Awami League pays tribute to four national leaders

On this day in 1975, Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed, Acting President Syed Nazrul Islam, Ministers Captain M Mamnsur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman of the probationary Bangladesh government in exile were killed by some disgruntled over ambitious army officers inside Dhaka Central Jail following the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members in a military putsch on August 15 the same year.

The programmes of the day started with lowering of the national and party flags at Bangabandhu Bhaban and Awami League offices across the country at half mast, hoisting of black flags and wearing of black badges as a mark of respect to the martyrs of November 3, 1975.

In observance of the day, Awami League (AL) president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed a wreath at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the morning.

Later, she as the president of Awami League along with party stalwarts laid another wreath there. Sheikh Hasina stood there in solemn silence for some time and later took part in a Doa and Munajat (prayer) session.

At that time, AL presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Mohammad Nasim, Obaidul Quader, Advocate Sahara Khatun, general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, joint general secretaries Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif and Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, organising secretaries Ahmed Hossain, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and Advocate Misbah Uddin Siraj and relief and social welfare secretary Faridunnahar Laily were present, among others.

AL central leaders also placed wreaths at the portraits of Bangabandhu and four national leaders at Dhaka Central Jail also in the morning.

Later, leaders of the party placed wreaths at the graves of the martyrs of the August 15 carnage and the November 3 massacre at Banani graveyard where Fateha was offered and Milad and Doa Mahfil organised for eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs.

Leaders of Rajshahi City AL and associate bodies placed wreath at the family grave of slain national leader AHM Quamarazzaman at Kadirganj in Rajshahi City. The day was observed there with an identical programme.

Apart from AL and its associate bodies, other organisations including Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad, Bangabandhu Parishad, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Joi Bangla Sangskritik Oikya Jote, Awami Muktijoddha League, Bangabandhu Smrity Sangrakkhan Parishad, Bangabandhu Shikkha O Gebeshana Parishad and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University observed the day in a befitting manner.