The Historic Six-Point Day will be observed today, commemorating the placing of the demand for autonomy for the erstwhile East Pakistan.
On this day in 1966, under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Awami League called for a daylong hartal throughout East Pakistan pressing the demand for autonomy to end the exploitation, deprivation, subjugation and tyranny let loose by the central government of Pakistan on the people of the eastern province.
The law enforcers opened fire on the demonstrators at various places in Dhaka and Narayanganj, which left at least 10 killed, intensifying the movement for the provincial autonomy.
In separate messages ahead of the historic day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalled the sacrifices of the heroic Bangalis in the six-point movement.
The President said: “The historic six-point movement still inspires us to bolster and institutionalise our current democratic system and build a hunger and poverty free Bangladesh.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the present government, imbued with the spirit of all democratic movements and struggles, including the historic June 7, is committed to protect the democratic rights of the countrymen.
The ruling Awami League, its associate bodies, other political parties and socio-cultural organisations have organised various programmes to observe the day.
The AL programmes include the hoisting of national and party flags on party offices across the country and at the city’s Bangabandhu Bhaban at dawn and the placing of wreaths on the portrait of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at the city’s Dhanmondi at 7am today.