Today (20 October,2021) is  the 4th death anniversary of Father Marino Rigon, a true Italian friend of Bangladesh.  Father Marino Rigon, an Italian national and a Catholic Missionary of the Saint Francis Xavier order arrived Bangladesh on 7 January, 1953 at the age of 27.  He was born on February 5, 1925 at Villaverla , a small town near Vicenza (Venice), Italy. In over 60 years of mission in Bangladesh, he played a key role in fighting poverty, expanding education, offering medical services, and supporting poor-women. With long stays in several regions all over the country: Dhaka, Meherpur-Bhobopara, Sunderban, Khulna, Jessore and Faridpur, he finally settled in Mongla, Bagerhat where he founded, in the Shelabunia area, a school and a hospital named Saint Paul.

Father Marino is mostly acclaimed for translating Bengali literary works into Italian. He also dedicated all his life to the in-depth study of classical Bengali literature. He is the Italian official translator of Radinbranath Tagore's works and published a collection of traditional Baul lyrics with the title I Canti di Lalon (Lalon's Songs) with Italian translation. He translated 40 poems of Rabindranath Tagore from Gitanjali to Italian. He translated 350 songs of Lalon Shah, Jashim Ud- din's Nakshi Kathar Math and Shujon Badiyar Ghat, in addition to numerous other literary works from notable writers of Bangladesh. He has to his credit contributed in spreading Bengali literature by also writing a few books in Bengali. Most popular of them are 'Kath er Manush Pinokio', 'Ostagami Surjo', 'Amar Priyo Lalon Geeti', and 'Amar Gram'. Father Rigan not only contributed to Bengali literature, he also led cultural troupes several times to Italy to represent the culture of Bangladesh to the Italians which helped create a cultural bonding between the two communities. Under his leadership, the dance drama based on Nakshi Kathar Math won wide appreciation among the Italian audience.

Father Marino was a great freedom fighter. He is remembered as a national hero for his missionary work during the War of Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. Braving all odds, he used to give shelter and cure wounded freedom fighters in the clinic of Bagnarciorh, now in the district of Gopalgonj. In recognition to his immense contribution to the independence war of Bangladesh, he was officially honoured  with "Muktijudha Moitree Sammanana"(Friends of Liberation War Honour) in 2012 by the Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.  He was the first Italian who was conferred in November 2008 the honorary Bangladeshi citizenship. He shares this prestigious recognition with only other four international personalities.    

Father Rigon had an opportunity to have an exclusive audience with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for 41 minutes in the presence of Polli Kobi Jasimuddin who was also very close with Bangabandhu. Each year, a Fair used to take place in Shelabunia named Rigon Mela in which his family members and relatives would join, among others.

Father Rigan breathed his last at 92 while undergoing treatment in Italy's Vicenza town on 20, October, 2017. He expressed his last will to be buried at the Shelabunia Church. Accordingly, the Government of Bangladesh took all necessary preparations to bury him at Shelabunia Church in Mongla Upazila of Bagerhat District. He will always be remembered for his heroic role in the War of Liberation as well profound contribution for the underprivileged and also for linking the Italian audience  with the Bengali literature.