The nation observed the Jail Killing Day on Saturday with due solemnity, commemorating the 1975 killing of four national leaders inside the Dhaka jail.
On November 3, 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 then Dhaka Central Jail.
The four leaders played a key role in forming the Mujibnagar government in exile that led the Liberation War of 1971 with Syed Nazrul Islam as the acting president, Tajuddin Ahmad as the prime minister, Mansur Ali as the finance minister, and AHM Qamruzzaman as the home, relief and rehabilitation minister.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Abdul Hamid have issued separate messages on the occasion, reports UNB.
The prime minister, in her message, said: "The killing of the four national leaders was the continuation of the assassination of Bangabandhu along with his family. Through it, the defeated forces and anti-state quarters made an evil attempt to destroy the spirit of the Liberation War and render the Bangali nation leaderless by erasing the name of Awami League."
In his message, the president said: "The aim of the killers was to erase the ideals of the Liberation War from the spirit of the young generation—apart from giving rise to an undemocratic autocratic rule."
He urged all to work from their respective positions to accomplish the work of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build a happy, prosperous Sonar Bangla. "This should be our promise on Jail Killing Day," he added.
Awami League, its associate bodies, and other political parties had planned elaborate events to mark the day.
The programs included hoisting of the national flag at half-mast, hoisting of party flags, wearing black badges, offering Surah Fateha at the graves of the four leaders at the Banani graveyard at 7pm.
On the occasion, the ruling party organized a meeting at Krishibid Institution at 3pm where Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina spoke as the chief guest.
Earlier in the morning, the prime minister paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the four national leaders.
In memory of the leaders, the prime minister placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No 32.
