Founded on this day in 1949, Awami League has been transformed into an organisation of masses by leading all the democratic-political-social-cultural movements including the long arduous struggle for freedom and the War of Liberation.
The country’s biggest political party was floated as Awami Muslim League at the historical Rose Garden at KM Das Lane in Dhaka on this day in 1949. However, the word ‘Muslim’ was dropped at its third council in 1955. President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the anniversary.
To mark the anniversary, national and party flags were hoisted atop all party offices including the Bangabandhu Avenue central office in the capital.
The programmes included placing of wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the premises of Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi in the capital and at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj in the morning maintaining health guidelines.
AL and its front and associate bodies paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi.
On behalf of Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina, Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader first laid a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu.
Later, he flanked by party’s top leaders placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on the occasion.
AL Advisory Council member Amir Hossain Amu, Presidium members Matia Chowdhury and Abdul Matin Khasru, Information Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, Organizing secretaries Ahmed Hossain, Sakhawat Hossain Shafiq and Mirza Azam, AL Publicity and Publication Affairs Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, AL Science and
Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Md Abdus Sabur, Women and Children Affairs Secretary Meher Afroz Chumki, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Shree Sujit Roy Nandi, Education and Human Resources Secretary Shamsun Nahar Chapa, Health and Population Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, Forest and Environment Secretary Delwar Hossain, AL Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan, AL South City unit President Abu Ahmed Mannafi and Jubo Mohila League President Nazma Akter were present on the occasion, among others.
Later, AL’s front and associate bodies paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths at his portrait.
The leaders and workers of Awami League’s associate bodies, including Awami Jubo League, Dhaka city north and south units of AL, Bangladesh Tanti League, Chhatra League, Mahila Awami League, Sramik League, Krishak League, Awami Matsyajibi League, Jubo Mohila League and Swechchhasebok League also paid homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait on the occasion.
Besides, different socio-cultural organizations including Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote and Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (SWACHIP) paid homage to Bangabandhu marking the AL’s founding anniversary.
On behalf of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), its mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh paid homage to the portrait of Bangabandhu.
Besides, doa and munajat were offered in the afternoon at Awami League President Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi political office seeking eternal peace of departed souls of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other martyrs of 1975 carnage, four national leaders, 1971 martyrs, martyrs of different movements and struggles, and those AL leaders who died of coronavirus infection.
Healthy and long lives of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina and family members of Bangabandhu were also sought during doa.
Awami Matsyajibi League released 50,000 and one lakh fish fries in Hatirjheel lake and Dhanmondi-32 lake here respectively marking the day and at the initiative of Bangladesh Krishak League, seasonal fruits and coronavirus prevention items were distributed among the freedom fighters.
To mark the day, a webinar on ‘Youth Expectations from Bangladesh Awami League’ will be held tonight which can be watched live from 8:30pm on the party’s official Facebook page(https://www.facebook.com/awamileague.1949/) and YouTube channel
(https://www.youtube.com/user/myalbd), said a press release.
It will also be aired on private run Somoy television and Bijoy TV as well as the official Facebook pages of leading national dailies including Dainik Ittefaq and Samakal and online portal bdnews24.com.
The discussants of the program were AL Organizing Secretaries Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Shapan, MP, and Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Forest and Environment Secretary Delwar Hossain, Research and Information Secretary Dr Selim Mahmud, International Affairs Secretary Dr Shammi Ahmed and Central Working Committee members Golam Kabir Rabbani Chinu and Marufa Akter Popi.
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant and a member of Awami League’s International Affairs Sub-committee Barrister Shah Ali Farhad will moderate the webinar.
AL will hold another special webinar titled ‘Mass people’s party Awami League’ Wednesday. It will be screened on the party’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/awamileague.1949/) and YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/myalbd/) at 8.30pm.
The programme will also be broadcast live on private-run television channels Somoy television and Bijoy TV, Facebook pages of national dailies including Ittefaq, Samakal and Jugantor, online portals bdnews24.com, Banglanews24, Jagonews24.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Lt Col (retd) Faruque Khan, Dhaka University former Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique and senior journalist Ajay Dasgupta will join it online as discussants.
Former student leader and journalist Subash Singha Roy will moderate it.
