The 38th Jail Killing Day will be observed in the country tomorrow to recall the contribution of four national leaders who had led successfully the Liberation War in the absence of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1971. On this day in 1975, four national leaders and key personalities in the Bangladesh government in exile were assassinated inside Dhaka Central Jail by the usurpers of state power of former president Khandaker Mostaque Ahmed government.
The four leaders were then Acting President Syed Nazrul Islam, Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed and ministers Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman.
The horrendous assassination of the four champions of democracy and independence by some disgruntled mid-ranking army officers belonging to the anti-liberation forces in a well- protected jail, unheard of anywhere in the world, following the assassination of Bangabandhu and most of his family members on the fateful night of August 15 in 1975 added a black chapter in the history of Bangladesh. In separate messages today, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalled with gratitude the immense contributions of the slain four national leaders in the country’s Liberation War and other national movements for restoration of people’s fundamental rights. Different political parties including the ruling Awami League and its allies in the grand-alliance government, associate bodies and other pro-liberation parties and socio-cultural- professional organisations will pay deep homage to the slain four national leaders, who were also close associates of Bangabandhu, in observance of the day.
The Awami League’s programmes of the day include hoisting of the national and party flags at half-mast at Bangabandhu Bhaban and party offices and raising of black flags, wearing of black badges at 6.30 am, placing of wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi at 7 am and laying of wreaths at the graves of the martyrs of the August 15 and the November 3 carnages at Banani graveyard at 7.30 in the morning.
Offering of fateha and munajat and holding of milad mahfil will also be organised at Banani graveyard in the morning seeking divine blessings for eternal peace of the departed souls.
An identical programme in paying homage to AHM Quamaruzzaman will also be held at his grave in Rajshahi.
Awami League will organise a public rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital at 2 pm marking the Jail Killing Day.
-With The Independent input
