given five points, second nominee four points, thus eventually the fifth nominee got one point. On the basis of total points, the final list of the greatest Bengali poll was generated.<ref name=":1" />
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| ==Observations==
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| BBC informed that [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]] bagged almost double points than the second place holder [[Rabindranath Tagore]], while Tagore himself secured double points than [[Kazi Nazrul Islam]] and Nazrul got double than [[A. K. Fazlul Huq]]. The other 17 personalities however had narrow differences of points with each other.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Along with highest six politicians, the list also contains several authors and social reformers. Also two religious preachers, one scientist and one economist got place in the final list. [[Begum Rokeya]] was the only woman and [[Amartya Sen]] only living personality to be voted in top 20.
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| == Top 20 of the list ==
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| {|class="wikitable"
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| !Rank
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| !Name
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| !Title
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| !Image
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| !Introduction
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| !Notability
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| |1
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| |[[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]]
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| |Bangabandhu
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| <sup>''(Friend of Bengal)''</sup>
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| | [[File:Sheikh_Mujibur_Rahman_in_1950.jpg|137x137px]]
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| |{{ubl|'''Politician''' | Leader of Independence | President |Prime Minister}}
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| |<br/>Founding Father of Bangladesh. Firebrand politician who shook the foundation of Pakistan and carved out its eastern wing as sovereign Bangladesh.
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| Led Bengali's decade long struggle for independence against then autocratic regime, finally resulting in the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] and the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.<br/>
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| Served twice as [[President of Bangladesh|President]] and once as [[Prime Minister of Bangladesh]] after independence. [[Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman|Assassinated along with almost entire family]] in military coup.
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| |2
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| |[[Rabindranath Tagore]]
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| |Kobi Guru
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| <sup>''(Master of Poets)''</sup>
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| | [[File:Tagore3_140x190.jpg|135x135px]]
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| |{{ubl|'''Author''' |[[List of Indian Nobel laureates|Nobel Prize Winner]]}}
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| |Referred by many as the ''Bengali Shakespeare''. Most successful and influential writer in Bengali literature. First [[Nobel Prize]] winner from Asia. Composer of [[Jana Gana Mana|national anthems of India]] and [[Amar Sonar Bangla|Bangladesh]].
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| |-
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| |3
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| |[[Kazi Nazrul Islam]]
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| |Bidrohi Kobi
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| <sup>''(Rebel Poet)''</sup>
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| | [[File:Kazi_Nazrul_Islam,_circa_1940.jpg|133x133px]]
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| |'''Author''' <br> National Poet
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| |Renown for lifelong struggle and fiery writings against [[British Empire|British colonial rule]]. Equally popular for romantic and religious (both Islamic and Hindu) poems and songs. Made ''National Poet'' of Bangladesh in 1972.
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| |-
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| |4
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| |[[A.K. Fazlul Huq]]
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| |Sher-e-Bangla
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| <sup>''(Tiger of Bengal)''</sup>
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| | [[File:A_k_fazlul_hoque.jpg|119x119px]]
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| |{{ubl|'''Politician'''| Prime Minister| Chief Minister| Governor}}
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| |[[Prime Minister of Bengal|First Prime Minister]] of undivided [[Bengal]] during British rule. First ever democratically elected leader of Bengali nation. Renown for unshakable stance on principles and for pro-poor policies. After partition, served as [[Chief Minister of East Bengal|Chief Minister]] and [[Governor of East Pakistan]].
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| |5
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| |[[Subhas Chandra Bose]]
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| |Netaji
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| ''<sup>(Honorable Leader)</sup>''
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| | [[File:Netaji_Subhas_Chandra_Bose.jpg|136x136px]]
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| |'''Politician''' <br> Nationalist Activist
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| |One of the principal figures of [[Indian independence movement|Indian Independence Movement]]. Built own army to fight against British colonial rule. Visited around the globe to seek support and assistance for India's independence.
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| |6
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| |[[Begum Rokeya]]
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| | [[File:Begum_Rokeya_140x190.jpg|135x135px]]
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| |'''Social Reformer'''
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| |Pioneer of Bengali women uprising. Within the conservative socio-system of her time, managed to educate herself and later became a popular writer and educationist. Inspired millions of girls and women to educate themselves and obtain self-reliance.
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| |7
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| |[[Sir]] [[Jagadish Chandra Bose]]
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| |Acharya
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| ''<sup>(Influential Mentor)</sup>''
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| | [[File:J.C.Bose.JPG|131x131px]]
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| |'''Scientist'''
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| |Major pioneer in researching radio and [[microwave]] [[optics]]. Made groundbreaking contributions to [[plant science]]. Laid the foundation of experimental science in [[Indian subcontinent]].
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| |8
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| |[[Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani]]
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| |Mazlum Jananeta
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| ''<sup>(Leader of the Oppressed)</sup>''
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| | [[File:Maulana_Bhasani_in_Havana,_Cuba.jpg|99x99px]]
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| |'''Politician'''
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| |Influential political figure served during [[British India]], Pakistan and Bangladesh period. Gained mass popularity for lifelong solidarity with the oppressed.
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| |-
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| |9
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| |[[Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar]]
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| |Vidyasagar
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| ''<sup>(Ocean of Knowledge)</sup>''
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| | [[File:Ishwar_Chandra_Vidyasagar.jpg|129x129px]]
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| |'''Social Reformer'''
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| |Modified Bengali alphabet and typography. Introduced social reforms including ''[[Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856|widow marriage]]'' in the region. A key figure of [[Bengal Renaissance]].
