Awami League Advisory Council member and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Friday said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had been bestowed upon the title of 'Bangabandhu' by the cross section of people on February 23 in 1969 as recognition to his supreme sacrifices for the masses.
"Around 10 lakh people raised their hands in unison at a grand public rally at Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawarady Udyan) on February 23, 1969 and conferred the title of 'Bangabandhu' on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who had spent most of his youthful days in the jail of Pakistan for the emancipation of people," he said.
Tofail was speaking as the chief guest at a rally arranged for collecting new members of Awami League at Sadar upazila in Bhola, reports BSS.
He said on February 21, 1969 they (Sarbadaliya Chhatra Sangram Parishad) gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the then Pakistan government to free Sheikh Mujibur Rahman unconditionally and he was eventually released on February 22.
Chairman of the Sadar upazila M Moshraff Hossain, general secretary of the upazila Awami League Nazrul Islam Goldar and joint secretary of the District Awami League Zahirul Islam Nakib, among others, spoke on the occasion.