Dhaka: The first autobiography of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, ‘The Unfinished Memoirs’, has been published in French language.

Ginkgo Editeur, a renowned French publishing house, published the book marking the 47th Independence and National Day of Bangladesh and the 45th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and France.

Apart from Bangla and English, the book is also available in Chinese, Urdu, Japanese and Arabic languages.

All works for publishing the book in French language were conducted under the personal supervision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The book translated by France Bhattachariya, Professor Emeritus of National Institute of Oriental Language and Civilization (INALCO) of the University of Paris, hit "Salon Livre Paris", the biggest book fair of France, at Porte De Versailles in Paris today. The four-day fair that began on March 24 will continue till March 27.

Earlier, she also translated different Bangla novels and poetry books, including "Jogajog", "Nosto Neer", "Anandamoth", "Kopalkundola" and "Pother Panchali" and "Monoshamongal Kabya", in French language.

Jeremi Krodon, a teacher of the Department of Bangla Language and Civilization at INALCO, wrote the footnotes of the book.

Besides, former French ambassador to Bangladesh Surge Degale, Head of Bangla Department of INALCO Dr Phillip Benowa and eminent educationist Phillip Rat worked together for publication of the book in French language.

Former French Foreign Minister Hubert Ve'dirne wrote the introduction of the book.

He said the destiny has brought the two countries -- France and Bangladesh -- closer to each other at different stages of the history.

"The people of France were with Bangalee people in the 1757's Palassey Battle against British East India Company where a French soldier led the artillery unit. But the Bangalees were defeated in the battle and lost their independence," Ve'dirne wrote.

He wrote: “Bangla got back its independence after long 214 years under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

Renauld Mon, the publisher of the book, is very hopeful of its success of the book and thinks that the book will be well-accepted by the historians and researchers as well as common readers.

The book will also be available at the next two book fairs -- Amazing Travel and The Meeting of History -- to be held in June and October respectively in France.

Memoirs written by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman hit the stands in a book form on June 18 in 2012, in its original Bangla version "Oshomapto Atmojiboni" as well as in English translation titled "The Unfinished Memoirs".

The University Press Limited (UPL) published the memoirs in both Bangla and English languages, while it has been released simultaneously in India and Pakistan by The Penguin Books India and Oxford University Press Pakistan.

The memoirs have been translated into English by Professor Dr Fakrul Alam of Dhaka University.

Bangabandhu wrote this invaluable document during his time in jail through 1967-69.

There he described the context of writing it, and his lineage, birth and childhood, days in school and college, and his social and political involvements.

This great leader also chronicled the historical events he experienced standing in the forefront- famine, communal riots in Kolkata and Bihar, partition, Pakistan central government's discriminatory attitude and the Agartala conspiracy, among others.