Historic Mass Upsurge Day today -

FE Team | Published: January 24, 2024 00:28:57

The historic 'Mass Upsurge Day', commemorating the 1969's movement for autonomy from the then East Pakistan that eventually led to the Liberation War and the emergence of Bangladesh in 1971, will be observed today (Wednesday) in a befitting manner, reports BSS.
On January 24, 1969, Matiur Rahman Mallik, a standard IX student of Nabakumar Institution, and Rustam Ali, a rickshaw-puller, were killed in a police firing on demonstrators in Dhaka as Pakistani rulers desperately tried to suppress the popular uprising.
The killings spread intense protests across the country that eventually saw the fall of the autocrat Ayub regime.
It is said that the day teaches Bangladeshis the values of democracy and protest against oppression.
Different political and socio-cultural organisations have taken separate programmes in observance of the day.
Bangladesh Awami League will place wreaths at Shaheed Matiur Rahman Smiriti Saudha at Nabakumar Institute in Bakshibazar at 10am today (Wednesday).
AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges minister Obaidul Quader has urged party leaders and workers to join the programme.
On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday issued separate messages, expressing profound respect for those who had embraced martyrdom in the historic movement in 1969.
"The January 24 of 1969 is a historic day in the progress of independence and democracy of Bangladesh," the President said in his message.
Paying profound homage to the memory of those who were martyred in the independence freedom, he said the day has been remembered in the history of the country's struggle of independence and freedom movement as the day of mass uprising.
The President said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the historic Six-Point Demand in 1966 to make the Bangalee nation free from Pakistani rule, exploitation and deprivation.
The six-point was the charter of Bengalees' freedom, he added.
The President said after the six-point declaration, the speed of the freedom movement intensified and it spread all over the East Bengal.
"The joint movement of Awami League as well as various political parties and student organisations accelerated the mass movement," the President said, adding that the then dictator filed the Agartala conspiracy case to foil the movement.
He said breaking curfew, politicians-students-teachers-mass people brought out a procession on January 24 in 1969 and demanded the release of Bangabandhu and other accused, and overthrow the military rule.
Class-IX student Matiur Rahman was killed in the procession by police firing, he said, adding: "The blood of Matiur and other martyrs did not go in vain."