44th death anniversary of Bhashani today November 17
The nation observes today the 44th anniversary of the death of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, a lifelong fighter for the rights of the oppressed and leader of the toiling masses. His relentless struggle against imperialism, feudalism and for an exploitation-free, secular and democratic society endeared him to the people. His uncompromising fight for the cause of the people who were deprived of their rights earned him the epithet ‘Majlum Jananeta’, or the leader of the oppressed.
The mass movements for a democratic, secular and just society greatly owes to him in this land while his leadership lent momentum to the left politics. Bhashani was the founding president of the Awami Muslim League, now Awami League, which came into being in 1949. During the historic Kagmari Conference in Tangail, called by the Awami League on 7–8 February, 1957, Bhashani denounced and bade his famous ‘goodbye’ to the Pakistani domination over East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.
On 25 July of 1957, he formed the National Awami Party and was elected its president.
Born on December 12, 1880 to Haji Sharafat Ali and Mosammat Mojiron Bibi in Sirajganj of erstwhile East Bengal, Bhashani died on November 17, 1976 in Dhaka. Bhashani was laid to rest at Santosh in Tangail where the he spent the last few years of his life and established ‘Santosh Islamic University’ in 1974.
President Abdul Hamid, prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued messages on Monday paying tributes to the great national leader.
Different political parties and socio-cultural organisations have planned elaborate programmes marking the day.
A delegation team of BNP will place wreaths at Bhasani’s mazar at Santosh, offer prayer and arrange a prayer session and discussion there today.
The BNP has formed a national committee to observe the death anniversary of Moulana Bhasani which will hold a virtual discussion on Wednesday.
Ganosamhati Andolan leaders will place wreaths at the leader’s mazar at 10:00am today. The party will hold a rally in front of the National Museum on November 20.
The Workers Party of Bangladesh will hold a virtual discussion at 11:00am today to mark the day.
Socialist Party of Bangladesh will organise a discussion at its Topkhana central office in Dhaka at 11:00am today.
NAP (Bhasani) will hold a discussion at the National Press Club at 10:30am today to mark the day.
Durniti Protirodh Andolan, Nagarik Parishad and Progotishil Ganotantrik Dal jointly formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club on Monday demanding observation of Bhasani’s birth and death anniversary nationally.
New Age correspondent in Tangail reported that Khoda-e-Khidmatgar and the National Awami Party (Bhashani) would jointly hold a discussion on the life and works of Maulana Bhashani in the morning on the occasion.
The events the two organisations have planned include placing of wreaths at the grave of Bhasani, holding a doa and milad mahfil, mass feeding, blood donation, painting competition, photography exhibition, spiritual songs and discussions on the contribution of the spiritually-inclined mass leader.
Maulana Bhashani Science and Technology University will organise a memorised Quran recitation competition today on the campus to mark the death anniversary of Bhashani.
The university would distribute food among the poor in Tangail today and hold a special prayer session after the Zuhr prayers to mark the day.
