Posters defaming Mourning Day flood Dhaka

Being the month of mourning, August has a special significance among the people and different political parties. Considering the importance, the parties every year organise numerous programmes. They also have posters, banners, festoons and placards printed, showing their solidarity to the loss  the nation had faced on the fateful night of August 15, 1975. The Awami League has organised a month-long programme and had printed banners, posters and festoons from the outset of the month as it does every year in remembrance of the Father of the Nation. Taking advantage of this a number of self-proclaimed leaders and activists of the Awami League do it all only to come to the limelight. One thing that the banners, placards, posters and festoons have in common is those are printed with photos and names of the leaders and activists which are bigger than that of Bangabandhu. Some central leaders of the party said the so-called leaders and activists are also defaming Bangabandhu and his ideology through the mourning day posters and banners. While visiting parts of the capital city, the Dhaka Tribune has found hundreds of such posters and banners reading messages on the National Mourning Day. In most cases, the size of photos of Bangabandhu’s daughter and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also smaller compared to those of the leaders and activists. When the matter was brought to the attention of several central Awami League leaders, they also raised their eyebrows over the tendency that has been a regular phenomenon on different national occasions. Awami League Central Working Committee Joint General Secretary Abdur Rahman said: “It is a matter of ethics and value that the picture of Bangabandhu will be larger. Anyone can make a poster or banner with Bangabandhu’s large picture and he can use his picture or name in a small size.” He, however, said there is no specific party rule on how to make a banner or poster, and there is no restriction or bar in this regard as well. Meanwhile, senior Awami League leader Qamrul Islam, referring to an instruction by the party’s high command, said the banners and posters only having the photo of Bangabandhu are allowed during August. “The instruction is being grossly violated as I hardly see any banner or poster on display with bigger photo of Bangabandhu, which I think is a heinous crime,” said Qamrul. Another central Awami League leader, requesting anonymity, said some unknown and opportunist leaders are involved in the act, aiming to impress the party chief and draw her attention. “These leaders do it without even thinking that they are belittling Bangabandhu and his daughter,” he said, suggesting that such leaders and activists in question be banned from the party.