DHAKA, Jan 23, 2021 (BSS)- The historic Mass Upsurge Day commemorating the 1969’s movement for autonomy from the then East Pakistan that eventually led to Liberation War and emergence of Bangladesh in 1971 will be observed tomorrow in a befitting manner.
On January 24, 1969 Matiur Rahman Mallik, a standard IX student of the Nabakumar Institution, and Rustam Ali, a rickshaw-puller were killed in 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.
On the eve of the day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued separate messages on the occasion, expressing profound respect for those who had embraced martyrdom in the historic movement in 1969.
“January 24, 1969 is a historic day in the progress of independence and democracy of Bangladesh,” said the president, in his message.
The head of the state added that the day has been remembered in the history of country’s struggle of independence and freedom movement as the day of mass uprising.
He paid profound respects to the memory of those who were martyred in the freedom movement of the country.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the The Historic Six-Point Movment in 1966 to liberate the Bengali nation from Pakistani rule, exploitation and deprivation, Hamid said, adding that the 6-point was the liberation charter of Bengalis including autonomy.
He said that after the 6-point declaration, the speed of the freedom movement intensified and it spread all over East Bengal.
The joint movement of Awami League(AL) as well as various political parties and student organizations accelerated the mass movement, he said, adding that the then dictator filed the Agartala conspiracy case to thwart the movement.
Politicians-students-teachers-people took out a procession on January 24 in 1969 to break the curfew and demanded release of Bangabandhu and other accused and overthrow the military rule, he continued.
He went on saying that the day is a notable one for the country.
Following the path of this mass upsurge, the independence and democratic rights of the people were achieved, he added.
He called upon all to work together to uphold independence and democracy.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged all, irrespective of party affiliations, to work together for building a modern, developed and prosperous nation as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“We are working tirelessly to bring smiles on the faces of all, ending exploitation, deception and discrimination. Let work together to turn the country into a middle-income one by 2021 and a developed one before 2041,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the mass upsurge of 1969 is a significant milestone in the history of the country’s independence.
The nation achieved independence following the Language Movement Of 1952, Six-Point Demand, 11-Point Demand, Mass Upsurge of 1969 and the bloody War of Liberation, the premier added.
She said the greatest Bangalee of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the six-point demand in 1966 to liberate the nation from the exploitation of the Pakistani rulers.
To foil the mass movement, the Pakistani ruling clique had filed the Agartala conspiracy case and arrested Bangabandhu. The people, including students, workers and farmers, waged a tough but spontaneous movement against conspiracy, she added.