Ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and its different associate bodies on Wednesday celebrated the 72nd founding anniversary of the party through various programmes.
The party, however, celebrated the occasion at a limited scale considering the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
Bangladesh Awami League was formed on this day in 1949, which later transformed into the biggest political party of the country to lead struggles of freedom, the War of Liberation and all democratic movements.
As part of the programmes, party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid glowing tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
To mark the anniversary, she placed a floral wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32 in the morning.
After laying the wreath, Sheikh Hasina stood in solemn silence for sometimes as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu.
After Sheikh Hasina, AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader along with other party leaders also placed floral wreaths as mark of respect to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at 9:00am.
AL presidium members-- Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Shahjahan Khan, Information and Broadcasting Minister and AL’s Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Dr Dipu Moni, Organizing Secretary Ahmad Hossen, BM Mozammel, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Shawpan and Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, Publication and Publicity Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, Relief and Disaster Affairs Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Officer Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua, Science and Technology Secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur, Forest and Environment Secretary Delwar Hossen, Agriculture and Cooperatives Affairs Secretary Faridunnahar Laily, Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan, Central Committee Member Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin and Marufa Akhter Popy, among others, were present.
According to witnesses, Dhanmondi road-32 area became crowded with the presence of AL leaders and workers since the morning. They chanted different slogans including ‘Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu’.
Besides the Awami League, different associate bodies including Awami Jubo League, Awami Swechchasebok League, Bangladesh Chatro League, Jatiya Sramik League, Tanti League, Mohila Awami League and Jubo Mahila League also paid tribute to the portrait of Bangabandhu.
In the afternoon, the party organised a discussion meeting on the occasion at the party’s central office at 23, Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took part in the meeting as the chief guest. She joined the meeting virtually staying from her government residence Ganobhaban. Party’s senior leaders were present at the meeting and took part in the discussion.