November 10 is a pivotal day in the history of democratic Bangladesh as on this day 35 years ago, in 1987, young pro-democracy activist Shaheed Noor Hossain was gunned down along with other activists during the anti-Ershad movement in Dhaka.
Noor Hossain was killed in police firing while staging a protest against the autocratic rule of the then military dictator HM Ershad at the capital's Zero Point near Gulistan by painting the historic slogan “Gonotantra Mukti Pak, Swairachar Nipat Jak (Let democracy be free, down with autocracy)” on his back and chest.
During the rally, Noor Hossain was seen before the car that was carrying Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, one of the top leaders of the anti-dictatorship movement, and the rally was confronted by a group of armed police. Later, Noor Hossain and two others were gunned down in the rally.
The Awami League claimed Noor Hossain was the leader of its youth organization, Awami Jubo League, but he did not hold a party position. On the same day, Awami Jubo League leader Nurul Huda Babul and farmers' leader Aminul Huda Tito of Bajitpur in Kishoreganj district were also killed in police firing during the mass movement for the restoration of democracy.
Shaheed Noor Hossain Focus BanglaThe martyrdom of Noor Hossain and others during the mass upsurge of the late 1980s expedited the anti-autocracy movement.
In the face of the movement, General Ershad was forced to step down on December 6, 1990.
Political parties of Bangladesh now commemorate November 10 under different names.
The ruling party Awami League observes the day as Shaheed Noor Hossain Day to commemorate the martyrdom of a young pro-democracy activist in a befitting manner. Programs include paying tributes to the martyr by placing wreaths at Noor Hossain Square.
Zero Point in the capital's Gulistan area was renamed Noor Hossain Square after the young man was gunned down.
However, Jatiya Party leaders and the followers of Ershad have not observed the day in a positive manner. It has claimed Noor Hossain was gunned down by protesters while some of its leaders have undermined Noor Hossain's contribution in their speeches.
Almost 35 years after the incident, Photographer Dinu Alam once again recalled the memories of the day at the National Press Club on Wednesday afternoon. He said Noor Hossain was gunned down by the police as a group of police were shooting at the procession from the opposite side of the rally.
Dinu Alam is the famous photojournalist who took the rare picture of Noor Hossain just before his death on that day.
Dinu Alam who is now living abroad, said: “At the time, during the time of Ershad, the scene was not like this. After one year, when I sent the pictures of Noor Hossain to several newspapers to publish on November 10, 1988 to observe the death anniversary of Noor Hossain, most newspapers declined to publish it. Only the weekly newspaper Ekota published it in 1988.”
However, Dinu Alam released the copyright of his photographs taken during the procession on November 10, 1987, and now anyone can directly download and use the images, but the credit for the image should be given to him.
Dinu Alam was reminiscing at a program, “Photographic Document November 10, 1987”, where he showcased 35 rare pictures that were taken from morning to evening on the day.
“For the past 35 years, I have carefully kept the pictures to myself. But these pictures are part of the history of Bangladesh over the last 50 years. So I think these pictures need to be made public. This is so that the new generation can know more details about history,” said Dinu Alam.
“Only a single picture of Noor Hossain is being used again and again. As a result, the quality of the image has already been lost. The pictures still have news value. These images shot by me are available for public use on Flickr.com and Wikimedia Commons under the Share Alike International Free to Use licence. Anybody can use them without paying me royalty, but just giving me photo credit,” he added.
