The nation observes today the 23rd anniversary of the death of Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon, whose killing fuelled the anti-autocracy movement in 1990 and led to the fall of the Ershad regime.
Milon, the then Bangladesh Medical Association joint secretary general, was shot dead on the Dhaka University campus on this day in 1990 by henchmen of the autocratic regime in a bid to suppress the movement for democracy.
This year, for the first time, the health minister has not been invited to the programmes arranged marking the Milon Day, as Ershad’s wife Rawshan Ershad has been made the minister.
Different political parties, socio-cultural organisations and professional bodies have drawn up various programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.
Political parties including ruling Awami League and opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party will place wreath at the grave of Dr Milon on Dhaka Medical College campus, offer ‘fateha’ there and hold discussion meetings marking the day.
President Md Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages paid deep homage to Dr Milon and recalled his supreme sacrifice for restoration of democracy in Bangladesh.
Abdul Hamid described Dr Milon as a bright star of the country’s democratic movement saying that his sacrifice had paved the way for re-establishing democracy in the country.
‘Dr Milon’s sacrifice has turned the then democratic movement into a mass upsurge,’ he said.
He believed that all democracy loving people of the country would remember Dr Milon with deep gratitude.
In her message, Sheikh Hasina paid glowing tribute to the memory of Dr Milon on the occasion.
She also paid tribute to all who embraced martyrdom during the autocratic movement. She prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of Dr Milon.
-With New Age input
