Jail killing day observed with due respect

Staff Correspondent: Cross section of people observed the Jail Killing Day with due respect and paid glowing tributes to four national leaders and 1971 Liberation War forerunners — Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain M Mamnsur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman — recalling their gruesome killing inside high security Dhaka Central Jail on this day in 1975.
The assailants of the August 15, 1975 carnage with supports of their political patron Khondker Mostaq Ahmed gunned the four captive leaders and four top associates of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Their goal was visibly to expose Bangladesh to extreme wilderness after killing Bangabandhu along with most of his family members and toppling his post-independence government. History suggests two units of Bangladesh Army’s tank and artillery regiments staged the August 15 carnage and the subsequent jail killing while the later episode which came as a counter coup was waged to discipline the culprit leaders of these units.
In face of the global pandemic coronavirus (COVID-19), the Jail Killing Day this year was observed across the country through various programmes maintaining the health guidelines.
Awami League (AL) and its associate bodies as well as different organizations observed the day in a befitting manner through daylong programmes.
AL’s daylong programmes started with lowering the national and party flags at half mast and hoisting black flag at Bangabandhu Bhaban and Awami League offices across the country, including its central office, at the dawn today as a mark of respect to the martyrs of November 3, 1975.
Around 8:30 am, AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by placing a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32 in the city.
Later, flanked by central leaders of the party, Quader placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu, while AL central leaders were present.
The leaders and workers of Awami League’s associate bodies, including Dhaka city south and north units of AL, Awami Jubo League, Chhatra League, Mohila Awami League, Sramik League, Krishak League, Jubo Mohila League and Swechchasebok League as well as other socio-cultural organisations paid homage to Bangabandhu and four national leaders by placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.
As part of the party programme, Obaidul Quader along with senior leaders placed wreath at the grave of Shaheed of August 15 and the national four leaders at Banani.
He paid homage at the grave of Shaheed of August 15 and to Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed and Captain M Mamnsur Ali on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina first and later with party leaders.
The AL leaders also offered fateha. A milad mahfil and special munajat were also held there.
To mark the day, a discussion was held at AL central office in the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue area around 11 pm with Awami League Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury in the chair.
AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, AL Presidium Member Dr Abdur Razzaque, Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Joint General Secretary and Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, AL leader Mofazzam Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Bir Bikram, Organizing Secretary Ahmed Hossain and Liberation War Affairs Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das spoke on the occasion.
Similar programmes were observed at Kadirganj in Rajshahi where AHM Qamaruzzaman was laid to rest.
Besides, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal paid homage to Bangabandhu and the four national leaders in the morning by placing wreaths at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and the Four National Leaders Memorial Museum at the old Central Jail in the city.
Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj and Simin Hossain Rimi son and daughter of Tajuddin Ahmed, Rezaul Karim son of Captain M Mamnsur Ali, haji Selim lawmaker of Dhaka-7, ex-lawmaker Dr Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin were present on the occasion, among others.