Bangladesh Awami League, one of the oldest political parties of the country, observed its 71st founding anniversary on Tuesday, though on a limited scale due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Much as in other years, the national and party flags were raised at all Awami League offices across the country, including the central office at Bangabandhu Avenue. Wreaths were placed at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, and at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj.
However, there were no crowds at the wreath laying ceremonies this time, as party leaders were present without their supporters to help maintain social distancing.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader laid the first wreath on behalf of on behalf of Prime Minister and Awami league President Sheikh Hasina, as everyone stood in solemn silence for some time to pay respect to the memory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
AL Advisory Council member Amir Hossain Amu, Presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury and Abdul Matin Khasru, Information Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, Sakhawat Hossain Shafiq and Mirza Azam, AL Publicity and Publication Affairs Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, AL Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Md Abdus Sabur, Women and Children Affairs Secretary Meher Afroz Chumki, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Shree Sujit Roy Nandi, Education and Human Resources Secretary Shamsun Nahar Chapa, health and population affairs secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, Forest and Environment Secretary Delwar Hossain, AL deputy office secretary Sayem Khan, AL South City unit President Abu Ahmed Mannafi and Jubo Mohila League President Nazma Akhter were present on the occasion, among others, reports BSS.
Subsequently, leaders of the Awami League’s associate bodies also placed wreaths.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor also placed a wreath on behalf of the city corporation. Leaders of socio-cultural organizations, including Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote and Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (SWACHIP), also paid tributes to Bangabandhu.
Wreath laying ceremonies were also organized in Sylhet, Rajshahi and Rangpur.
Sylhet Metropolitan Awami League and Sylhet Zila Awami League paid homage to the Father of the Nation by placing wreaths at his murals in front of the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner’s Office and Sylhet Zila Parishad Bhaban, respectively.
In Rajshahi, the city unit of the party placed wreaths at Bangabandhu’s portrait and that of four national leaders before the party office. City unit president and Mayor of Rajshahi AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, flanked by other ranking leaders and activists, placed the wreaths while following health safety guidelines and other rules.
In Rangpur, the city and district units of the Awami League placed wreaths at Bangabandhu’s mural at Bangabandhu Square in the city. A rally was also brought out and separate discussions were held at the party offices, with President of district unit Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed and President of city unit Shafiur Rahman Shafi serving as the respective chairpersons
“Today, Bangladesh Awami League, the country’s oldest political party, is the destination of trust of common people and their beacon of hope,” Obaidul Quader said in a virtual press briefing to mark the anniversary, according to a statement quoted by BSS.
He said the prime minister always thought about the next generation, not the next election and that is why she had taken up a 100-year delta plan.
Quader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the captain in building a prosperous Bangladesh and the people can sleep peacefully as Sheikh Hasina is there.
Bangladesh is moving forward at an impetuous pace under the leadership of the ruling Awami League, he added.
“The Awami League had begun its journey to realize the rights of repressed, deprived and downtrodden people. It has gone through struggles and movements and supreme sacrifices of its leaders and workers to establish people’s rights,” said Awami League presidium member Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, reports BSS.
“Since its inception on June 23, 1949, the Awami League has always set its programmes to meet the expectations and aspirations of people and it will also do so in the days to come,” said Abdur Rahman, another presidium member.
During an unscheduled discussion in Parliament to mark the party’s 71st anniversary, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina said: “It is our commitment to Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that we will always work for the welfare of the people.
"The achievement, which came through sacrifices of the Awami League, is the Liberation of Bangladesh...today we have a country of our own, we have our dignity as a nation...this is the biggest achievement," she said.