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| |10
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| |[[Ram Mohan Roy|Raja Ram Mohan Roy]]
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| |Raja
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| ''<sup>(King)</sup>''{{efn|He was given the title of Raja by [[Akbar II]].}}
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| |[[File:Raja Rammohan Roy.jpg|frameless|125x125px]]
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| |'''Social Reformer'''
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| |Advocated for social reforms like demolition of ''[[Bengal Sati Regulation, 1829|satidah]]'' ritual, child marriage and giving property inheritance rights for women.
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| |11
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| |[[Titumir|Syed Mir Nisar Ali Titumir]]
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| |'''Rebel Activist'''
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| |Renown for confrontations with landlords and British colonial rulers. Became legend after building iconic ''bamboo fort'' and fought against British soldiers from there.
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| |12
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| |[[Lalon|Lalon Shah]]
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| |[[Baul]] Shamrat, Fakir
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| <sup>''(Emperor of Bauls)''</sup>
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| |[[File:Fakir Lalon Shah.jpg|frameless|98x98px]]
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| |'''Philosopher'''
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| |Cultural icon of Bengal and most celebrated Baul saint in history. Often compared with ''Confucius'' of China. Inspired prominent figures including from Tagore, Nazrul to Allen Ginsberg.
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| |13
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| |[[Satyajit Ray]]
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| | [[File:Satyajit_Ray_in_New_York.jpg|149x149px]]
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| |{{ubl|'''Filmmaker''' |Author|Music composer| Academy Award Winner|[[Bharat Ratna]] laureate}}
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| |Regarded as one of the greatest filmmaker of all time.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/biography/Satyajit-Ray |title=Satyajit Ray |last=Robinson |first=W. Anderson |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226041408/http://www.britannica.com/biography/Satyajit-Ray |archive-date=26 December 2015}}</ref> Second Oscar winner from India and first to won [[Academy Honorary Award|Honorary Oscar Award]] in 1992. Started new era of Indian cinema. One of the most successful writers in modern age [[Bengali literature]]. Showed great talent in music and drawing too.
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| |14
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| |[[Amartya Sen]]
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| | [[File:Amartya_Sen_NIH.jpg|158x158px]]
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| |'''Economist''' <br> Nobel Prize Winner
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| |Prominent economist. Won [[Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences|Nobel Prize in economics]] in 1998.
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| |-
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| |15
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| |[[Bengali language movement|Language Movement Martyrs]]
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| |Bhasha Shaheed
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| ''<sup>(Language Martyrs)</sup>''
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| | [[File:1952_Bengali_Language_movement.jpg|99x99px]]
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| |'''University Students'''
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| |Shot dead on 21 February 1952 while carrying mass procession against then Pakistan government's decision of not to proclaim Bengali as country's official language. The day is now observed worldwide as ''[[International Mother Language Day]]'' after [[UNESCO]]'s declaration in 1999.
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| |16
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| |[[Muhammad Shahidullah]]
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| | [[File:Mohammod_Sohidullah.jpg|143x143px]]
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| |'''Educationist'''
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| |Prominent educationist, linguist and researcher on Bengali language.
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| |-
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| |17
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| |[[Swami Vivekananda]]
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| | [[File:Swami_Vivekananda_Chicago,_September_1893_(Harrison).png|127x127px]]
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| |'''Religious Leader'''
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| |One of principal representatives of [[Hinduism]] to western world. Prominent promoter of [[Yoga]] and [[Vedanta]].
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| |18
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| |[[Atiśa|Atisa Dipankara]]
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| | [[File:Atisha.jpg|136x136px]]
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| |'''Religious Preacher'''
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| |Bengali Buddhist spiritual leader. Brought [[Buddhism]] to Bengal and helped to spread from Tibet to Sumatra.
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| |-
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| |19
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| |[[Ziaur Rahman]]
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| | [[File:Ziaur_Rahman_1979.jpg|132x132px]]
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| |'''Military Personnel''' <br/>President <br/>Freedom Fighter
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| |One of the war heroes of Bangladesh Liberation War. Announced ''Declaration of Independence'' on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Former President and former [[Chief of Army Staff (Bangladesh)|army chief of Bangladesh]]. Founder of [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]].
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| |20
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| |[[Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy]]
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| |'''Politician''' <br/>Prime Minister
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| |Influential Bengali politician served as [[Prime Minister of Bengal|Prime Minister of undivided Bengal]] during British rule and later [[Prime Minister of Pakistan]].
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| |}
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| == See also ==
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| *[[The Greatest Indian]]
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| ==Notes==
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| {{Notelist}}
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| == References ==
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| {{Reflist}}
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| ==Further reading==
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| * {{cite journal |last=Jones |first=Reece |date=June 2008 |title=Searching for the greatest Bengali: The BBC and shifting identity categories in South Asia |url=https://www2.hawaii.edu/~reecej/Jones%202008%20National%20Identities.pdf |journal=[[National Identities]] |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=149–165|doi=10.1080/14608940801997218 |s2cid=145390085 }}
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| {{Countries' greatest people TV series}}
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| [[Category:Greatest Nationals|Bengali]]
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| [[Category:Top people lists|Bengali]]
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| [[Category:Historical rankings of public figures|Bengali]]
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| [[Category:Bengali people| ]]
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