Jail Killing Day observed across country

The nation paid glowing tributes to four slain national leaders who were forerunners of the country's independence on the occasion of the Jail Killing Day yesterday.

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

Marking the day, Awami League and other social, cultural and political organizations placed wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the graves of four national leaders.

The AL placed wreaths at Bangabandhu's portrait at Dhanmondi and at the graves of three national leaders at Banani graveyard in the city.

Wreaths were also placed at AHM Quamaruzzaman's grave in Rajshahi.

Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and four national leaders marking the Jail Killing Day.

In memory of the leaders, the premier placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No 32 here this morning.

Sheikh Hasina first laid a wreath as the prime minister at the portrait of Bangabandhu around 7:00 am. After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence there for some time as a mark of respect to the memories of the national leaders.

Later, flanked by central leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina placed another wreath as the president of Awami League at the portrait of Bangabandhu.

Awami League Advisory Council Member Tofail Ahmed, Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury,Mohammad Nasim, Kazi Zafarullah, Nurul Islam Nahid, Advocate Sahara Khatun, Dr Abdur Razzak and Muhammad Faruk Khan, General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Joint Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Jahangir Kabir Nanak and other central leaders of the party were present.

Later, the AL leaders placed wreaths at the graves of August 15 martyrs and the national leaders at Banani graveyard and offered fateha. A milad mahfil and special munajat were also held there.

Besides, Dhaka city AL, Mahila Awami League, Juba League, Sechhasebak League, Krishak League,Chhatra League, Sramik League, Joy Bangla Sangskritik Oikya, Awami Muktijoddha League,Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote and other socio-cultural and political organizations paid homage to the August 15 martyrs and four national leaders.

At 8:30 am in Dhaka, Captain Mansur Ali's son AL Presidium Member and Health Minister Mohammad Nasim placed a wreath at former central jail at Najimuddin Road where the four national leaders were brutally killed in 1975.

Speaking on this occasion, Nasim said the trial of the killers of Bangabandhu and four national leaders could not have been held if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not come to power.

Leaders of Rajshahi City AL and associate bodies placed wreaths at the grave of slain national leader AHM Quamaruzzaman at Kadirganj in Rajshahi city. The day was observed there with identical programmes, including a discussion meeting.

Rajshahi city AL President AHM Khairuzzamen presided over the discussion meeting while State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Omar Faruq Chowdhury, MP, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud, MP,Enamul Huq, MP, Abdul Wadud Dara, MP, Ayen Uddin, MP, and Begum Aktar Jahan, MP, took part in the discussion, among others.

The Jail Killing Day was also observed in different districts, including Kurigram, Narail, Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Pabna, Rajshahi, Khulna, Bagerhat, Gopalganj, Noakhali, Barisal, Sylhet and Netrakona paying homage to the four slain national leaders.

Source: BSS