AL celebrates 70th founding anniv

FE Team | Published: June 24, 2019 00:17:44

Bangladesh Awami League, the country's oldest political party which led the nation in the Liberation War in 1971, celebrated its 70th founding anniversary on Sunday with various programmes across the country, reports UNB.
Founded on June 23, 1949 at the historic Rose Garden in the old part of Dhaka, the party played the lead role in all the democratic movements apart from leading the nation in the War of Liberation in 1971 under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing a floral wreath at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi Road no-32 in the morning.
She stood there in solemn silence for some quite time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of independence.
Later, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, placed another wreath at Bangabandhu's portrait as the party chief.
A delegation of AL led by presidium member of the party Muhammad Faruk Khan placed wreaths at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj at 11 am.
The national and party flags were hoisted at Bangabandhu Bhaban and party's central office at Bangabandhu Avenue at 8am in the city.
The party men released balloons and pigeons at 9am along with the national anthem.
After paying tributes to Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi the Prime Minister said Awami League was formed on June 23 in 1949 to bring back the independence of Bangladesh which was lost in Amrakanon on June 23, 1757 through the defeat of the last independent Nawab of Bengal.
"Under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, this organisation (AL) was well organised in the whole of Bangladesh.
He also led the party to be elected in the 1970 election and the first sun of independent Bangladesh government rose on April 10 and April 17 at the Amrakanon of Meherpur in 1971," she said.
Since its founding on June 23, 1949, the party played leading role in all democratic movements.
It led the nation in the War of Liberation in 1971 under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"On this day, we take a pledge to build a hunger and poverty free prosperous golden Bengal as envisioned by the Father of the Nation," she said.
Souvenirs, posters and supplements were published highlighting the activities and achievements of the party.
Along with the central committee's program in the capital, party's district, upazila and city units organized discussions, seminars and essay competitions and brought out colorful processions marking the day.
Marking the 70th founding anniversary, a meeting and reception to the senior leaders will be arranged at Bangabandhu International conference center today while cultural function will be held at the party central office tomorrow.