Bangladesh Awami League (AL), one of the country's oldest political parties, celebrated its 72nd founding anniversary on Wednesday on a limited scale with different programmes particularly on virtual media in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
Due to the ongoing pandemic situation, all the adopted programmes were organized on a limited extent by maintaining proper hygiene rules.
Founded on this day in 1949, Awami League has been transformed into an organisation of masses by leading all the democratic-political-social-cultural movements including the long arduous struggle for freedom and the War of Liberation.
President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the anniversary.
To mark the anniversary, national and party flags were hoisted atop all party offices including the Bangabandhu Avenue central office here.
The programmes included placing of wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the premises of Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi in the capital and at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj in the morning maintaining health guidelines.
On the occasion of the founding anniversary of AL, the programme was started in the morning with the laying of wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
To mark the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage by placing wreath to the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban in city's Dhanmondi Number 32 area in the morning.
Following placing wreath, Awami League President and Prime Minister Hasina stood in solemn silence for a while paying homage to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of independence.
Later, Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, flanked by party's top leaders placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on the occasion.
AL Presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Md Abdur Razzaque, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Shahjahan Khan, Joint General Secretaries Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moni and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, BM Mozammel, Abu Saeed Al Mahmoud Swapan and Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, Publicity and Publications Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Relief and Disaster Management Affairs Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Md Abdus Sabur, Forests and Environment Affairs Secretary Delwar Hossain, Agriculture and Cooperative Affairs Secretary Faridunnahar Laili, Deputy Secretary Sayem Khan and AL Central committee members Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin and Marufa Akhter Popy were also present on the occasion.
Later, AL's front and associate bodies paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths at his portrait.
The leaders and workers of Awami League's associate bodies including Awami Jubo League, Dhaka city north and south units of AL, Bangladesh Tanti League, Chhatra League, Mahila Awami League, Sramik League, Krishak League, Awami Matsyajibi League, Jubo Mohila League and Swechchhasebok League also paid homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait on the occasion.
Besides, leaders and activists of various organizations including City North and South units of Jubo League, City North and South units of Swechchhasebak League, City North and South units of Chhatra League, Dhaka University Branch Chhatra League, Dhaka College Branch Chhatra League, Titumir College Branch Chhatra League, Eden College Branch Chhatra League, Projanma League and Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote paid homage to Bangabandhu by laying wreaths at his portrait there.
As part of the programme, the Kendrio Sangsad, led by AL Presidium Members Lt Col (retd) Muhammad Faruq Khan, paid homage at the tomb of the Father of the Nation at Tungipara at 11 am.
AL organized a discussion meeting at the central office of the Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue in the afternoon.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the discussion from Ganobhaban via video conference. Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader delivered the introductory speech on the occasion.
The party's presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Md Abdur Razzaque and Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, central leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Bir Bikram, Women Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League (AL) central committee Meher Afroz Chumki and Dhaka South City unit President of AL Abu Ahmed Mannafi also spoke.
Publicity and Publications Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap conducted it.
Source: BSS