Bangladesh Awami League, one of the country's oldest political parties, on Sunday (Jun 23) celebrated its platinum jubilee (75th founding anniversary) across the country in a befitting manner. The anniversary programme began with hoisting of the national flag and party flag atop at all party offices, including the Bangabandhu Avenue central office, with the sunrise, local media reported.
Marking the day, Bangladesh Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32 in the morning. After placing floral wreath at the portrait of Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence for a while as mark of profound respect to the Father of the Nation. Later, flanked by senior party leaders, Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League, paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing another wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation on behalf of her party.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Awami League Advisory Council Member Amir Hossain Amu, Awami League Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Shajahan Khan, Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Kazi Zafarullah, Qamrul Islam, Dr Mostafa Jalal Mahiuddin and Simeen Hussain (Rimi), Joint General Secretaries – Dr Hasan Mahmud, Dr Dipu Moni, Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries Ahmad Hossain, Afzal Hossain, Sujit Roy Nandi, B M Muzammel Haque and Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan, Awami League Cultural Affairs Secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil, Publicity and Publications Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap and Office Secretary Biplab Barua, among others, were present on the occasion.
The ruling party leaders and activists made a huge gathering at Dhanmondi road no-32 and its adjacent areas since morning and they were seen to chant different slogans like 'Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu' and "Suvo Suvo Suvo Din, Awami Leaguer Janmodin". Besides, Dhaka north and South City units of Awami League, Awami League associate bodies and front organizations including Awami Jubo League, Awami Swechchhasebak League, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jatiya Sramik League, Tanti League, Krishak League, Mahila Awami League and Jubo Mahila League also paid respect to the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. A delegation of Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) led by Awami League Presidium Member Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Muhammad Faruk Khan also placed wreaths at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj in the morning.
Meanwhile, Awami League organized a discussion in the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka in the afternoon. Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over it. As soon as Sheikh Hasina reached the stage around 3.40 p.m., national and party flags were hoisted side by side playing the national anthem.
Marking the anniversary, party president Sheikh Hasina along with Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader inaugurated the programmes of the day by flying pigeons and balloons. Awami League Cultural Affairs Secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil and Publicity and Publications Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap conducted the discussion.
Thousands of Awami League leaders and workers thronged the Suhrawardy Udyan holding national and party flags and placards of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Padma Bridge, Metro Rail and Bangabandhu Tunnel.
Bangladesh Awami League was formed on this day in 1949, which later transformed into the biggest political party of the country to lead struggles of freedom, the War of Liberation and all democratic movements.
Established in 1949 as Awami Muslim League at Rose Garden in the capital's old part on the day, the party later appeared as Bangladesh Awami League to give it a secular look.
