The 46th death anniversary of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, a legendary political leader of the nation, will be observed in the country on Thursday with due respect.
Bhasani, popularly known as “Majlum Jananeta” (the leader of the downtrodden), passed away on November 17, 1976.
Maulana Bhasani was born on December 12, 1880 in Dhangara village of Sirajganj. He was involved in politics from his youth. All his life he had fought for the welfare of common people. The historic Kagmari Conference held at Kagmari in 1957 on his initiative turned the tide in Bangladesh politics.
Bhasani loved Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman very much. Bangabandhu also respected him like his father.
In 1911, he entered into politics. Befriended by Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, he participated in Deshbandhu's Swaraj movement and later also joined Khilafat Movement.
Bhasani left the Congress in 1936 and joined the Muslim League. He also became the president of the Provincial Muslim League of Assam. In 1937, he was elected as an unopposed member of the Assam Provincial Council.
In January 1970, he held a historic farmers conference in Shantosh. On December 4, in a public meeting in Paltan, he announced the independence of East Pakistan. After independence, he was under house arrest for a long time.
Different socio-political organizations, including BNP, Awami League, Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP Bhasani), Krishak Sramik Janata League, Moulana Bhasani University of Science and Technology, Bhasani Onusari Parishad and Bhasani Foundation, have chalked out elaborate programs to observe the day across the country in a befitting manner, reports UNB.
The programs include placing wreaths at Bhasani's mazar at Santosh in Tangail district, holding discussions, arranging doa and milad mahfils, art competitions and poetry recitation, food distribution and blood donation.
BNP has taken a two-day program to mark the death anniversary of the great leader.
As part of the programs, the party arranged a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club on Wednesday, while a BNP delegation, will place wreaths at the grave of Bhasani in Tangail, and offere fateha there on Thursday.
The local units of Awami League and other parties and different organisations will also place wreaths at the late leader's grave.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages, paying rich tributes to Maulana Bhasani on the occasion.
In his message, the president said: "I pay my deep tribute to the memory of Majlum Jananeta Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani on his 46th death anniversary."
He also recalled Bhasani's outstanding contributions to the nation and different rights movement. "He always gave priority to national interests rising above personal gains." the President observed.
In her message, the prime minister said Bhasani worked throughout his life for establishing the rights of working-class people.
Mentioning that Bhasani had ideological unity and political closeness with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina said he had struggled all his life for building a democratic, secular and progressive Bangladesh free from deprivation and exploitation.
Bhasani was a popular leader in his fight against imperialism and the oppression of Pakistani rulers. He played a key role in the 1969 mass movement against autocratic ruler Ayub Khan.
Bhasani also worked as the chairman of the All Party Action Committee during the Liberation War. He led the historic Farakka March in 1976 to ensure Bangladesh's just rights to share of the Ganges River water.
Born in 1880 in Dhangara, Sirajganj, Bhasani gained immense popularity among peasants. He is regarded as the proponent of secular and left-leaning politics in present-day Bangladesh.
He was the founder and president of the Pakistan Awami Muslim League which later became the Awami League (AL). He also formed a progressive political organisation, National Awami Party (NAP).