Shaheed Asad Day observed on Saturday (Jan 20), commemorating the supreme sacrifice of student leader Asad during the mass upsurge of 1969 that led to the country's independence in 1971. The nation recalled Asad’s sacrifice with deep gratitude through various programmes, marking his 49th martyrdom anniversary.
On this day in 1969, Asaduzzaman was killed in firing by Pakistani forces before Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) while protesting their repressive acts on the then East Pakistan people.
Then a graduate student of history at Dhaka University, Asad was also the DU unit president and Dhaka city unit general secretary of erstwhile East Pakistan Chhatra Union. Then President Ayub Khan was forced to step down amid a mass revolt fuelled by the incident.
Several socio-political organizations, including Shaheed Asad Parishad, have chalked out elaborate programmes that include placing of wreaths at the memorial plaque of Asad in front of the DMCH and his grave at Shibpur in Narsingdi.
President Md. Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia issued separate messages on the occasion paying homage to the memory of Asad, local media reports said.
