The 144th birth anniversary of Mawlana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, a legendary politician and dreamer of independent Bangladesh, was observed on Thursday in Tangail with due respect.
On the occasion, various political parties and socio-cultural organizations arranged separate programs.
Bhashani was born in 1880 at Dhanpara village of Sirajganj district. His father was Haji Sharafat Ali Khan. Apart from a few years of education at the local school and madrasa, he did not receive much formal education.
Bhashani, who served as the president of the Bengal-Assam Muslim League for an extended period, dedicated his life to the liberation of the oppressed.
He led movements against zamindari oppression and fought for the rights of peasants and workers.
The 1957 Kagmari Conference, organized under his leadership, was a turning point in the political landscape of what was then East Pakistan.
His pivotal role in the Farakka Long March and his advisory position to the All-Party War Council during the Liberation War further solidified his legacy.
Bhashani shared a close relationship with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whom he regarded with affection and respect.
He began his political journey in 1911 and participated in the Silk Handkerchief Movement in support of Turkey's independence, enduring imprisonment in 1919.
He worked with Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das in the Swaraj movement and was actively involved in the Khilafat and non-cooperation movements.
In the 1920s, Bhashani championed the rights of farmers and labourers, organizing protests against landlords and moneylenders in Assam and East Bengal.
He joined the Muslim League in 1936, leading significant movements such as the anti-Line system protests in Assam.
As the founding president of the Awami Muslim League in 1949, Bhashani played a critical role in demanding autonomy for East Bengal.
His departure from the Awami League in 1957 due to political differences with Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy led to the formation of the National Awami Party (NAP).
Bhashani continued his activism after Bangladesh’s independence, often challenging government mismanagement.
In 1974, his hunger strike during the famine gained international attention, and his leadership in the Farakka Long March in 1976 underscored his commitment to national issues.
He passed away on November 17, 1976, at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and was laid to rest in Tangail.
In 2002, Mawlana Bhashani was posthumously awarded the Ekushey Padak for his contributions to the Language Movement.
He was also ranked eighth in a 2004 BBC poll identifying the greatest Bangalees of all time.
