Death anniversaryof Sher-e-Banglatoday

Staff Correspondent: The death anniversary of Sher-e-Bangla Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq will be observed across the country in a befitting manner today.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday issued a message paying rich tribute to the memory of Sher-e-Bangla.
The ruling Awami League will pay tribute to the great leader by placing wreaths at his grave at Suhrawardi Udayan at 8:00am tomorrow. The ruling party will also hold a recitation of Surah Fatiha and offer prayers for salvation of the departed soul of Sher-e-Bangla at his grave.
Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq, popularly known as Sher-e-Bangla or Huq Saheb, was born on October 26, 1873, at his maternal uncle’s house at Saturia, a prosperous village in the southern part of Bakerganj upazila. But his ancestral house was at Chakhar, a village 14 miles away from Barisal town.
Huq was an eminent public leader who had held many high political posts, including the Mayor of Kolkata (1935), Chief Minister of undivided Bengal (1937-1943) and East Bengal (1954), Home Minister of Pakistan (1955) and Governor of East Pakistan (1956-58).
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul of Sher-e-Bangla.
She said, “He struggled throughout his life for the economic emancipation of the peasants of this country.”
The Premier said because of his bold leadership, liberal and benevolent characteristics, the people dubbed him as Sher-e-Bangla or Banglar Bagh (Tiger of Bengal).
She recalled different steps taken by Sher-e-Bangla, including the formation of the Debt Settlement Board, for the welfare of the repressed and exploited farmers.
The Prime Minister said the greatest Bengali of all time and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had ideological unity and political affinity with Sher-e-Bangla.
“Bangabandhu struggled throughout his life against exploitation and deprivation… He worked to build a progressive democratic and non-communal Bangladesh”, she said, adding that Bangabandhu had created scope for the Bengali nation to live upholding their head high by establishing an independent Bangladesh.