The Jail Killing Day is being observed across Bangladesh as it is the second disgraceful incident in the country after the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on August 15 in 1975.
Several events will be held across Bangladesh Thursday to commemorate Jail Killing Day, the day the country was robbed of its top national leaders.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and four national leaders marking the Jail Killing Day.
In showing respect to the memory of the Father of the Nation and the four national leaders, the premier placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No 32 in Dhaka in the morning.
PMOThe leaders and workers of Awami League's associate bodies, including Awami Jubo League, Chhatra League, Mohila Awami League, Sramik League, Krishak League, Jubo Mohila League and Swechchasebok League, as well as other socio-cultural organizations also paid homage to Bangabandhu and four national leaders by placing wreaths at the portrait of the Father of the Nation on the occasion.
The premier later went to the Banani Graveyard and paid rich tributes to martyrs of the August 15 and November 3 of 1975 massacres.
PMOOn November 3 in 1975, four 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 Dhaka Central Jail.
At that time, the country was seeing sweeping political changes following the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family on August 15, 1975.
The four leaders played a key role in leading the Mujibnagar government, which led the Liberation War effort in 1971 with Nazrul Islam as the acting president, Tajuddin as the prime minister, Mansur Ali as the finance minister and Qamruzzaman as the home, relief and rehabilitation minister.
Different political parties, including the ruling Awami League, will observe Jail Killing Day, a dark episode in the country's history.
The Awami League and its affiliated organisations will fly the national flag and the party flag at half-mast. They will also wear black badges of mourning.
The Awami League leaders and activists will go to the Banani graveyard to pay respects to Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin and Mansur Ali, who are buried at the site. Tribute will be paid at the grave of Quamruzzaman in Rajshahi as well.
PMOAlso, the Centre for Tajuddin Ahmad Research and Activism will organize a cultural program to mark the day.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the four national leaders in separate messages.
The president said: "The aim of the killers was to erase the spirit of the Liberation War from the minds of the young generation apart from giving rise to an undemocratic autocratic rule which failed."
"The nation will always remember the contributions of the four national leaders with due respect."
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: "The killing of the four national leaders was the continuation of the assassination of the Father of the Nation and most of his family. Through it, the defeated forces and anti-state quarters made an evil attempt to destroy the Liberation War spirit and render the Bengali national leaderless by erasing the name of the Awami League."
