ZCZC
BSS-55
TOFAIL-SIX-POINT-DISCUSSION
Bangladesh attained freedom in light of six-point: Tofail
DHAKA, June 8, 2020 (BSS) – Awami League Advisory Council Member
Tofail Ahmed has said Bangladesh attained independence in continuation
of the historic six-point movement spearheaded by Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“Our introductory point was the six-point. We got independence
crossing the bridge of six-point,” he told an online discussion on
webinar styled “from six-point to independence: webinar of youth with
politicians and historians”.
Tofail, a former vice-president (VP) of Dhaka University Central
Students Union (DUCSU), said six-point and June 7 are integral part of
the country’s political history as on that day in 1966, the six-point
movement took a important turn with embracing of martyrdom by eleven
people including Manu Mian, Shafique and Shamsul Haque in Dhaka and
Narayanganj.
Agriculture Minister and AL Presidium member Dr Abdur Razzaque,
Former Bangladesh Bank Governor Faras Uddin and National University
Vice-Chancellor Prof Harun-or-Rashid and senior journalist Ajay
Dasgupta joined the online discussion.
Former student leader and journalist Subhash Singha Roy moderated
the virtual discussion aired live on AL website.
Tofail said Bangalees waged a massive protest (hartal) with the
demand of greater autonomy of the then East Pakistan now Bangladesh on
June 7, 1966 against the military ruler General Ayub Khan.
He said the leaders of the opposition parties of West Pakistan
convened a national convention at Lahore on 6 February, 1966 with a
view to ascertain the post-Taskent political trend.
Bangabandhu reached Lahore on 4 February along with the top leaders
of Awami League, and the day following he placed the Six-point charter
of demand dubbed as “Magna Carta of Banglaees” before the subject
committee as the demands of the people of East Pakistan and created
pressure to include his proposal in the agenda of the conference, he
added.
But, Tofail said, as the chair of the meeting, Chowdhury Mohammed
Ali denied to continue discussion on six-point in detail, Bangabandhu
returned Dhaka on February 11 and disclosed the matter in detail at a
press conference while the six-point was adopted a party programme of
Awami League on its Working Committee Meeting on February 21.
The veteran AL leader said unless the six-point movement was
spearheaded, the Agartala Conspiracy was not lodged and “We could not
win the 1970’s elections”.
BSS/MKD/MRU/2021hrs