DHAKA, June 23, 2023 (BSS) - Bangladesh Awami League, one of the country's oldest political parties, today celebrated its 74th founding anniversary across the country in a befitting manner.

The anniversary programme began with hoisting of the national and party flags atop at all party offices, including the Bangabandhu Avenue central office, with the sunrise. 

Marking the day, Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32 this morning.

After placing floral wreath at the portrait of Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence for a while as mark of respect to the Father of the Nation.

Later, flanked by senior party leaders, Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League, paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing another wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation on behalf of her party.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Deputy Leader of the House and AL Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury, Presidium Members Shajahan Khan, Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman and Dr Mostafa Jalal Mahiuddin, Joint General Secretaries- Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries Ahmad Hossain, Afzal Hossain and Sujit Roy Nandi, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur and Publicity and Publications Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, among others, were present during the time.
 
 Marking the anniversary, party president Sheikh Hasina along with AL general secretary Obaidul Quader hoisted the national and party flags and inaugurated the programmes of the day through flying pigeon and balloons.

The ruling party leaders and activists made a huge gathering at Dhanmondi road no-32 and its adjacent areas since morning and they were seen to chant different slogans like 'Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu' including "suvo Suvo Suvo Din Awami Leaguer Janmodin".

Besides, Dhaka north and South City units of Awami League, AL associate bodies and front organizations including Awami Jubo League, Awami Swechchhasebak League, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jatiya Sramik League, Tanti League, Krishak League, Mahila Awami League and Jubo Mahila League also paid respect to the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A delegation of Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) also placed wreaths at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj in the morning.

Led by Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Muhammad Faruk Khan, Organizing Secretary SM Kamal, lawmaker Iqbal Hossain Apu and Gopalganj District unit Awami League President Mahbub Ali Khan were present, among others, during the placing of wreaths.

A discussion was organised at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the afternoon.
 
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina presided over the discussion.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, party's Advisory Council Member Tofail Ahmed, Presidium Members Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Organizing Secretaries Advocate Afzal Hossain and Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, Health and Family Welfare Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, Central Working Committee Member Begum Akhter Jahan, Dhaka south city unit President Abu Ahmed Mannafi and Dhaka north city unit President Bazlur Rahman, also spoke.

 AL publicity and publication secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap and his deputy Syed Abdul Awal Shameem moderated the discussion.

Bangladesh Awami League was formed on this day in 1949, which later transformed into the biggest political party of the country to lead struggles of freedom, the War of Liberation and all democratic movements.

Established in 1949 as Awami Muslim League at Rose Garden in the capital's old part on the day and later the party was appeared as Bangladesh Awami League (AL) to give it a secular look.