The 39th Jail Killing Day will be observed in the city as elsewhere across the country in a solemn manner today.
On this day in 1975, four national leaders and key-personalities in the Bangladesh government in exile acting president Syed Nazrul Islam, prime minister Tajuddin Ahmed and ministers Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman, who led successfully the Liberation War in absence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1971, were assassinated inside Dhaka Central Jail by the usurpers of state power of former president Khondoker Mostaque Ahmed government.
The horrendous assassination of the four champions of democracy and independence by some disgruntled mid-ranking army officers in a well-protected jail, unheard of anywhere in the world, added a black chapter in the history of Bangladesh.
In separate messages, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalled with gratitude the immense contributions of the slain four national leaders in the country’s Liberation War and other national movements for restoration of people’s fundamental rights.
Different political parties including the ruling Awami League and its allies in the grand-alliance government, associate bodies and other pro-liberation parties and socio-cultural- professional organisations will pay deep homage to the slain four national leaders, who were also close associates of Bangabandhu, in observance of the day in a befitting manner.
Awami League will observe the day with due solemnity. It will organise a public rally at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital at 3pm marking the Jail Killing Day.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the public rally as the chief guest. Party’s presidium member and Deputy Leader of the Jatiya Sangsad Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury will chair the rally to be addressed by the national leaders.
The programmes of the day include hoisting of the national and party flags at half-mast at Bangabandhu Bhaban and party offices and raising of black flags, wearing of black badges at 6:30am, placing of wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi at 7am and laying of wreaths at the graves of the martyrs of the August 15 and the November 3 carnages at Banani graveyard at 7:30 in the morning.
Offering of fateha and munajat and holding of milad mahfil will also be organised at Banani graveyard in the morning seeking divine blessings for eternal peace of the departed souls.
An identical programme in paying homage to AHM Quamaruzzaman including placing of wreaths, offering of special prayers and munajat and milad mahfil will also be held at his grave in Rajshahi in observance of the day.
