Today is the heinous ‘Jail Killing Day,’ the second disgraceful incident in the country that occurred on November 3 in 1975, a couple of months after the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15 the same year.
On this date, 47 years ago, four of the national leaders and heroes of the country's Liberation War -- Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Quamruzzaman -- were assassinated inside the then Dhaka Central Jail at Nazimuddin Road in the capital.
The four leaders played a key role in forming the Mujibnagar government in exile, that led the Liberation War in 1971, with Syed Nazrul Islam as the acting president, Tajuddin Ahmad as the prime minister, Mansur Ali as the finance minister and AHM Qamruzzaman as the home, relief and rehabilitation minister.
Witnesses, who were also among the prisoners during the assassinations, said there were three rooms in the jail in a row, marked cells number 1, 2 and 3, in that order. A total of eight prisoners were in cell-1, including Tajuddin Ahmad and Syed Nazrul Islam. AHM Quamruzzaman, former minister Sheikh Abdul Aziz was in cell-2 while Mansur Ali and some of the others were in cell-3.
Hearing the ringing of the bell, the four national leaders were gathered in cell-1 and within five to six seconds, a group of armed men entered the room and opened fire at them.
When the bullet wounded leaders asked for water, the armed men came back again and stabbed them to make sure they were dead.
It is learnt from the history and evidence that Khondoker Mustaque Ahmad and the two other killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman--Colonel (retd) Syed Faruque Rahman and Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Khondoker Abdur Rashid -- had designed the heinous killing spree of the four national leaders inside the jail.
A five-member killing squad was also formed led by Resalder Musleh Uddin who was very much close to Colonel (retd) Faruque Rahman.
"Khondoker Mustaque Ahmad had designed the heinous killing plot exclusively with Farque Rahman and Abdur Rashid," said Golam Murshid in his book "Muktijuddo o Tarpar, meaning the Liberation War and after."
The nation will remember the four national leaders, who were also the great heroes of the Liberation War in 1971, with due respect.
Different political parties including the ruling Awami League (AL) have decided to hold various programmes to observe the mournful day across the country while maintaining health guidelines.
The AL has chalked out elaborate programmes including keeping the national and party flags at half-mast at party's Bangabandhu Avenue Central Office and Bangabandhu Bhaban as well as unit offices across the country at dawn.
Awami League general secretary and road and transport minister Obaidul Quader in a statement urged the leaders-activists of all organizational units from upazila to district and associate bodies to observe the jail killing day with due respect.
Wearing of black badges and hoisting of black flag are also included in the programme.
AL leaders will place wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi at 7:am.
Wreaths will be placed at the graves of Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Mansur Ali at Banani graveyard around 7.30am while fateha, milad-mahfil and munajat will also be offered there.
Floral wreaths, offering fateha, milad-mahfil and munajat will be arranged at the grave of national leader Shaheed AHM Qamruzzaman in Rajshahi.
AL will also arrange a discussion programme in the city at 3:00pm at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city’s Agargaon today.
