A month-long countrywide programme has been taken to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Awami League (AL), one of the oldest and traditional political parties of the sub-continent. AL general secretary and roads, transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader announced the programmes after the party’s secretariat meeting held at Bangabandhu Avenue central office in the capital on Tuesday, reports BSS.
AL started its journey on June 23, 1949 when the young, secular and progressive g section of Muslim League formed Awami Muslim League at a meeting held at the historic Rose Garden at KM Das Lane in Dhaka’s Tikatuli. Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani was elected president and Shamsul Hoque general secretary. The party unanimously elected the then young and promising leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was in jail at that time, joint general secretary.
The party was later renamed Awami League. In July 1953, the first National Council of the party was held where Maulana Bhasani was re-elected president and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the new general secretary. The party was later transformed into the biggest political party to lead struggles for freedom and the War of Liberation of Bangladesh and all democratic movements.
The anniversary programmes will begin on the day of founding of the party on June 23 morning by hoisting national and party flags at Bangabandhu Bhaban and party’s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city. Obaidul Quader said the party will release balloons and pigeons at the central office at 9am with playing of the national anthem. Wreaths will be placed at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi Road No.32, he added.
A delegation of AL will place wreaths at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj at 9.30am. The general secretary said a discussion meeting will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) on June 24 where elderly party leaders from grassroots level will be given reception.
A cultural function will be held at the party’s Bangabandhu Avenue central office on June 25. Cultural programmes will also be held at Hatirjheel and Rabindra Sarabar in Dhanmondi. Obaidul Quader said souvenir, poster and supplement will be published highlighting the activities and achievements of the party.
Along with the central committee’s programme, party’s district, upazila and city units will organise discussions, rallies, seminars and essay
competitions to celebrate the founding anniversary of the organisation. AL joint secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, home affairs minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, AL organising secretaries AFM Baha Uddin Nasim, BM Mozammel Haq, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nawfel, office secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, relief and social welfare affairs secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Dhaka South City AL president Abul Hasnat and General Secretary Shahe Alam Murad were present, among others, at the meeting.
