Prime Minister and ruling Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina, on Saturday said, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) was founded by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on this date (January 4) in 1948, aiming to establish the rights of Bangalis.
Besides, Bangabandhu had decided to make Bangalis free in 1958, while he was in jail, immediately after the declaration of martial law by the then Pakistani dictator Ayub Khan.
Sheikh Hasina made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the 72nd founding anniversary of the BCL held at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in capital Dhaka. During her speech, Sheikh Hasina also termed the year 2020 as very important for us (Bangladesh) saying that the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation will be celebrated on March 17 this year in Bangladesh, and across the world.
“The Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu will not only be celebrated in Bangladesh, it will be observed worldwide, including by the UNESCO,” said the Prime Minister and added, “Staring from 17th March, the Birth Centenary will be celebrated throughout the year as the Mujib Borsho.”
In her speech, Sheikh Hasina, the elder daughter of Bangabandhu, described the history of repression on Bangalis by the Pakistani dictators, and also the role of Bangabandhu to make Bangalis free, and establish their rights.
“Although Pakistan was formed in 1947 only on the basis of the religion, the Bangalis have their own language, culture and heritage. But the Pakistani dictators had wanted to destroy the Bengali language, culture and heritage,” said Sheikh Hasina.
She said, “Bangabandhu had taken steps to establish Bangladesh Chhatra League at the Dhaka University on January 4 in 1948 with an aim to foil the conspiracies of the Pakistani dictators and establish the rights of the Bangalis.”
Sheikh Hasina also said that BCL has played the main role during all critical periods of the nation. It (BCL) remained always active for the welfare of the Bangalis.
Former BCL leaders, now senior Awami League leaders, Mohammad Ali, Tofail Ahmed, Obaidul Quader, Asim Kumer Ukil, among others, also spoke at the function. Presided over by BCL acting president Al Nahiyan Khan Joy, the function was moderated by its general secretary Lekhak Bhattachariya.
Talking about the present and future leadership, Sheikh Hasina said, “Future leaderships will be decided from among those who have sacrifices, honesty and principles.”
The 72nd founding anniversary of the BCL, the largest student organisation having glorious heritage of struggle and success, is being celebrated through various programmes for three days.
The day’s programme started with hoisting of national and party flags at party offices at 6.30 am, placing of wreath at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi road-32 at 7.00 am, cutting of cake at 8.00am at Dhaka University’s Curzon Hall,
Marking the anniversary, BCL also arranged a reunion programme at the Suhrawardy Udyan. A voluntary blood donation campaign will be held at 10.00am at Bottola beside Aparajeyo Bangla at Dhaka University on January 6 and educational materials will be distributed among students at 10.00am on January 7. Besides, winter clothes will be distributed among the destitute people at 400pm on January 7 in front of Swoparjito Swadhinata Sculpture at Dhaka University.
The BCL played pioneering roles in the Language Movement of 1952, victory of Jukta Front in 1954 polls, anti-Ayub movement in 1958, education movement in 1962, 6-point movement in 1966, mass upsurge in 1969, elections in 1970, the great Liberation War in 1971, rehabilitation activities in post-war Bangladesh, movement for restoration of democracy after 1975 changeover, student movement in 1983 and anti-autocratic movement in 1990.
