The Awami League is preparing to pay tributes at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, commemorating the 49th anniversary of his assassination.
Following the resignation and escape to India of Awami League President and the country’s longest-serving Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, many top Awami League leaders have gone into hiding, further intensifying the tension surrounding the party’s activities.
In connection with August 15, Awami League leaders and activists are planning to emerge from hiding.
Grassroots leaders and activists of the Awami League are preparing to gather at Bangabandhu Bhaban on Dhanmondi Road No 32 on August 15. They also plan to pay their respects at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara, as well as at Banani graveyard, to honour the deceased family members of Bangabandhu who lost their lives on August 15, 1975.
For security reasons, no one has disclosed details about the program to the media. After August 5, most Awami League leaders went into hiding, and some have deactivated their social media accounts.
After the political change, the banned Jamaat-e-Islami became publicly active again. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was freed and thousands of BNP leaders and activists were released from prison, and almost every political party in the country made its presence on the political scene, except the Awami League.
Meanwhile, on Sunday night, Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, urged Awami League leaders and activists to honor Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi 32 on the anniversary of his death.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father and first president of Bangladesh, was assassinated along with most of his family members in the early hours of August 15, 1975, by a group of junior officers of the Bangladesh Army who invaded his Dhanmondi 32 residence as part of a coup.
On Monday, BBC Bangla published a report claiming that the Awami League has requested security assurances from the new interim government amid the ongoing political uncertainty following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation on August 5.
Quoting Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, BBC Bangla reported that a formal request for security measures had been submitted to the interim government.
“For the security of the area, a letter has been sent to the home adviser on behalf of the party. We hope that permission will be granted,” Hanif said, according to BBC Bangla.
Awami League seeks security to honor Bangabandhu on August 15However, when contacted, Hanif told several Bangladeshi journalists that the BBC Bangla news report is fake.
In addition to the Awami League, organizations such as Secchasebok League, Jubo League, Jubo Mohila League, and other affiliated or like-minded groups are planning to visit Dhanmondi 32 on the evening of August 15 with candles, according to sources.
Awami League activists are already announcing their upcoming program for August 15 on social media.
